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  • Originally posted by 9V-JKL View Post
    Don't be misled.

    It's indeed easy to find seats so long as one is willing to pay 'standard' & 'fool' rates.
    Quite right you are. Though I would add "desperate" as another alternate adjective.

    Comment


    • Mileage Accrual Under OZ for SQ Flights

      I am currently SQ Elite Gold & will likely fall short of the 50K mileage requirement to renew.

      Seriously considering accruing 40K miles this year under OZ's Asiana Club which will enable me to maintain *Gold status for the next 2 years.

      My question is this:
      If my current flights accrue mileage under Asiana Club, will I face hiccups using my current Krisflyer Elite Gold status to gain lounge access to either SQ or United lounges? My boarding pass will only reflect the OZ FFP number but I will have my Krisflyer Gold card with me.

      First time jitters so concerned about blindspots!

      Comment


      • Originally posted by SQ Queen View Post
        I am currently SQ Elite Gold & will likely fall short of the 50K mileage requirement to renew.

        Seriously considering accruing 40K miles this year under OZ's Asiana Club which will enable me to maintain *Gold status for the next 2 years.

        My question is this:
        If my current flights accrue mileage under Asiana Club, will I face hiccups using my current Krisflyer Elite Gold status to gain lounge access to either SQ or United lounges? My boarding pass will only reflect the OZ FFP number but I will have my Krisflyer Gold card with me.

        First time jitters so concerned about blindspots!
        It's perfectly fine to just present your *G card while accruing miles to another program. You might want to think about A3 - 20k for 3 years!

        Comment


        • Originally posted by SilverChris View Post
          It's perfectly fine to just present your *G card while accruing miles to another program. You might want to think about A3 - 20k for 3 years!
          Thanks SilverChris - Besides the lounge access, I am also wondering about pre-boarding.

          1. My boarding pass at this stage would only have the Asiana FFP number not reflect my Star Gold status in any way - correct?

          2. Would I be denied pre-boarding or would flashing my Krisflyer Gold card make it a non-issue?

          Comment


          • Originally posted by SQ Queen View Post
            Thanks SilverChris - Besides the lounge access, I am also wondering about pre-boarding.

            1. My boarding pass at this stage would only have the Asiana FFP number not reflect my Star Gold status in any way - correct?

            2. Would I be denied pre-boarding or would flashing my Krisflyer Gold card make it a non-issue?
            Same goes for priority boarding. Just flash your *G card!

            Comment


            • Originally posted by SilverChris View Post
              It's perfectly fine to just present your *G card while accruing miles to another program. You might want to think about A3 - 20k for 3 years!
              Hi, quick question on A3.....there isn't 25% tier bonus on actual miles flown for blue and gold tier, please correct me if I am wrong. Cheers

              Comment


              • Originally posted by darzee View Post
                Hi, quick question on A3.....there isn't 25% tier bonus on actual miles flown for blue and gold tier, please correct me if I am wrong. Cheers
                You're right - there's no tier bonus. Then again, their premium earn rates are way more generous than, say, SQ even with the 25% bonus with KF. There's a rather extensive thread about this program somewhere in the forum which you can find with a search

                Comment


                • I go to Japan and Korea once a year on separate trips from SG and am thinking of dropping Krisflyer.

                  SQ econ upgradable flights are now at least 1500SGD compared to 1000SGD with ANA and Asiana. Bit too much to pay for the pleasure of upgrading for a 6.5 hour flight.

                  So I am considering TG, Asiana, or ANA for FFP. I am leaning towards TG as going to Europe with them would not be a hassle, plus they seem to have reasonable promos every now and then.

                  Any thoughts? Is there any benefit staying with KF? The main reason I have used them is the Amex Krisflyer card, while it may not have the best rates, I have done pretty well over the years accumulating miles for normal spend.

                  Having said that, if I go to one of those other programs mentioned above, are there credit cards I can use in SG for decent accrual?

                  I'd prefer to keep flying SQ, but over the last few years the econ prices for regional flights are getting too high.

                  Comment


                  • Guys,

                    Just beware that this might be an issue if you fly often with Silkair (like i do). You can only earn miles on Silkair flights when using the Krisflyer membership.

                    Comment


                    • Yes, it is not commonly known. The Silkair check-in staff told me that I will get no miles because I was on UA Mileage Plus. Immediately, he made the switch to my Krisflyer Elite Gold membership for me....mighty nice of him. (SIN-> XMN-> SIN)

                      And yes.....priority boarding on Silkair, unlike the parent airline.

