How To Book Flights Under Star Alliance Members

[Drkinder]

Hello everyone
Have any of you sq talk members flew on SQ then on other Star Alliance partners to the destination of choice.
Example If I want to fly on A380 suite from Singapore to either London, Zurich or Frankfut then onwards to Amsterdam?
I know SQ has a daily flight to Amsterdam with A 350 but I would prefer A380 that stops to destinations above then get on Star Alliance partners to Amsterdam.
No offense to A350 but somehow A380 has a plus factor .
Any assistance would be appreciated.
Thank You

[HUGE AL]

Yes

[two more characters]

[zilchster]

You can simply purchase separate tickets. Do note that SQ might not interline with the other carrier because they are two separate tickets/bookings.

[Drkinder]

You can simply purchase separate tickets. Do note that SQ might not interline with the other carrier because they are two separate tickets/bookings.

Thank you zilchster
That means I may need to check out my luggage and go back to the check in counter at respective airport
Example Singapore to Zurich on SQ A380 then Zurich to Amsterdam on Swiss
I know SQ has direct flight to Amsterdam on A350 but I want to use the Suite on A 380
Does this make sense?

[SilverChris]

Thank you zilchster
That means I may need to check out my luggage and go back to the check in counter at respective airport
Example Singapore to Zurich on SQ A380 then Zurich to Amsterdam on Swiss
I know SQ has direct flight to Amsterdam on A350 but I want to use the Suite on A 380
Does this make sense?

SQ is usually quite lenient about tagging your bags to other airlines on separate tickets, especially with *A flights.

If the SQ check-in agent at SIN agrees to do it then you won't have to pick up your bags in ZRH, but you'll have to stop by the LX transfer desk to pick up your boarding pass and ensure your bag is properly accounted for in their system.

[yflyer]

I was able to book SQ code shares for LH connections within Europe for an upcoming flight to Germany at quite reasonable prices, with the Singapore-Germany legs on SQ metal and domestic connections in Germany on SQ codeshares on LH metal. For example SIN-FRA-TXL on SQ and LH, and the return on TXL-FRA-SIN. all on an SQ ticket with the domestic sectors in Germany on SQ code shares and LH metal. But that seems to be the exception.

Normally I would just book the international sectors on SQ, and book separate tickets for the connecting flights on Star Alliance partners. For some reason, if I book them as a single ticket, more often than not, the pricing defaults to full fare Y, which is way too high.

Of course, that means that I need to budget for additional connection time, because the connections are on separate tix, and it is probably harder to get the airline to assist if I miss a connection. If I really need to do a tight connection, I would rather book the whole sector on the Star Alliance partner i.e. whole flight on LH (e.g. SIN-FRA-MUC) or UA (SIN-SFO-SAN), where the partner is accountable if I misconnect.

Of course I wish I could have the best of both worlds, i.e. the longhaul flight on SQ and the short connection on a Star Alliance partner like UA or LH, but as least on the booking systems I use, it seldom works out, and I end up planning much longer connection times, and separate tickets for the onward connections.

[Drkinder]

Thank you yflyer
May I know the minimum time for connecting flight?
Example Singapore to Zurich on SQ then Zurich to Amsterdam on LX
I spoke to Swiss officer in Singapore she said 2 hours if enough even if I have to recheck in
Any advise
Thanks again

[cowie]

I did something similar two years ago. SIN-ZRH on SQ, then ZRH-MIA on LX, both in business, on separate, revenue tickets. The connection at ZRH was scheduled at 2 hours. I was not confident of making the 2 hours, so I booked a later ZRH-MIA flight that gave me a connection of 5.5 hours.

In the end, I did reach ZRH on time, and instead of twiddling thumbs in the lounge, I approached the LX desk and asked that they move me to the earlier ZRH-MIA flight, which they gladly did.

Something worth considering.

One thing to note: if you do this on a return ticket, you may lose your seat assignment *on the return leg* so be sure to double check with the agent before you leave the LX desk.

