TG or SG
 

Hi

I'm planning on booking a trip between Shanghai and Sydney and the obvious choices seem to be either TG or SQ. First availability seems non existent on both so looks like it's going to have to be Business. I don't think either airline have flat beds in Business, so what is people's preference? TG or SQ (I'm not planning on stopping over in BKK or SIN so that doesn't factor in for me)

Also, noticed NZ fly from Shanghai - wonder if they would let me book that as the award (via AKL) ? seems a bit longer around than via SIN or BKK though.

Thanks

I presume by SG you mean Singapore Airlines? Their code is SQ.

oops, yes of course.

Between TG and SQ id go for SQ every time... But if you can get NZ then id definately go for them instead.

Air NZ Business Premier is very nice, same seat as Virgin Atlantic Upper Class which can be made fully flat and they'll also add matress, duvet and pillow so you can sleep properly. Very decent inflight service as well.
PVG-AKL-SYD wouldn't be a huge detour IMO.

Singapore Airlines is of course always a good option if you can find award availability.

Otherwise have you considered OZ via ICN? That would actually be the shortest route, shorter than both PVG-BKK-SYD and PVG-SIN-SYD.

I hadn't really considered OZ - didn't know much about them I guess. Seems like for a C award, NZ would be the best choice because of the flat beds, then I think SQ. How would OZ compare against SQ and TG?

While SQ is preferable to TG it is worth noting that SQ only operate 'regional' aircraft to PVG, so you won't get a SpaceBed equipped aircraft between PVG and SIN. You will for SIN-SYD.

I would echo the advice above and look at NZ or OZ.

I've seen photos of OZ's business class (never tried it first hand) and it doesn't look too special. For comfort I would say they are behind NZ, SQ and TG (based on my in depth consumer test of OZ!)

What about ANA as another option? Do they fly to PVG and SYD?

RE: ANA
I've only experienced them once in J and they were rubbish.

ANA don't seem to fly to SYD as far as I can tell from the *A timetable.

There seems to be a possibility that the A380 could be flying SIN-SYD by May '08 - there are two evening SIN-SYD flights - thinking maybe I should book one of those and keep my fingers crossed that it turns out to be an A380. If the A380 turns out to operate as SQ221 (departing 20:40), then currently there is 0 availability on that in J - but the other 2 daily flights have plenty of J for most of May '08. Prehaps they are blocking J on SQ221 in anticipation of it becoming an A380! Could just book SQ231 (departing 00:30) and hope they combine it with the ealier flight.

NH don't fly to SYD.

The recommendation for OZ was for convenienece purposes, although admittedly having just checked the routes on GCM there isn't much in it!. SQ only have regional seats to PVG so there's no additional 'comfort' available in flying them than the other options. NZ have the best seat product available with their excellent Business Premier to AKL so probably worth the extra to fly with them.

I have flown OZ (and NH) regionally in S.E. Asia and found both to be pretty decent. While they are not up to SQ standards but they're better than many others.

It's down to the OP to decide what they really want to get from the trip. I say this as someone who has done more than my share of going out of my way to fly SQ in recent years !!.

I have flown biz on OZ a few times and once in coach. I would not fly OZ biz again unless they had a screaming deal or if it's really the best route and time-in-the-air is important. The food they served was very similar to what you get in coach just better presentation and sides/dessert. I don't drink much so that has little value for me (ok, I know it's worth a lot more to others). IFE was the same on the 777s that I was on so no difference there.

Both TG and SQ are great chocies but for the SIN-SYD route, I think you get the lie-flat beds in SQ biz/raffles class which is great. Don't know about TG. Food has always been great too and having the choice of Dom P or some other fancy bubbly when you board isn't such a bad thing. :-) The biz class lounge in SIN makes most of the lounges in the US look like roach motels.

You'll get a SpaceBed aircraft for SIN-SYD but not for PVG-SIN.

SQ don't serve Dom in Raffles, it's Piper. They also recently stopped serving Dom in the SKL F lounge at Changi. That's Piper now. :mad:

Yes, I think that is the problem. I feel like I'm starting to consider going out of my way, just so I can experience SQ J, the lounge in Singapore and maybe the off chance of an A380 - where as NZ J seems like the less hassled & more comfortable option.

I personnally think the NZ lounge in AKL is much better than the SQ Raffles lounge in Changi.