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Originally posted by Kyo
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Just now they are, I assume it's a glitch. -
Yes, I see it also now. Dates not workable for me unfortunately... and I only see it LAX-SIN?Comment
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Same for me, but I always did find it difficult to reedem partner awards for SIN-NRT sector, NRT-LAX and LAX-SIN has much better availability.Comment
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Announced in Business Traveller
http://asia.businesstraveller.com/ne...c-a380-service
SIA to inaugurate transpacific A380 service
Fans of SIA will be able to sample the A380 between Singapore and Los Angeles via Tokyo next year.
Starting on March 27, SIA will upgrade its existing flight on the route from a B747-400 to the newer and larger A380 superjumbo.
The A380 will operate flights SQ11 and SQ12 which are among the most lucrative services on the SIA network.
SIA is able to carry passengers on all sectors. That means SQ11 and SQ12 can carry you from Singapore to Tokyo or Singapore to Los Angeles as well as Tokyo-Los Angeles.
Crucially SIA holds “fifth freedom”* traffic rights for Tokyo-Los Angeles. It means SIA can sell seats for the transpacific leg to both passengers originating in Japan and the US.
Premium passengers will benefit from Suites in first class and fully lie-flat beds in business class. Those in economy class will sample some of the quietest cabins aloft with canny passengers being able to opt for seating in the A380’s rear cabin on the upper deck.
The existing B747-400s used on the route feature older generation seating in all classes. Regular first class on the B747 cannot compete with the privacy and space of Suites on the A380. SIA’s business class on the B747 offers angled lie-flat seating disposed seven across (2-3-2) whereas the A380 provides an exceptional four across (1-2-1) layout with fully flat beds.
But why did it take SIA so long to draft its A380s onto this profitable route? The answer is that fifth freedom carriers do not have the clout of end-to-end carriers. It is believed the Japanese authorities would prefer that SIA did not operate the superior A380 between Tokyo and Los Angeles because its own carriers would be disadvantaged. As a result permission was delayed until very recently.
Competitors JAL or ANA ply the Tokyo-Los Angeles route. But neither can offer the kudos of the A380. In addition, their premium products do not provide the same spacious accommodation as does SIA. It is a similar scenario with the US carriers (United, Delta and American) on this route although United and Delta are busy installing lie-flat beds in business class.
Where these carriers can compete with SIA is that they will, from next year, operate a number of their Los Angeles services out of Tokyo’s convenient Haneda airport rather than far out Narita (the airport used by flights SQ11/SQ12).
Are there any downsides ?
(1) The cost of tickets will doubtless increase to reflect the A380’s popularity and its higher standards. It will also be more difficult for FFP members to redeem their miles on A380 services.
(2) The existing A380 which SIA operates as a Singapore-Tokyo Narita terminator flight will be downgraded to a two-class A330-300 with regional angled lie-flat business class seating.
(3) There is an odd arrival time back into Singapore.
The new service is great news for passengers on RTW (round-the-world tickets) but it also presents business class travellers with a dilemma.
If flying between Singapore and Los Angeles should they take SIA’s existing all-business class and ultra non-stop A340-500 service or opt for the longer A380 flight ?
There is no contest if flying first or economy class. But some business class travellers might prefer the A380 especially as the stop in Tokyo enables them to stretch their legs rather than sit out a very long flight aboard the A340.
Although SIA has not officially announced this new service, schedules are now posted on singaporeair.comComment
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Understood that transit time may need to be longer due to the 380 being a larger plane to prep. But why is the flying time longer?Comment
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Hmm, well you may have guessed but in my haphazard attempt I was trying to say that several friends and fellow FTers managed to secure some of those C award seats on the A380 using other *A FFPs.Originally posted by jjpb3 View PostLordy, how many SIN or NRT-LAX shuttles are in your future, demue?
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The cruise speed of the 747-400 is 0.855M, for the WhaleJet, 0.850M. That's only 5 or 10 minutes of difference for a transpacific flight.Originally posted by bmchris View Post
Yes, and vice-versa, no problem. The WhaleJet can fly SIN-SFO nonstop, no problem, but not SFO-SIN (yet). The improved WhaleJets that will be delivered starting in 2012 or 2013 will be able to fly SFO/LAX/NYC-SIN nonstop with reasonable payload limitations and I expect SQ will exercise their 6 options specifically to do so.Originally posted by zilchster View PostComment
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SQ putting A380 for SIN-Japan-US from next year
This is a few days old but I just heard about it and I can't find anything on the forum about it (apologies if there is another thread already about this)
"As of March 27, the SQ11 and SQ12 flights – said to be among SQ’s most profitable services – will be upgraded from the current Boeing 747-400 to the A380 superjumbo. This is Singapore’s first transpacific A380 service, and only the second after Qantas."
Pretty pleased to hear that Qantas won't be the only airline with a transpacific A380 - after flying with both QF and SQ on J recently I don't think I can go back!
Full article is here: http://www.ausbt.com.au/singapore-ai...apore-japan-usComment
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Welcome to SQTalk, greenthumb5.
I'm going to combine your post with an existing thread on the A380 going to LAX in 2011.
jjpb3‘Lean into the sharp points’Comment
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It looks like QF will not be operating their WhaleJets on transpacific routes until RR find a way to safely deliver the required thrust for takeoffs at MTOW.Originally posted by greenthumb5 View PostComment
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A380 to Los Angeles
Just checked out the SQ website, there's an advert showing the 'Fly the A380 to Los Angeles'... Interesting...
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Why should it be 'interesting' ? This was announced yonks ago !Comment
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This was discussed quite a while ago...Comment
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