I've just been TG'd by SQ...

[DinkumDave]

... but I'm not complaining

SQ972 yesterday morning was switched from a 777-200 to a 777-300.

Checked in on Friday night flying up from Aus with a connection in SIN to BKK. It was still showing as a 777-200.

The first I knew of the change was upon boarding. I went down the air bridge and took the first left out of habit. The first thing that grabbed me was that the cabin was completely empty. This was strange, because I was boarding pretty close to the cut-off time. Then I noticed that the first row of seats wasn't row 12, but row 1, and the FA's were waving me further down the aircraft.

Later in the flight I asked the crew why there had been a substitution. They told me that it was for "operational reasons", and they didn't know anything more than that. The F section was closed, and they were operating a two class service.

The load was light up front, and 12 pax in 49 seats looked a whole lot emptier than the usual 12/30. If SQ were feeling a bit more generous, they could have put us all in the F seats

Actually, I don't really care if SQ put me on a Sopwith Camel for such a short flight, but I have to say that the 777-300 was a change for the better simply because it was a lot newer than the usual 777-200's.

I wonder if SQ has a policy that, when substitutions are required, the replacement plane should be as good as, or preferably better than, the original? Or maybe I'm dreaming.

[concept|infinit]

So a 2-class 772 was substituted for a 3-class 773.

Yeah, since they were only 12 of you, why didn't they just put all of you guys in F? They could just serve you J meals in F... Or is there some policy against doing something like this for consistency?

[SQflyergirl]

So a 2-class 772 was substituted for a 3-class 773.

Yeah, since they were only 12 of you, why didn't they just put all of you guys in F? They could just serve you J meals in F... Or is there some policy against doing something like this for consistency?

12 in 49 for a short flight like this is MUCH better than 12 in 18. Means 6 out of the 12 have got to sit next to someone.

I'd prefer having a nice J cabin with everyone spaced out with a bit less pitch than a sorta full F cabin.

[Kyo]

I wonder if SQ has a policy that, when substitutions are required, the replacement plane should be as good as, or preferably better than, the original? Or maybe I'm dreaming.

No way. Not a chance... they would depend on what's available as a substitution and I can definitely speak firsthand that it can easily be far older/worse than a new one when TG-ed.

[concept|infinit]

12 in 49 for a short flight like this is MUCH better than 12 in 18. Means 6 out of the 12 have got to sit next to someone.

I'd prefer having a nice J cabin with everyone spaced out with a bit less pitch than a sorta full F cabin.

ah I see. makes sense

[trekkie]

deleted

[sqdazz]

The term is called cabin integrity.

SQ operated 777-200's with F cabin on the NRT-BKK-SIN run for a period of time a couple of years ago I seem to recall, the F cabin was closed on those flights too.

[ycp81]

It is rather common nowadays for SQ to substitute 773s for 772s if J is overbooked and Y is not full. Probably J is overbooked on the way back to SIN, thus needing the extra capacity.

[DinkumDave]

12 in 49 for a short flight like this is MUCH better than 12 in 18. Means 6 out of the 12 have got to sit next to someone.

I'd prefer having a nice J cabin with everyone spaced out with a bit less pitch than a sorta full F cabin.

I can see your point, SQFG. For me though, as I always travel with the Mrs, I don't wish to have an empty seat next to me. Perhaps SQ could have offered the pax a choice.

No way. Not a chance... they would depend on what's available as a substitution and I can definitely speak firsthand that it can easily be far older/worse than a new one when TG-ed.

Sounds like you had a bad experience, Kyo. Sorry to hear about that. Was it on a long haul? and did SQ offer any sort of recompense?

It is rather common nowadays for SQ to substitute 773s for 772s if J is overbooked and Y is not full. Probably J is overbooked on the way back to SIN, thus needing the extra capacity.

Thanks, ycp81. That makes a lot of sense, and is the most likely reason for the substitution.

I wonder if SQ will continue to swap in the same 773s once the 333s finally arrive for this route?

[ycp81]

I wonder if SQ will continue to swap in the same 773s once the 333s finally arrive for this route?

SQ has withdrawn their plans to operate A333s on the BKK route. It will remain to be operated by 772s.

[StarG]

12 in 49 for a short flight like this is MUCH better than 12 in 18. Means 6 out of the 12 have got to sit next to someone.

I'd prefer having a nice J cabin with everyone spaced out with a bit less pitch than a sorta full F cabin.

Agreed.

On the other hand, they do - in my experience - move some J pax to F cabin when the substitute aircraft have less J capacity than the original aircraft thus making the move necessary.

[225]

When they switched the flight I was on to an old cabin product the other day they did move a couple of people in to F even though j was no where no near full, neither was Y. Guess if there are some solitaire people on board etc they do upgrade?
It is very annoying going on to an old product plane as they are obviously phased out for a reason and they certainly show the miles and date of technology.

[Dent@SUB]

Just got "slightly" TG'd by SQ on SQ859 today! When I checked in online, it was still showed that my seat on row 16 was the last row of the first cabin ("new" B772 version 1). But when I got into the aircraft, my seat on row 16 became the bulkhead row on the second cabin ("new" B772 version 2)...
No complain, but it made my first experience with "unpropotional feet hole" became NIL, another bulkhead seat for me with this type of seat....

[concept|infinit]

No way. Not a chance... they would depend on what's available as a substitution and I can definitely speak firsthand that it can easily be far older/worse than a new one when TG-ed.

Ouch.. Yeah, you told me about it two LDs ago. Yes, that is unjust!