The 'new' SQ21/SQ22 (A350-900ULR): reviews, trip reports, best/worst seats and more
Oct 13, 2018, 4:58 pm
#61
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
The route is almost identical to my regular YYZ-HKG. I have a nice collection of items from various AC pilots, who were more than happy to share the details of my flights. 87 N is typical, and I know the route by heart now. The exciting part is looking at the IFE, looking out the window, getting photos of both and then notes/ images from the FD guys on our routings. Oddly, my personal favourite part is crossing Lake Baikal. Gorgeous scenery, especially in winter. Such an .#avgeek
Oct 13, 2018, 5:08 pm
#62
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Consistent with recent TPG commentary, I felt it didn't even merit the title "review." There was literally no discussion of seat comfort. But we heard all about how SQ employees at SIN recognized him as a TPG writer and gave him special treatment. And of course 500 words flogging various credit cards.
https://airwaysmag.com/special-fligh...pore-airlines/
Of course, as you point out, a collection of "others receiving special treatment" were all onboard, so I also await reviews from the non-glitterati
Oct 13, 2018, 6:36 pm
#63
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: YVR, KUL
Programs: AC, MH, BA, AF-KL
Posts: 2,904
The 2013 J seats don’t recline that much before requiring the bed to be flipped open. I think it stops short of 45 degrees. You’ll have to sit at a rather awkward angle once you recline it a bit more, unless you’re at a bulkhead row.
Oct 13, 2018, 9:33 pm
#64
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LHR, MSN
Programs: WFBF, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 204
I had an opportunity to join the inaugural SQ22 in PEY and these were some of my thoughts:
1. There would be no way I would recommend doing a flight of this length in anything less than PEY. The extra legroom and recline was welcome, although no replacement for a lie flat. Hard product is very similar to their current A350 seats - I used the blanket as an extra cushion and found that to work well for most of the flight. The single seats with the storage units seemed like the best in the cabin.
2. Meal service was good and well paced for someone based on Singapore time (seems like Quest didn’t agree). I had the cauliflower steak for my first meal which was delicious. Perhaps I don’t fly PEY enough, but surprised that food was still served in plastic instead of higher quality reusable items (like porcelain).
3. Flight attendants were always available to help with any requests. I saw some hanging jackets for PEY passengers. Call bells were answered promptly. Water services at least every hour.
4. Entertainment system was great. Awesome screen, and even more content than normal for SQ.
5. WiFi was spotty. Sounds like bandwidth may have been limited at the beginning of the flight with the number of users, and having a “dead zone” of 4 hours was pretty inconvenient if you are trying to work.
Personal note: I now work in Singapore and my family live on the East Coast. The convenience of taking a single flight and then connecting to Amtrak will hands down win my business on every flyback trip to the US.
If I knew there was no chance to upgrade, I’d probably fly economy with a stop in Japan to break up the flights. If flying PEY and the price differential isn’t too bad, I’d definitely recommend this flight. I know in Singapore they’ve been running a promotion for S$1428 travel in PEY (about US$1000). At that price, I booked myself another ticket home to see family for the holidays.
Good luck and safe travels to other fellow flyers embarking on this journey!
1. There would be no way I would recommend doing a flight of this length in anything less than PEY. The extra legroom and recline was welcome, although no replacement for a lie flat. Hard product is very similar to their current A350 seats - I used the blanket as an extra cushion and found that to work well for most of the flight. The single seats with the storage units seemed like the best in the cabin.
2. Meal service was good and well paced for someone based on Singapore time (seems like Quest didn’t agree). I had the cauliflower steak for my first meal which was delicious. Perhaps I don’t fly PEY enough, but surprised that food was still served in plastic instead of higher quality reusable items (like porcelain).
3. Flight attendants were always available to help with any requests. I saw some hanging jackets for PEY passengers. Call bells were answered promptly. Water services at least every hour.
4. Entertainment system was great. Awesome screen, and even more content than normal for SQ.
5. WiFi was spotty. Sounds like bandwidth may have been limited at the beginning of the flight with the number of users, and having a “dead zone” of 4 hours was pretty inconvenient if you are trying to work.
Personal note: I now work in Singapore and my family live on the East Coast. The convenience of taking a single flight and then connecting to Amtrak will hands down win my business on every flyback trip to the US.
If I knew there was no chance to upgrade, I’d probably fly economy with a stop in Japan to break up the flights. If flying PEY and the price differential isn’t too bad, I’d definitely recommend this flight. I know in Singapore they’ve been running a promotion for S$1428 travel in PEY (about US$1000). At that price, I booked myself another ticket home to see family for the holidays.
Good luck and safe travels to other fellow flyers embarking on this journey!
Oct 13, 2018, 9:52 pm
#65
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Oct 13, 2018, 11:38 pm
#66
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 80
This might have been the reason why the final meal was served much earlier.
When I snap out of it, it’s to go on another toilet break. While there, I see the cabin crew having a briefing in the aft galley and I catch the words “early meal service” and “bad weather”.
