SIN-DEL airline choices: AI 788 vs SQ A388

[shikhargpt]

Oh, so that's where the confusion is! I was looking at a different flight period; I can only fly after 20 Nov.Then the price is $1722 at the moment.

Not really set on SQ unless they have a good deal for under $550 or I'll opt for AI Y class.

Anyway this is my first full service flight to India since 2009. I flew MH (734 and A332) in 2009, AK and D7 (322 and 333) in 2010, and 6E (322) for 2011 and last year. So anything is a step up now haha.

[SQueeze]

or I'll opt for AI Y class.

Hi Shikhar,

Even with Y fare, AI allows for upgrade to Executive using Optiontown. Go to www.optiontown.com for details. I am not sure how much it is for DEL-SIN, for BLR-DEL it is about SGD 150. So I guess DEL-SIN will be around SGD 300.

I think it's worth to get a flat bed on the redeye inbound.

AI also offers upgrade at airport option. It's for a certain period.Now up to June (yesterday), but this has been going on for awhile. As long as I recall, it's always getting extended. USD 250 as per their website. Worth it too.

http://www.airindia.com/airport-upgr...-east-asia.htm

I know I have been pushing for AI. But that's out of sympathy for having endured the brutal nights many times over. Be prepared with surly services and don't expect much out of the experience. It's just for the flat bed.

You may also want to know that Jet offers prices of SGD 500 onwards in Economy and as low as SGD 880 in business class return all in. For the night flight, business class will be SGD 1110 or so. To me, any J class even on Jet's 737 is better than any of SQ's Y on the A380. Do consider it too.

[shikhargpt]

Hi Shikhar,

Even with Y fare, AI allows for upgrade to Executive using Optiontown. Go to www.optiontown.com for details. I am not sure how much it is for DEL-SIN, for BLR-DEL it is about SGD 150. So I guess DEL-SIN will be around SGD 300.

I think it's worth to get a flat bed on the redeye inbound.

AI also offers upgrade at airport option. It's for a certain period.Now up to June (yesterday), but this has been going on for awhile. As long as I recall, it's always getting extended. USD 250 as per their website. Worth it too.

http://www.airindia.com/airport-upgr...-east-asia.htm

I know I have been pushing for AI. But that's out of sympathy for having endured the brutal nights many times over. Be prepared with surly services and don't expect much out of the experience. It's just for the flat bed.

You may also want to know that Jet offers prices of SGD 500 onwards in Economy and as low as SGD 880 in business class return all in. For the night flight, business class will be SGD 1110 or so. To me, any J class even on Jet's 737 is better than any of SQ's Y on the A380. Do consider it too.

That is an amazing deal. I'll do my best to convince my parents to book AI's J class then, pity I'm not making all the travel decisions yet. Not really keen on Jet (738 vs 788 no contest ).

[shikhargpt]

Hi Shikhar,

Even with Y fare, AI allows for upgrade to Executive using Optiontown. Go to [...] for details. I am not sure how much it is for DEL-SIN, for BLR-DEL it is about SGD 150. So I guess DEL-SIN will be around SGD 300.

I think it's worth to get a flat bed on the redeye inbound.

AI also offers upgrade at airport option. It's for a certain period.Now up to June (yesterday), but this has been going on for awhile. As long as I recall, it's always getting extended. USD 250 as per their website. Worth it too.

[...]

I know I have been pushing for AI. But that's out of sympathy for having endured the brutal nights many times over. Be prepared with surly services and don't expect much out of the experience. It's just for the flat bed.

You may also want to know that Jet offers prices of SGD 500 onwards in Economy and as low as SGD 880 in business class return all in. For the night flight, business class will be SGD 1110 or so. To me, any J class even on Jet's 737 is better than any of SQ's Y on the A380. Do consider it too.

One more thing, I've a question after reading your 9W A332 and 738 J trip reports: Assuming SQ doesn't roll out their sub-$500 Y deal, then factoring in everything (timing, aircraft uniqueness, comfort, food, PTV size and quality, value-for-money), is this a correct classification?

AI 788 J > 9W A332 J > AI 788 Y > 9W 738 J > SQ 388 Y

Unfortunately it seems that 9W has pulled the 332 from the SIN-DEL-SIN route, and I'm really not keen on flying the 9W 738 even in J. It looks terrible, especially compared to AI's J and even their Y and SQ's Y. However, it still is J, and just slightly more expensive than the SQ 388 Y. What do you think (assuming miles don't factor in)?

Cheers for all the help!

[SQueeze]

There has never been a 9W 332 on the DEL route, it was only to BOM. In any case, It is not there anymore so it has to be taken out of the equation.

Assuming, AI charges SGD 510 return, and SQ charges SGD 903 return. And assuming that miles are not useful to you considering that your travel is once or twice a year. I would go with

1. AI 788 J inbound only (you can book mixed class on AI website)
2. 9W 738 J inbound only (you can book mixed class on 9W website)
3. SQ 388 Y
4. AI 788 Y
5. 9W 738 Y

1 - costs about SGD 1136 (this may even be lower if the web special exec is available after 20Nov)
2 - costs about SGD 1210
3 - costs SGD 903
4 - costs SGD 510
5 - costs SGD 500

I still go by the principle that any J class is better than any Y class and a premium of 200-300 is reasonable.

I would still put SQ Y higher than AI Y too because AI's Y is 9 across the 788 and therefore the seats are narrower than on SQ. Can consider it Y-. In fact, you may find 738 better for its standard 6 across seating. But I havent tried 10-across-777 or 9-across-787 so I don't know how noticeable is the narrower width.

If using optiontown upgrade, item 1 may cost even lesser than SQ's Y. But what I am not sure if AI's 510 fare qualifies for optiontown upgrade or airport upgrade. That you have to study more detail. To be sure, book mixed class booking then you are guaranteed the flat bed.

