CGK-SIN-HKG SQ F - worth it?

[newflyer]

I'd really appreciate your help.

My husband and I are going to be in Cimaja (regional Java) for a wedding in late June 2008. We'd like to extend the trip on a more luxurious basis!

We are not regular o/s travellers by any stretch (fairly intense work commitments and other priorities) but usually travel business class domestically. We are not squillionaires but are financially comfortable and are in our late 20s.

Neither of us have ever travelled international first class. We're considering flying from CGK to SIN, spending a day or two and then flying to HKG, all in SQ F. I understand these are short hops. We plan to fly home to PER from HKG via KUL and BKI on MH J.

Our other options include flying from CGK to BKI via KUL on MH J and skipping SIN and HKG, or flying from CGK to HGK again on MH J and skipping SIN. These options would be somewhere in the order of $800 cheaper for the two of us.

The MH options would involve flying their 734 or 330. I understand the J pitch for these planes is pretty ordinary. If we go with SQ F we would be flying the 330 and then either the 744 or 77W.

I've read these forums and SQ F looks like a good offering, but is it worth it? The $800 isn't going to bankrupt us but I'd love feedback from those in the know. We are not likely to be having another o/s trip in the short term although I am contemplating a trip to Shanghai sooner rather than later..

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any help.

[SQflyergirl]

I'd really appreciate your help.

My husband and I are going to be in Cimaja (regional Java) for a wedding in late June 2008. We'd like to extend the trip on a more luxurious basis!

We are not regular o/s travellers by any stretch (fairly intense work commitments and other priorities) but usually travel business class domestically. We are not squillionaires but are financially comfortable and are in our late 20s.

Neither of us have ever travelled international first class. We're considering flying from CGK to SIN, spending a day or two and then flying to HKG, all in SQ F. I understand these are short hops. We plan to fly home to PER from HKG via KUL and BKI on MH J.

Our other options include flying from CGK to BKI via KUL on MH J and skipping SIN and HKG, or flying from CGK to HGK again on MH J and skipping SIN. These options would be somewhere in the order of $800 cheaper for the two of us.

The MH options would involve flying their 734 or 330. I understand the J pitch for these planes is pretty ordinary. If we go with SQ F we would be flying the 330 and then either the 744 or 77W.

I've read these forums and SQ F looks like a good offering, but is it worth it? The $800 isn't going to bankrupt us but I'd love feedback from those in the know. We are not likely to be having another o/s trip in the short term although I am contemplating a trip to Shanghai sooner rather than later..

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any help.

First and foremost, welcome to SQTalk

MH J on the 737-400 or A330-300 as you say, is dismal seat pitch wise.
The A330-200 is much better, however I do not think these do CGK runs. They're marked "332" in the system.

For $800, you can't go far wrong with SQ F, like you say, as you've never been on international F, it'd be a good introduction. You know how it is in OZ - "You never never know if you never never go"

SQ doesn't have A330's (not yet anyway), so perhaps you might have gotten it mixed up?

[Lobster]

The CGK-SIN trip is very short so you will not get much of a F experience. The SIN-HKG leg is about 3 hours and I think is a great flight to experience F on. Make sure you book the flights operated by either the 777-300ER or the B747-400 both these flights have the proper international F seats, the flights operated by a 777-200 or 777-300 only have regional seats. However the service is the same no matter what flight you take.

[newflyer]

Thanks for the quick responses. yep I did get confused, too many flights, flight numbers and types of plane! I meant the 777-300 for the CGK-SIN flight.

I think I'm losing it! I have to laugh because our original holiday plan involved flying AK until we thought for a minute and realised that while it might be the most sensible thing to do from a price perspective, my husband has a bad back and I am unfortunately very fond of luxury

We are flying QF Y(uk) (points) to CGK from PER so the return journey will be a slightly different experience!

