SIN-BCN-GRU Approved; First Flight March 2011

[9V-JKL]

Looks like the Brazilians have finally stopped dragging their feet and everything is now more or less sorted, so redemptions and bookings now available.

It is? Have you got some "God-like" treatment?

[wktan81]

I tried to make a dummy booking GRU-SIN depart 17 Apr return 28 Apr, how come the sweet deal price (USD2,158) is more expensive than flexi saver (USD2,126)? Is it an error on the SQ side?

[StarG]

It is? Have you got some "God-like" treatment?

Redemptions are now available through the website as well.
Redemption rates seems to be slightly higher than NYC.

[9V-JKL]

Good to know. They weren't there this morning

[wktan81]

Based on the schedule, SQ metal is going to park at GRU for about 10 hours before returning back to BCN and SIN. Is there a possibility that SQ fly to another South American destination to fill up this period, not sure whether SQ has 5th freedom between 2 cities over there?

[Fryderyk HPH]

Based on the schedule, SQ metal is going to park at GRU for about 10 hours before returning back to BCN and SIN. Is there a possibility that SQ fly to another South American destination to fill up this period, not sure whether SQ has 5th freedom between 2 cities over there?

Agreed. I feel that SQ, if it has the choice, should move SQ67 to depart GRU at around 8p.m local time on days 1/4/6 and not 1.45a.m local time on days 2/5/7. Doing that means that SQ67 would arrive into BCN around noon and depart by 1.30p.m local time (BCN), arriving into SIN just in time to allow for connections to the rest of SEA/Oz.

Then again, evening departure slots at GRU might be an issue. Probably that is why SQ mentioned in their press release that the flight timings after mid-Oct would be released at a later date. Maybe they are using this time to acquire slots for an evening departure ex-GRU for better flight timings.


http://www.singaporeair.com/mediacen...ws/NE_0111.jsp

[Fryderyk HPH]

Also, if you guys haven't seen it yet in the other thread, here is Iberia launching MAD - BCN - GRU, insanely enough with no local traffic rights in their own country of Spain and atrocious arrival times into GRU. LOL

http://www.sqtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11064

[Singapore Airlines lover]

Do the passengers deplane at Barcelona so that the plane can be cleaned, or do they get to stay inside?

[Guy Betsy]

For people who have never been to GRU, here's a piece of interesting news that is worth reading...

..STUCK AT LATIN AMERICA'S WORST AIRPORT

No case encapsulates those barriers better than the jam-packed, hard-to-reach, 1980s-era time warp that is Sao Paulo's international airport -- popularly known as Guarulhos.

Congestion inside and outside Guarulhos is so bad that visitors to Brazil's business capital are advised to leave for the airport at least five hours before their flight departs. Those who successfully navigate the 15-mile trip, which is only possible by car, are greeted by chaotic, shifting lines that snake through the main terminal; signs in the bathrooms warning of petty thieves; and, of course, the occasional pool of sludge leaking out of the pipes.

Guarulhos was ranked "hands down" the worst among 26 major airports in Latin America in a survey of business travelers published in February by Latin Trade magazine.

The overcrowding is, like so many bottlenecks in Brazil, partly a product of its stunning economic growth. Passenger traffic nationally has doubled in the last seven years, and grew 21 percent in 2010, as millions of Brazilians joined the middle class and flew for the first time...

Entire article may be found here: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...7?pageNumber=2

[MAN Flyer]

Oh what fun that was !!!!!

Fantastic crew and female IFS on the first leg, (who I had not flown with since the FRA day flight on a 744 about 5 years ago when she had just been promoted from CSS), two water cannon salute's - BCN & GRU - interesting chats with SQ tech crew on the flight including a fabulous senior captain who had us in stitches.

The catering ex-BCN (first time they have catered from BCN) was a little shambolic and we had no immigration forms on board for Brazil (you'd think for the inaugural they'd box that one off.....) but we had an IFA for both legs (both great guys) and a senior SQ lady who was there to check this stuff so I'm sure they'll sort it.

StarG will have to do the TR.....

Do the passengers deplane at Barcelona so that the plane can be cleaned, or do they get to stay inside?

You deplane. Getting past the lounge dragon is fun if you are in transit to GRU.: 'I need your Boarding Pass from Barcelona' ...

[StarG]

Oh what fun that was !!!!!

Yeah, fun it was!

StarG will have to do the TR.....

Don't you think this inaugural deserve MAN Flyer's inaugural TR? Okay, we'll settle for a TS.

[feb01mel]

I heard Brazil's Ambassdor to Singapore and his wife were on the flight too.

Did you guys also receive any souvenior momentos, such as a crystal football paperweight ?

[9V-JKL]

Don't you think this inaugural deserve MAN Flyer's inaugural TR?

YES!

[StarG]

Trip Report (or rather, Trip Summary ) can be found here:

http://www.sqtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11108

[StarG]

I heard Brazil's Ambassdor to Singapore and his wife were on the flight too.

Did you guys also receive any souvenior momentos, such as a crystal football paperweight ?

Yes we did!
Sorry, missed that part.
Will update the TS later.

Here it is...





Yes the Brazil Ambassador to Singapore & his wife was onboard the flight as well.