As James wrote about earlier, Singapore Airlines will be resuming nonstop flights between Singapore and Los Angeles as of November 2, 2018. They’ll operate this flight with one of their new A350-900ULR aircraft, as they’re taking delivery of seven of these. The airline will also fly nonstop between Singapore and Newark as of October 2018, though that route was previously announced.
As I noted when that flight became bookable, there wasn’t much in the way of award availability. I don’t see any saver level business class award availability between Newark and Singapore. There was some standard award availability, which costs a steep 135,000 miles one-way.
There’s some good news when it comes to the new flight that just became bookable. Singapore Airlines seems to have two saver business class award seats on most nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Singapore. A saver ticket costs 88,000 KrisFlyer miles one-way, and there are no carrier imposed surcharges, but rather just the government taxes and fees — this comes out to 23.90USD on the westbound flight, and 69.73USD on the eastbound flight.
It’s great to see this amount of award availability. Keep in mind that Singapore Airlines restricts their longhaul premium cabin award space to members of their own program, so you won’t be able to book these tickets with other Star Alliance miles.
The good news is that Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is transfer partners with Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, and Marriott Bonvoy, so there are lots of easy ways to earn miles with them.
- 3x points on Travel after the $300 Annual Travel Credit
- 3x points on Dining
- $300 Travel Credit
- $550
- 4x points at restaurants, on up to $50,000 in purchases annually
- 4x points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases annually
- 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com
- $325
- Earn 5x points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500k/year)
- $200 Annual Uber Credit
- Amex Centurion Lounge Access
- $695
- Earn 2x miles per dollar on every purchase
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary
- $395
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check Credit
- $95
At 17hr50min westbound and 15hr10min eastbound these are ultra longhaul flights. They’re a convenient way to get directly to Southeast Asia, though I know some people might not want to spend that long on a plane.
For that matter, while Singapore Airlines has an excellent soft product in business class, I don’t really love their seats. They’re extremely hard and you have to sleep at an odd angle (though the seats are fully flat).
I’ve booked Singapore’s new nonstop flight to Newark for October and am looking forward to trying it out. I think one of these ultra longhaul flights is enough for me, or else I’d book one of these awards right away.
Anyone plan to snag an award on this new nonstop flight between LAX and SIN?
Ben-can you clarify/address how biz seats on the ULR will difffer from that of the regular 350? I see a couple of readers commented above..are they the same as the 380? I ask because after a couple of SFO-SIN flights on the regular aircraft, the whole seat conversion to bed process is getting old..would prefer one that reclines down to a flat bed. As I’m not familiar with the product on their other aircraft, looking...
Ben-can you clarify/address how biz seats on the ULR will difffer from that of the regular 350? I see a couple of readers commented above..are they the same as the 380? I ask because after a couple of SFO-SIN flights on the regular aircraft, the whole seat conversion to bed process is getting old..would prefer one that reclines down to a flat bed. As I’m not familiar with the product on their other aircraft, looking to see other seat/bed options that’s more seamless. Wasn’t sure if these ULR are new/better, or we should look to a 777 or 380. Thanks much.
@ Matthewsf -- The seat on the A350URL will be the same as on the other other A350s, unfortunately, so they'll be similar to what you'll find on the new 777s.
Hello.
By any chance do you have any info as to why the bulkhead seats in business class are always taken no matter how far in advance you book the flight? I even tried June of 2019 and the bulkhead seats are all gone!
@archer528
140 000 EB points for two R/T, using an Amex 2-4-1 check, so 140 000 EB points for a round trip SIN-LAX-SIN for one at the standard rate.
@Lucky You need to give the sleeping at an odd angle thing a break. As far as the plane is concerned, it's the same angle that you sleep at on your favourite reverse herringbone (i.e. angled towards the window).
What I find odd is sitting in the SQ J seat with your legs propped up to the side while you face the IFE monitor straight on.
SQ premium cabin awards are also available to Miles & More. Availability is different. I was able to book SYD-LHR in Business through M&M last week when only waitlist Standard was available through KrisFlyer... so who knows the logic..!?
These flights haven’t shown up on M&M yet but SQ12 via Tokyo has decent Biz class availability in December on M&M.
Lucky thanks for the article. At the other end of the spectrum an article on the asia miles debacle would be be helpful. They are making almost no awards available to their own members and partners.
Lucky, I got a notification of a rescheduling for my Singapore flight in business from LAX-NRT next February, is there anyway to leverage it to get a different travel date or routing since the flight was pushed back 7 hours? In the email its asking me to accept the changes or call cumstomer service. I’m not unhappy with the reschedule but I wouldn’t mind pushing my trip into March for better weather with no fee if possible?
All flights are now waitlist only--it seems like all saver availability is gone. Only Advantage space available.
Temping. BKK-SIN-LAX is 88,000 as well.
I should burn my AA and UA miles first though, before I tap my Chase and Amex points.
@Jay since this is a plane that has not yet been delivered (A350-ULR), we are going to have to wait until the first reviews are out, to tell us which seats are the best. I booked the Singapore-Newark flight for March and just reserved first row (12A), but I might change it once people have actually been on that flight
@Kalboz -- give them a call and see if they will hold for you. I got a hold today for 4 days, but I've read that they can be extended if you get a friendly agent.
I just can't get excited about J on a 16+ hour flight. The last time I traveled to HKG from the east coast in CX F, and I was ready to claw my eyes out by that time we landed.
The 7-14 days transfer time between SPG and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is killing me - by the time the transfer is complete, there won't be any seats left!
Lucky do you know which window seat would be best on the A350? Thanks. I have just booked the ticket, but waiting to choose my seat
This is exciting. Not sure how I would do on a flight that long, but still nice to have the option.
As far as I know, these planes will have the same seats as the new A380. It won't be the older A350 seats.
@Lucky - Singapore Airlines will be getting new business class seats for the ULR I thought?
@Lukas
I have lots of SAS miles -- how many miles did you use?
Where’s the EK review! it’s been ages
Actually, Singapore Airlines business class award tickets are accessible via SAS Eurobonus. I’ve booked quite a lof of SQ C awards from them and just booked this one as well (two saver tickets in C).
Is it possible to add a connecting United flight to LA when booking with KrisFlyer?
@ ah -- That would then be priced according to the separate (more expensive) Star Alliance award chart.