Later I find out they’re shifting the breakfast service forward in case the flight gets hit by turbulence from Hurricane Michael. I can’t decide if I’m excited to eat again or worried about Mike
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-airlines-world-longest-flight-diary-sq22-new-york-10822520
Later I find out they’re shifting the breakfast service forward in case the flight gets hit by turbulence from Hurricane Michael. I can’t decide if I’m excited to eat again or worried about Mike
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-airlines-world-longest-flight-diary-sq22-new-york-10822520
Oct 14, 2018, 12:39 am
#67
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Bonvoy Platinum, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,811
Are the beds in J uncomfortable like they are on the 77Ws, specifically with the firmness? Seems like they use a thicker mattress topper on these flights?
Oct 15, 2018, 12:00 pm
#68
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA, AA, BA
Posts: 162
I am on SQ38 in november and am looking for recommendations. I am 6'4" and also have CX tickets in business with a stop in HKG. Which one would be recommended for my size and overall experience? I need to cancel one ticket.
Thanks, tim
Thanks, tim
Oct 18, 2018, 2:33 am
#69
Join Date: May 2017
Location: SIN
Programs: AS MVPG75k, AA Plat
Posts: 741
Just my two cents is neither...? I'd break in ICN/TYO with SQ/KE/JL/NH making for much more comfortable sector lengths. If the CX product is getting stale, CI/BR would be an eye opener.
Oct 18, 2018, 11:52 am
#70
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ Krisflyer/Star Gold, QF Gold/Oneworld Sapphire
Posts: 117
The only caveat I would have is the specific A350 Business Class seat that SQ uses, which is fully flat, but which is, I believe, optimised for flyers who are of a smaller build than 6' 4", and is more suitable for side sleepers. Some pictures of the Business Class seat here, from the SQ22 SIN-EWR inaugural, which uses the same equipment as the upcoming SQ38 SIN-LAX.
For reference, trip reports for these trips are here: SIN-SFO on SQ PEY, SIN-LAX on UA Y, SIN-SFO on UA Y. (Hyperlinks are to an external SQTalk site.)
Last edited by sqyf; Oct 19, 2018 at 12:26 am
Oct 18, 2018, 7:19 pm
#71
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: QF LTG, SQ EGTP, Bonvoy LTG
Posts: 4,847
I haven't experienced A350 seat yet, but I also heard that for side sleepers which seats are best depends on which side you sleep on .. which echoes my experience on some other carriers, on some seats my knees come against a hard surface which makes it extremely uncomfortable, whilst in other seats, the knees face into open space .... much much better.
Oct 18, 2018, 7:36 pm
#72
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: YVR, KUL
Programs: AC, MH, BA, AF-KL
Posts: 2,904
An 18-19 hour nonstop might be useful to many, but it's not for everyone. I know people who crave a cigarette after hours of flying
Oct 18, 2018, 8:54 pm
#73
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ Krisflyer/Star Gold, QF Gold/Oneworld Sapphire
Posts: 117
Roaming around the cabin isn't quite the same as walking around an airport terminal. With no lounge or bar you can't walk very far before getting in the way of the crew/other passengers. The noise and dry air certainly doesn't help the fact that you're confined in a metal tube.
An 18-19 hour nonstop might be useful to many, but it's not for everyone. I know people who crave a cigarette after hours of flying
An 18-19 hour nonstop might be useful to many, but it's not for everyone. I know people who crave a cigarette after hours of flying
As the original question was around SQ38 SIN-LAX, I was referring mainly to nonstops to West Coast USA, rather than East Coast USA. For example recent UA2 SIN-SFO nonstop flights have been a very quick 14 hours to 14 hours 30 min. The return UA1 SFO-SIN nonstops have been averaging 16 hours. That isn't too different from a 13 hour sector like SIN-LHR or an SFO-HKG 14 hour sector.
For SIN to EWR or other East Coast USA destinations, which are 18 hour sectors, I haven't flown this sector enough times to form a definite opinion, but I would tend to agree with you that this is a very long time to spend on a plane, and some folks might prefer a stop.
Last edited by sqyf; Oct 18, 2018 at 9:08 pm
Oct 20, 2018, 6:02 am
#74
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 552
What happened to the A350 ??
On Flightaware I found that the last two days they flew an A340.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...455Z/KEWR/WSSS
What happened to the A350-900 ULR ?
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...455Z/KEWR/WSSS
What happened to the A350-900 ULR ?
Oct 20, 2018, 6:57 am
#75
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: TPA International
Programs: Priority Club Pl, Marriot Gold, Delta PM, National EE, Hertz PC, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 66
On Flightaware I found that the last two days they flew an A340.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...455Z/KEWR/WSSS
What happened to the A350-900 ULR ?
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...455Z/KEWR/WSSS
What happened to the A350-900 ULR ?
Flighttrader24 has all SQ21 flights in October 2018 using the A350-900.
Last edited by davidlhanson; Oct 21, 2018 at 2:59 am