                      (Audio)

                      Comment


                      • I came across this thread on Flyertalk and I thot I'd re-post it here. IMHO, it answers many questions that frequently pops up on this SQTalk forum. I've split this up into 2 separate posts :

                        Source : http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/singa...nt-flyers.html

                        Singapore Airlines versus Cathay Pacific. Which is best for Frequent Flyers?

                        Part 1 of 2

                        You might be thinking that these two airlines are 2 of the best airlines in Asia, and they might be… They both enjoy great reputations within the industry and are the recipients of many self-promoting airline awards. But, this does not mean that they are completely similar or similar at all. And it does not mean you would want to choose to travel on one as easily as the other.

                        If you are a frequent flyer, flying relatively short economy class sectors around Asia, buzzing around between Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, Jakarta, Singapore, Hanoi, Manila, then this airline review and comparison is for you. I’m a frequent flyer doing exactly that. I only fly business class if the sector is over 5 hours, which is eminently practical, but that is not so frequently, so it’s mostly economy class for me. If you’re deciding whether to set up base in Hong Kong or Singapore and you’re a frequent flyer and the airline experience could be a factor in deciding which city to live in, then you definitely need to read this.

                        You have probably guessed by now, that these 2 airlines are in fact offering a vastly different level of service when it comes to frequent flyers like me. I never would have guessed this fact, but it wasn’t until I relocated from Hong Kong to Singapore that I realized the stark difference… Now, I’m not going to regurgitate a lot of technical details of their respective frequent flyer programs which you can read on their respective website. I’m not a travel writer and so I’m not suggesting that what follows is entirely comprehensive but it is real and objective.

                        I’m writing this from the perspective of a seasoned frequent flyer, a person that has travelled extensively on both airlines boarding around 200 flights over the last 2 and a half years. I’m a current Diamond Marco Polo member with CX and an Elite Gold Class member with SQ. In both cases it’s the highest level you can go as a frequent flyer, flying mostly economy class around Asia. So in many ways it’s a fair comparison…..However, before I was a Diamond Marco Polo member I was a Gold Class Marco Polo member and occasionally I will make reference to this (and other classes) as well since it is more equivalent to the SQ Elite Gold Class.

                        Now, when it comes to airline experience there are different components to this, so I’ll sectionalize them as follows;
                        1. The Frequent Flyer Program,
                        2. Service on the ground,
                        3. Service in the air.

                        Let’s start!

                        The Frequent Flyer Program

                        CX: With CX, the more you fly the higher up the Marco Polo ladder you climb. It’s based on miles or sectors whether or not its economy class or business class. In other words, it is a reward program based on how frequently you fly, that’s all. You get rewarded for frequent travel whether you’re at the front or at the back of the plane…

                        SG: With SG, it’s very different. You could fly around Asia all day, every day but you will never get higher than KrisFlyer Elite Gold Class. You can read on below to see what that means. No, in SQ, if you want to be recognized as a premium customer, you need $$$ and not just $$$. It is based on how much you spend in Business or First class only. It’s an elitist system which largely ignores frequent flyers on full priced tickets keeping the airline afloat in the back of the plane. Huge difference….

                        CX Entry level member: A CX Marco Polo green card gets you priority boarding and check-in and other benefits. Online you can nominate your seat preference. Not bad..

                        SQ Entry Level member: Entry level KrisFlyer… No benefits that I recall… nothing….
                        CX Silver: You get access to the Business class lounge.

                        SQ Silver: Again, no significant benefits… Might be an increased baggage allowance, not sure but that’s all….. No lounge access.

                        CX Gold:
                        Access to Business class check-in.
                        Access to Business Class lounge for you and a friend also flying on the same airline.
                        Guaranteed seat on any flight with 48 hours’ notice.
                        Occasional upgrades to Premium economy and business class.

                        SQ Gold: Access to the KrisFlyer lounge. Note that this is the lowest level lounge, and you feel it. SG also operate separate First Class and Business class lounges where possible. Still no seat preference allowed. No guaranteed Seat for advance booking. They don’t sign it, just to rub in that feeling of being a second class customer, but you can get access to a couple of KrisFlyer Gold Check-in counters hidden behind the Business Class counters in their terminals. Fee upgrades to Premium Economy….Oh, sorry, but there is no premium economy… Free upgrades to Business Class, Oh, sorry, but as my father used to say “hell might freeze over before that happens”…..

