SQ fare class price difference?

[LampStack]

I was just on Singapore Air's website and ran a sample fare for both Y and J class for a three week trip in September. This is what I found:

SFO - HKG (SQ1/SQ2) round trip Y class - $ 881.69

SFO - HKG (SQ1/SQ2) round trip J class - $ 6,674.69

To me, I would expect business class to be three or four times the price of economy. but over seven times the price?

Can someone help me understand the huge difference in price between the two?

Thanks

[jhm]

You're probably comparing discounted limited/no flexibility Y against fully flexible J.

[jjpb3]

I think jhm's correct. In the good ol' days of LHR-SIN fares being less than £600, the ratios for web fares ex-LHR were around 6. Those were for the cheapest mileage-earning economy fares.

[LampStack]

I would have to say, regardless of one's price sensitivity, it is very tough to argue that the Y class fare is not the better value.

Actually, I called Singapore Air to check, and they indicated that the fully-refundable business class fare for the above route is around $8,250 IIRC.

[StarG]

During the past years, Business Class prices have increased much more (% wise) compared to Economy Class prices.
If I recall correctly, in the late 90s, Business fares on average used to be just 2.5 times Economy.

[jjpb3]

I would have to say, regardless of one's price sensitivity, it is very tough to argue that the Y class fare is not the better value.

Depends on what you're doing at the end of the flight (e.g., a meeting with senior management to clinch a large business deal would probably justify the expenditure), and of course, on your personal comfort level.

I'm pretty satisfied with the amenities of SQ Y, so it would require a very special occasion for me to consider splurging on Business Class when I'm on my own dime.

[9V-SIA]

It pays to shop around.

My aunt in Malaysia wanted to fly to London C class A380.

There was a $2k saving for her booking through a Singapore TA compared to her Malaysian counterpart.

There was a time when it was cheaper to buy my tickets in Malaysia

[kapitan]

SQ is never cheap ..... making my enquiries now, comparing LH and SQ and here's what I got, all business class fares;

LH 779 10AUG Singapore(Changi) - Frankfurt(Frankfurt Intl) 2305 0525+1 OK
LH 3102 11AUG Frankfurt(Frankfurt Intl) - Helsinki(Helsinki Vantaa) 0935 1255 OK
LH 4737 30AUG London(Heathrow) - Frankfurt(Frankfurt Intl) 1805 2035 OK
LH 778 30AUG Frankfurt(Frankfurt Intl) - Singapore(Changi) 2200 1550+1 OK
Locator :
Airline locator :
Fare: SGD6350+TXS SGD971

SQ 334 10AUG Singapore(Changi) - Paris(Charles De Gaulle) 2340 0655+1 OK
AY 872 11AUG Paris(Charles De Gaulle) - Helsinki(Helsinki Vantaa) 1050 1450 OK


SQ 321 30AUG London(Heathrow) - Singapore(Changi) 2205 1755+1 OK
Locator :
Airline locator :
Fare: SGD10992+TXS SGD653
Remarks : On confirmation, e-tkt will be issued.

I would love to be flying SQ on this trip, but looking at LH's pricing, they are more attractive and booking with LH will not have the MD on my back...

[jhm]

Actually, I called Singapore Air to check, and they indicated that the fully-refundable business class fare for the above route is around $8,250 IIRC.

Correct. Here are the fares SFO-HKG on SQ in September for the Pacific routing:

    V FARE BASIS     BK    FARE   TRAVEL-TICKET AP  MINMAX  RTG
[...]
 13   Y              Y‡X  1587.00     ----      -    -/  - PA03
 14   JMPA           J‡X  3035.00     ----      -/‡  -/  - PA04
 15   JWPA           J‡X  3335.00     ----      -/‡  -/  - PA04
 16   C              C‡X  4127.00     ----      -    -/  - PA03

The $6,674 fare you mentioned is the J business fare which is less than the C business fare of around $8,250. A fully flexible Y economy fare would be around $3,178.