Biz fares to Europe - so high?!

[Short Final]

I just checked for flights to CGK-CDG in biz around third week of June.

Round trip SQ biz starts about $6500, while European carriers (AF and LH) are around $4500, then the Gulf carriers around $3500 (Emirates, Etihad).

Those are huge differences!

My PPS will not be renewed again if I don't fly this trip on SQ biz. But, I am really questioning whether it's really worth it at all to spend the extra thousands of dollars of cash, just so I can retain PPS? Is this just folly? Are SQ just able to price that level because they have the business traffic who are willing to pay the premium??

[flying.monkeyz]

You can possibly fly First Class on Etihad with that price. With spare change for hotels too.

[CarbonMan]

Not just in J but also in Y where it is supposedly more competitive. EK's fare for SIN-DXB rtn is two-thirds that of SQ.

[SQ228]

SQ seems to really milk the Asian market for more cash and seemingly must get it. They tried that on the Kangaroo route until the Middle East carriers undercut them so much that they were forced to price-match.

I've often compared a 1-stop ticket price between SQ and EK out of MEL to Europe. Over the last couple of years, SQ has always been cheaper. To get the same price on EK I have to fly MEL-SIN-DXB-Europe.

[dfs24]

You might want to consider doing AF J. They're running the new seats to SIN/CGK.

[Short Final]

You can possibly fly First Class on Etihad with that price. With spare change for hotels too.

My goodness... you're right @flying.monkeyz.

$6000 for Etihad First. Unreal!

It looks like a great product too!

[SQflyergirl]

It looks like a great product too!

That's because it is.

[Ikarus2006]

Unless a client pays for my JCL ticket in SQ like in the past 2 years, there is no way I would want to pay for it myself now: way overpriced.

I was looking for a mere YCL ticket SIN-MUC on SQ, 2 weeks before departure, way after Easter time.

YCL seats were going 3,150 SG$ to 10,200 SG$. QR in JCL was 3,600. Somebody at the airline house needs to get real to avoid embarrassment...

Seen in this perspective, their Premium Economy could easily end up priced equally to Gulf Carrier Business Class, and there is no way that the new PE of SQ can rival with, for instance, QR new JCL seat.

[vsepr]

No massage in spa at airport like in BKK, lounges not impressive like in HKG and BKK, no limo ride to airport like EK...totally not worth, unless it free.

[scooby5]

I'm guessing, but you can also fly 1st on Thai in their A380 to Paris cheaper or similar price as SQ's J ticket......at least using Thai's MasterCard promotion, currently on until the end of April for travel through the summer.

I'm using the promo this month to book my normal June trip.

Thai's service in 1st is pretty good and the A380 seat is a good one.....plus you get to keep your miles in KF

[Guitarsingapore]

No doubt that SQ will come under tremendous price pressure going forward.

Once upon a time, I was told, SQ was earning annual net profits in the billion(s).

[flyguy]

well one has to also look at the type of J seats on SIA as compared to other airlines. SIA's biz class seats on its 773ERs and A380s are just 4 seats across as opposed to Emirates which has 7 biz seats across and other mid-east and European carriers which have 6 seats across.

[Guitarsingapore]

well one has to also look at the type of J seats on SIA as compared to other airlines. SIA's biz class seats on its 773ERs and A380s are just 4 seats across as opposed to Emirates which has 7 biz seats across and other mid-east and European carriers which have 6 seats across.

That is very true too.

[MSPeconomist]

DL also has only four seats across in business (first) class, all with direct aisle access; it's wonderful. On the upper deck of the few remaining 747s, it's 1-1 seating. (DL doesn't offer IFC.) The new AF interiors on only a few 777s so far are 1-2-1, as are at least some VS and VA aircraft IIRC.

Unfortunately UA still has 2-4-2 business class configurations on some of their planes. AF, KE, and MH among others do 2-3-2. BA has staggered seats with some facing backward so it's hard to say how many seats go across, but the business class cabin seems densely packed to me.

[Iflyflat]

well one has to also look at the type of J seats on SIA as compared to other airlines. SIA's biz class seats on its 773ERs and A380s are just 4 seats across as opposed to Emirates which has 7 biz seats across and other mid-east and European carriers which have 6 seats across.

+1

QF have 6 across and their J class seats are like sardine tins. My view is SQ has the roomiest J class. People need to compare before they choose. Most business people fly solo so that added comfort in a single seat on SQ has to be worth something?? I have not been on a flight that has not been close to full so SQ must be doing something right!