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Singapore Airlines A350-900 business class - long-haul or regional?

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sim86on

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sim86on

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

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I’ve booked Business Class on SQ255 SIN-BNE on 10 October, served by an A350-900.


How do I tell if this is the ‘long haul’ Business Class or the squishier ‘regional’ Business Class?

Brandon Loo

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Brandon Loo

Member since 10 Jul 2018

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The long haul A359 has a row 22 and is missing 18A/18K in business class. Your flight is currently showing up as that configuration.

Last editedby Brandon Loo at Jan 23, 2019, 07:29 PM.
Ricardo

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Ricardo

SQ

Member since 23 Oct 2015

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Does anybody understand why SQ has commited this stupidity? We used to fly SQ almost exclusively (PPS for over 15 years between the 2 of us) but now, you never know what you’re going to get.


Used to love SQ first but that is as rare as rocking horse do-do now.

Transferred all of our business to EK, and whilst it not quite as good as SQ used to be, it has the advantage of consistency, something that SQ lost along the way.

Sad - I miss SQ from pre-2017

djtech

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djtech

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

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Does anybody understand why SQ has commited this stupidity? We used to fly SQ almost exclusively (PPS for over 15 years between the 2 of us) but now, you never know what you’re going to get.

Used to love SQ first but that is as rare as rocking horse do-do now.

Transferred all of our business to EK, and whilst it not quite as good as SQ used to be, it has the advantage of consistency, something that SQ lost along the way.

Sad - I miss SQ from pre-2017

Consistency is still quite good on SQ. You're guaranteed direct aisle access, lay-flat business class on every flight except their a330s. Compared to Emirates, who has the a380 in 1-2-1 and the 777 in a 2-2-2 or 2-3-2 and some are lay-flat whilst some are angled doesn't help matters. SQ hasn't commited any stupidity, they introduced a better regional product and served it on a route that WAS previously served with a regional product.


What do you miss about SQ pre 2017? They have a better product now than ever before and more of their fleet have 1-2-1 lay flat seating then ever before. Arguably, their new regional business class is better than their main product as you don't have the corner tucking issue.
Last editedby djtech at Jan 23, 2019, 10:43 PM.
Ricardo

Ricardo

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Ricardo

SQ

Member since 23 Oct 2015

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Does anybody understand why SQ has commited this stupidity? We used to fly SQ almost exclusively (PPS for over 15 years between the 2 of us) but now, you never know what you’re going to get.

Used to love SQ first but that is as rare as rocking horse do-do now.

Transferred all of our business to EK, and whilst it not quite as good as SQ used to be, it has the advantage of consistency, something that SQ lost along the way.

Sad - I miss SQ from pre-2017

Consistency is still quite good on SQ. You're guaranteed direct aisle access, lay-flat business class on every flight except their a330s. Compared to Emirates, who has the a380 in 1-2-1 and the 777 in a 2-2-2 or 2-3-2 and some are lay-flat whilst some are angled doesn't help matters. SQ hasn't commited any stupidity, they introduced a better regional product and served it on a route that WAS previously served with a regional product.

What do you miss about SQ pre 2017? They have a better product now than ever before and more of their fleet have 1-2-1 lay flat seating then ever before. Arguably, their new regional business class is better than their main product as you don't have the corner tucking issue.
Last edited by djtech at Jan 23, 2019, 10.43 PM.

I think the clue in what I missed is in the word “first”

djtech

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djtech

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Ricardo,

Singapore has only improved their first class. Their current suites on the a380 are industry leading and consistent on most of their fleet.The older suites are still nice and competitive with Emirates. On the 777 Emirates offers 2 different first class seats but SQ has one and they are quite similar. Not sure how Singapore airlines is worse in terms of product or consistency.

bl812

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bl812

Emirates Airlines - Skywards

Member since 11 Mar 2015

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Does anybody understand why SQ has commited this stupidity? We used to fly SQ almost exclusively (PPS for over 15 years between the 2 of us) but now, you never know what you’re going to get.

Used to love SQ first but that is as rare as rocking horse do-do now.

