Advice on Singapore Airlines Business Class Tickets. Is This a Good Deal?

All Blacks NZ on 29/05/2023 - 23:34

Wife and I are flying from Auckland to Delhi (one-way) during last week of December and I have spent quite a lot of time looking at different options to find the best deal. It's a long way to fly so we are hoping to only have 1 stop along the way. I have found Air NZ and Qatar airways economy class tickets with better seats for around $1500 per person. Just out of curiosity, I looked at Business class tickets and Singapore airlines have their one-way tickets for $3200 per person with a 5 or 9 hour stay in Singapore.

I have never flown business class before and I thought these tickets cost 3 to 4 times the cost of economy ticket. I have transferred my nab credit card points (40,000) to Kris Flyer and waiting for them to transfer before booking anything, this will bring the total cost of the ticket down a little bit. I am tempted to book the business class tickets as it seems like a pretty good price for 2 long flights.

Is it a good deal?

Thanks in advance.

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Comments

  • Hybroid on 29/05/2023 - 23:39
    +3

    Business is nice, but it's going to cost you +$3,000 extra for enduring one day of travel (one-way too). Could you use that money somewhere else? Some special event on holiday? A hobby? New ebike? Computer/TV upgrade? Towards a new kitchen? Your call if it's worthwhile.

    • All Blacks NZ on 30/05/2023 - 14:14

      Yeah, that's exactly is my dilemma. I could just fly normal economy and even with extra leg room seats, I will be thousands ahead and then book the best hotels in Delhi for a week and live in luxury. haha

  • AustriaBargain on 29/05/2023 - 23:45
    +4

    If you've never flown business or first class then why not, YOLO. When you talk to other couples and they mention their business class experience don't you want to be able to say you've done it too?

    • All Blacks NZ on 30/05/2023 - 14:15

      YOLO is what got me started in the first place down this route. Now wife is very interested so might actually pull the trigger.

  • nubix on 29/05/2023 - 23:55
    +5

    Bit of a non-answer, but whether it is a good deal or not is completely up to you.

    Consider why you want it.

    Do you value more time at your destination?
    Since you're going one way, maybe you'll have plenty of recovery time as well as lots of time to spend there.

    Do you despise your time on board?
    How much are you willing to pay to avoid the hours of painful travel?
    Business Class does turn the dread of being on board to excitement!

    Do you value the stopover?
    9 hours is a good amount of time to do their free city tours from the Airport. There's probably not that much more you can do in Singapore outside of eating.

    I've only done J on redemptions and probably would never at the usual price difference as you mentioned, but 2x Economy puts me firmly on the edge…

    • All Blacks NZ on 30/05/2023 - 14:17

      Thanks for your thoughts, this is really helpful and what I was hoping to hear when I posted this.

  • kyle on 30/05/2023 - 06:27
    +2

    Go for it. Usually J is 3 to 5x Y.

  • Blokeinhisundies on 30/05/2023 - 10:00
    +3

    I'll share my recent expeience as I was in a similar boat regarding paying extra or just going economy I recently went to South Korea and flew SQ in business. The flight was about 14hrs with a short stop in Singapore and this is the first time I've flown business class.

    When I booked economy Brisbane>Seoul was about $1200 and business was $3500. At the time I thought about it for a few days and then decided I could afford it so I YOLO'd it. It is definitely worth it if the price is right. Just the extra space and ability to lay down and have a sleep makes a huge difference. The lounge and better food is nice but in the scheme of things is not that amazing. The Book the Cook service is pretty cool.

    Would I fly business all the time? No, but it is definitely worth it if the price is reasonable. What's reasonable to you though? Everyone is different, but if business is only a bit more than double I would jump at it for a long flight.

    • All Blacks NZ on 30/05/2023 - 14:21

      Thanks for sharing your experience. We are going to travel full time for a few years and I think starting the trip with a business flight might be the perfect start to our travels or ruin every flight after that. lol.

  • darvian22 on 30/05/2023 - 10:31
    +4

    Singapore Airlines has a fantastic business class and also Singapore as a stopover is amazing; with the lounge there you wouldn't feel like the transit time is long at all.

    It comes down to if you find it value to you, the price is actually quite good, so that represents good value for the ticket, but as some up above has suggested, money that could be spent somewhere else.

    As a product, they rate as one of the best business classes so you won't be disappointed by your experience onboard.

    • All Blacks NZ on 30/05/2023 - 14:26

      Yeah Singapore airlines and Changi airport are great, which makes this deal even more appealing. I was at Changi flying back from KL last week and spent 10 hours overnight at the airport. They have plenty of couches and places to sit at the airport but I was very tired by the time I arrived in Melbourne. A flat bed on the plane and then spending a few hours at the lounge seems like the perfect way to spend 20+ hours flying.

  • Seraphin7 on 30/05/2023 - 11:03
    +2

    It all depends how you frame "good deal".

    In terms of the differential from economy to business, it's probably about as good as you will see.

