SQ MXP-BCN - how to buy when SQ has no traffic rights?

[SQflyergirl]

We all know SQ can't sell us pure MXP-BCN seats, however, is there a clause somewhere that'd permit us to issue one of these just for travel between these two cities under special circumstances, for example, in conjunction with another international ticket etc?

I somehow doubt this is possible, but I'm asking anyway in case someone knows otherwise thanks.

[milehighj]

Good question. But practically speaking, how would you even get checked-in and load luggage if there is no departure ground handling in place?

[Singapore_Air]

I remember Singapore Airlines Milan and Singapore Airlines Barcelona having to make special arrangements with authorities in Spain and Italy to carry journalists on board the inaugural SQ378/SQ377.

[SQflyergirl]

Ok - a further question, for the Milan and Barcelona experts.

Which is easier to get into/from town with: Linate vs Malpensa and Costa Brava vs BCN?

[SQ LPP]

I remember that Linate is nearer than MXP. It took us a very long time from the city to MXP... an hour may be...

[9V-JKL]

I dont think you can fly that route in any way. When I flew BCN-MXP-SIN, we weren't even allowed off the plane at MXP during the stop-over.

Costa Brava is some 90km to Barcelona downtown. BCN is much nearer; a mere 10km

[SQflyergirl]

I remember that Linate is nearer than MXP. It took us a very long time from the city to MXP... an hour may be...

I dont think you can fly that route in any way. When I flew BCN-MXP-SIN, we weren't even allowed off the plane at MXP during the stop-over.

Costa Brava is some 90km to Barcelona downtown. BCN is much nearer; a mere 10km

Mille Grazie y Muchas Gracias - as the case may be here

[LukeGT]

Ok - a further question, for the Milan and Barcelona experts.

Which is easier to get into/from town with: Linate vs Malpensa and Costa Brava vs BCN?

Dear SQFG, i'm going to answer about Milan.

Linate is our city airport. It's very very easy to reach and well-located only 8 kms far from downtown.
You can take a cab (15EUR more or less) or get there with public transportation (bus line #73. Ticket is 1 eur, yes 1 eur: ticket is valid 75mins from first usage and allows u to use all buses, trams, and subways). #73 runs more or less every 5 to 8 mins during peak hours, 12 to 15 in the off-peak hours.

DOMESTIC
Linate offers a wide range of domestic connections (basically all italian destinations) with a special attention to the LIN-FCO link: more than 80 flights a day (AZ+AP) between the two cities.

INT'L
Talking about international destinations:
- there are NO scheduled flights to non-european destinations.
- there are international connections to main cities in Europe. Due to some government restrictions you can fly to :
LONDON HEATHROW (AZ BA)
LONDON GATWICK (U2)
LONDON CITY APT (AP)
BERLIN (LH+ AP* )
FRANKFURT (AZ LH AP*)
LISBON (TP AP*)
AER LINGUS (EI)
PARIS CDG (AZ AF)
PARIS ORLY (VOLARE + U2)
BARCELONA (IB AZ)
MADRID (IB AZ)
AMSTERDAM (AZ KL)
COPENHAGEN (SK)
STOCKHOLM ARN (SK)
HELSINKI (AY)
BRUXELLES (AZ + SN*)
WIEN (OS)
ATHENS (OA)

No other connections are offered right now.

*** please take note that, with the upcoming northern summer season, AZ will restructure its network, "dehubbing" MXP and moving most of the flights to FCO. Consequently some of the intra-european and domestic frequencies, currently operated from MXP, will be rerouted from LIN.

Particularly, AZ will increase service from LIN to :
Milano (LIN)
LIN-BDS 13xw M80
LIN-BRI 26xw (19xw M80 + 7xw 319)
LIN-CTA 27xw M80
LIN-FCO 193xw (139xw M80 + 49xw 321 + 5xw 319)
LIN-NAP 36xw M80
LIN-PMO 28xw (13xw 319 + 15xw M80)
LIN-REG 14xw M80
LIN-SUF 14xw M80





LIN-AMS 14xw (7xw 319 + 7xw M80)
LIN-BCN 20xw (6xw 321 + 14xw 319)
LIN-BRU 12xw (6xw 319 + 6xw M80)
LIN-CDG 32xw (25xw M80 + 7xw 319)
LIN-FRA 19xw (6xw 319 + 13xw M80)
LIN-LHR 32xw (12xw 321 + 20xw M80)
LIN-MAD 19xw (6xw M80 +13xw 319)




Because of the strong oppositions to these AZ's relocation, the network is being adjusted everyday so it's not yet confirmed.

