Trans-Pac on *Alliance Airlines
 

Hello, I am planning a MR to DME and I want to go trans-pac through either SIN or BKK and I have 4 options for getting there on *Alliance airlines and I know nothing about these trans-pac options so I thought I would start by posting here to try getting opinions on which options would be best based on such things as which planes are used on the routes, quality of service, ease of connecting at the airports and anything else you out there might think would be important for me to consider. So just let me know which of these 4 options you out there think would be best (BTW I will be in coach):

1. ORD-NRT-BKK on UA/ANA metal on the 2 respective legs of the trip
2. ORD-HKG-BKK on UA/Thai metal on the 2 respective legs
3. LAX-SIN on SQ
4. SFO-SIN on SQ

I thought this would be the best place to post this since it deals with 4 different *Alliance airlines...if anyone thinks it might get a better response somewhere else I would be fine with it being moved...Now I have already posted this question as far as which option would be better under my post of MR to Moscow on the Mileage Run forum and I understand the rules on cross posting, but I thought since this dealt specifically with *Alliance airlines that it would get better response here...If there is any problem with this being considered cross posting I apologize and wont do it again.

If it's in the "Why?" cabin, then definitely take the nonstop SQ LAX-SIN.

So, the SQ LAX-SIN is better than the SFO-SIN?

SQ 19 from LAX to SIN is flown in a specially configured Airbus 340-500. The seats have some extra pitch, greater recline and even a uniquely designed cabin lighting system. If you can get a seat in Y for a decent price, this flight can be the best value for an economy seat anywhere. It's almost 9000 miles. Worth paying more for in many people's opinion, all other things being equal.

But perhaps the most important thing for you, since your stated purpose is to earn miles, is to watch for which fare classes within economy class (the V, W, Q, Y sort of fare codes) will earn you miles from SQ. SQ is stingy about mileage accrual. Many fares earn you 50% or even nothing at all. So learn your stuff before booking.

It matters greatly which airline you are flying and to which airline you would like your miles to accrue.

Yes the nonstop A345 flight is better - several inches more legroom, plus wider seat, better meals and a inflight "lounge" where you can stretch and gab with fellow pax/crew. Also the IFE has a few more movies and games.

The direct services via NRT (747) or TPE (777) are regular longhaul seats and service.

Edited to add, if you are coming from ORF you may want to consider SQ's nonstop EWR-SIN (also on A345), or going via europe.

This is part of a MR I am going to hopefully attempt next spring and I want to go trans-pac to accumulate as many miles as possible as opposed to bouncing around europe before ending up at DME and right now I am looking at ORF-IAD-ORD-LAX-SIN-FRA-ZRH-DME unless of coures that turns out to be prohibitively expensive and if that ends up being the case then I am going to ammend my itinerary, but that itinerary is my starting point. Also, I will look into the mileage situation with SQ before I make my final plans.

Thank you Kiwi and WayMaker for your input on the LAX-SIN flight...I had no idea.

My guess is that routing will prove really expensive. Do you actually need to visit Moscow? If not there are plenty other cheaper destinations (and saves the visa hassles).

Yes, that is where my in-laws live and my wife has a niece and a nephew she likes to visit often and she likes to visit her friends and old professors in Moscow at least once a year, so while she has been in grad school and now finishing up her PhD course work and starting on her disertation she goes over in June and then I take a week or so off of work in August and and come over to visit everyone so I just wanted to get as many miles as possible out of my trip there because my trip home will most likely be DME-ZRH-IAD because the wife likes to fly direct and she/we usually use Swiss since they have moved to DME.

If it turns out to be more than $1500 I will most likely fly from IAD/DCA/BWI and not ORF and cut out the FRA-ZRH leg and make it just IAD-ORD-LAX-SIN-DME or IAD-LAX-SIN-DME in an attempt to cut costs and if that does not work I will just go trans-atlantic and try bouncing around Europe a little bit to earn some extra miles...It's all a pipe dream for now, but I am working at it.

Also, visas aren't a problem I found a really good company in DC that handles visas and the process usually goes rather smoothly...no problems so far.

I would also suggest that you skip ORD and just go IAD-LAX/SFO... you only get a handful extra miles; certainly not worth the extra hassle and taxes.

ORD is in my top 5 of places in the world to be, so I only include it because I find it hard to be flying United and not go there, but if it will save me some $$$ on taxes then in this instance I think I can skip it, although I make that decision with a heavy heart.

Thank you for your insight...if it saves me some $$$ then I am all for it.