                        CX Diamond: Access to first class check-in counters. Access to first class lounge. Guaranteed seat with 24 hours’ notice. Seat blocking in economy class….. All great stuff and really helpful when travelling on business frequently on full flights… Free electric cart to remote lounges/gates. Frequent upgrades to Premium economy and Business class.

                        SQ Diamond?: Bottom line, SQ cut you off at Elite Gold Class and forget about you….

                        CX: Recent flight experience: Recently I flew Sin-HKG-TPE-HKG-MNL-SIN. On the first sector I choose CX of course. Why would I choose SIN when there is absolutely no benefit once you have done enough sectors to maintain Elite Gold status? On the SIN-HKG sector I was upgraded to Business Class by CX, nice. HKG-TPE, I could enjoy the first class lounge for a decent meal. They also blocked the seat next to me so it was very comfortable. TPE-HKG I got to TPE airport early and at the First Class check-in counters they managed to put me on an earlier flight. Not only that they moved my HKG-MNL connection forward and even with only a tight 30min transfer time they allowed it. CX blocked the seat next to me and put me on the emergency exit row so it was very comfortable. Half way through the flight, in chatting with the cabin manager and my upcoming tight connection, they moved me to the front row in business class after the meal service…. Really helpful. On arrival at HKG a CX lady was waiting to escort me to the MNL flight, which was nice even though I knew the way and was ready to march quickly…. No problems catching the connection down to MNL and again they blocked the seat next to me, so very comfortable…

                        SQ Recent Flight experience: The problem I have with SQ is that they do ‘sometimes’ try to give you a good seat as an Elite Gold member, it’s just that they are not going to be transparent about it. For example, 2 days after the above experience with CX, I flew SQ from Singapore to Hanoi return. Both flights were about 85% full and they did manage to allocate an isle seat near the front of economy class and the seat next to me was empty, which was nice, but don’t think for a minute that they are going to be helpful at the check-in desk and let you know what’s really going on, such as actually blocking the seat next to you.

                        On the Ground

                        CX Check-in at HKG: CX First class check in… No comparison…..

                        SQ Check-in at SIN: Once I did find the Krisflyer Gold Class check-in counters……, it was ok. A bit of a queue.. nothing special… Not keen to help out on special requests.

                        CX Airport Lounges at HKG: The first class lounge at HKIA is really second to none with ala-cart service in the dining room. Waiter service in the open seating areas. The business class lounge is also fantastic. With a great array of food and people making real coffee…
                        The CX lounges also have a greater range of seating options depending on whether or not you’re in a group, need privacy or need to work on a lap top.

                        SQ Airport Lounges at SIN: The new KrisfFlyer lounge at T3 is comfortable but really light-years off the CX experience. No personalised service and with average food.
                        In my last experience in Changi Airport T3 KrisFlyer lounge, there were no decent eggs and no bacon on offer. There were 3 self-service cappuccino machines, all of which were not working because they had no milk….. I had to leave and go to Starbucks….. In my last experience in the T2 KrisFlyer lounge, there not even any freshly cut fruit for breakfast….. Seating options are limited and repetitive, seats not conducive to working on a laptop…

                        CX and SQ Airport lounges in destination ports: This is a more difficult comparison as there is great variation…..so, I will leave this.

                        Comment


                        • Singapore Airlines versus Cathay Pacific. Which is best for Frequent Flyers?

                          ... Continued ... Part 2 of 2

                          In the Air

                          CX meals: CX offers a choice of 2 main courses, as well as catering for special needs if booked in advance. On short sectors you will not get a proper meal, just a snack which is really not good enough when flying at meal times.

                          SQ meals: SQ offers a choice of 2 main courses, as well as catering for special needs if booked in advance. The difference being that SQ hand out a menu.

                          CX Hand Towels: None on CX

                          SQ Hand Towels: Before Take off you get a hot hand towel, which is nice. The only problem for me is that this comes before I start reading the newspaper, instead of afterwards..

                          CX Seats: The new CX seats are the best but they are still running a lot of aircraft with older seats.

                          SQ Seats: SQ also running new and old seats. Not much difference here.

                          CX Entertainment System: The CX system is better when you get the new seats. All airline entertainment systems seem to suffer from poor quality headsets and sound experience…

                          SQ Entertainment System: For some reason SQ seem to think that passengers like to manually put on the headset ear piece covers. The foam covers come separately packaged and you have to put them on yourself. A finicky job which often ends up with something on the floor.

