SIN-HKG equipment lottery [Regional Equipment Swaps]
Jul 11, 2018, 12:11 am
#391
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: BA SL, CX GR, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 579
CX734/739 are always operated by regional 773, so your previous 1-2-1 aircraft was a big bonus indeed.
Jul 11, 2018, 1:17 am
#393
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: MNL
Programs: CX MPO DM, Le Club Accor Platinum, World of Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,284
It is not that I need a flat bed for short flights it is that the regional J seat is unbelievably uncomfortable, and when I am forced to use it there is no PY seat on the plane as an alternative. Rather terrifyingly, it looks that from next March MNL is destined to only get 1 LH bird a day.
Jul 11, 2018, 4:16 am
#394
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Singapore
Programs: Cathay Diamond and Singapore Gold
Posts: 227
Not speaking up for CX, but i have not gotten a single aircraft change in the last 3 months or so.. 5 return sinhkgsin and several other hkgtpe return.. No chance at all for changes from the original 73P to other types... disappointed..
Jul 11, 2018, 7:04 am
#395
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: YVR, KUL
Programs: AC, MH, BA, AF-KL
Posts: 2,904
How heavy were the loads on those 77P flights? I'd imagine it being a mess if they swap a fully-booked 77P to anything else.
Jul 11, 2018, 9:13 pm
#397
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 172
For this reason I have been taking CX716 for my commutes, which has basically been a lock for the A359 for a number of months now. In fact, out of about 30 or so flights between SIN HKG in recent history, I don't recall more than 2 last minute swaps, both which resulted in a bump up to J as I usually am booked into W. Compared to a few years ago where almost all flights daily were a lottery.
Jul 11, 2018, 10:06 pm
#398
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: HKG,SIN,CAN
Programs: CX MPC DM, HU FWC Gold
Posts: 213
As I know, the only flight that guarantee non regional J will be CX659/CX650 for HKG-SIN/SIN-HKG route.
And bigger chance for non regional J will be CX716/CX717/CX636
For others, it's a gamble.
And bigger chance for non regional J will be CX716/CX717/CX636
For others, it's a gamble.
Jul 11, 2018, 11:13 pm
#399
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
Jul 11, 2018, 11:29 pm
#400
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: HKG,SIN,CAN
Programs: CX MPC DM, HU FWC Gold
Posts: 213
Jul 12, 2018, 7:53 am
#401
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DXB / KUO
Programs: AY, SQ, EK
Posts: 858
Isn't the 8pm departure from SIN on a 777 with regional cabin (2+2+2)? I think most recently I took the flight in May, and felt really cheap...
SQ also send the A330 to HKG on some rotations (I think).
As for CX, might take that option 2-3 times a year. Really never know what to expect, but for such a short flight it's not a huge problem either way.
SQ also send the A330 to HKG on some rotations (I think).
As for CX, might take that option 2-3 times a year. Really never know what to expect, but for such a short flight it's not a huge problem either way.
Jul 12, 2018, 8:34 am
#402
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
Isn't the 8pm departure from SIN on a 777 with regional cabin (2+2+2)? I think most recently I took the flight in May, and felt really cheap...
SQ also send the A330 to HKG on some rotations (I think).
As for CX, might take that option 2-3 times a year. Really never know what to expect, but for such a short flight it's not a huge problem either way.
SQ also send the A330 to HKG on some rotations (I think).
As for CX, might take that option 2-3 times a year. Really never know what to expect, but for such a short flight it's not a huge problem either way.
It's about swaps, aka predictability. And SQ is highly predicatable to HKG, whereas CX famously isn't. Ex-SIN you have 4x daily guaranteed longhaul product flights to HKG: starting with morning A380, then A350, then B77W, and the last longhaul product is SQ2 B77W. Guaranteed every day. And not only can you guarantee longhaul J, but F too except A350. No swaps!
