Yesterday Singapore Airlines announced the official relaunch of SQ21/22, the worldโs longest non-stop flight to EWR. This flight, clocking in at just under 19 hours one-way, will be operated by the brand new A350-900ULRs that SQ will start receiving in September 2018. The first flight is scheduled to operate on Thursday, 11 October 2018.
In my post I predicted that Business Class Saver award space would be impossible to get, while Advantage awards would make sporadic waitlist appearances with the odd date available for immediate confirmation.
Well, Iโm happy to announce that that doesnโt seem to be the case, at least not entirely. It does appear that Saver awards can be waitlisted, with Advantage awards available for immediate confirmation on some days. Hereโs the inaugural flight, for example, as it appeared this morning:
Needless to say, I jumped on it immediately, waitlisting myself in both Saver and Advantage. And within minutes of doing so, I received the happiest email a KrisFlyer member will ever get:
Which means my Advantage waitlist cleared, and Iโm all set to fly on the inaugural SQ22 flight in October!
The one-way award cost me 135,000 miles and S$80 of taxes. Iโm never a big fan of paying Advantage award prices, but in this case I can justify it for the opportunity to do an inaugural. If past inaugurals are anything to go by, it seems like Iโm in for quite the showโฆ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rTL2dB4pMs
Unfortunately it seems like everyone else had the same idea, because as of right now there are no more Business Class award seats available on SQ22 on 11 October. Doing a search for that date now only throws up Star Alliance partner options, with Singapore Airlines ghosted out.
A quick check with KVS shows the partyโs filling up fast in Business Class:
Some seats have a symbol which Iโve never seen used before on SQ flights. I can understand why the bassinet seats would have Keep Vacant/Offer Last tag on them, but what about 17D and F? Interestingโฆ
Premium Economy still looks fairly open for now, but Iโm guessing that wonโt last either.
If youโre hoping to book this flight on dates other than the inaugural, I can tell you that I managed to find Advantage awards available for immediate confirmation in October (eg 15,22,23) and November, so a little bit of searching via the KVS Tool or just good old fashioned clicking and hoping on the KrisFlyer site should bear dividends.
As a reminder, SQ will be using the same Business Class hard product on the ULRs as they do on their existing A350-900s. This is the 2013 edition of their full flat business class seat, which is an amazing product- as well it should be, for something thatโs expected to be your home for 19 hours.
19 hours in a pressurized metal tube may not be some peopleโs idea of fun, but I am excited beyond words to have a ticket on the inaugural flight. Iโm sure the cabin will be full of fellow geeks so at least no oneโll look at me strange when I start snapping photos of everythingโฆ
Iโve done New York quite a few times so probably wonโt spend too long there, but Iโm thinking of using the opportunity to review CX First Class on the way back as well. Time to make a check list of things to do on a 19 hour flight!
well.. that was fast..
When I grow up I wanna be Aaron!
Might as well start rogaine early then
Congrats, Aaron! Looking forward to your IG stories (live perhaps?) from the inaugural!
Iโm interested to know more about what KVS tells youโฆ what is the coathanger symbol? what is the plane symbol? Presumably $ means you must pay for the privilege, does * mean some benefit for elite passengers? Enquiring minds must know!
Hi I am with you on same inaugural flight. Travelling specially from New Delhi to Singapore on 10.10.18 to be a part of this historic event.
awesome. drop me a pm- maybe we can meet up at the gate party!