[shikhargpt]

There has never been a 9W 332 on the DEL route, it was only to BOM. In any case, It is not there anymore so it has to be taken out of the equation.

Assuming, AI charges SGD 510 return, and SQ charges SGD 903 return. And assuming that miles are not useful to you considering that your travel is once or twice a year. I would go with

1. AI 788 J inbound only (you can book mixed class on AI website)
2. 9W 738 J inbound only (you can book mixed class on 9W website)
3. SQ 388 Y
4. AI 788 Y
5. 9W 738 Y

1 - costs about SGD 1136 (this may even be lower if the web special exec is available after 20Nov)
2 - costs about SGD 1210
3 - costs SGD 903
4 - costs SGD 510
5 - costs SGD 500

I still go by the principle that any J class is better than any Y class and a premium of 200-300 is reasonable.

I would still put SQ Y higher than AI Y too because AI's Y is 9 across the 788 and therefore the seats are narrower than on SQ. Can consider it Y-. In fact, you may find 738 better for its standard 6 across seating. But I havent tried 10-across-777 or 9-across-787 so I don't know how noticeable is the narrower width.

If using optiontown upgrade, item 1 may cost even lesser than SQ's Y. But what I am not sure if AI's 510 fare qualifies for optiontown upgrade or airport upgrade. That you have to study more detail. To be sure, book mixed class booking then you are guaranteed the flat bed.

Thanks a lot for the advice SQueeze! While I really agree with SQ Y at #3, my parents will probably see the $400 price difference with AI Y and go for the latter, maybe even relegating SQ Y to #5 unless there's a sub-$550 deal.

I really like your TRs too, and may I just ask, what job do you do? My goal is to either fly the planes myself, or earn enough to be a really frequent flyer like you

Thanks a huge bunch for your advice!

Cheers,
Shikhar

[SQueeze]

My goal is to either fly the planes myself, or earn enough to be a really frequent flyer like you

Thanks a huge bunch for your advice!

Cheers,
Shikhar

Shikhar ji,

You are still young. Go and pursue your dream. And no, frequent flyer is not a job. Dream a pilot and go for it.

I had earlier two dreams. The 1st one is what I am doing now which is nothing to do with travel. But Singapore is so small therefore many of our projects are overseas and we get to travel and not necessarily upfront. The 2nd one is pilot - I tried and I didn't pass the last stage.

I actually tried my 1st dream first, and then gave the 2nd one a shot for a mid career change, and then settle happy with my 1st. To be in my current job, one needs perseverance and need to really like it because it is long haul study. I will tell you over the PM.

Anyway, we wait for your first Trip Report

[shikhargpt]

Shikhar ji,

You are still young. Go and pursue your dream. And no, frequent flyer is not a job. Dream a pilot and go for it.

I had earlier two dreams. The 1st one is what I am doing now which is nothing to do with travel. But Singapore is so small therefore many of our projects are overseas and we get to travel and not necessarily upfront. The 2nd one is pilot - I tried and I didn't pass the last stage.

I actually tried my 1st dream first, and then gave the 2nd one a shot for a mid career change, and then settle happy with my 1st. To be in my current job, one needs perseverance and need to really like it because it is long haul study. I will tell you over the PM.

Anyway, we wait for your first Trip Report

Definitely going for pilot! Having my As next year, so will have to buckle down then. However, my parents are not too set on my dream and want me to pursue more "financially stable" jobs where you earn more. Which I why I asked, not becoming a frequent flyer as a job haha.

[yflyer]

But I havent tried 10-across-777 or 9-across-787 so I don't know how noticeable is the narrower width.

Definitely noticeable!

It is worse if you are a single traveller, because you are almost guaranteed to be rubbing shoulders and elbows with one or two total strangers the whole flight. If you are a single traveller on one of these flights, do all possible to get an aisle seat, and pray for an anorexic seatmate.

Less of an issue if you are travelling with friends/family and if you occupy a whole block of 3 or 4.

[SQ228]

Definitely noticeable!

It is worse if you are a single traveller, because you are almost guaranteed to be rubbing shoulders and elbows with one or two total strangers the whole flight. If you are a single traveller on one of these flights, do all possible to get an aisle seat, and pray for an anorexic seatmate.

Less of an issue if you are travelling with friends/family and if you occupy a whole block of 3 or 4.

And this is the reason I give when friends and co-workers ask me why I don't fly with EK...

[SQueeze]

Definitely noticeable!

It is worse if you are a single traveller, because you are almost guaranteed to be rubbing shoulders and elbows with one or two total strangers the whole flight. If you are a single traveller on one of these flights, do all possible to get an aisle seat, and pray for an anorexic seatmate.

Less of an issue if you are travelling with friends/family and if you occupy a whole block of 3 or 4.

Last night, I finally had my first Y minus experience (10-across 777 with Scoot).
And it was a full house flight.

It was not that noticeable at first. And am sure for the average flyers, they wouldn't notice unless you tell them. Because at the hip, there is plenty of space. But a few minutes later, once you lean back, then one notices that at the shoulder, it's only a hair breadth away to your seatmate. You don't rub shoulders if everyone maintains perfect straight centreline position but after a few minutes and throughout the flight, indeed that slight shoulder rubbing is inevitable. But definitely not an issue if your seatmate is someone you know. And definitely not an issue at the aisle or window because you can just lean away.

My horror of the 10-across all these while was out-of-proportion. I think at budget prices (my flight from BKK cost me SGD80) and at sub-3 hours, the 10-across is perfectly acceptable to me. Legroom and recline are also very generous - I think they are just like on SQ. In my opinion, it's much more comfortable than Jetstar's A320 with its stiff preclined seats and practically no recline.