PPS worthwhile for a J-only flyer?
Jul 4, 2015, 9:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ...
Programs: CX DM / SQ PPS / VN Platinum
Posts: 1,078
PPS worthwhile for a J-only flyer?
I primarily fly CX, but have been flying SQ enough recently that PPS looks easily achievable with a bit of planning (i.e PPS value sitting at S$20k).
I only fly SQ regionally in J. Does PPS add anything to someone with that travel pattern. What about if I shift some longhaul from CX to SQ?
When I had PPS in the early 2000s, I think I got F lounge access when flying J, but I think that benefit has disappeared? A quick look at the benefits doesn't suggest much else I would care about. Any soft / unpublished benefits worth considering?
Many thanks in advance. Sorry if it has been asked many times before.
I only fly SQ regionally in J. Does PPS add anything to someone with that travel pattern. What about if I shift some longhaul from CX to SQ?
When I had PPS in the early 2000s, I think I got F lounge access when flying J, but I think that benefit has disappeared? A quick look at the benefits doesn't suggest much else I would care about. Any soft / unpublished benefits worth considering?
Many thanks in advance. Sorry if it has been asked many times before.
Jul 5, 2015, 3:39 am
#4
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: 7,739
If you are accruing the miles from your SQ flights to KF and want to redeem for premium cabin then being PPS could offer better award seat availability or at least more pull in getting waitlists for redemptions cleared. YMMV.
Jul 8, 2015, 6:29 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Vancouver
Programs: CX DM, SQ TPP, QF GO LIFE, OZ*G LIFE, Marriott TIT LIFE, WOH GLOBALIST LIFE, HH DM, BA GO LIFE
Posts: 598
I primarily fly CX, but have been flying SQ enough recently that PPS looks easily achievable with a bit of planning (i.e PPS value sitting at S$20k).
I only fly SQ regionally in J. Does PPS add anything to someone with that travel pattern. What about if I shift some longhaul from CX to SQ?
When I had PPS in the early 2000s, I think I got F lounge access when flying J, but I think that benefit has disappeared? A quick look at the benefits doesn't suggest much else I would care about. Any soft / unpublished benefits worth considering?
Many thanks in advance. Sorry if it has been asked many times before.
I only fly SQ regionally in J. Does PPS add anything to someone with that travel pattern. What about if I shift some longhaul from CX to SQ?
When I had PPS in the early 2000s, I think I got F lounge access when flying J, but I think that benefit has disappeared? A quick look at the benefits doesn't suggest much else I would care about. Any soft / unpublished benefits worth considering?
Many thanks in advance. Sorry if it has been asked many times before.
I much prefer the god like treatment I get on CX as Diamond Marco Polo Club member - nicer lounges at HKG (The Pier FCL), upgrades and other priority benefits.
All in all, don't waste your time with SQ PPS Club. It's nothing special.
Jul 8, 2015, 2:24 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
PPS is inferior to CX Gold / DM as you can't even get guaranteed economy / business class seat unless its full fare (which hardly anyone does anymore).
Jul 8, 2015, 9:40 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC/SIN
Programs: CX DM, SQ KF
Posts: 2,171
PPS worthwhile for a J-only flyer?
Is this at the cost of CX status- If not, then why not give PPS a shot for a year? It's not that you'd have to rehash travel completely for that.
That said, adding on to Guy Betsy's point, while SQ does work waitlists well in general, if confirmed award seats are important for planning in time, they are nowhere even close in 'opening up' award inventory the way CX does (given my great experiences with CX MPC of late & having been frustrated with SQ in the past, & seeing friends' current frustration in getting anything on the moderate to popular routes). For CX flights, I now don't even bother looking up award availability- just how good/bad revenue ticket sales have been. Likely to change though, with the anticipated program changes.
I once went on a 380 regional route in a ~half full Suites cabin , while my PPS friend slummed it out in Y, as his waitlist (for an outright redemption) didn't clear.
Oh and I (a discount J flier most of the times, PE/Y the remaining times) have been in CX F way more times, than my PPS friends putting in ~100k p.a. to SQ have been on SQ (zilch to none), so if you value the occasional op-up/milestone/birthday/anniversary upgrade....(though SQ seems be doing birthdays now).
On lounges, I wouldn't be surprised if CX enhanced away some access a la SQ, but till that point, being able to get into any CX biz lounge, irrespective of the carrier flown, is great!
That said, adding on to Guy Betsy's point, while SQ does work waitlists well in general, if confirmed award seats are important for planning in time, they are nowhere even close in 'opening up' award inventory the way CX does (given my great experiences with CX MPC of late & having been frustrated with SQ in the past, & seeing friends' current frustration in getting anything on the moderate to popular routes). For CX flights, I now don't even bother looking up award availability- just how good/bad revenue ticket sales have been. Likely to change though, with the anticipated program changes.
I once went on a 380 regional route in a ~half full Suites cabin , while my PPS friend slummed it out in Y, as his waitlist (for an outright redemption) didn't clear.
Oh and I (a discount J flier most of the times, PE/Y the remaining times) have been in CX F way more times, than my PPS friends putting in ~100k p.a. to SQ have been on SQ (zilch to none), so if you value the occasional op-up/milestone/birthday/anniversary upgrade....(though SQ seems be doing birthdays now).
On lounges, I wouldn't be surprised if CX enhanced away some access a la SQ, but till that point, being able to get into any CX biz lounge, irrespective of the carrier flown, is great!
Jul 8, 2015, 10:33 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 250
I primarily fly CX, but have been flying SQ enough recently that PPS looks easily achievable with a bit of planning (i.e PPS value sitting at S$20k).
I only fly SQ regionally in J. Does PPS add anything to someone with that travel pattern. What about if I shift some longhaul from CX to SQ?
When I had PPS in the early 2000s, I think I got F lounge access when flying J, but I think that benefit has disappeared? A quick look at the benefits doesn't suggest much else I would care about. Any soft / unpublished benefits worth considering?
Many thanks in advance. Sorry if it has been asked many times before.
I only fly SQ regionally in J. Does PPS add anything to someone with that travel pattern. What about if I shift some longhaul from CX to SQ?
When I had PPS in the early 2000s, I think I got F lounge access when flying J, but I think that benefit has disappeared? A quick look at the benefits doesn't suggest much else I would care about. Any soft / unpublished benefits worth considering?
Many thanks in advance. Sorry if it has been asked many times before.
You would always be better to bank on CX for banking your long haul if you travel the most with them.
Jul 8, 2015, 11:13 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: QF LTG, SQ EGTP, Bonvoy LTG
Posts: 4,847
I see PPS as being more worthwhile for those who regularly travel in economy (eg. SIN based, travel Y for short haul, but J for long haul). Of little benefit if you only fly in the J cabin anyway (I think the main benefitin J is that PPS get first meal choice ...... ).
The other benefit is only for a select niche of travellers who want to:
1) pursue status on a non-star alliance program (the only two that come to mind in this category are two of the Virgin programs - VA Velocity & VS Flying Club) yet get star alliance gold status.
2) achieve Star Gold in another program but still have status with SQ - for those times they fly SilkAir in Y class
The other benefit is only for a select niche of travellers who want to:
1) pursue status on a non-star alliance program (the only two that come to mind in this category are two of the Virgin programs - VA Velocity & VS Flying Club) yet get star alliance gold status.
2) achieve Star Gold in another program but still have status with SQ - for those times they fly SilkAir in Y class
Jul 10, 2015, 11:52 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,158