If you're paying out of your own pocket, and do the route frequently enough, at least for me it's incredibly frustrating to think you're getting longhaul J with WiFi and then you end up at the lasy minute with the crappy shorthaul regional J and no WiFi (speaking about CX here doing a swap from A359 to a regional bird). You can easily pay 2k USD + for that ticket! I honestly don't care about a bed for the flight but for me it's the workspace and privacy of Cirrus J or regional F which is crucial. And of course if you have clients or associates who planned on flying F, it is just a huge dose of cold water to be downgraded to regional J. That's my two cents and why I've swapped to SQ on the route.
You're right though that at least 3 SQ frequencies feature the regional SQ product. The difference though is the longhaul birds on SQ aren't swapped. The product is protected if you paid for it at least to HKG. Not the case on CX.
Jul 13, 2018, 7:56 am
#403
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Singapore
Programs: MPC, KF, Accor, SPG, HH
Posts: 902
With current rotations, the lottery has not been much of an issue. Barring swaps, you are almost guarantee a LH J product except for 739 and 715 ex HKG. Even then, CX tries to sneak in a 77G at times for 739
Jul 13, 2018, 8:17 am
#404
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
I will be flying CX658 in J on 21/08, at the moment the aircraft came with F, and I am thinking of using miles to upgrade to F.
What will happen if they swap the equipment with something doesnt have F? would I just get my points back (if not I might only consider of upgrade at check in).
It is also a morning flight, so apart from the seat, would be meal be better than J? Will there be any bubbles served for this 9:50 flight?
What will happen if they swap the equipment with something doesnt have F? would I just get my points back (if not I might only consider of upgrade at check in).
It is also a morning flight, so apart from the seat, would be meal be better than J? Will there be any bubbles served for this 9:50 flight?
Jul 13, 2018, 10:57 am
#405
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DXB / KUO
Programs: AY, SQ, EK
Posts: 858
It is true, SQ operates some regional equipment on the route. But that's not what this thread is really about!
It's about swaps, aka predictability. And SQ is highly predicatable to HKG, whereas CX famously isn't. Ex-SIN you have 4x daily guaranteed longhaul product flights to HKG: starting with morning A380, then A350, then B77W, and the last longhaul product is SQ2 B77W. Guaranteed every day. And not only can you guarantee longhaul J, but F too except A350. No swaps!
If you're paying out of your own pocket, and do the route frequently enough, at least for me it's incredibly frustrating to think you're getting longhaul J with WiFi and then you end up at the lasy minute with the crappy shorthaul regional J and no WiFi (speaking about CX here doing a swap from A359 to a regional bird). You can easily pay 2k USD + for that ticket! I honestly don't care about a bed for the flight but for me it's the workspace and privacy of Cirrus J or regional F which is crucial. And of course if you have clients or associates who planned on flying F, it is just a huge dose of cold water to be downgraded to regional J. That's my two cents and why I've swapped to SQ on the route.
You're right though that at least 3 SQ frequencies feature the regional SQ product. The difference though is the longhaul birds on SQ aren't swapped. The product is protected if you paid for it at least to HKG. Not the case on CX.
It's about swaps, aka predictability. And SQ is highly predicatable to HKG, whereas CX famously isn't. Ex-SIN you have 4x daily guaranteed longhaul product flights to HKG: starting with morning A380, then A350, then B77W, and the last longhaul product is SQ2 B77W. Guaranteed every day. And not only can you guarantee longhaul J, but F too except A350. No swaps!
If you're paying out of your own pocket, and do the route frequently enough, at least for me it's incredibly frustrating to think you're getting longhaul J with WiFi and then you end up at the lasy minute with the crappy shorthaul regional J and no WiFi (speaking about CX here doing a swap from A359 to a regional bird). You can easily pay 2k USD + for that ticket! I honestly don't care about a bed for the flight but for me it's the workspace and privacy of Cirrus J or regional F which is crucial. And of course if you have clients or associates who planned on flying F, it is just a huge dose of cold water to be downgraded to regional J. That's my two cents and why I've swapped to SQ on the route.
You're right though that at least 3 SQ frequencies feature the regional SQ product. The difference though is the longhaul birds on SQ aren't swapped. The product is protected if you paid for it at least to HKG. Not the case on CX.