Cheapest Business Class tickets to/from TPE?

[steveblower]

Hello. I have just found this amazing board, having followed a link from Flyer Talk.

And, as I am not sure of the terminology, I have not yet tried too many searches here.

I need to fly London to Taipei regularly. Thus far, I have been using SQ in Economy, typically booking directly with SQ website.

I took a decision recently, that in future, I want to travel in business class instead!

A hint of the L-Oreal advert, you know, the one that say 'because you are worth it' !

Anyway, when I started to look for fares, after fainting, I started to wonder just how much it is worth!

Priced from UK, LHR-TPE r/t is over 3K gbp!

I am aware of a fare called Great Escapade, which uses SQ, VS and NZ, and offers 29000 miles biz class for 4K gbp if ticketed in UK, or 2.1K gbp if ticketed in Taiwan.

I can certainly arrange for my trips to start and end in Taipei instead of London, and dont mind at all going one way on SQ and coming back on ANZ from AKL! I have plenty of time, and the NZ biz premier product is awesome!

Anyway, having rambled this much, here is my question........

Other than Great Escapade, are there any other SQ rtw or similar fares that I can exploit for my trips to and from Taipei???

Thank you all in advance for reading this, and a special thanks for any and all advice you can offer.

Steve.

[jhm]

Steve, welcome to SQTalk!

Priced from UK, LHR-TPE r/t is over 3K gbp!

As a start, have you tried pricing TPE-LHR-TPE ?

Other than Great Escapade, are there any other SQ rtw or similar fares that I can exploit for my trips to and from Taipei???

As you've gathered (comparing the price starting from LHR and TPE), the cost of a RTW varies greatly depending on where you start.

Besides the Great Escapade, have you looked into the Star Alliance RTW fares (e.g. a CRWSTAR1 - business class; maximum of 29,000 miles) which enable you to travel on all *A airlines (so including SQ and NZ but not VS) ?

As you're based in the UK, try looking into also bmi (BD)'s frequent flyer programme - Diamond Club - and their cash+miles redemption, e.g. 50,000 miles plus about £500 for a return in F on a Star Alliance airline (SQ etc) from (say) Denmark to TPE (so you also need to buy a cheap LHR to Denmark r/t). You can get 40,000 BD miles by simply applying for two MBNA credit cards and the remaining 10,000 BD miles by either flying or (say) spending £5,000 on the £60 annual fee card.

Edit: oops, sorry, I see from your profile that you're already BD *G so I'm preaching to the converted here!

[KeithMEL]

An alternative is the SQ-only RTW. Fare basis *EZSQ, * = F, Z, Y (books into A, D, M respectively).

Out of TPE, a CEZSQ would cost GBP1996 plus tax.

Fare excludes travel to SouthWest Pacific, and travel on the A345.

Great Escapade ex-TPE at GBP2.1k seems to be a better mileage run.

Rules of *EZSQ:

APPLICATION AND OTHER CONDITIONS
RULE - 334/Q99R SQ EASY APAC FARE APPLICATION CLASS OF SERVICE THESE FARES APPLY FOR FIRST/BUSINESS/ECONOMY CLASS SERVICE. FARES GOVERNED BY THIS RULE CAN BE USED TO CREATE CIRCLE TRIP/OPEN JAW/ROUND THE WORLD JOURNEYS. OTHER CONDITIONS FARES ONLY APPLY IF PURCHASED BEFORE DEPARTURE. EXCEPTION - MAY BE USED FOR ENROUTE UPGRADING FROM A LOWER FARE PROVIDED ALL CONDITIONS OF THESE FARES ARE MET. TRAVEL VIA BOTH THE ATLANTIC AND THE PACIFIC ON SQ SERVICES ONLY. FARES - 1.THIS FARE APPLIES ONLY WHEN PURCHASED BEFORE DEPARTURE. 2.WHEN TICKETS ARE SOLD OUTSIDE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN THE APPLICABLE LOCAL CURRENCY FARES SHALL BE CONVERTED TO THE CURRENCY OF SALE AT BSR BUT IN NO INSTANCE SHALL THE FARE BE LESS THAN THAT APPLICABLE FROM THE COUNTRY OF SALE. 3.IF FARES ARE NOT SPECIFIED IN LOCAL CURRENCY FROM COUNTRY OF SALE THE CORRESPONDING USD FARES WILL BE USED FOR COMPARISON PURPOSE. PASSENGER EXPENSES- EN ROUTE PASSENGER EXPENSES SHALL NOT BE ABSORBED BY THE CARRIERS.