                          CX Entertainment System Cutoff: On CX they cut off the entertainment system and collect your headsets shortly after starting decent. It’s often happened that they do this and then we are put into a holding pattern flying around without the entertainment system for up to 40 minutes or longer. Not great….

                          SQ Entertainment System Cutoff: On SQ they do not cut off the entertainment system till you land. They collect headset on decent but it’s not compulsory so you can keep watching your movie till the end. Better… They also start the entertainment system before take off…

                          CX Flight attendants: CX fast, efficient, courteous.
                          SQ Flight Attendants: SQ also very good. Probably give out a few more smiles than the CX staff.

                          CX Entry level Frequent Flyers up to Silver level: Not really much difference here in how your recognized in the cabin.

                          CX Gold Member: Cabin section head will greet you. Occasionally the Cabin Manager dressed in black will greet you.

                          SQ Gold Member: Nothing. No greeting. You’re not really anybody…..

                          CX Diamond Member: Cabin Manger dressed in black will greet you. Free bottle of Evian water.


                          Summary

                          In summary, if you have a choice, and if you fly frequently in economy class and your flying experience is important to you, then fly Cathay Pacific and not Singapore Airlines. If your home city is just a base to fly around Asia, then live in Hong Kong and not Singapore.
                          Hong Kong is a better and cheaper place to live in my opinion, but that’s the discussion of another blog….

                          The bottom line here is that Cathay Pacific rewards all passengers for frequent travel. Singapore Airlines on the other hand run an elitist program based solely on how much money you spend in Business class, whilst providing token benefits for other frequent flyers which really do come across as second class…..

                          As you can see its not just about the points and how to redeem them, it's the experience and treatment you get earning them!

                          Comment


                          • Thanks for the comparison, Dickson. Flew CX once a loooong time ago, can't even remember the experience.

                            Comment


                            • Originally posted by ozdude View Post
                              I go to Japan and Korea once a year on separate trips from SG and am thinking of dropping Krisflyer.

                              SQ econ upgradable flights are now at least 1500SGD compared to 1000SGD with ANA and Asiana. Bit too much to pay for the pleasure of upgrading for a 6.5 hour flight.

                              So I am considering TG, Asiana, or ANA for FFP. I am leaning towards TG as going to Europe with them would not be a hassle, plus they seem to have reasonable promos every now and then.

                              Any thoughts? Is there any benefit staying with KF? The main reason I have used them is the Amex Krisflyer card, while it may not have the best rates, I have done pretty well over the years accumulating miles for normal spend.

                              Having said that, if I go to one of those other programs mentioned above, are there credit cards I can use in SG for decent accrual?

                              I'd prefer to keep flying SQ, but over the last few years the econ prices for regional flights are getting too high.

                              I am KF Gold, fly SQ-Y between here and HKG, Gardua-Y to CGK and TG almost everywhere else, including BUS, FRA, LHR and BKK (obviously) in J with all miles posted to KF. I look at the OZ and TG programs and am almost envious of their privileges: points ratio however.........

                              Credit Cards in SG appoint miles mostly to either KF or AsiaMiles. Citi's PremierMiles card can also post to TG, MH, GA and BA. OCBC, for example only goes to KF.

                              The 25% bonus on the miles I do fly SQ is okay, and the 15% saving on miles redemption online also helps even out the mileage disparity a bit to TG and OZ.


                              Dickson: Thank you for posting. The writer is a bit bias but overall not too far away from the truth. Half of all my Y flights on CX were upgraded to J, long and short haul, and the lounge access, priority baggage, priority check-in and priority boarding as MPC-Silver was a very easy 25000miles.

                              As MPC-Gold there was only two occasions I needed the guaranteed seat facility, but it proved very important when I needed it most.

                              CX management know how to look after loyal guests, and actually view them as an important member of their team rather than a troublesome necessity an airline requires to make profits.

                              If I had a choice, I would fly CX but based in SG, it's impossible to justify.

                              Comment


                              • Originally posted by Dickson View Post
                                I came across this thread on Flyertalk and I thot I'd re-post it here. IMHO, it answers many questions that frequently pops up on this SQTalk forum. I've split this up into 2 separate posts :
                                Come on, first ever post by someone ?. And I have to say the content looks suspiciously like an old 'friend' of ours, and Flyertalks.....

                                I would treat with a large pinch of salt if I were you.

                                Comment

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