Singapore Airlines Alliance
Sep 24, 2014, 5:45 am
#16
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: NZ*G ELT, VA-G
Posts: 3,598
Interesting. I heard that SQ were planning to have PE from late 2015. I thought that 6th Jan was a bit too ambitious.
It will be interesting to see if SQ 'retire' P class for flights from the 6th... I have a flight booked in Jan AKL-SIN-LHR in P so I won't be too happy if it only earns at full economy levels...
It will be interesting to see if SQ 'retire' P class for flights from the 6th... I have a flight booked in Jan AKL-SIN-LHR in P so I won't be too happy if it only earns at full economy levels...
Sep 24, 2014, 8:19 am
#17
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SJC
Programs: NZ*G, QF NB, UA 1K, AA ExecPlat, IHG PlatAmb, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, ZE1 PC
Posts: 2,636
Admittedly I've never been on a NZ plane but have heard good remarks about their economy seating... now SQ on the other hand... my own experience is limited to their 777-200ER and 777-300ER but holy hell those are the tightest and least comfortable economy seats I believe I've experienced... at least within Star Alliance. This alone puts SQ as one of my least favorite *A airlines.
I spent a period flying SIN-AKL monthly (in Y), typically on the SQ 77W and while the seat cushioning is hard, it is far from the least comfortable economy seat I've ever sat in. I'd say it is fairly equivalent with the NZ 77E I flew SFO-AKL (in Y) at the beginning of September. Except the 77E had no AC/USB power.
Sep 24, 2014, 1:32 pm
#18
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: Air NZ Elite, Krisflyer Gold, Qantas Gold
Posts: 41
I spent 5 Years as an SQ Elite Gold, all earned in Y.
Singapore Y is no less comfortable than anything else out there, and with the 77's they are only 3-3-3, which gives a much better feeling of space.
I was lucky/well organised enough 95% of the time and generally sat in row 31/44 on the 777W, which was probably the best economy flying I have ever done.
Further back was far less appealing, but still much better than a cramped Air NZ 777-300, which in Y often resembles a flying zoo.
Luckily enough I get to fly PE these days!
Singapore Y is no less comfortable than anything else out there, and with the 77's they are only 3-3-3, which gives a much better feeling of space.
I was lucky/well organised enough 95% of the time and generally sat in row 31/44 on the 777W, which was probably the best economy flying I have ever done.
Further back was far less appealing, but still much better than a cramped Air NZ 777-300, which in Y often resembles a flying zoo.
Luckily enough I get to fly PE these days!
Sep 24, 2014, 3:24 pm
#19
Ambassador: Air New Zealand
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Wellington NZ
Programs: NZ Elite, EK Gold, Qatar Gold, Amex Plat, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,426
Flight Schedule
AKL-SIN NZ282/SQ4824 01:15-06:45
AKL-SIN SQ286/NZ3286 13:30-19:00
SIN-AKL NZ281/SQ4821 08:50-23:45
SIN-AKL SQ285/NZ3285 20:50-11:45+1
CHC-SIN SQ298/NZ3298 12:00-17:40
SIN-CHC SQ297/NZ3297 19:40-10:40+1
NB: Singapore Airlines' A380 will be used on the Singapore-Auckland route from 28 October 2014 - 28 March 2015, reverting to Boeing 777-300ER aircraft 29 March 2015 - 27 October 2015.
AKL-SIN SQ286/NZ3286 13:30-19:00
SIN-AKL NZ281/SQ4821 08:50-23:45
SIN-AKL SQ285/NZ3285 20:50-11:45+1
CHC-SIN SQ298/NZ3298 12:00-17:40
SIN-CHC SQ297/NZ3297 19:40-10:40+1
NB: Singapore Airlines' A380 will be used on the Singapore-Auckland route from 28 October 2014 - 28 March 2015, reverting to Boeing 777-300ER aircraft 29 March 2015 - 27 October 2015.
Sep 24, 2014, 4:16 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
.. now SQ on the other hand... my own experience is limited to their 777-200ER and 777-300ER but holy hell those are the tightest and least comfortable economy seats I believe I've experienced... at least within Star Alliance. This alone puts SQ as one of my least favorite *A airlines.
