Singapore Airlines launches non-stop flights to Los Angeles from Nov 2
By David Flynn, July 11 2018
Singapore Airlines will begin non-stop flights to Los Angeles on November 2, 2018, following the October 11 debut of direct flights to New York.
The move follows the decision by fellow Star Alliance member United Airlines to axe its own Singapore-Los Angeles flights as of October 27, 2018.
Singapore Airlines' long-legged LAX flight will be handled by the Airbus A350-900ULR – an extended range version of the A350-900 in a two-class 'all-premium' configuration with 67 business class seats (below) and 94 premium economy seats, the same as fitted on SQ's standard Airbus A350-900 jets.
Singapore Airlines' Airbus A350 business class seat
AusBT review: Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 business class
The 17 hour flight SQ38 will initially run three times a week – departing Singapore on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday – before toggling to a daily service on 9 November 2018.
But once a day isn't enough, the airline says, with an additional three flights per week as SQ36 from December 7, 2018, for a total of ten weekly A350s plying the non-stop skies between the Red Dot and La La Land.
In tandem with the launch of the direct flights to Los Angeles, Singapore Airlines will axe its daily Singapore-Seoul-Los Angeles service as of November 30 (truncating this to a Singapore-Seoul flight running four days a week as of December 1) but retain the Singapore-Tokyo-Los Angeles route.
Singapore Airlines will also swing the A350-900ULR onto its San Francisco route three days per week as of November 28 2018, complementing the current daily flight made by a standard A350-900 to boost overall non-stop services to Fog City to ten flights per week.
Qantas is also weighing up the same A350-900ULR jet for direct flights to New York, London and other destinations from 2022 as part of its ambitious 'Project Sunrise'.
However, unlike SQ's lean two-class layout, Qantas wants its ultra-long range fleet to carry upwards of 300 passengers across four classes – with the option to include railway-like 'sleeping berths' and even dedicated exercise areas located in the cargo area beneath the main deck.
Read: Qantas wants four classes, 300+ passengers in ultra-long range jets
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
16 Feb 2017
Total posts 28
The Red Dot ??
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jul 2015
Total posts 219
Trying to work it out also.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Jun 2014
Total posts 10
Its explained on Wikipedia... quite fun and cheeky really!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jul 2015
Total posts 219
Thank you.
05 Mar 2014
Total posts 2
Should be the 'Little Red Dot' - a nickname for Singapore
18 Oct 2015
Total posts 27
Amazingly quick turn around given the plane has just trekked 17+ hours...
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 371
SQ is very good at staying on time, but won't be immune from runway and weather delays, so let's see if it on occasion is late.
29 Mar 2014
Total posts 78
Plane has the same minimum turnaround whether it just flew 17 minutes or 17 hours. The only difference is it needs a bit more time to reload on fuel.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
01 Apr 2018
Total posts 10
AUD$1921 for Premium Economy return. Amazing price!!
09 May 2015
Total posts 33
But I've read mixed reviews of SQ's PE seating...with some saying it's little improvement over Economy. The same has been said about the food.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
01 Apr 2018
Total posts 10
I personally have found SQ's PE a big upgrade from Economy the four times I've flown on the A350. One major factor that stands out to me, is the fact that I've managed to get at least 4-5 hours of sleep.
09 May 2015
Total posts 33
Thanks for the feedback. I just wonder if they are enough of an upgrade for these new 17-19 hour flights.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
SQ PE is a massive upgrade when you think about the current offering on the route (i.e. Y in UA...yea nah)
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
16 Jun 2017
Total posts 35
I guess this is why they have changed SQ 11 to leave Narita at 20:55 arriving in SIN at 03:35, a most inconvenient time
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jan 2017
Total posts 74
Hmm SQ running 161 seats (with no F)
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1429
QF would probably use the A350-1000 for 300 seats and airbus reckon they can do it.
23 Oct 2014
Total posts 239
If airbus can do it for Qantas why wouldn’t SQ have demanded it also as they are the ones out in front in ULH.
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