How best to proceed with my booking (in Economy) given the following situation?

[hofo_mofo]

Okeydokey, we all are (well at least most of us are) aware of how logical and intuitive the Singapore Airlines On-line multi-city booking engine is...I mean it makes Canadian politics look logical!! haha, I kid I kid

But yeah in all seriousness, I am trying to book the flights I want for my vacation this year. Furthermore, ever since I became Star Alliance Gold this year I would like to continue to get "points" as to renew my status for next year.

Anyways these are the flights I am wanting:

May 7th, 2009
Paris - Brisbane (via Singapore): SQ333 & SQ245

May 14th, 2009
Brisbane - Bangkok (via Singapore): SQ246 & SQ970 [I know I could take the TG direct flight, but meh we'll see]

May 29th, 2009
Bangkok - Singapore: SQ975

June 1st, 2009
Singapore - Paris: SQ334 First A380 flight to Paris

Total cost (on one itinerary): APPROX 3056.96 CAD (1859.24 EUR)
Fare class: V

Now as you can see, what it keeps spitting back at me is V class fare, which we all know doesn’t allow miles

However, if I did the following:

Ticket #1: CDG-SIN-CDG: APPROX 1421.44 CAD (864.52 EUR) -- W CLASS
Ticket #2: SIN-BNE-SIN: APPROX 1057.21 CAD (1281 SGD) -- E CLASS
Ticket #3: SIN-BKK-SIN: APPROX 408.52 CAD (495 SGD) -- E CLASS

Total: APPROX 2887.17 CAD

Not only would I get miles, I would get a cheaper overall fare...but of course at a possible cost...the inability to have my bags checked through to my "ultimate" destination.

Now, what should I do? As I am flying in Economy class (solely) if I book online I get to choose my seats right away, and well I really want to make sure I can get a seat on the upper deck of the A380 for the "first flight". Of course, if I go the telephone booking route (and most likely being put into fare classes that I want) I won't be able to select my seats until OLCI begins, except if I want to purchase "preferred seats"

Any help you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance all!

PS. If you guys deem best for me to call in and make my booking that way, would I call France (Paris) or could I still use the Canadian office (although they will be closing up shop soon )

Also, what are the chances that the "W" fare promotion will continue for an additional month? According to KVS, the W seat sale fare for BNE and BKK both expire on the 29th of April

[TerryK]

....Not only would I get miles, I would get a cheaper overall fare...but of course at a possible cost...the inability to have my bags checked through to my "ultimate" destination....

Just book online as separate tickets. Checking bags through to your final destination has nothing to do with separate tickets or not. You can even be on different airlines.

[Gunnar Smithsen]

Not sure about being able to check bags through to your end destination being on different airlines, but if you're flying all the way on SQ metal checking your bags through to your end destination shouldn't be a problem even on different PNRs..

[hofo_mofo]

Just book online as separate tickets. Checking bags through to your final destination has nothing to do with separate tickets or not. You can even be on different airlines.

Not sure about being able to check bags through to your end destination being on different airlines, but if you're flying all the way on SQ metal checking your bags through to your end destination shouldn't be a problem even on different PNRs..

I had a feeling what I said in regards to bags not being checked tagged to my final destination sounded stupid

I will definitely be ticketing then the Paris flight tonight, but what about the Brisbane and Bangkok sectors. Those are coming in out in "E" fare. I read through the fare rules for the BNE and BKK W fares, and well the flights I want to and from BKK do not qualify for W fare (fair enough, hahaha)...but the BNE flights do.

Under W fare it comes out to APPROX 833.55 CAD (1010 SGD) for W fare. According to this thread: http://www.sqtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6448 the W fare promotion was supposed to have long expired, however it would seem to indicate on KVS that this sale has been extended to April 29th; what do you think the chances are of it getting extended again?

thanks!

[Kyo]

With all due respect, you have cheaper and better options available for *A SIN-BKK-SIN flights unless you *must* fly on SQ. And your luggage won't go missing either.

Edit: I'll try to be clearer... why not book CDG-SIN-BNE then BNE-SIN-*stopover*-SIN-BKK-SIN*-CDG

Since you've made it clear mileage-accrual is preferable, a Business fare on other carriers does exist that, depending on your FFP, may offer more mileage.

[hofo_mofo]

With all due respect, you have cheaper and better options available for *A SIN-BKK-SIN flights unless you *must* fly on SQ. And your luggage won't go missing either.

Edit: I'll try to be clearer... why not book CDG-SIN-BNE then BNE-SIN-*stopover*-SIN-BKK-SIN*-CDG

Since you've made it clear mileage-accrual is preferable, a Business fare on other carriers does exist that, depending on your FFP, may offer more mileage.

regrettably I had already purchased my round trip ticket for Paris/Singapore shortly before you posted this response. But thank you none the less.

One thing though, I don't fly in the front of the bus, only in the back...And yeah Air Canada Aeroplan gives extra x%age for class of service. It is not meant to come off me complaining about the fare in any way, I just like maximizing my bang for my buck if I have a "plan" (in this case carrier) in mind

Besides it allows my (future)-sister in law to keep on calling me a snob...but no worries, I will get her back on the 26th of September, the day of the wedding...I'm the best man, and as such in one hand will be a bottle of, well, hmm...let's go with Gin (but I am equal opportunist, and thus Vodka and Rhum may be subbed into the equation) and the mic in the other...bwahaha