SA7700 From South Africa, joined Dec 2003, 2930 posts, RR: 20 Posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 2717 times:
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I'm planning a trip down to New Zealand and Australia. Usually I take the direct Qantas flight between JNB-SYD-JNB, but would like to try something different.
I will get SA FF mileage on both SQ and EK; although if I fly SQ, the mileage will accrue to my tier level. Flying Emirates is a drawing card, because of the chance to get onto the 777-300ER. I have heard and read a lot of good things about SQ, but fear that the Business class product (spacebeds) on the 777-200ER's between JNB-SIN-CHC and SIN-JNB may be dated....
I'm open for suggestions and opinions, please!
Rgds
SA7700
When you are doing stuff that nobody has done before, there is no manual – Kevin McCloud
Leskova From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 6075 posts, RR: 72 Reply 1, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2717 times:
From my personal experience with both, I'd not hesitate a second and go with EK...
I usually get flamed for saying so, but my (admittedly limited) experience on SQ (FRA-JFK-FRA in 2002) was service and comfort on the level of what I'd expect from a low cost carrier, but certainly not a premium airline.
My (also not huge amount of) experience with EK on the other hand (DUS-DXB-MLE-DXB-DUS in 2007, there's a trip report available about that one... ...) was far better, even not counting the three segments we didn't get upgraded to C-class.
With EK, you could end up on a B777-300ER and an A340-500 in one trip...
... then again, if you route yourself through SYD on the out- or inbound leg, you might be able to take the A380 from SIN...
SA7700 From South Africa, joined Dec 2003, 2930 posts, RR: 20 Reply 2, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 2699 times:
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Quoting Leskova (Reply 1): With EK, you could end up on a B777-300ER and an A340-500 in one trip...
... then again, if you route yourself through SYD on the out- or inbound leg, you might be able to take the A380 from SIN...
The A380 will definitely be a feature of the itinerary, should I choose SQ over EK. I have flown on EK between SYD-CHC-SYD in F on the A345 and was extremely impressed with their service - the pax to FA ratio (1:3) on the outbound sector was mind-blowing
When you are doing stuff that nobody has done before, there is no manual – Kevin McCloud
ZKSUJ From New Zealand, joined May 2004, 6971 posts, RR: 10 Reply 3, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2659 times:
Go EK. with SQ you will be stuck on older cabins going into AKL and a leased 744 as well with different cabins. EK would be my choice if I was in your shoes.
As for the service wise, all airlines have good and bad. SQ is not perfect, there are still not so good and unfriendly FAs on board there as my brother told me last week when he travelled. But so is EK and every other airline. Its luck of the draw really
Abrelosojos From Venezuela, joined May 2005, 4919 posts, RR: 55 Reply 5, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 2621 times:
As much as I think SQ standards have fallen (see recent TR's), I think it is MILES ahead of EK. Its a rarity to find a poor SQ crew. EK on the other hand is notorious for having the most inconsistent crew on their flights. Finally, transitting through DXB is horrible. Changi is a dream ... and you'll get to experience the new T3.
Qslinger From New Zealand, joined Apr 2006, 245 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 2605 times:
Quoting SA7700 (Reply 4): I have read on the internet that DXB
Hi SA7700,
Dubai is ok of airport to connect at, but having used DXB for 2 years and having transited thru Changi, I can definitely say that Changi is much better in terms of Duty Free, facilities or just strolling around. Mind you I am not bashing DXB here, but my preference is Changi as it does keep me more occupied than DXB does.
As per the airline itself, I have never flown EK in economy, so would not be able to comment on it, how ever I have flown SQ from DXB to AKL. Their 777 are pretty nice but the SIN-AKL leg they used a 747-400 Star Alliance craft. It was a bit depressing. But the service was excellent tho.
I guess, the 2 factors u should consider is, your stop over, the service and the the possibility of flying the A380.
RyanairGuru From Australia, joined Oct 2006, 2673 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (5 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 2502 times:
In my experience being a frequent flyer from MAN to BNE don't EVEN CONSIDER SQ - its not that i've had a bad experience as such, but inedible food surly crews, cramped aircraft, poor IFE have put me off for life. EK on the other hand are a dream; though to be fair DXB can on occassion be slightly crowded.
SA7700 From South Africa, joined Dec 2003, 2930 posts, RR: 20 Reply 9, posted (5 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2471 times:
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My biggest issue with EK is DXB airport’s current condition, with all the construction going on. I received some feedback from a friend of mine who's working as a F/A for EK - he told me the biggest issues on EK would be "hit-and-miss" cabin crews, as well as DXB itself.
With regards to SQ: I was in the final process of payment for this trip, when the SQ website gave me an error code, no reference number and a outstanding authorization of almost USD6000 on my credit card. I phoned SQ’s offices in Johannesburg but they can find no trace of a booking under my surname. Now all that I can do is wait and see if the fare automatically clears from my account… This experience has already left me a bit sour…
When you are doing stuff that nobody has done before, there is no manual – Kevin McCloud
QANTAS077 From China, joined Jan 2004, 5751 posts, RR: 49 Reply 10, posted (5 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 2451 times:
I used SQ purely because they allowed me to land at JNB and depart from CPT, service was excellent, flights on time and connection was easy in Singapore..I stopped in Singapore for a few days before flying onward to JNB and same on the way home back to PER.
I understand that EK 773ER doing the JNB route is equipped with new cabin but I guess its debatable which one they use on their 3 flights per day.
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...) was far better, even not counting the three segments we didn't get upgraded to C-class.
From New Zealand, joined May 2004, 6971 posts, 
From Venezuela, joined May 2005, 4919 posts, 
From Australia, joined Oct 2006, 2673 posts, 
From Rwanda, joined Feb 2001, 6368 posts, 
From China, joined Jan 2004, 5751 posts, 
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