SQ will interline with LX, especially if you are flying Suites from SIN. LX may or may not check you through onto SQ, but in my experience with the Lufthansa group airlines (LH, LX, OS), they have never said no.

[zilchster]

Thank you yflyer
May I know the minimum time for connecting flight?
Example Singapore to Zurich on SQ then Zurich to Amsterdam on LX
I spoke to Swiss officer in Singapore she said 2 hours if enough even if I have to recheck in
Any advise
Thanks again

If there are no delays to the Singapore Airlines flight. If your Singapore Airlines flight is delayed, and you miss your connecting flight, Swiss or SQ can generally shrug off the responsibility as you had bought two separate tickets. This is the risk you are taking with two separate tickets.

You could allow a more generous connection time though but if the SQ flight is severely delayed, it's going to be a stressful experience if you have to be at your final destination on that day at a particular time. If you are not pressed for time, then that would be okay.

[Drkinder]

SQ rarely has delayed flights unless one run off and that happens on my proposed flight right.
And would it be possible if I obtain my LX boarding pass in Changi during my transit at the LX departure gate as there is a codeshare flight on LX to Zurich.
I mean my boarding pass from Zurich to Amsterdam

[Drkinder]

And again would it be worth it?
I mean Suite on A380 with connecting flights to AMS or J on A350 direct to AMS
Perhaps some would say Suite is ultimate and par excellence but A350 is just an amazing aircraft...only wish A350 has F ...

[zilchster]

And again would it be worth it?
I mean Suite on A380 with connecting flights to AMS or J on A350 direct to AMS
Perhaps some would say Suite is ultimate and par excellence but A350 is just an amazing aircraft...only wish A350 has F ...

SQ should be able to issue the boarding passes to you in SIN. I've had my boarding passes for A3 issued at Changi and there were under 2 separate bookings.

SQ 346 SIN-ZRH is the last 380 of the night. And due to the knock on effects, there used to be quite a few delays to this flight.

The likelihood of delays is really small, but if your luck is bad, it could happen.

At the end of the day, it all depends if you have to be in Amsterdam at that time, on that day, if you don't, just book two separate tickets and fingers crossed.

[SQ228]

SQ rarely has delayed flights unless one run off and that happens on my proposed flight right.
And would it be possible if I obtain my LX boarding pass in Changi during my transit at the LX departure gate as there is a codeshare flight on LX to Zurich.
I mean my boarding pass from Zurich to Amsterdam

I wouldn't be taking that chance on ZRH. While it is not delayed on a regular basis, SQ346 is more prone to delays than other flights to Europe. It is the last A380 to leave SIN at night, so if one of the A380s coming into SIN is delayed or has a technical fault, it is usually SQ346 that gets affected, in the hope of buying more time to fix the issue.

Immigration and the "Heidi train" at Kloten airport can also pose problems, especially if another large flight arrives at the same time. I frequently fly into it as it is the one of the few European flights that connect off SQ208 and I like the airport, but I don't find it overly reliable, especially by Swiss standards!

I doubt SQ would issue an LX boarding pass for a flight that isn't on the same ticket.

[zilchster]

The other alternative is to catch a flight to CDG on suites and train down to AMS, or FRA on suites and LH to AMS.

[yflyer]

Thank you yflyer
May I know the minimum time for connecting flight?
Example Singapore to Zurich on SQ then Zurich to Amsterdam on LX
I spoke to Swiss officer in Singapore she said 2 hours if enough even if I have to recheck in
Any advise
Thanks again

Hi Drkinder!

Just adding on to what others have commented...

I haven't connected through Zurich in many years, but it is quite a transfer-friendly airport. I have done this in the past on separate tickets eg. from SQ to Crossair (A very nice airline...no longer flying.) and connecting was quite straightforward.

This Swiss link is quite useful to estimate walking times (But not the official MCT), just to give an idea of the distances involved.

I would be comfortable with a 2 hour connection in Zurich if I did not have a critical appointment to keep, that depended on making that connection.

Just to play safe, I would also ensure that the connecting flight is not the last of the day on that airline to my destination, so that if I am delayed, I can request a seat on the next flight.