Transferred all of our business to EK, and whilst it not quite as good as SQ used to be, it has the advantage of consistency, something that SQ lost along the way.

Sad - I miss SQ from pre-2017

how can you compare the 2?? EK business class sucks on the 777-food and everything else is much better on SQ

so stop complaining and fly the arabs if you wish!
hakkinen5

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hakkinen5

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You're wrong there djtech about the flat beds and direct aisle access. The 777-200's flying to Melbourne and Wellington don't have it either. I agree with the lack of consistency comment up thread.

Last editedby hakkinen5 at Jan 24, 2019, 01:12 PM.
Ricardo

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Ricardo

SQ

Member since 23 Oct 2015

Total posts 49

Does anybody understand why SQ has commited this stupidity? We used to fly SQ almost exclusively (PPS for over 15 years between the 2 of us) but now, you never know what you’re going to get.

Used to love SQ first but that is as rare as rocking horse do-do now.

Transferred all of our business to EK, and whilst it not quite as good as SQ used to be, it has the advantage of consistency, something that SQ lost along the way.

Sad - I miss SQ from pre-2017

how can you compare the 2?? EK business class sucks on the 777-food and everything else is much better on SQ
so stop complaining and fly the arabs if you wish!

First class - not business; I've heard that business on EK's 777s suck but I don't know, never having flown it. Equally I'm not complaining, I am making a statement of regret at the passing of what was my preferred airline (in first class - in case it's still not clear to all of those who simply attack and tick the 'dislike button' whilst waxing lyrical about business class)

djtech

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djtech

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 02 Sep 2018

Total posts 375

Does anybody understand why SQ has commited this stupidity? We used to fly SQ almost exclusively (PPS for over 15 years between the 2 of us) but now, you never know what you’re going to get.

Used to love SQ first but that is as rare as rocking horse do-do now.

Transferred all of our business to EK, and whilst it not quite as good as SQ used to be, it has the advantage of consistency, something that SQ lost along the way.

Sad - I miss SQ from pre-2017

how can you compare the 2?? EK business class sucks on the 777-food and everything else is much better on SQ
so stop complaining and fly the arabs if you wish!

First class - not business; I've heard that business on EK's 777s suck but I don't know, never having flown it. Equally I'm not complaining, I am making a statement of regret at the passing of what was my preferred airline (in first class - in case it's still not clear to all of those who simply attack and tick the 'dislike button' whilst waxing lyrical about business class)

Sorry, missed that. But my point still stands that Singapore first class isn’t worse product wise in my opinion and the same level of consistency as with Emirates. Emirates have old and new first class flying on their 777 and one standard first class on the a380. Singapore airlines have new first class all on their 773s and also an old and new a380 first class. Your argument on rare Singapore first class is understandable but first class is available on major routes including from Melbourne, London, New York etc.

Ricardo

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Ricardo

SQ

Member since 23 Oct 2015

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Ricardo,
Singapore has only improved their first class. Their current suites on the a380 are industry leading and consistent on most of their fleet.The older suites are still nice and competitive with Emirates. On the 777 Emirates offers 2 different first class seats but SQ has one and they are quite similar. Not sure how Singapore airlines is worse in terms of product or consistency.

djtech,


There are a few issues with SQ's new first class (to me anyway)
- there are now considerably fewer aircraft that have first class. It's more like Qantas in that respect, they have first but not to most ports anymore.
- the 777 first class (which is nice) now only has one row for 4 seats total. It's often impossible to get the two middle seats to sit together.
- the A380 new first class is hopeless (for me) for a number of reasons
- the bed is too short for me and it's horribly hard and narrow
- solo travellers always book 1A and 1K first, as they are significantly larger than row 3 - that means you cannot fly together
- the seat part of the cabin faces the aisle when in table mode, the doors are open when dinner service is on and you haven't really lived the first class lifestyle until you've sat face to face with a stranger with the table manners of a goat
- even when you can get 1&2A or 1&2F, you can't talk to each other when you're eating that beautiful SQ BTC as you're facing the wrong way and you feel like you're shouting
I'm not the only one. We know a few ex-first class SQ flyers (including one SQ Ambassador) that no longer fly SQ due to the issues above. It sad and EK took a bit of getting used to for us but at least the product is consistent, it has first on almost every route and there almost are always middle seats available.