[LukeGT]

Let's Talk about MALPENSA.

Malpensa is considered our hub. We have to say that the relationship between milanese people and MXP is very changeable.
I won't discuss about structure colours or the airport itself. There are 2 Terminal. From here i will identify MXP with T1 to make the matter easier.

MXP is located 45-50 kms from the down town. Please note that MXP is not in the Milan district, it's in Varese district.

• CAR

By car you need to use tollway: you can use A8/A9 till Gallarate and then freeway, or A4 to Boffalora and then heading north.

• TAXI

Recently some good news for people taking a cab: starting of mid-2007, there'a fix price to go to/from MXP from/to any point in Milan: price is 70EUR. Some of you could find this very high (I definitely agree with you: it's outrageous!) but the fact i consider this a good news should invite u to think about taxi-meter fares
The ride could take from 40min to 2 hours depending to your destination and to the traffic jam.
*** ATTENTION to FOREIGNERS TRAVELLING TO/FROM MXP: U know how Italians are... we have laws and every day we find a way to avoid it. So, when you take a cab you MUST specify u want the fix price, otherwise they will go for taxi-meter (which is more expensive). Taxi-drivers are very well known for being naughty particularly with foreigners. Getting the fix price is a your own right, so enforce the request or get off.

• TRAIN

There's a train service running between MXP and Milan Cadorna (which is a railway station located in the downtown).

SERVICE:
This isn't a non-stop service. Train stops in Busto Arsizio (some trains) Saronno (all) and Milano Bovisa Politecnico. Trains run every 30 mins and the ride to Milan Cadorna takes 40 mins more or less.
*** ATTENTION to FOREIGNERS TRAVELLING TO/FROM MXP: early morning services and night services are NOT operated by train but by BUSES. Some notes: BUSES does operate NON-STOP service from CADORNA to MXP, without stopping in other stations. It's extremely important you check if your service is a bus service or a train service because (obviously) the stop is located in another place.

PRICE:
One-Way from/to MXP to/from Cadorna is 11 EUR. You can buy ticket at the counter or at kiosk (major credit cards are accepted). If u are late or decide to buy it on-board the price increases to 13.50 EUR.
Return ticket is 14.50 EUR. You can buy ticket at the counter or at kiosk (major credit cards are accepted). If u are late or decide to buy it on-board the price increases to 17.00 EUR.
*** ATTENTION to FOREIGNERS TRAVELLING TO/FROM MXP: be very careful because no one will tell you this in advance but of course there's the dud. It's not clear BUT the return ticket is valid only for same day return. If you plan to run on different days, you MUST buy two separate one-way ticket. If you forget this you won't get any refund.
*** ATTENTION to FOREIGNERS TRAVELLING TO/FROM MXP: if your service is operated by BUS, you can buy the ticket on-board *without* surcharge.
The ticket doesn't allow you to use other public transports.

• SHUTTLE (classical meaning) - No shuttle service is offered

• BUS (Malpensa Shuttle)

Some private companies offer bus-service from MXP to Central Railway Station, FieraMilano (trade fair) and Linate.
You can buy ticket on-board without surcharge. Fare to Central Railway station and Fiera Milano is 6 or 7 EUR one-way. Fare to Linate is 10 EUR.
Return ticket is offered (without duds) and also some sort of multiple tickets. Price will change without rule, so please check out the most updated info. Ticket is not valid for other transports.
*** ATTENTION to FOREIGNERS TRAVELLING TO/FROM MXP: probably this is the cheapest way to get from /to Airport but BE INFORMED that traffic jam could be heavy and the service - particularly during peak hours - could be very delayed and you could miss ** flight. So calculate with accuracy which bus you need to take.
All buses stop also in T2 .

NETWORK:
MXP offers a sufficient range of domestic and european connections. Only some non-european destinations are offered.
Currently you can fly to JFK ATL PHL EWR ORD MIA BOS YYZ CCS GRU EZE NRT KIX BEY DAM THR TLV ALG CAI CMN TIP TUN DXB DOH AUH LOS ACC SIN BKK PEK BOM DEL Mauritius (probably i'm forgetting some dest)

*** please take note that, with the upcoming northern summer season, AZ will restructure its network, "dehubbing" MXP and moving most of the flights to FCO. Consequently some of the intra-european and domestic frequencies, currently operated from MXP, will be cancelled or rerouted from LIN. Some of the intercontinental destinations will be cancelled and moved to FCO or reduced.

