77W First Class - Underutilized?

[SMK77]

I am not a big fan of the 77W First Class - but I noted that on SIN-FRA-SIN the cabin is empty on almost any given day. Wouldn't that be a good flight to oversell J or allow saver redemptions for First Class?

SIN-FRA return is priced at 330.000 KF miles. The same KF miles would get me 2 return tickets on the 747 or (almost) 2 tickets on any other *A carrier flying there (LH, TG).

Upgrade awards are at 100.000 KF miles one-way. Totally crazy given that the seat layout is 1-2-1 in both cabins and the seat pitch is increasing by a small margin (71" vs. 51").

Anyone with insight how many First Class redemptions SQ actually sells for rewards/upgrades on 77W aircraft?

[hybridace101]

One reason why it's usually empty, the price for an F ticket is nearly USD10,000. It doesn't help that the global economy hasn't recovered fully. Perhaps they should give operational upgrades to those who paid the full C/J fares and have a higher tier in KF or *A. There should be incentives for passengers to buy the C/J ticket over the D tickets. At least that way the carrier can earn a bit on F even on not so good days.

If that's not feasible from an operational perspective, downgrade the aircraft in use to a 772ER.

[Guy Betsy]

Haven't you guys learnt that SQ would rather let the cabin go empty than upgrade unnecessarily?

[225]

I know we all would say this but why not upgrade? I can see them wanting to keep things exclusive but surely common sense dictates if you upgrade people occasionally they will be more likely to fly with you again?

[Kyo]

Because whilst it may occasionally make people more likely to fly with you again, it also dilutes the product by making it more accessible to those who cannot afford it or don't want/intend to spend that kind of money, and who may in time come to expect/demand it.

I.e. You let it happen once, and people start expecting it. Also known as give an inch, ask for a mile.

This has been answered ad nauseum and there are both pros and cons about each strategy which is better explained in Marketing texts, normally under a category called 'Positioning'.

[hybridace101]

^^

Maybe a compromise is to market the F seats as C seats to those who actually paid the C/J fare. While they have better seats, the actual service should remain C (that is those typically afforded to F and not C should not be given to those who travelled on C).

[fuu99]

^^

Maybe a compromise is to market the F seats as C seats to those who actually paid the C/J fare. While they have better seats, the actual service should remain C (that is those typically afforded to F and not C should not be given to those who travelled on C).

your query has been answered in previous posts...

Haven't you guys learnt that SQ would rather let the cabin go empty than upgrade unnecessarily?

Because whilst it may occasionally make people more likely to fly with you again, it also dilutes the product by making it more accessible to those who cannot afford it or don't want/intend to spend that kind of money, and who may in time come to expect/demand it.

I.e. You let it happen once, and people start expecting it. Also known as give an inch, ask for a mile.

This has been answered ad nauseum and there are both pros and cons about each strategy which is better explained in Marketing texts, normally under a category called 'Positioning'.

...ad nauseum.

SQ is SQ.

[pavion]

Yes but the thing is that if you are a Solitarie PPS who has made the status through Business Class trave exclusively, maybe giving one opup to him every now and then would be appreciated and it could cause him to spend that extra dollar for a First Class ticket

[Kiwi]

Yes but the thing is that if you are a Solitarie PPS who has made the status through Business Class trave exclusively, maybe giving one opup to him every now and then would be appreciated and it could cause him to spend that extra dollar for a First Class ticket

.. or the opposite. No need to pay for F if get it for free.

[hsf]

.. or the opposite. No need to pay for F if get it for free.

Precisely. The more unattainable, the more desirable.... something like that!

[hybridace101]

Point well-taken. That's why the value of an F service elsewhere could easily be diluted. SQ isn't a 5-star airline for nothing.

[pavion]

Yes <b>Kiwi</b> that is something which they would lose out on, however I am not saying EVERY single time, maybe like once every two years just as an enticement.

I always think that some people may not want to buy the service, unless they have tried it out, but wait a minute, I take my point back for the sole reason that a Solitare would presumably at LEAST get one op-up every two years, if that person is traveling so much

[jjpb3]

I take my point back for the sole reason that a Solitare would presumably at LEAST get one op-up every two years, if that person is traveling so much

Every two years on SQ? I'm curious on what you based this SQ inference on: which routes, what times of the year, etc. Excluding the recent downturn, how robust has this at-least-once-every-two-years trend been?

I'm curious because I've heard of TPPs who haven't been so fortunate.

[agmhkg]

SQ please keep you First Class exclusively for the paying F pax..... otherwise you will end up A Full First Cabin with only upgrades, then you starts to find ways to cut the cost on First Class and eventually your first class will start look cheap.....

[TerryK]

..... otherwise you will end up A Full First Cabin with only upgrades, then you starts to find ways to cut the cost on First Class and eventually your first class will start look cheap.....

This is exactly what happened with all US based carriers. There are few F fare paying passengers for US based carriers. F cabins are full of upgraders and nonrevs.

I would rather fly SQ C than UA F.