First time SQ flyer with some questions

[Tonyc32]

Hi all,

First post and first time flying with SQ. I have a few questions which i've not been able to answer using the search. I'm hoping to fly LHR > SIN > SYD and back but with a 3 day stop over in Singapore on the way over.

I should be on the A380 for all four legs of the trip.

1.) I'm looking at booking for the flight in October. Do I stand a good chance of getting whichever seats I want with such as early booking?
2.) If I book online can I reserve the seats I want and keep them? I know some airlines wont let you reserve seats until around 24hrs before (at check-in)
3.) I'm after seat 81a on the upper deck. Will it be possible to reserve this online? I hear two different stories, one that these are blanked out and unreservable and the other that they can be reserved for $50-70. Any ideas how to get these seats?
4.) If there is a charge to guarantee the exit seat is this per leg? Is LHR > SIN > SYD considered two legs? or is it classed as one?
5.) On the way over i'm having a 3 day stop off in Singapore to break up my flight. After this if I choose seat 81a again for this single leg to SYD will I have preference over someone who books a whole leg from London? What i'm asking, I guess, is will I get bumped to another seat or will the person who had it for the first leg have to pick a different seat for the second leg?
6.) Do the Row 81 exit seats have power and USB connections?
7.) ALthough the booking section says I will be on the A380 does this often change? Or do they keep the A380 schedule pretty solid? If they do change it will I just get lumped into any seat free on the replacement?

Thanks!
Tony

[SQJunkie]

Hi all,

First post and first time flying with SQ. I have a few questions. I'm hoping to fly LHR > SIN > SYD and back but with a 3 day stop over in Singapore on the way over.

I should be on the A380 for all four legs of the trip.

1.) I'm looking at booking for the flight in October. Do I stand a good chance of getting whichever seats I want with such as early booking?
2.) If I book online can I reserve the seats I want and keep them? I know some airlines wont let you reserve seats until around 24hrs before (at check-in)
3.) I'm after seat 81a on the upper deck. Will it be possible to reserve this online? I hear two different stories, one that these are blanked out and unreservable and the other that they can be reserved for $50-70. Any ideas how to get these seats?
4.) If there is a charge to guarantee the exit seat is this per leg? Is LHR > SIN > SYD considered two legs? or is it classed as one?
5.) On the way over i'm having a 3 day stop off in Singapore to break up my flight. After this if I choose seat 81a again for this single leg to SYD will I have preference over someone who books a whole leg from London? What i'm asking, I guess, is will I get bumped to another seat or will the person who had it for the first leg have to pick a different seat for the second leg?
6.) Do the Row 81 exit seats have power and USB connections?

Thanks!
Tony

Welcome to SQTalk Tony !
Answers:
1) Yes
2) Yes
3) Exit row seats are reservable and payable when you choose your seat on line at the time of booking. See here:

http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U...erredSeats.jsp
4) Charge is USD50 per segment. LHR-SIN-SYD is 2 segments.
5) First come first served I believe is the basis of preferred seating.
6) Yes, IIRC.

cheers

[Tonyc32]

That was easy, thanks SQjunkie.

I added a questions #7 via a sneaky edit;

7.) ALthough the booking section says I will be on the A380 does this often change? Or do they keep the A380 schedule pretty solid? If they do change it will I just get lumped into any seat free on the replacement?

[SQJunkie]

That was easy, thanks SQjunkie.

I added a questions #7 via a sneaky edit;

7.) ALthough the booking section says I will be on the A380 does this often change? Or do they keep the A380 schedule pretty solid? If they do change it will I just get lumped into any seat free on the replacement?

Sneaky!

7) SQ's schedules in normal times are pretty solid and dependable as far as aircraft types. But these are not normal times and anything can change at the last minute. I have never had a change of metal on me yet, so I'm not the best to advise you on this, except maybe to check your booking on-line regularly for the seat you have pre-selected/paid for.

Always happy to defer to others' experience.

cheers

[wsssaero]

SQ used to do 772-for-77W swops on regional routes but so far I don't hear of any A380 swops (except for tech issues in the early days). I don't think they have enough 747s to do the swop anyway.

[Airline Orgasm]

Hi all,

First post and first time flying with SQ. I have a few questions which i've not been able to answer using the search. I'm hoping to fly LHR > SIN > SYD and back but with a 3 day stop over in Singapore on the way over.

I should be on the A380 for all four legs of the trip.

