Flying economy to Singapore in January.

NORWOOD1 · 22-07-2014 5:24pm #1

Hi all

I am flying to Singapore economy class in January. I was looking at Qatar airways from Dublin to daka, 50 min transit then on the Dreamliner to Singapore. I was also looking at BA A380 direct from London in premium economy.

Has anyone done this route before? Which would be better to take? Price is pretty similar.

Thanks

Henry Ford III · 22-07-2014 5:28pm

It's a long flight. Premium economy in a A380 does it in one hop, and should be reasonably comfortable.

NORWOOD1 · 22-07-2014 5:32pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

It's a long flight. Premium economy in a A380 does it in one hop, and should be reasonably comfortable.

Thanks for your reply. I was thinking the same but was worried about comfort level of sitting in one place for 13 odd hours.

Henry Ford III · 22-07-2014 5:38pm

I've done it in "ordinary" economy - it's a doddle.

First Up · 22-07-2014 5:39pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

It's a long flight. Premium economy in a A380 does it in one hop, and should be reasonably comfortable.

Would agree. BA premium economy is comfortable (the Business Class seats of 10-15 years ago before the flat beds were introduced.) Also far better to get on, get settled and relax, instead of having to get up in the middle of the night and go through the hassle to change planes. (The transit with Qatar would be Doha). Another factor is 50 minutes is a very tight connection. Would not take much of a delay to mess you up.

Aimeee · 22-07-2014 5:41pm

Did this last year with BA, had to fly cork to Heathrow first then transfer to terminal 5 I think. Flight to Singapore was grand, really didn't notice the length all. Slept for a good lot of it. BA very generous with the hospitality from the very start. Just remembered now there was only myself and a fella on the outside seat, I had window. That space in the middle definitely helped.
Return also had window and outside was a Dad and three year old. It was fine as child feel asleep right away, but had to delay going to the loo in the small hours as I probably would've woken the child. I felt a bit trapped alright. I have kids myself so I was fairly understanding etc.
Hindsight if I had booked an aisle seat would've been better.
Then you run the risk of constantly up and down tho but I'd prefer that than to be trapped.

Just had a look there at premium economy. It looks lovely! Definitely no problem.

NORWOOD1 · 22-07-2014 5:42pm

First Up wrote: »

Would agree. BA premium economy is comfortable (the Business Class seats of 10-15 years ago before the flat beds were introduced.) Also far better to get on, get settled and relax, instead of having to get up in the middle of the night and go through the hassle to change planes. (The transit with Qatar would be Doha). Another factor is 50 minutes is a very tight connection. Would not take much of a delay to mess you up.

Thanks guys. You've made it a simple choice for me now.

Comhrá · 22-07-2014 8:59pm

I flew LHR Singapore a few years ago in regular economy on a Qantas A380.
That was very quiet and comfortable and the A380 is definitely more roomy and relaxed and cabin noise is noticeably less than B744 or B777. BA Premium economy should be just grand I'd say. That'd be my choice anyway.

NORWOOD1 · 22-07-2014 9:23pm

tippman1 wrote: »

I flew LHR Singapore a few years ago in regular economy on a Qantas A380.
That was very quiet and comfortable and the A380 is definitely more roomy and relaxed and cabin noise is noticeably less than B744 or B777. BA Premium economy should be just grand I'd say. That'd be my choice anyway.

I think the BA direct is the way to go but is there much difference between economy and premium economy? It's about €500 in the difference for 2 tickets return.

steve-o · 22-07-2014 9:32pm

You've a huge choice from Dublin to Singapore. Consider Singapore Airlines if the price is reasonable - I'd rate Singapore economy way above BA - I even preferred it to BA premium economy. I don't think Qatar fly to Dublin so there must be another stop along the way, making for quite a long trip. And don't bank on flying on a specific plane type. The airlines will rejig their schedules several times before January.

