getting F award seats on SQ
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: UA peasant, QF tin, VA drycracker
Posts: 182
getting F award seats on SQ
A friend just tried to use UA MP miles to get an F award trip MEL-SIN (and on to Europe). He was told by reservations in SYD that there is 'never' F-class availability MEL-SIN. Can FTers confirm whether they have ever obtained an F-class award seat on this sector using non-SQ miles?
#2
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,419
I would be very surprised if "never" is correct. However SQ F awards are very popular and SQ generally only releases one F award seat (but some FTers have successfully gotten a second F award seat for the same flight later on).
Try for the less popular flight days of week (presumably Tues through Thurs) and times, and make the request as early as possible.
Try for the less popular flight days of week (presumably Tues through Thurs) and times, and make the request as early as possible.
#3
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1K 2MM / Marriott LTP
Posts: 5,071
Originally Posted by aspro
A friend just tried to use UA MP miles to get an F award trip MEL-SIN (and on to Europe). He was told by reservations in SYD that there is 'never' F-class availability MEL-SIN. Can FTers confirm whether they have ever obtained an F-class award seat on this sector using non-SQ miles?
- SFO-HKG-SIN-KIX-SIN-HKG-SFO (SIN-KIX-SIN) only has Raffles/Economy.
- SFO-HKG-SIN-HKG-SFO
I know cawhite60156 has been able to get SQ F too. I think her routing was ORD-LAX-NRT-SIN-HKG-SFO-ORD.
Our awards have been secured using UA miles, so SQ F is possible with non-SQ miles. The first award listed was originally booked in Raffles, but I had to make a change to the inbound date to nest an NH F award and in the process of checking F opened up. Mind you the outbound date never changed so while there might not be F when you book that doesn't mean it won't show up at a later date. The second SQ F award was booked about 3 months out for travel this Fall.
Last edited by kluau88; Aug 7, 2005 at 9:40 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: UA peasant, QF tin, VA drycracker
Posts: 182
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
Try for the less popular flight days of week (presumably Tues through Thurs) and times, and make the request as early as possible.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,930
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
which FFP is he using? could he try going via AKL (daily F service to/from SIN)?
also just keep trying
also just keep trying
The UA CSRs are all very aware that any SQ F award is tough to come by and many of them seem to have never actually seen one come up.
#7
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Programs: QF Platinum One (LTG), UA Plat IHG Plat
Posts: 5,836
SQ F is hard, but doable.
I got MEL-SIN-LHR and return last November.
Of course, May-July is a peak time and it's no wonder SQ wouldn't be wanting to give away award seats when they can get paid revenue.
TG is almost always open and with their new product offering it might be an idea to opt for a part TG routing if possible.
Also note, SQ tend to open up O seats closer to treavel, so if your friend is prepare to wait it out till much closer to travel time they might find success. I know when I first tried about 2 months out they had nothing except 1 sector in F available. I grabbed that and then kept trying every week or so... around 2 weeks out all the options opened up and I had choices on each of the 3 ex-MEL flights and a couple ex-SIN. It made it very easy
Good luck !
I got MEL-SIN-LHR and return last November.
Of course, May-July is a peak time and it's no wonder SQ wouldn't be wanting to give away award seats when they can get paid revenue.
TG is almost always open and with their new product offering it might be an idea to opt for a part TG routing if possible.
Also note, SQ tend to open up O seats closer to treavel, so if your friend is prepare to wait it out till much closer to travel time they might find success. I know when I first tried about 2 months out they had nothing except 1 sector in F available. I grabbed that and then kept trying every week or so... around 2 weeks out all the options opened up and I had choices on each of the 3 ex-MEL flights and a couple ex-SIN. It made it very easy
Good luck !
#9
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Shangri La GC Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, SPG Gold, EVA Gold, AMEX Centurion
Posts: 151
SQ F seats ARE available!
I agree with the above posts. SQ F seats are hard to get, because the company is "tempermental" about how they release them. They only release 1 seat per flight typically, and do not always do that at a set number of weeks or months before the flight itself.
I discovered this to my surprise recently. I had booked an F seat using aeroplan points for October on the HKG-SFO route. My plans changed dramatically just a couple of weeks ago, and I had to move my whole trip up a month. I called expecting no chance of any seats, but surprisingly, they had opened up a seat for September and I got it! I was quite stunned, but was told that this often happens. I even got seat 1B.
My advice would be patience and persistence. Keep calling and keep asking, and if you have any flexibility in your schedule, one may miraculously appear.
FF
I discovered this to my surprise recently. I had booked an F seat using aeroplan points for October on the HKG-SFO route. My plans changed dramatically just a couple of weeks ago, and I had to move my whole trip up a month. I called expecting no chance of any seats, but surprisingly, they had opened up a seat for September and I got it! I was quite stunned, but was told that this often happens. I even got seat 1B.
My advice would be patience and persistence. Keep calling and keep asking, and if you have any flexibility in your schedule, one may miraculously appear.
FF
#11
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Reutlingen, Germany
Programs: LH FTL, UA 1K MM, Lifetime Marriott Platinum, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 558
I was offered SQ F on TPE-SIN-FRA in my first call to UA (TPE-SIN in C)
However it was the daytime flight - the nightflight SINFRA does not even have full fare F left
Thomas
However it was the daytime flight - the nightflight SINFRA does not even have full fare F left
Thomas
#12
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SAN
Programs: UA GS/1K/MM, VA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 5,581
I have two SYD-SIN award seats on the monday afternoon flight. Was orginally in Economy, and then one Economy, one F, and then two F, so there is a way to take advantage of seats as they open up.
Rest of itinerary to Europe and back is on LH and TG.
You might find this thread useful
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...=444268&page=3
Rest of itinerary to Europe and back is on LH and TG.
You might find this thread useful
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...=444268&page=3
Last edited by wimpypipsqueak; Aug 10, 2005 at 12:38 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: OW, *A, Bonvoy, WOH
Posts: 809
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
...SQ generally only releases one F award seat (but some FTers have successfully gotten a second F award seat for the same flight later on).
#14
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,723
Originally Posted by blueDC
I currently have one F and one J seat on SQ|SIN-FRA in Dec using UA miles. Calling everyday to see if an additional F seat opens up on that route seems excessive to me. Is there a discernible strategy that has been followed to some degree of success by FT-ers in the past to secure that coveted second F award seat on SQ? Like maybe calling everyday in the final month prior to the flight? Of course, if all else fails, *I* will be in F and my partner can "rot" in J (kidding!)
On the other hand - if luck is on your side - call in a few weeks and you might just get what you want. Unpredictable. Check load on your desired flights to see how the overall booking situation in the desired cabin is. This gives you an indication about the possibility of another award seat being released. No guarantee though.
Cheers ...
#15
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: OW, *A, Bonvoy, WOH
Posts: 809
Well, I haven't called at all to check for the second F seat since I ticketed SIN-FRA in SQ F on a *A award last month using UA miles. FYI, this is for travel in early-Dec.
Called UA last Friday and voila, I snatched the second F award seat. I almost peed my pants and slid off my chair.
Called UA last Friday and voila, I snatched the second F award seat. I almost peed my pants and slid off my chair.