Messing around with AMS

[SQueeze]

Just got my email - rebooked into business class with no mention of refund whatsoever. Are they crazy or what? Expecting me to accept it as is?

Seems to be written by a human using a certain template. Itinerary attached with the email shows business class. But the email says 'rebooked to Suite Class on SQ324'. I was so happy initially.

[jupiter]

I think SQ customer service is quite bad these days..

Voiced my concern last week, by email and phone, about the my J tickets on this route. When I book, it was 773-ER, now it's 772-ER

Till now, nobody seems to be getting back to me ..

[SQueeze]

On the note of customer service, they used to reply in 2-3 days. These days,sometimes they 'forget' or overlook.

I complained in early June about malfunctioning IFE. No human reply until I sent a second reminder 2 weeks later and a harsh one about them thinking they can sweep issues under the carpet. They replied within half a day.

You may need to remind them again.

[SQ228]

I'm wondering if AMS might now be able to remain 77W as planned.

When the 77W was being introduced onto SQ 323/4, on certain days of the week, the 300ERs were sourced by replacing SQ 217/8 SIN-MEL-SIN with a 73A.

Once SQ 308/19 converted to A380, the B77Ws freed up then switched to the AMS route and SQ 217/8 returned to full 77W operation.

Now that it has been announced that SQ 217/8 is going A380 from Aug 16, perhaps this will supply the 77Ws needed to work the fourth LHR flight allowing AMS to keep its 77W service instead of reverting to 772ER.

I know it's a longer turn-around time to/from AMS compared to MEL, but maybe there could be enough slack to let it work?

[milehighj]

As a random datapoint, SQ323 on a certain day last week was almost full in Y, 100% full in J and 50% full in F. Though I understand loads have been generally lower.

[jupiter]

It would be great if SIN-AMS is changed to 773 with new J I will be flying this route in Dec. Hope there will upcoming news on this route

[SQ228]

It would be great if SIN-AMS is changed to 773 with new J I will be flying this route in Dec. Hope there will upcoming news on this route

No new 777-300ERs are arriving until next year and the refurbed 773s can't fly that far (and nor would you want them to).

I assume you mean the current 777-300ER is what you want?

[SDC]

Few! Glad I booked my F for August. I have flown this route a lot over the last two years, sometimes very, very full and sometimes very empty. On a flight a few months ago I was told by the cabin crew that there were less than 100 people on the flight.

I will be doing another flight there in October; if no one beats me to it I'll post pics of the 'new' refurb.

[jupiter]

Few! Glad I booked my F for August. I have flown this route a lot over the last two years, sometimes very, very full and sometimes very empty. On a flight a few months ago I was told by the cabin crew that there were less than 100 people on the flight.

I will be doing another flight there in October; if no one beats me to it I'll post pics of the 'new' refurb.

That will be great. But would there be a "new" refurb plane by then? You mean 777-200ER "refurb". I know they have a "refurb" exercise, but not sure about their schedule.

Looking forward to see your photos and review

[SQ228]

Few! Glad I booked my F for August. I have flown this route a lot over the last two years, sometimes very, very full and sometimes very empty. On a flight a few months ago I was told by the cabin crew that there were less than 100 people on the flight.

I will be doing another flight there in October; if no one beats me to it I'll post pics of the 'new' refurb.

Whenever we discuss on here loads on the AMS route we always get back really conflicting figures. I've always been lucky and have been on the empty ones. December 27, 2011 was my last flight on SQ 324 and everyone in Y had at least 8 seats to themselves. I was amazed having just gotten off a fully-booked flight from MEL.

I think you might be a bit confused about the 'refurb' situation and flying in F.

AMS only has F at the moment due to being served by 777-300ER craft. There is no planned refurb of these planes as they are only abour 5-6 years old at most. If you have an F booking, then you definitely want your flight to be a 777-300ER (also known as 77W).

There have been notices and talk of AMS losing the 77W and going back to being served by 777-200ER planes. The 772ER does not have an F cabin. Nor does anybody have exact details yet of when they may be refurbished, and it certainly wouldn't be likely to happen by the end of this year. Even if the refurb of these craft does go ahead, this would not necessarily mean that it would add an F section which it presently doesn't have.

What I've been suggesting is that maybe due to MEL getting the next A380 and therefore freeing up a 77W, that this might mean AMS could stay 77W.

If you don't get a 77W, you won't be able to fly in F. If you do get a 77W, it won't be refurbed. It will be the 'new' product (that is, latest), if you consider something 6 years old to be 'new'.

[jupiter]

Whenever we discuss on here loads on the AMS route we always get back really conflicting figures. I've always been lucky and have been on the empty ones. December 27, 2011 was my last flight on SQ 324 and everyone in Y had at least 8 seats to themselves. I was amazed having just gotten off a fully-booked flight from MEL.

I think you might be a bit confused about the 'refurb' situation and flying in F.

AMS only has F at the moment due to being served by 777-300ER craft. There is no planned refurb of these planes as they are only abour 5-6 years old at most. If you have an F booking, then you definitely want your flight to be a 777-300ER (also known as 77W).

There have been notices and talk of AMS losing the 77W and going back to being served by 777-200ER planes. The 772ER does not have an F cabin. Nor does anybody have exact details yet of when they may be refurbished, and it certainly wouldn't be likely to happen by the end of this year. Even if the refurb of these craft does go ahead, this would not necessarily mean that it would add an F section which it presently doesn't have.

What I've been suggesting is that maybe due to MEL getting the next A380 and therefore freeing up a 77W, that this might mean AMS could stay 77W.

If you don't get a 77W, you won't be able to fly in F. If you do get a 77W, it won't be refurbed. It will be the 'new' product (that is, latest), if you consider something 6 years old to be 'new'.

Thanks for the detailed illustration of the scenarios that could happen to AMS route. Guess I can only hope for it to be switched to 77W by Dec

[FSJZ]

It's confirmed on the Flight Timetable. Effective January 7 2013.

SQ324
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: Boeing 777-300ER (New F, New J, New Y)
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Boeing 777-200ER Refitted (New J, New/Old Y)

SQ323
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: Boeing 777-300ER (New F, New J, New Y)
Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: Boeing 777-200ER Refitted (New J, New/Old Y)

Sources
Singapore Airlines retrofitting its 777-200ER with new long haul seats
SQ Timetable

*It is still unconfirmed if the refitted Boeing 777-200ER will have the new economy seats or the old economy seats.

-FSJZ

[SMK77]

Hmmm.. so AMS (Europe) would be considered as "Regional" to Singapore...? Actually shouldn't be surprised as they have long considered AKL as "Regional"...

They have decided to roll-out the International Seat (Diamond) in 1-2-1 layout. Good decision

[Kyo]

For AKL also?

[MAN Flyer]

For AKL also?

All the 772ER destinations are supposed to get it. Does AKL still get a 772ER ?. I thought that was CHC and AKL got a flight with a 77W and one with a refurbed bird with regional J ?.

I have to confess I haven't flown SQ to NZ for years so I could well be wrong about that...