FLIGHT APPLICATION
THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING SQ FLIGHT 0021 THROUGH 0022 SQ FLIGHT 0037 THROUGH 0038 SQ FLIGHT 1000 THROUGH 7999 SQ FLIGHT 9000 THROUGH 9999. NOTE - TRAVEL ON SQ A345 NOT PERMITTED. AND THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT INCLUDE TRAVEL FROM/TO SOUTHWEST PACIFIC ON ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING ANY SQ FLIGHT. NOTE - TRAVEL MUST BE IN A CONTINUOUS EASTBOUND OR WESTBOUND GLOBAL DIRECTION. TRAVEL BY SURFACE SECTORS WILL BE PERMITTED PROVIDED THEY ARE AT THE PASSENGER OWN EXPENSES. THE POINT AT WHICH THE PASSENGER REBOARDS SQ SERVICES MUST BE IN THE SAME DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. NO BACKTRACKING IS PERMITTED EXCEPT BTWN TWO SQ EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS. THIS MAY BE BY SURFACE OR VIA SQ SERVICES. -SUBJECT TO TRAFFIC RIGHT RESTRICTIONS- NO CITY MAY BE TRANSITTED MORE THAN ONCE IN THE ENTIRE JOURNEY.

ADVANCE RES/TICKETING
RESERVATIONS FOR DEPARTURE OF FIRST INTERNATIONAL SECTOR ARE REQUIRED AT LEAST 7 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE. OPEN RETURNS PERMITTED. TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED AT LEAST 7 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE. NOTE - TICKETING ENTRIES - ALL TICKETS INCLUDING CONJUNCTION TICKETS MUST SHOW THE COMPLETE FARE CONSTRUCTION IN VERTICAL OR LINEAR - FARE CONSTRUCTION BOXES-

MAXIMUM STAY
RETURN TRAVEL FROM LAST STOPOVER MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 3 MONTHS AFTER DEPARTURE FROM FARE ORIGIN.

STOPOVERS
5 FREE STOPOVERS ARE PERMITTED. NOTE - -STOPOVERS ARE PERMITTED AT CITIES SERVED BY SQ. -ROUTING CONDITIONS MUST BE OBSERVED. -STOPOVERS ARE SUB TO TRAFFIC RIGHT RESTRICTIONS.

TRANSFERS
UNLIMITED TRANSFERS PERMITTED ON THE PRICING UNIT FARE BREAK AND EMBEDDED SURFACE SECTORS PERMITTED ON THE FARE COMPONENT NOTE - NO SPCL REQUIREMENTS. TRAVEL BY SURFACE SECTORS WILL BE PERMITTED PROVIDED THEY ARE AT THE PASSENGER OWN EXPENSES. THE POINT AT WHICH THE PASSENGER REBOARDS SQ SERVICES MUST BE IN THE SAME DIRECTION OF TRAVEL

PERMITTED COMBINATIONS
ROUND TRIPS NOT PERMITTED. ADD-ONS PERMITTED. END-ON-END END-ON-END COMBINATIONS PERMITTED. VALIDATE ALL FARE COMPONENTS. TRAVEL //. NOTE - SIDE TRIP COMBINATIONS PERMITTED. PASSENGERS MAY PURCHASE AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE ANY -VISIT AMERICA- OR OTHER FARES. OPEN JAWS/CIRCLE TRIPS FARES MAY BE COMBINED ON A HALF ROUND TRIP BASIS -TO FORM SINGLE OR DOUBLE OPEN JAWS -TO FORM CIRCLE TRIPS PROVIDED - COMBINATIONS ARE WITH ANY FARES OF THE SAME FARE TYPE FOR CARRIER SQ IN ANY RULE AND TARIFF.