1.) I'm looking at booking for the flight in October. Do I stand a good chance of getting whichever seats I want with such as early booking?
2.) If I book online can I reserve the seats I want and keep them? I know some airlines wont let you reserve seats until around 24hrs before (at check-in)
3.) I'm after seat 81a on the upper deck. Will it be possible to reserve this online? I hear two different stories, one that these are blanked out and unreservable and the other that they can be reserved for $50-70. Any ideas how to get these seats?
4.) If there is a charge to guarantee the exit seat is this per leg? Is LHR > SIN > SYD considered two legs? or is it classed as one?
5.) On the way over i'm having a 3 day stop off in Singapore to break up my flight. After this if I choose seat 81a again for this single leg to SYD will I have preference over someone who books a whole leg from London? What i'm asking, I guess, is will I get bumped to another seat or will the person who had it for the first leg have to pick a different seat for the second leg?
6.) Do the Row 81 exit seats have power and USB connections?
7.) ALthough the booking section says I will be on the A380 does this often change? Or do they keep the A380 schedule pretty solid? If they do change it will I just get lumped into any seat free on the replacement?

Thanks!
Tony

Hi Tony
I'm assuming you're flying in economy. The answers are as follows;

1) SQ won't confirm a particular seat but you may put in a request for window/isle/upper deck/lower deck when you make the booking

2) Once you've confirmed your booking, give SQ reservations in London a call and further reiterate your desire for a window/isle/upper deck/lower deck seat.

3) SQ have only recently started charging extra for emergency exit seats. If 81a is one of those, you might like to read this http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U...ts.jsp#Header8

4) LHR-SIN-SYD are 2 segments one way (4 segments return). Therefore US$ 50 x 2 (one way)

5) The extra charge for preferred seats is tied to your booking. As such you will not be bumped off if you did a stop over. Unlike flying with BA or QF, a pax from LHR-SYD will need to change aircraft and therefore would be issued a seperate bording pass for both segments. Therefore if your seat is secured through payment of $50, you would not be in a worse off position compared to a pax flying directly from LHR (although you would definitely be in a better shape!)

6) Go to seatguru.com to check if there are power points for 81a.

7) For the Y class cabin of the A380 there are USB ports

8) The SQ timetable is quite firm. You'll prolly stick with the A380. Arent you glad you're not flying Qantas! LOL

8) SQ online check in opens 48h prior to the flight. At that point only LHR-SIN is open. I suggest you set your timer for when the SIN-SYD flight opens so you can check in for the 2nd segment as soon as it opens. This will enable you to; A) Get the seat you want and/or B) Buy that preferred seat if you haven't already.

9) Collect your Krisflyer miles! LHR-SIN-SYD return will give you almost 21,000 miles. SIN-DPS is only 15,000 return. Imagine a side trip to Bali next time you fly enroute to Oz!

[SQJunkie]

If you make your booking on singaporeair.com you can choose your seats (any seat) immediately. You do not need to wait for OnLineCheckIn to open.

And...

Quote from singaporeair.com website:
"Preferred seats can be purchased anytime for any Singapore Airlines operated sector before check-in (which begins 48 hours before flight departure) by retrieving your booking on singaporeair.com. Bookings made through SIA Reservations & Ticket Offices or Travel Agents must be ticketed on Singapore Airlines. These are identified by the “618” prefix in the ticket number."

cheers

[Tonyc32]

Thanks all, I will be using singaporeair.com to book directly, so I can book the exact seats!

[Tonyc32]

An additional question: I know SQ and Virgin are linked somehow (49% stake?).

Is there any way I can get Virgin Air miles or tier points from my SQ flight?

Thanks

[jjpb3]

An additional question: I know SQ and Virgin are linked somehow (49% stake?).

Is there any way I can get Virgin Air miles or tier points from my SQ flight?

Thanks

Yes, when you book your flights on singaporeair.com, after you choose your flights, you'll be prompted for your FFP below your passport details. Choose VS FC as the partner program, and enter your FFP number in the space to the right.

Just to make sure, show your VS card at checkin, and ensure that your BP shows VS in the annotation below your name.

[Tonyc32]

A few follow up questions.

I'm going to book the Super Saver fare.

Can I still pick my seats and even upgrade the to the exit seats with this fare?

I also assume no miles mean I can't even get Virgin miles?

Thanks
Tony

[SQJunkie]

A few follow up questions.

I'm going to book the Super Saver fare.

Can I still pick my seats and even upgrade the to the exit seats with this fare?

I also assume no miles mean I can't even get Virgin miles?

Thanks
Tony

You can still pick your seats and choose a "Preferred Seat".
This "enhanced" service is not dependent on fare type.

Pretty sure you won't get Virgin miles, but could be wrong.

[stargold]

Pretty sure you won't get Virgin miles, but could be wrong.

"No Miles" fare SQ means no miles on any other FFP as well. No loopholes that I know of.