[acey]

I've read these forums and SQ F looks like a good offering, but is it worth it? The $800 isn't going to bankrupt us but I'd love feedback from those in the know. .

Erm..am I missing something here...$800 fare is for what ??
definitely not all the way from CGK to HKG right (F class), cant be so cheap ??

[newflyer]

The $800 is the difference between 2 fares on MH J CGK-HKG and 2 fares on SQ F CGK-SIN-HKG

CGK-HGK for $800 - I wish - that would make all of the decisions very easy

[sfvoyage]

I think incremental of A$800 is worth it to experience SQ F.

CGK-SIN: F will be practically the same as J on SQ. The F seats are marginally better. The meal will be almost the same, except on lunch or dinner flights, they pass around a fruit basket in F. (Too bad it's not SIN-CGK, in which case you can BTC. I once had a multi-course, 3-tray, full Japanese keisaki meal on my SIN-CGK flight - the same they'd serve on a long-haul F flight!) Champagne & wine selection will be better. It's only a 75 minute flight anyway.

SIN-HKG: F on a 744 or 77W will give you a very good idea of the SQ F experience, minus the Ferragamo amenity kit & Givenchy sleep suit. Actually, I've heard that on 77W, upon request, the crew will make your bed with the proper duvet and linen, but that's a bit excessive on a 3-hr flight. The meal will be equivalent to the first main meal of a long-haul, so you'll get the full treatment there. Make sure the flight has lunch or dinner service. (Breakfast flight won't be as elaborate, obviously.) Just hope there won't be a last minute equipment change to a 772 or 773. To minimize the chance of that, try to book SQ2 (a 744 that goes onto SFO) or SQ862 (77W).

[newflyer]

Forgot to mention that the flight from CGK-SIN while a short flight, is quite important to us.. we're flying out of CGK that night after 4 hours or so in a car from Cimaja and I have been warned that the car trip won't be pleasant. We will definitely need a glass of Krug or two or 40. (I have written down SQ967 for this flight, I don't suppose it makes much difference).

Am I right in expecting a very mediocre lounge offering in CGK?

Flights for SIN-HKG will be either sq2 on 25/6 or sq967 on 26/6. The next argument is our seats.. I want a window but my husband wants to sit next to me.. damn him.

[Carfield]

SQ 2 definitely...

Carfield

[9V-JKL]

Am I right in expecting a very mediocre lounge offering in CGK?

Flights for SIN-HKG will be either sq2 on 25/6 or sq967 on 26/6. The next argument is our seats.. I want a window but my husband wants to sit next to me.. damn him.

Welcome to SQTalk! newflyer

You'll get this lounge: http://www.sqtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=439

Er....SQ967 is CGK-SIN, do you mean SQ862 which is SIN-HKG? I too would recommend SQ2. 2 weeks back, my bro-in-law's SQ862 went from 77W to 773

[newflyer]

ok Carfield, I'll bite.. I have seen some reviews saying that the 744 is better than the 77W - but what exactly makes it better and how do I convince my husband who thinks he wants to fly the 77W?

Geez I'm an annoying newbie aren't I! I might go off and do another search myself!

[newflyer]

I'm making a lot of mistakes today, please excuse my brain fog. Yes I mean the sq862 from SIN-HGK!

[9V-JKL]

You could always fly SQ2 from SIN-HKG on the 744 and HKG-SIN on the 77W for the best of both worlds

[UMD]

The lounge offering at CGK, although not at par with SKL at T3 and T2 is definitely one of the better lounge that SQ can offer through its system. Though it is a contract lounge by the name of Esplanade, it is actually operating only for SQ F and C class as well as its PPS and Solitaire.

You will find that the lounge at CGK is better than that you will get at HKG.

[newflyer]

Thanks UMD that is encouraging! I'm assuming that SQ do not have an arrival lounge at HGK? We will be flying MH out of HKG, I'm not sure what their lounge is like.. the MH website is rather crappo and I can't find much information.