SURCHARGES
NOTE - A- SQ BUSINESS PLUS SURCHARGES ON B773ER NON-STOP SERVICES 1-THE SURCHARGES BELOW WILL BE LEVIED ON BUSINESS CLASS RTW PASSENGERS TRAVELLING ON THE FOLLOWING SQ B773ER NON-STOP SERVICES SECTOR FLIGHT NUMBERS FOR TRAVEL ON/AFTER SIN-HKG V.V SQ 862/SQ 861 06 DECEMBER 2006 SIN-SEL V.V. SQ 016/SQ 015 21 MAR 2007 SIN-FRA V.V. SQ 326/SQ 325 02 MAY 2007 SIN-PAR V.V SQ 334/SQ 333 05 DECEMBER 2006 SIN-MIL V.V SQ 378/SQ 377 21 DECEMBER 2006 SIN-BCN V.V SQ 378/SQ 377 21 DECEMBER 2006 SIN-ZRH V.V. SQ 346/SQ 345 22 JAN 2007 SIN-SFO V.V. SQ 016/SQ 015 21 MAR 2007 SEL-SFO V.V. SQ 016/SQ 015 21 MAR 2007 2- B773ER SURCHARGES SECTOR FLIGHT NUMBERS SURCHARGE PER SECTOR SIN-HKG V.V SQ 862/SQ 861 USD 300 SIN-SEL V.V. SQ 016/SQ 015 USD300 SIN-FRA V.V. SQ 326/SQ 325 USD500 SIN-PAR V.V SQ 334/SQ 333 USD 500 SIN-MIL V.V SQ 378/SQ 377 USD 500 SIN-BCN V.V SQ 378/SQ 377 USD 500 SIN-ZRH V.V. SQ 346/SQ 345 USD500 SIN-SFO V.V. SQ 016/SQ 015 USD600 SEL-SFO V.V. SQ 016/SQ 015 USD500 3- THE SURCHARGE AMOUNTS MUST BE REFLECTED AS A Q-SURCHARGE AFTER THE B773ER SECTOR 4-THE SURCHARGES WILL NOT APPLY TO FIRST CLASS RTW PASSENGERS. 5- INFANTS NOT OCCUPYING A SEAT NO CHARGE INFANTS OCCUPYING A SEAT NO DISCOUNT NO OTHER DISCOUNTS APPLY ONE OW/RT SIDE TRIP TO/FROM SIN IS PERMITTED ON MI SERVICES. SECTOR COW IN USD YOW IN USD SIN-HKT/MES/PDG 216 115 SIN-MDC/PNH/RGN 390 220 SIN-BPN/UPG/REP 390 220 SIN-KMG/XMN/CEB/DVO/TRV 519 254 SIN-LGK 130 J-CLASS 100 SIN-CNX/AMI/SOC 302 148 -RT ADDON IS TWICE THE OW

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
WITHIN TPE VALID FOR TRAVEL COMMENCING ON/AFTER 15JUL2003.

SALES RESTRICTIONS
WITHIN SOUTHEAST ASIA TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON/AFTER 09NOV2005.

PENALTIES
CANCELLATIONS BEFORE DEPARTURE FOR CANCEL/NO-SHOW NOTE - .BEFORE DEADLINE - FULL REFUND .AFTER DEADLINE/NO SHOW - 25PCT OF FARE PAID NOT REFUNDABLE. CANCELLATIONS AFTER DEPARTURE FOR CANCEL/NO-SHOW NOTE - CANCELLATION - THE REFUND IF ANY WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FARE PAID AND THE APPLICABLE NORMAL FARE FOR THE JOURNEY COMPLETED LESS 25PCT. NOTE - -THE NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT MUST NOT BE USED AS CREDIT TOWARDS PURCHASE OF ANY OTHER FARE. CHANGES FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION NOTE - CHANGES AFTER DEADLINE- 1.FIRST INTERNATIONAL OUTBOUND SECTOR-CHANGES NOT PERMITTED. 2.OTHER SECTORS A.ONE TRANSACTION PERMITTED FREE B.SUBSEQUENT CHANGES REQUIRING TICKET REISSUANCE WILL BE PERMITTED AT A CHARGE OF USD25/GBP15 -EX U.K ONLY- PER AFFECTED FLIGHT COUPON.

HIP/MILEAGE EXCEPTIONS
THE HIGHER INTERMEDIATE POINT RULE DOES NOT APPLY FOR STOPOVERS. NOTE - NOT APPLICABLE.

TICKET ENDORSEMENT
THE ORIGINAL AND REISSUED TICKETS MUST BE ANNOTATED-VALID ON SQ ONLY-AND-NON-REF/APAC-IN THE ENDORSEMENT BOX.

CHILDREN DISCOUNTS
NOTE - GENERAL RULE DOES NOT APPLY. AN ACCOMPANIED CHILD 2-11 YEARS OF AGE - CHARGE 67 PERCENT OF THE FARE. MUST BE ACCOMPANIED ON ALL FLIGHTS BY ADULT 12 OR OLDER. OR - 1ST INFANT UNDER 2 YEARS OF AGE AND NOT OCCUPYING A SEAT - CHARGE 10 PERCENT OF THE FARE. MUST BE ACCOMPANIED ON ALL FLIGHTS BY AT LEAST 1 BUT NO MORE THAN 1 ADULT 12 OR OLDER. NOTE - ONLY ONE INFANT SHALL ACCOMPANY EACH ADULT PASSENGER. ANY ADDITIONAL INFANT WILL BE CHARGED 67 PCT. OF THE ADULT FARE AND A SEAT WILL BE RESERVED. OR - AN INFANT UNDER 2 YEARS OF AGE AND OCCUPYING A SEAT - CHARGE 67 PERCENT OF THE FARE. MUST BE ACCOMPANIED ON ALL FLIGHTS BY AT LEAST 1 BUT NO MORE THAN 1 ADULT 12 OR OLDER. NOTE - ONLY ONE INFANT SHALL ACCOMPANY EACH ADULT PASSENGER. ANY ADDITIONAL INFANT WILL BE CHARGED 67 PCT. OF THE ADULT FARE AND A SEAT WILL BE RESERVED.