Reward travel in First
Jun 17, 2009, 8:44 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 214
Reward travel in First
Has anyone gotten a first class seat using United miles from JFK-FRA on Singapore? I currently have business class and am looking to change to first, but wanted to know if I am wasting my time calling every few days or so.
Jun 17, 2009, 9:08 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: Nah.
Posts: 13,967
It is possible, but I wouldn't waste your time calling.
If you sign up for the ANA mileage club program, you can check availability online for SQ and other carriers. Consider LH F on this route, or LX via ZRH if you are willing to make a connection. Bother have excellent F class products.
Once you find availability, then call. Note that UA does block its own members from using their miles on some routes, so even if you see availability on ANA, you may not be allowed to book it with united miles.
If you sign up for the ANA mileage club program, you can check availability online for SQ and other carriers. Consider LH F on this route, or LX via ZRH if you are willing to make a connection. Bother have excellent F class products.
Once you find availability, then call. Note that UA does block its own members from using their miles on some routes, so even if you see availability on ANA, you may not be allowed to book it with united miles.
Jun 17, 2009, 9:10 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Posts: 4,952
How far out are you looking? When I have found seats, it has usually been within ten days of departure.
Jun 17, 2009, 9:34 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 204
Persistence pays off sometimes.
Jun 17, 2009, 10:15 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The KUL city
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+
Posts: 2,663
I am not too sure if this is still the case, but SQ has effectively removed all C/F award seats to/from USA about a month ago. I don't know if it's an error posting to Starnet...but KF members can still redeem saver award seats using their KF miles.
Also, IME, SQ is *rarely* blocked by UA on *net - except when you are 2-4 weeks out.
Also, IME, SQ is *rarely* blocked by UA on *net - except when you are 2-4 weeks out.
Jun 17, 2009, 11:08 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,946
cheers.
Jun 18, 2009, 2:26 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,776
Seems SQ have blocked out *A partner for all rewards in premium longhaul cabins on 744, at least I could not get anything on SIN-FRA, FRA-JFK, SIN-NRT or NRT-LAX on the 744 in C or F.
At the rate they're losing customers (and money) in premium cabins these days I wonder how sustainable that is. Of course, SQ management usually does things its own way, regardless of what customers or others might think.
At the rate they're losing customers (and money) in premium cabins these days I wonder how sustainable that is. Of course, SQ management usually does things its own way, regardless of what customers or others might think.
Jun 18, 2009, 4:06 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,265
Basically, you can't redeem in premium classes to/from the USA anymore. Or most of Europe for that matter - only AMS/FRA/FCO/MAN/CPH remain for Spacebed 772ER in J.
For JFK-FRA, I would seriously be looking at LX new F to ZRH and then onwards to FRA in any case - nice new seats and pretty incredible food too.
Jun 19, 2009, 6:05 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 214
Going August 20th, I currently have business class. I am travel with other people so can't change the route even though there is an LH flight in first available. Plus I have never flown on Singapore and wanted to try it. Maybe something will open close then. Sounds like from some of the other posts that I was lucky to even get business class!
Jun 20, 2009, 2:31 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat (farewell DL :-<),Hilton Gold, Starwood Gold
Posts: 244
Agreed, it's been at least a couple of months since I last saw any O or I class on the SQ11/12/25/26.
Basically, you can't redeem in premium classes to/from the USA anymore. Or most of Europe for that matter - only AMS/FRA/FCO/MAN/CPH remain for Spacebed 772ER in J.
For JFK-FRA, I would seriously be looking at LX new F to ZRH and then onwards to FRA in any case - nice new seats and pretty incredible food too.
Basically, you can't redeem in premium classes to/from the USA anymore. Or most of Europe for that matter - only AMS/FRA/FCO/MAN/CPH remain for Spacebed 772ER in J.
For JFK-FRA, I would seriously be looking at LX new F to ZRH and then onwards to FRA in any case - nice new seats and pretty incredible food too.
Jun 20, 2009, 4:39 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: AS 100K, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,828
I'm in the same boat as the OP, with a C seat booked for SQ25 JFK-FRA on an F award.
As others noted, something changed at SQ a month or so ago. Award F tended to pretty reliably open up in the ANA tool for this flight 3-4 days prior to departure. Since then, I've only seen Y or nothing.
Unlike the OP I'm not traveling with others and considered switching to the LH flight, but alas UA seems to have entirely shut down redemption of LH awards from now through mid-July, so that is not even an option (despite seats showing available in the ANA tool)
As others noted, something changed at SQ a month or so ago. Award F tended to pretty reliably open up in the ANA tool for this flight 3-4 days prior to departure. Since then, I've only seen Y or nothing.
Unlike the OP I'm not traveling with others and considered switching to the LH flight, but alas UA seems to have entirely shut down redemption of LH awards from now through mid-July, so that is not even an option (despite seats showing available in the ANA tool)