    In terms of is the extra $3,400 going to be money well spent for what you get vs. what else you could buy with that money (anything from maybe a year's worth of electricity to six lots of top end dinners for you and the bride), it becomes a lot more subjective.

    • All Blacks NZ on 30/05/2023 - 14:30

      Thanks, I think I need to stop thinking about money for this one time and actually enjoy the experience.

  • TheRealCher on 30/05/2023 - 13:10
    +1

    Singapore Airlines is great business class, and if you're flying across time zones and need sleep, flatbed is wonderful. The lounge at changi is great and the airport itself is in the top 5 - so if you see that as part of the experience, yes, its good value.
    Is it overall a good deal? I got to stockholm and back in business including Singapore Airlines and finn air for 5500 in February but i booked 10 months out. Like others , I'd be asking, what else can ypu spend yr money on? What's premium economy cost?
    I have 3 herniated disks and a cyst in my neck - more than 4 hours in economy risks me not being able to walk when i get to my destination, so my deal includes that.
    My 2c - go for it and enjoy :)

    • All Blacks NZ on 30/05/2023 - 14:29

      Thanks mate, I wonder if the prices will continue to go up? I heard once that best time to book a flight is 45-50 days before the departure date. Not sure if that's true or not?

      • TheRealCher on 01/06/2023 - 14:36
        +1

        My prediction is yes, based partly on your travelling date (very rare to get sale fares during that period, particularly as singapore is a major east west and north south transit) and airlines are milking things at the moment to make up for covid. Sales also usually happen at the other end of the plane, and youd be looking at early November or February for discounts.
        Hope that helps :)

        • All Blacks NZ on 01/06/2023 - 18:51

          Yeah, I just checked for the dates I want and some seats have already sold. They had 2 separate flights listed at the promo price leaving 1am, now they don't have any. I am waiting for my points to transfer to KrisFlyer so should be able to book sometime next week. Thanks

  • Lunarboogie on 30/05/2023 - 15:48
    +2

    I'm an avid traveller and have had the good fortune of flying in business and first class more times than I can remember (usually with work but also through a big smattering of redemptions). But I'll always look back at my first experience (SYD - CGK with QF) where I was giddy with excitement and spent half the flight pinching myself.

    SQ is an even better product so you'll love it even more.

    But before you launch, is there a night flight in the itinerary? If not, I'd be less inclined as you'll be upright for most of the journey anyway, watching the same flicks you can see in cattle. Is the extra 2k per pax worth a wider screen, upholstered seat and better grub? I'm torn.

    • All Blacks NZ on 30/05/2023 - 16:57

      Thanks for sharing your experience mate. The flight I am looking at will be leaving Auckland at 1 am so I am guessing we will be sleeping during that flight? The shorter flight from Singapore to Delhi is during the day, arriving Delhi at 8pm. The other option is leaving Auckland at 3pm but that one arrives in Delhi at 5am the next day. And we want to arrive in Delhi at night and not early morning as we won't be able to check into the hotel until 3pm and I don't wanna have to deal with luggage etc the whole day. So many moving parts and things to consider because of time zones.

      • Blokeinhisundies on 30/05/2023 - 17:29
        +1

        From my experience on SQ I had two night flights (~midnight and 1am departures) and two day flights. The experience was good, but diiferent, depending on when you fly. On the night flights they serve you dinner once the seatbelt sign goes off and then the lights are switched off. They pretty much assume everyone wants to sleep and even if you don't you won't see the flight attendants much. There was also only one meal service (one main and a bowl of fruit) for a ~7hr flight. If you fly during the day you will get a proper three course meal and attentive service the whole flight.

        If it's just the bed that you want it's fine but to be honest I felt like the day flights were better value for the dollars spent. You can sleep during the day as well if you want to.

        • All Blacks NZ on 30/05/2023 - 17:54

          Thanks for this. I am pretty sure there is a way to check what Singapore airlines is serving on specific flights. The menu might change by December but should give me an idea on what to expect.

          https://inflightmenu.singaporeair.com/home

          I need to get the flight number and pick a day which is similar to when I will be flying and that should tell me everything they are serving.

        • All Blacks NZ on 30/05/2023 - 18:04

          Just checked and you are correct. The flight that leaves Auckland 1am only serves one dinner. The flight that leaves at 3pm has full lunch, then something called Delectables and then a light dinner. There is an option to get to Delhi at 5am or 8pm regardless of which flight we take from Auckland as we can choose to have longer stay in Singapore. And I guess in Singapore we will have access to the Singapore lounge anyway. Don't think they have beds at that lounge? Just food and drinks?

          • Blokeinhisundies on 30/05/2023 - 20:07
            +1

            @All Blacks NZ: They have a quiet room with reclining seats in the lounge but from memory you're limited to a few hours.

            There's a few videos reviewing the lounge and facilities on YouTube if you search "krisflyer lounge Changi."

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