LXFlyer · 22-07-2014 9:51pm

Be aware also that from the end of October all BA operated flights from Dublin will serve Terminal 5 in Heathrow meaning no more trekking across the airport if switching to another BA flight.

billie1b · 22-07-2014 11:24pm

lxflyer wrote: »

Be aware also that from the end of October all BA operated flights from Dublin will serve Terminal 5 in Heathrow meaning no more trekking across the airport if switching to another BA flight.

Thanks be ta jaysus

First Up · 23-07-2014 6:33am

NORWOOD1 wrote: »

I think the BA direct is the way to go but is there much difference between economy and premium economy? It's about €500 in the difference for 2 tickets return.

Big difference is big in my experience but I'm surprised the price difference isn't bigger so might be worth checking exactly what is the configuration on this flight.
Premium Economy seats are wider, have more leg room and there are fewer of them. If you flew old style Business Class on say Aer Lingus to the US you would be familiar with them.
I fly long haul every 4-6 months and at this stage I would use nothing less than Premium Economy on any flight over 6 hours. Etihad economy for example is awful - cramped and usually jammed.

roundymac · 23-07-2014 7:54am

BA. P/E 38". E 31"
Singapore .P/E N/A E 32"
Quantas P/E 38"-40". E32"
What you get with B/A in P/E is a larger seat, food and drinks service is the same as economy, also you are in a section of the cabin that is positioned between first and business with a max of 28-30seats. Depending on the flight you can pay between £500-£1000 sterling extra. On the bonus side if they are upgrading you could end up in business which happened to us once before.

First Up · 23-07-2014 7:59am

roundymac wrote: »

BA. P/E 38". E 31"
Singapore .P/E N/A E 32"
Quantas P/E 38"-40". E32"
What you get with B/A in P/E is a larger seat, food and drinks service is the same as economy, also you are in a section of the cabin that is positioned between first and business with a max of 28-30seats. Depending on the flight you can pay between £500-£1000 sterling extra. On the bonus side if they are upgrading you could end up in business which happened to us once before.

We have been upgraded from PE to BC too, but I have a fairly decent BA card with a good bit on it so maybe that helped. Nice bonus.

NORWOOD1 · 23-07-2014 10:53am

roundymac wrote: »

BA. P/E 38". E 31"
Singapore .P/E N/A E 32"
Quantas P/E 38"-40". E32"
What you get with B/A in P/E is a larger seat, food and drinks service is the same as economy, also you are in a section of the cabin that is positioned between first and business with a max of 28-30seats. Depending on the flight you can pay between £500-£1000 sterling extra. On the bonus side if they are upgrading you could end up in business which happened to us once before.

I was looking at the Singapore website and it doesn't show premium economy. Only economy,business and suites. I will definitely fly direct from heathrow, the only question now is BA or Singapore.I think they are the only airlines that fly direct?

Is there a big difference in there economy configuration? BA flight 15 is a 777 and Singapore flight 317 is an A380. I know that the plane type may change come January but just trying to see if it's worth the €500 to upgrade from Singapore economy to BA premium economy.

Thanks for all your input here guys. I was defiantly booking Qatar before your suggestions.

Simon Gruber Says · 23-07-2014 11:11am

Google some trip reports from each, there are lots and they're very informative about what you can expect. Also look on youtube for video trip reports to get an even better idea.

Aimeee · 23-07-2014 2:33pm

On my return from Singapore last year the Dad sitting beside me was a regular traveller between UK and Singapore. Now I thought BA was pretty good but he thought they had gone downhill a lot and his preferred airline was Singapore. Only reason he was with BA on this occasion was her had to book with less notice.

First Up · 23-07-2014 3:08pm

NORWOOD1 wrote: »

I was looking at the Singapore website and it doesn't show premium economy. Only economy,business and suites. I will definitely fly direct from heathrow, the only question now is BA or Singapore.I think they are the only airlines that fly direct?

Is there a big difference in there economy configuration? BA flight 15 is a 777 and Singapore flight 317 is an A380. I know that the plane type may change come January but just trying to see if it's worth the €500 to upgrade from Singapore economy to BA premium economy.

