Originally Posted by
WineCountryUA
SQ does not let UA access its discounted fares.
UA will check bags to the destination of the SQ ticket even as separate tickets, (if connection is less than 12 hours or not overnight).
While yeah, that is the case in many cases, shouldn't be in this case. MAA is part of the UA-SQ agreement, and they should have a coordinated fare.
Originally Posted by
mottai
Hi,
I travel with my family to India (MAA) from SFO every Summer. I have been traveling on Singapore airlines for a long time. Last two years, I have been traveling on United through connections in Singapore with the following itinerary:
SFO - SIN on United (on Economy and was upgraded to Biz class )
SIN - MAA on Singapore Airlines or Air India (on Economy). .
For the Summer 2024, I noticed that the Economy tickets from SFO to MAA is around $3400 for a stop-over in SIN, While Tickets on Singapore Airlines (SFO-MAA) with a similar itinerary are around $1800.
However, the following itinerary is cheaper, if bought it two different tickets.
SFO - SIN (on United) - Around $1500
SIN - MAA (on SingaporeAir) - Around $300.
Does anyone know why the connections on United ticket are expensive..? I feel if I buy two different ticket itineraries, then I will have to check-in again at SIN.
Any insights...?
Thanks
...mottai
I did a split ticket to BLR the same way last year. Not because of the fare per se, I was willing to buy the whole thing together - however, UA kept erring out on purchase, and so I ended up booking SFO-SIN on UA, and then booked the SIN - BLR segment direct on SQ.com. I would have been happy to book the whole thing on SQ, however, at that point, was too close to travel date and SQ only had Y fares on their flights. To avoid any issues with delays (I didn't have one), I booked the UA flight landing at SIN in the early a.m., then took the evening flight to BLR from SIN, giving me about 14 hours or so between flights, so that the chance of a delay messing up my connection was minimal - also gave me the chance to spend the day in SIN (never miss an opportunity to spend time in SIN, IMO.).
Just a note: give yourself extra time at checkin if you do this. While UA eventually was able to check me in all the way to BLR, it took a while. I'm not sure what the issue is, I remember the agent saying something about the fare class on the SQ segment not showing up as valid. A manager was eventually able to get me checked in, including bag tagged all the way and including a BP for the SQ flight, IIRC, but I think the whole thing took about 40 minutes. So definitely plan extra time if you do this. Also, if your bags are checked through, definitely pop by the SQ transfer desk on arrival to make sure they have the bags logged in their system.
Also I do suggest giving yourself a several hour 'connection' if you do choose to do this separately. While UA will generally rebook you no questions asked on separate all-UA itineraries, they are under no obligation to, and it would be misleading for anyone to suggest that SQ will definitely do it if you show up to your 'connection' late. So best to plan for multiple hours in SIN. My wife did something similar when she went (separately from me) on that last trip. She was connecting to TRZ on Indigo...she took the UA flight arriving in early evening, stayed overnight at Crowne Plaza Changi, then woke up at got her early a.m. flight to TRZ.