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End of the Long Flights

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Strong Eagle
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End of the Long Flights

Post by Strong Eagle » Fri, 26 Oct 2012 7:50 am

SQ is dumping their A340-500's and the world's longest routes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/2 ... 12016.html

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Re: End of the Long Flights

Post by offshoreoildude » Fri, 26 Oct 2012 8:10 am

Strong Eagle wrote:SQ is dumping their A340-500's and the world's longest routes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/2 ... 12016.html

Those were beautiful planes and a great way to get to NY!
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Post by Mi Amigo » Fri, 26 Oct 2012 9:12 am

I agree, a magnificent aircraft. I used to fly the non-stop LA route in the 'executive economy' cabin which was pretty comfortable considering the fare. Then they made it all business class and company travel policy prevented me from using that service any more. The longest flight I had was an LAX-SIN trip with very strong headwinds, then we had to do a go-around at Changi due to bad weather on the final approach - over 19 hours in the air IIRC and I was wondering how much juice was left in the tank at that point :o .

Still, at least there'll be more A380s coming.
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Re: End of the Long Flights

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:10 am

offshoreoildude wrote:
Strong Eagle wrote:SQ is dumping their A340-500's and the world's longest routes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/2 ... 12016.html

Those were beautiful planes and a great way to get to NY!
Yeah, provided you were going to New York. If you were heading to points further south then you had to overnight in Newark as it's afternoon arrival was after those carriers heading south. Wasn't an ideal situation.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

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Post by Brah » Fri, 26 Oct 2012 1:08 pm

It was great while it lasted.

Hafta wonder if they didn't cut out the Economy Plus for full Business if they'd had fuller flights like they did at the start.

Guess they thought there were that many rich expats willing to pay those prices and it would be sustainable.

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Post by Mi Amigo » Fri, 26 Oct 2012 2:40 pm

Well the switch to an all 'J' configuration was explained at the time as being due to the flights being uneconomical even with 100% bums on seats with a mix of exec econ and business class. Then during the GFC many A340-500 flights were cancelled as there just weren't enough people willing to pay the full business fare. I remember at the time some passengers were rather upset to be told at the check-in that they'd been transferred to other flights - typical arrogant SQ behaviour if you ask me.
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Post by nutnut » Fri, 26 Oct 2012 4:40 pm

I used that flight recently for business to new york and I must admit, it was excellent, I liked the fact I didn't have to transfer 19 hours is a great time! Pity!
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Post by taxico » Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:29 pm

OH NO, EUROPE LAYOVERS! DREAD! WINTER FLIGHT! DOUBLE DREAD! WHY GOD WHY.

sorry... i love going home on SQ21/22.

i'd better go find out when the last flight is... it's book the cook time!

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Post by Strong Eagle » Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:54 pm

The problem with extremely long flights is that you have to carry fuel to carry the fuel you are carrying. The longer the flight, the more fuel you have to carry just to carry all the fuel you need to make the flight.

Like any airplane, the A380 is not immune to this problem. Unless it's impossible to do otherwise, I predict that flights will max out in the 12 to 14 hour duration... otherwise fuel costs climb too high.

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Post by offshoreoildude » Sat, 27 Oct 2012 9:07 am

1. At least SQ is starting to retire the crappy 747's. Everyone else (KLM, BA, QF) seem adamant to keep them going.

2. Does SQ still have a direct Singapore to LA flight? Ok I'll check...... Nope. Damn. Does anyone or do they all go through that secuity shithole Narita?

I can see SQ upgrading the Singapore to IAH flight to a 100% J class as well.
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Post by zzm9980 » Sat, 27 Oct 2012 9:49 am

offshoreoildude wrote:1. At least SQ is starting to retire the crappy 747's. Everyone else (KLM, BA, QF) seem adamant to keep them going.

2. Does SQ still have a direct Singapore to LA flight? Ok I'll check...... Nope. Damn. Does anyone or do they all go through that secuity shithole Narita?
1) CX is dropping their 747s slowly too.

2) Doesn't SQ have a second option as well? SIN -> SFO has the option of a stop in either HKG or ICH. HKG being the better option since you're not forced off the plane for a security check. I thought LAX had a second option as well...

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Post by offshoreoildude » Sat, 27 Oct 2012 9:51 am

zzm9980 wrote:
offshoreoildude wrote:1. At least SQ is starting to retire the crappy 747's. Everyone else (KLM, BA, QF) seem adamant to keep them going.

2. Does SQ still have a direct Singapore to LA flight? Ok I'll check...... Nope. Damn. Does anyone or do they all go through that secuity shithole Narita?
1) CX is dropping their 747s slowly too.

2) Doesn't SQ have a second option as well? SIN -> SFO has the option of a stop in either HKG or ICH. HKG being the better option since you're not forced off the plane for a security check. I thought LAX had a second option as well...
I was thinking of SFO as well. At the moment the cheapest option to get to Panama Beach FL is Delta via NRT (this is a personal flight - not work related) but Kayak is showing Korean airlines at not much more which is tempting.
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Post by Strong Eagle » Sat, 27 Oct 2012 2:20 pm

offshoreoildude wrote:Damn. Does anyone or do they all go through that secuity shithole Narita?

I can see SQ upgrading the Singapore to IAH flight to a 100% J class as well.
I'm doing a SIN to IAH flight later in December. Security also totally sucks at DME. One or two people uselessly checking passports and stamping forms so that you can walk in a big circle right back into the same room you just walked out of. Leaves no time to hit the lounges... such as they are... or the shops... such as they are.

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Post by zzm9980 » Sat, 27 Oct 2012 3:11 pm

Strong Eagle wrote:
offshoreoildude wrote:Damn. Does anyone or do they all go through that secuity shithole Narita?

I can see SQ upgrading the Singapore to IAH flight to a 100% J class as well.
I'm doing a SIN to IAH flight later in December. Security also totally sucks at DME. One or two people uselessly checking passports and stamping forms so that you can walk in a big circle right back into the same room you just walked out of. Leaves no time to hit the lounges... such as they are... or the shops... such as they are.
Sounds like ICH. At least angry Korean women in uniform are pretty hot, and they have a few things to eat. I did try to bring ice cream back on the flight. Since the flight was now under TSA rules, they had to deny liquids. I completely confused the hell out of three women trying to decide if my icecream from Lotteria was a solid or liquid. They waved me through when the boss wasn't looking.

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Post by zzm9980 » Sat, 27 Oct 2012 3:14 pm

offshoreoildude wrote:
zzm9980 wrote:
offshoreoildude wrote:1. At least SQ is starting to retire the crappy 747's. Everyone else (KLM, BA, QF) seem adamant to keep them going.

2. Does SQ still have a direct Singapore to LA flight? Ok I'll check...... Nope. Damn. Does anyone or do they all go through that secuity shithole Narita?
1) CX is dropping their 747s slowly too.

2) Doesn't SQ have a second option as well? SIN -> SFO has the option of a stop in either HKG or ICH. HKG being the better option since you're not forced off the plane for a security check. I thought LAX had a second option as well...
I was thinking of SFO as well. At the moment the cheapest option to get to Panama Beach FL is Delta via NRT (this is a personal flight - not work related) but Kayak is showing Korean airlines at not much more which is tempting.
It's probably the fastest too, since I imagine Delta will take you to Atlanta after NRT. Florida is a good 6-7 hours from SFO, while the difference of Atlanta vs SFO from Asia might only be an extra hour or two due to the Earth's curvature. HKG to ORD (Chicago) is only about 90 minutes more than HKG to SFO, even though SFO to ORD is almost five hours. Chicago is much closer to Atlanta than SFO.

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