Thanks for all your input here guys. I was defiantly booking Qatar before your suggestions.

It is really your call. There is quite a difference between a PE seat and pitch and economy but it depends how important that is to you (it is to me!). That said, Singapore is an excellent airline - but economy is economy and its a long flight.

roundymac · 24-07-2014 9:34am

I flew economy with Singapore once, 777 great flight, interior was gleaming, may have been a new aircraft, inflight meals and service were excellent, mind you after a week in China chicken in white wine sauce with mash was a luxury. Last couple of trips with BA were on 747s and they were showing their age. Very tatty, toilets not working, half the interior lights were out on another flight, this was after a two and a half hour delay while a tech fault was was being repaired. Presume it was the lights which went again a half hour into the flight.

NORWOOD1 · 25-07-2014 9:19am

Hi all just an update. I've booked BA premium economy. The fact that it's going to be an A380 helped make my mind up. I know there is a chance the plan could change, but that's the risk one takes :-)

LXFlyer · 25-07-2014 9:43am

NORWOOD1 wrote: »

Hi all just an update. I've booked BA premium economy. The fact that it's going to be an A380 helped make my mind up. I know there is a chance the plan could change, but that's the risk one takes :-)

Cool - and did you choose a BA operated flight to Heathrow (flight number starts with an 8) rather than an Aer Lingus codeshare (flight number starts with a 5)?

That's important as by January BA flights from Dublin will fly into Terminal 5 at Heathrow, and that avoids mucking around with terminal transfers.

Julius Seizure · 26-07-2014 8:30am

Slightly OT, but when BA move to 5 and now that EI are in 2 are Dublin-LHR flights still economy and get to skip immigration queues?

LXFlyer · 26-07-2014 8:42am

Julius Seizure wrote: »

Slightly OT, but when BA move to 5 and now that EI are in 2 are Dublin-LHR flights still economy and get to skip immigration queues?

Absolutely - they're treated as domestic flights for immigration purposes. They only have to pass through customs.

Julius Seizure · 26-07-2014 9:01am

lxflyer wrote: »

Absolutely - they're treated as domestic flights for immigration purposes. They only have to pass through customs.

Lovely. Wasn't sure if the facilities were built in the other terminals as in T1 arrivals they had their own baggage reclaim and walkways etc.

LXFlyer · 26-07-2014 9:50am

Julius Seizure wrote: »

Lovely. Wasn't sure if the facilities were built in the other terminals as in T1 arrivals they had their own baggage reclaim and walkways etc.

They have to be separate.

Departing flights to Ireland are treated as domestic, and arriving flights are not subject to immigration, but are subject to potential customs checks.

That's how the long walk came about in Heathrow Terminal 1.

Historically Irish flights departed/arrived from the domestic pier, but upon arrival passengers had to be bussed to proceed through a separate arrivals area where there was provision for customs checks.

A fuss was eventually kicked up over buses having to be used for every flight, and finally a separate pier was provided for the Irish flights, but unfortunately the only space available was where gates 78-90 were built, which had the negative impact of the long walk.

jojofizzio · 26-07-2014 12:45pm

First Up wrote: »

Big difference is big in my experience but I'm surprised the price difference isn't bigger so might be worth checking exactly what is the configuration on this flight.
Premium Economy seats are wider, have more leg room and there are fewer of them. If you flew old style Business Class on say Aer Lingus to the US you would be familiar with them.
I fly long haul every 4-6 months and at this stage I would use nothing less than Premium Economy on any flight over 6 hours. Etihad economy for example is awful - cramped and usually jammed.

Would second this-flew to Thailand from Dublin via Abu Dhabi with them this year and I can honestly say that my (not exactly bony) behind was never more uncomfortable..cabin service left a lot to be desired too,had to walk down the back to ask for a drink of water in the middle of the night as the crew were too busy chatting to answer when i pressed the call button (about 4 times in 20 mins)....//rant over:)

Flying economy to Singapore in January.

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