Four for four and back to back on United

[Emil 0]

After being back from LOS for 4 days I thought it was time to get off my ass and book the next trip. I called my travel agent to see if the prices on United had dropped from June. They had but it was still 4 figures so I told her I was going to check for a freebie.

 

I called UA and told the lady that I wanted a saver award to LOS and that I couldn't leave before 8 Sep because I had higher priorities (NFL fantasy draft) with a return date 45 day or less away as I could go to immigration and get an extension. I waited a few minutes and she came back with an 11 Sep departure date and return on 18 Oct. I would be flying over on UA and return on Thai through Inchon where I would transfer to Singapore for the flight to SFO.

 

This is the 4th time that I've tried to use a saver award and have been successful each time. Never have I flown the entire trip on UA and on my last trip it was entirely on Singapore. Let me say that if you get a chance to fly Singapore go for it. The food was great and the entertainment system was the best I've ever used for economy. 40 English movies which you can individualy start and stop, TV programs, music CDs and games. The Singapore Girls were simply awesome, although those uniforms don't show much skin, but they hug the curves and they have very nice curves. I don't think Singapore has an EEO program.

 

You need to call UA direct when you want to cash in these awards for the best success. Booking by computer only looks at UA and you need to be flexible with their partner airlines.

 

The lady quoted me a cost of $24 for the ticket (they didn't charge me the additional $15 this time for talking to a person. I may be cattle class but I'm Premier Executive cattle class) but when I received my confirmation later I noticed that the bill was for $94. I called back and another lady said it was a computer mistake (they tried to pad my bill) and that it was indeed on $24. I thanked her and told her that would cover to soapies or 3 S/T's.

 

Soi 7,

 

I should be able to rejoin you on the exercise program on the 13th and take over for brother James. I'm sure that you'll find it easier to keep up with me than the fitness guru whose also known as the Jack Lalane of Milwaukee.

Edited August 2, 2005 by Emil

[Tahoe_Bill 0]

Emil,

 

3 for 4 myself (although if I wanted to stay an extra day on my June trip they could have accommodated me). I’ve always had to book over the phone and I have no problem with booking it this way.

 

I booked my October award travel on the phone and the agent more than earned the $15 that I was charged (I spent 35 minutes on the phone as he kept trying itineraries). Ended up having to fly UA to LAX and on Singapore Air (SQ) from LAX-SIN-BKK on the outbound .

 

I asked him to check the TG flight BKK- JFK but it came back as not being available for award travel. He told me that there is a TG flight arriving at NRT early morning connecting to UA in the late afternoon (9 hour layover). I asked him to check BKK-KIX-ORD (TG – UA) because there were usually seats available on these planes. So I ended up getting these flights on the return trip .

 

I’m curious about your SQ / SIN airport experience. If you don’t have objections, I’ll PM you the couple of easy questions.

 

Cheers ,

 

Bill

[Emil 0]

I’m curious about your SQ / SIN airport experience. If you don’t have objections, I’ll PM you the couple of easy questions.

 

Cheers ,

 

Bill

No problem, the airport is rather unique as they have the security checkpoints set up at each gate area, I guess so that everyone can shop at the numerous shops they have in the terminal. They allow you to enter the gate area about an hour before departure where they have 2 computers set up that you can use for free for 15 minutes.

[BigDUSA 71]

As a "sniff,sniff" Premier Executive, I've had good luck with UA with my PHL-BKK award trips. Next trip I'm burning up almost all my USAir miles. I fly UA out and Thai back to LA and USAir back to PHL. I've got miles with NW & Delta to use before they go belly up.

 

BTW, SQ is the best airline back in the cheap seats and the stews are to die for. Damn they are good looking.

[growler 0]

Denny,

 

Went to New Zealand with SQ last year. 32" in economy. Very tight. More interested in my sore legs than the cabin crews. Wish I was a hansum sexy "young" man like you.

Edited August 3, 2005 by growler

[Emil 0]

Denny,

 

Went to New Zealand with SQ last year. 32" in economy. Very tight. More interested in my sore legs than the cabin crews. Wish I was a hansum sexy "young" man like you.

Ask for emergency exit row, plenty of room to stretch out.

[growler 0]

I know. I got it from Auckland to Singapore.

[partyanimal 0]

Lots of legroom on the SQ Sing-Newark route. 2-3-2 configuration and I had the bulkhead but even guys in the middle seat were happy.

 

The armrests were not removable in my bulhead seat. Anyone know about the rest of the cabin on the longhaul?

[knowntender 0]

Tahoe Bill,

 

1 SQ has a policy to close the gate very early... much earlier than other

airlines. Make sure you allow extra time.

 

2 SQ 'Silver Kris' lounge in Singapore Changi International is excellent...better than UA 'Red Carpet' lounge in Tokyo Narita.

 

 

3 SQ business class is always superb.

 

4 I had mixed experience with TG. In my opinion, TG economy is above

average. My experience with TG business class was not good. I flew TG 'BKK-KIX-LAX' business class 1.5 year ago and remembered the seat on the upper deck of the 747-200 was uncomfortable. We sure hope that TG had improved since then.

 

 

 

Knowntender

[BigDUSA 71]

2 SQ 'Silver Kris' lounge in Singapore Changi International is excellent...better than UA 'Red Carpet' lounge in Tokyo Narita.

Last time I was in Changi, SQ wouldn't allow Star Alliance Gold Card holder into this club. They had another lounge that was really lame compared to Silver Kris Club. I snuck into it. Nice with a smoking room and big screen tv.