Premium Economy which airline Qantas or Singapore?

[ellen10]

I want to book flights to Europe in Y+.
Flying Qantas, flights will be via London, so extra flight. I have flown QF Y+ before and I am a QFF member.
Flying Singapore (I have never flown with them before), Its just the 1 stop via Singapore.
Price is similar (Qantas a bit pricier).
Should I try the Singapore product? Does anyone have any experience with their Y+ or recommendations?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Tough choice. Trip reports for Singapore's premium economy are available on the net, here's one example: https://hightechflight.com/2015/11/...-airlines-premium-economy-sydney-singapore-2/

Looks like the IFE beats QF, as does the 'free flow' of champagne (although some reports suggest you need to ask for it rather than being proactively offered). QF would seem to win on the food (being more business class 'lite' than the standard economy offering as per SQ).

Overall, reports of SQ's premium economy seem underwhelming.

Not sure about the price or your destination, but have you considered a mixed class rather than premium economy the whole way? Either economy to Asia followed by business class from there, or premium economy (Jetstar 'business' of ScootBiz) to Asia followed by business class from there to Europe on airlines such as Finnair, Sri Lankan or Vietnam airlines (sometimes even Qatar). Mixed class options can range anywhere from $2200 (Economy/Business) to $3000 (Jetstar business connecting to full business). Mixed class will involve an extra stop and potentially an overnight in stop along the way.

 

[ellen10]

Thanks for you suggestions MEL_Traveller.
I have looked in to the Finnair business flights SIN to Milan and return Paris to SIN comes in around $8000 for 2 and I can get a return SYD to Sin for around $1700 for 2.
Would just have to talk my husband into the extra Dollars.
I originally was looking at some Y+ sale fares with both Qantas & Singapore but they seem to have disappeared. Maybe the cookies? Just have to work out how to get rid of them

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for you suggestions MEL_Traveller.
I have looked in to the Finnair business flights SIN to Milan and return Paris to SIN comes in around $8000 for 2 and I can get a return SYD to Sin for around $1700 for 2.
Would just have to talk my husband into the extra Dollars.
I originally was looking at some Y+ sale fares with both Qantas & Singapore but they seem to have disappeared. Maybe the cookies? Just have to work out how to get rid of them

While this is getting more complex, you may find a multi city excluding Milan is much cheaper, but it depends on the airline. Flying into Rome only (rather than MXP) can save $$. SIN-Rome followed by Paris-SIN on Eithad for example comes in at just AUD3345 per person (I was looking in February). Finnair's flights SIN-PAR are coming in at AUD2689 per person return.

 

[ellen10]

Thanks for your replies.
I am looking at flights departing early June and returning around 20 July.
It seems that the multi booking is coming in the same as a return to the same city, for a business fare from Singapore.
I think I can still see SYD - SIN- MIL and PAR - SIN -SYD in Y+ for around Aus$3018 p/p
Qantas Y+ fares have now blown out for the same locations.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for your replies.
I am looking at flights departing early June and returning around 20 July.
It seems that the multi booking is coming in the same as a return to the same city, for a business fare from Singapore.
I think I can still see SYD - SIN- MIL and PAR - SIN -SYD in Y+ for around Aus$3018 p/p
Qantas Y+ fares have now blown out for the same locations.

BA has a fare out of Kuala Lumpur into MIL and out of Paris for AUD3900 on those dates. You'd need to add Air Asia to KUL of course, pushing up the price. For other airlines it's probably a little early for their specials.

Otherwise if you're happy with a recliner seat the $3018 in premium economy seems a fair price. And seamless travel all on the one ticket. Plus you'll likely be eligible for the changi $$ vouchers on SQ (assuming they extend it again) which will buy you lounge access in SIN during any transits.

 

[ellen10]

Otherwise if you're happy with a recliner seat the $3018 in premium economy seems a fair price. And seamless travel all on the one ticket. Plus you'll likely be eligible for the changi $$ vouchers on SQ (assuming they extend it again) which will buy you lounge access in SIN during any transits.

Not sure what the vouchers are?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not sure what the vouchers are?

Passengers flying Singapore airlines with Changi airport as the connecting point (in transit at least one way) are eligible for free vouchers worth $40 for use at selected shops and all duty free shops. Each passenger gets 2 x $20 vouchers. You can choose to use one voucher for lounge access if you want at one of the selected lounges for this purpose. You can also combine any remaining vouchers from any other passengers to buy whatever you fancy from duty free.

Details here, they usually extend it for another 12 months every year: http://www.singaporeair.com/jsp/cms/en_UK/promotions/singapore-transit-promo.jsp

In terms of getting to europe, might be worth keeping an eye on the 'cheap international airfares' thread on AFF. Some very good deals get posted there (one of the current ones is for Finnair to Europe for $2000 (ex Asia))

 

[ellen10]

Thank you once again for all your information and help. We have transited through Singapore before but we were always flying QF.

I will have a look at that thread also.
Last year we did our first business class flight to NYC, using points, and am not keen to go back to economy for long haul flights for our Europe trip next year.

 

[spudseamus]

Oh dear taken to the dark side lol!

 

[ellen10]

Oh dear taken to the dark side lol!

Well I tried to get to the dark side, But, when proceeding with the Singapore booking it changed and now 1 leg, the SIN to MIL leg was now in &. but for the exact same price as Y+ 2 days earlier.
So fortunately I realised before payment. So no Singapore Air.

I have now booked with Qantas, had to come back a week later to get a fare $3000 less than the previous week. But on the bright side I can use my QF lounge passes and I get an extra week in Europe!