But even the regional coach seats are actually quite good and heaven compared to anything NZ offers, let alone compared to modern slimline seats as offered by LH regional or UA.
Sep 24, 2014, 10:21 pm
#21
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,665
Nothing wrong with the SQ seats, they are basically spacious and as comfortable as most economy seats put into new aircraft in the last 10 years, for what that comment is worth. They still only use 9 across on a 777, unlike the trend to 10 across in the likes of EK, AA, and the NZ 77W's.
Unless SQ has done something recently to make the seats less comfortable, this doesn't seem correct at all.
I spent a period flying SIN-AKL monthly (in Y), typically on the SQ 77W and while the seat cushioning is hard, it is far from the least comfortable economy seat I've ever sat in. I'd say it is fairly equivalent with the NZ 77E I flew SFO-AKL (in Y) at the beginning of September. Except the 77E had no AC/USB power.
I spent a period flying SIN-AKL monthly (in Y), typically on the SQ 77W and while the seat cushioning is hard, it is far from the least comfortable economy seat I've ever sat in. I'd say it is fairly equivalent with the NZ 77E I flew SFO-AKL (in Y) at the beginning of September. Except the 77E had no AC/USB power.
... whereas if you stay on NZ, a terrible seat is guaranteed.
I am fairly certain you remember wrong - the 772 and 77W coach seat are very, very different. The 77W seat is one of best padded seat, wide, and decent legroom and superb IFE. As much as I dislike SQ as a company, I love the 77W and the A380 coach seat.
But even the regional coach seats are actually quite good and heaven compared to anything NZ offers, let alone compared to modern slimline seats as offered by LH regional or UA.
I am fairly certain you remember wrong - the 772 and 77W coach seat are very, very different. The 77W seat is one of best padded seat, wide, and decent legroom and superb IFE. As much as I dislike SQ as a company, I love the 77W and the A380 coach seat.
But even the regional coach seats are actually quite good and heaven compared to anything NZ offers, let alone compared to modern slimline seats as offered by LH regional or UA.
I know SQ may have one of the world leading entertainment systems in economy but it doesn't help at all with cramped legs.
Sep 25, 2014, 2:18 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
..I don't mind 9 or 10 across on a 777 actually, my concern and primary metric for measuring "comfort" is legroom which is not generous on the SQ planes I've flown. I do see from Seatguru that they have some planes with 34" pitch but most of their planes are 32" and feel even tighter than that, perhaps because of the padding eating into whatever legroom could be there..
that "foot rest" they put in economy is also not conducive to decent legroom either
But compared to IFE boxes in my legroom, it is the lesser of two evils.
I'm no giant by any stretch of the imagination, but even at 182cm, 32" is generally not very comfortable for more than a couple of hours. There are a lot of airlines still offering 33-34" seat pitch and it makes a big difference on a long flight.
Jun 13, 2015, 9:13 pm
#23
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: Air NZ Elite, Krisflyer Gold, Qantas Gold
Posts: 41
Just reviving an old thread as I head to Europe Monday night, I get off NZ282 Tuesday morning with an onward to LHR (all SQ ticketed).
From what I read as an elite I will get access to the silverkris lounge as opposed to the crappy gold lounge.
Can anyone confirm they have had access to the silverkris lounge while flying in Y, the dragons there are pretty tough!
From what I read as an elite I will get access to the silverkris lounge as opposed to the crappy gold lounge.
Can anyone confirm they have had access to the silverkris lounge while flying in Y, the dragons there are pretty tough!
Jun 13, 2015, 9:34 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ Elite, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 908
In addition, from 6 January 2015, Business Class passengers, Elite members and Elite Partners may also use the SilverKris Business Lounge in Singapore when travelling on, or when connecting to or from, an Air New Zealand or Singapore Airlines flight between New Zealand and Singapore. Please note, no guests allowed.
Jun 13, 2015, 9:49 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: NZ*Elite *G, QF*G, SPG*Platinum, Accor*Platinum, Hilton*Gold
Posts: 1,006
Jun 14, 2015, 12:27 am
#28
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Singapore
Programs: KF*G, Cathay Silver
Posts: 141
Do keep us updated of your experience. Hopefully the online text isn't a typo and the lounge dragons are aware of the stated agreement 