Is the service as good as SQ? - No
Is the food as good as SQ? - No
Is the seat as good as SQ (excluding the new A380)? - No

But ... EK has many more flights to many more destinations, first is always there, you can sit together, it's consistent and its significantly cheaper.

That's why I'm sad (standing by to get a minus 20 'likes' rating)

djtech

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djtech

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Ricardo,
Singapore has only improved their first class. Their current suites on the a380 are industry leading and consistent on most of their fleet.The older suites are still nice and competitive with Emirates. On the 777 Emirates offers 2 different first class seats but SQ has one and they are quite similar. Not sure how Singapore airlines is worse in terms of product or consistency.
djtech,

There are a few issues with SQ's new first class (to me anyway)
- there are now considerably fewer aircraft that have first class. It's more like Qantas in that respect, they have first but not to most ports anymore.
- the 777 first class (which is nice) now only has one row for 4 seats total. It's often impossible to get the two middle seats to sit together.
- the A380 new first class is hopeless (for me) for a number of reasons
- the bed is too short for me and it's horribly hard and narrow
- solo travellers always book 1A and 1K first, as they are significantly larger than row 3 - that means you cannot fly together
- the seat part of the cabin faces the aisle when in table mode, the doors are open when dinner service is on and you haven't really lived the first class lifestyle until you've sat face to face with a stranger with the table manners of a goat
- even when you can get 1&2A or 1&2F, you can't talk to each other when you're eating that beautiful SQ BTC as you're facing the wrong way and you feel like you're shouting
I'm not the only one. We know a few ex-first class SQ flyers (including one SQ Ambassador) that no longer fly SQ due to the issues above. It sad and EK took a bit of getting used to for us but at least the product is consistent, it has first on almost every route and there almost are always middle seats available.

Is the service as good as SQ? - No
Is the food as good as SQ? - No
Is the seat as good as SQ (excluding the new A380)? - No

But ... EK has many more flights to many more destinations, first is always there, you can sit together, it's consistent and its significantly cheaper.

That's why I'm sad (standing by to get a minus 20 'likes' rating)


I see the issues for you. Personally, I still find t first class on routes I fly most (SYD to LHR, SYD to JFK). I never thought about some of the problems with the first class that you mentioned but I'll keep those in mind next time I fly them.

ManHa

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ManHa

Member since 08 May 2018

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Does anybody understand why SQ has commited this stupidity? We used to fly SQ almost exclusively (PPS for over 15 years between the 2 of us) but now, you never know what you’re going to get.

Used to love SQ first but that is as rare as rocking horse do-do now.

Transferred all of our business to EK, and whilst it not quite as good as SQ used to be, it has the advantage of consistency, something that SQ lost along the way.

Sad - I miss SQ from pre-2017

I think its more about your understanding of the airline and the products they offer on each aircraft. As an aviation enthusiast, I can only label the current SQ state as being in a transition phase.

In my mind - they aim to offer:
Business Class:
- Regional (All 787, some A350)
- A380 Version
- Long Haul (77W, A350)
All of which is more superior than most airlines in the business - All having 1-2-1 lie flat beds

I believe the A330/772 are on their way out and the A380s are being refitted with the new product - Avoid them if you are travelling business.

nix584

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nix584

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 10 Jan 2012

Total posts 108

SQ245/246 have the long haul J. 235/236 and 255/256 have regional. 265/266 is the 772 with 2006 J. If you've got regional J then you have the better product of the three flying to BNE.

DanV

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DanV

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

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SQ245/246 have the long haul J. 235/236 and 255/256 have regional. 265/266 is the 772 with 2006 J. If you've got regional J then you have the better product of the three flying to BNE.

Slight correction: Only SQ235/SQ256 has the regional A350 at this stage. SQ265/SQ266 is still currently the 'regional' 772 with the sloped flat seats, although it's tipped/expected 265/266 will be replaced with the regional A350 sooner or later.


SQ255/SQ236 and SQ245/SQ246 are the three-class A350s (equipped with PE).


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