mahdnc

My wife and I are planning to fly to Singapore for a cruise this coming December. We are planning on spending 5 nights in Singapore ahead of the cruise. We will be flying to Singapore out of our hometown of Chicago on Fri Dec 15th and this date just became bookable this past week. It looks like United is keeping award seats on their own aircraft very high--90k, 140k, 270k for economy, premium, economy, and business class, respectively. While economy seats on other Star Alliance partners are offered at 44k. When I look at the 2023 calendar, it looks like it stays that way as their is no indication that United begins to systematically lower the award miles needed for United seats as the flight date draws near. Neither my wife nor I have any status with United although they are our preferred carrier.

Right now, here are my options that I am considering:
1. ORD - MUC - SIN (UA, SQ) for 44k; 2:45 hr layover
2. ORD - CDG - SIN (UA, SQ) for 44k; 12 hr layover in the middle of the day in Paris. It does allow for a quick day tour of Paris at the expense of time spent in Singapore.
3. ORD - SFO - SIN (UA) for 90k/140k/270k; varying layover lengths available for both UA 29 (shown in screenshot) and UA1 (not shown)

Questions:
1. Is one direction (east vs west) better to get to Singapore? Do you have to pass through immigration in MUC to catch a connecting international flight if you don't leave the secured area of the airport?
2. Is a 2:45 hr layover at MUC too short for an international connection?
3. I know that Singapore Airlines has a very good reputation but I presume that an economy seat experience is nothing that exceptional vs United?
4. I have been toying with the idea of getting the Premium Economy seats for option 3 (PE for SFO-SIN only). I guess I am wondering what the opinion is on spending 140k for PE.

Our return flights will be from Hong Kong in Jan 2024, assuming that the cruise itinerary is not modified. For the time being, it is difficult to compare the value of the award ticket vs buying a ticket as the cash pricing is astronomical right now (and I can only price for a one way ticket). I would very much appreciate your opinions.


Award Mileage Chart ORD-SIN Dec 15

angetenar

1. No immigration in MUC needed
2. MUC is very efficient, 2:45 should be sufficient
3. Is there a reason you aren't considering the ANA flights? ANA is excellent as well
4. 50 minutes gives you very little margin of error if routing via SFO; would not recommend

prestonh

I've always flown to SIN on BR. love them and their service/hard products and they usually have award seats available although tend to release seats closer to travel dates.

aindfan

My personal preference is westbound to Singapore based on the way that I adjust to the time difference, but that's just personal preference. I would probably choose the ANA itinerary, even though I found their economy seats somewhat uncomfortable the last time I flew their long haul economy.

That said, given that awards are refundable and it's so far out, you might as well book your favorite itinerary and assume that it's a temporary placeholder - chances are a schedule change (or better deal for cash or a business award) will come up and you'll change your plans (or United will change your plans for you).

One final note - if ORD-MUC is operated by UA and you have access to economy plus due to status, that might be a good choice to have slightly more legroom for the first 8 hours of the very long trip.

Kmxu

They do not have status with UA.
Eastward travel to Asia is not good for biological clock. You will have to take two red-eye flights to get to SIN, instead of daytime flights (via NRT or TPE).
It is still too early to make a final decision (cash vs. miles; which airlines, etc.). Booking the best available flights at this moment if you want to have a peace of mind.
Good luck.

findark

I would make another vote for holding the 44k option on NH and continuing to look. NH is a good choice if you have to do this in Y (or really in any cabin).

Far-out is not necessarily the best time to look for good deals, but 44k one-way for Y is a very attractive price if you have fixed dates and citypair. As others have said, I also prefer to fly west whenever possible.

PsiFighter37

Before I had a kid, I would definitely have picked the routing via CDG and spent the day in Paris were you contemplating travel outside of the winter months. However, while it might be nice to see the city in holiday mode, I wouldn't want to be trudging around in what could potentially be miserably cold weather. Transiting via NRT would be my pick. That said, with a midnight arrival into SIN, you'll need to manage when you fall asleep a bit more closely, and NRT-SIN is not a short flight (I think it's ~7 hours or so).

Kacee

UA in economy with no status would be my last choice for a long-haul flight. SQ would be a particularly good choice in economy, especially on the A350 or A380. NH or BR would both be better than UA, though NH is 10 across in economy on the 77W (and 9 across on the 787). All these carriers will have better food and service than UA and they will all keep the cabin and lavs much cleaner.

halls120

This. UA in long haul economy is a miserable experience.

mahdnc

Thank you for your answers. I have not considered ANA mainly because I am not familiar with them (which is why I am soliciting opinions here). The 12:55 am arrival time is also a negative but not a deal breaker.

You are right about the 50 min connection being too short for SFO. However my screenshot did not show the other longer connecting options (2-7 hours)..

mahdnc

If I buy an Economy Plus upgrade on an award ticket, is the fee refundable if I cancel?

mahdnc

I will take a closer look at the ANA option since it is westward. I have flown on United twice to SYD and once to KIX in the past 5 years and so I am more familiar with them than the other foreign carriers. I will have to look into this, but I will ask here: are the checked bags and carry on rules more restrictive on, say, NH than UA (or more enforced)?

mahdnc

My wife and I have never been to Paris. And while checking it out during a long layover is not the way to see this city, we would do it if we end up picking this itinerary.

angetenar

ANA offers 2 x 50 lb checked bags for free, and for carry on items, it's the very standard thing of one bag and one personal item.

Kacee

Service on the Asian carriers is soooooo much better.