Particularly AZ flights from MXP will change to :

MXP-JFK 7xw 772
ORD BOS MIA EWR will be cancelled



MXP-GRU 3xw 772
EZE CCS will be cancelled





MXP-NRT 3xw 772
MXP-TLV 7xw 320
BET DAM DXB KIX THR will be cancelled (DXB with EK will keep to be)




MXP-ALG 4xw 320
MXP-CAI 7xw 320
MXP-CMN 7xw M80
MXP-TIP 3xw 320
MXP-TUN 7xw M80
LOS/ACC will be cancelled




MXP-AMS 7xw M80
MXP-BEG 7xw E70
MXP-BIO 12xw ER4
MXP-BRU 7xw 320
MXP-BUD 14xw E70
MXP-CDG 14xw M80
MXP-DUS 13xw ER4
MXP-GVA 12xw ER4
MXP-IST 7xw 320
MXP-KBP 4xw 320
MXP-LED 3xw 320
MXP-MRS 7xw ER4
MXP-MUC 14xw ER4
MXP-OTP 14xw (7xw 320 + 7xw E70)
MXP-PRG 14xw (7xw E70 + 7xw M80)
MXP-SOF 7xw E70
MXP-STR 12xw ER4
MXP-SVO 7xw 320
MXP-SXB 10xw ER4
MXP-TIA 14xw E70
MXP-TXL 12xw ER4
MXP-VIE 14xw ER4
all other services currently operated will be suspended.


MXP-BRI 12xw E70
MXP-CTA 12xw (6xw M80 + 6xw 320)
MXP-FCO 28xw (21xw E70 + 7xw ER4)
MXP-NAP 13xw E70
MXP-PMO 13xw (7xw 320 + 6xw M80)
MXP-PSA 7xw E70
MXP-SUF 6xw M80
MXP-TRS 7xw ER4
MXP-VCE 13xw ER4
all other services currently operated will be suspended




Because of the strong oppositions to these AZ's relocation, the network is being adjusted everyday so it's not yet confirmed.

[jhm]

Very informative, thank you, LukeGT. I'll keep it handy the next time I'm lucky enough to visit Mila again.

Perhaps this needs to be linked to the airports section on SQT ?

[SQflyergirl]

the next time I'm lucky enough to visit Mila again.

who's she? do tell!

[jhm]

who's she? do tell!

I saw Mila again last weekend - she was very welcoming.

(Currently in the LIN Sala Leonardo lounge - entry by Priority Pass ... and it's also the temporary BA lounge (as the proper one is being renovated) but only if you check in online! If you don't check-in online and apparently regardless of having a J tix or having status, there's an area of some food outlet outside where you're banished to sit! )

[icn.sg]

MXP-BCN is not possible under any circumstance for revenue passengers. It may be done only for SQ staff as long as they can prove that they need to fly this route for work purposes. And even then, they would need to get the approval of the civil aviation authority as the ASA between Singapore and Italy and Singapore and Spain does not allow for it.

[SQTalker]

We all know SQ can't sell us pure MXP-BCN seats, however, is there a clause somewhere that'd permit us to issue one of these just for travel between these two cities under special circumstances, for example, in conjunction with another international ticket etc?

I somehow doubt this is possible, but I'm asking anyway in case someone knows otherwise thanks.

Yes, you can. Only if you are on a Star Alliance Round The World ticket.

The only Star Alliance carrier In Spain (none in Italy) is Spanair but Spanair has no direct flight in between BCN & MXP, Star Alliance Time Table sugguests to take the LH routing via FRA. So I called the travel agent & SQ reservation directly & they both said you can fly SQ in between BCN & MXP if you are on a Star Alliance Round The World ticket...& better to be on Business or First Class since most of the Spanair & Lufthansa aircraft in these routes doesn't offer anything above Economy class...!

[jhm]

I've never heard of a route which you can fly on a RTW but not on any other ticket. It sounds to me like SQ reservations who you spoke to were confused and didn't understand your question correctly.