2-4-1 to Singapore in January

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30th December 2024 at 22:20
#736107
#736107

Holidayguy 15 posts

I’m hoping to use my first CV for mid January 26. My plan is use the voucher for two people to Singapore and then on to Perth with Scootplus or whoever for around six weeks.
I’ve spent the weekend digesting the forum (56pages!) and the how to articles and I think I’ll be ok on T355 but there’s a couple of points that I’d welcome some opinions on.
Lots of contributors were saying they phoned via Skype but I was wondering if WhatsApp has become an option?
Secondly – and probably more importantly – all through the thread people were saying the four hardest seats to snag were Sydney, Capetown, Tokyo and Singapore. There were loads of horror stories about the first three destinations but I don’t think I saw one about Singapore.
I know that there are two Heathrow flights per day so I’m wondering how necessary the “just before midnight phone call” is.
My dates are extremely flexible as I retire at Christmas 25.
Has anyone had any experience good or bad when booking Singapore? I looked last night at HfP’s Avios chart and there’s only 10,000 of a difference between peak and off peak so I might be tempted to go early January. Does anyone know if the cash element is the same for peak/off peak?

31st December 2024 at 08:46
#736179
#736179

ekposh 379 posts

Cash element is the same yes, regardless of peak amd off peak.

I find SIN to not be a huge issue especially with extra CV availability ans even better if you fly from the regions. But you can never say for sure – but i reckon you’d be OK at midnight online…..

31st December 2024 at 10:36
#736208
#736208

Holidayguy 15 posts

ekposh wrote:

Cash element is the same yes, regardless of peak amd off peak.

I find SIN to not be a huge issue especially with extra CV availability ans even better if you fly from the regions. But you can never say for sure – but i reckon you’d be OK at midnight online…..

Thanks for the input. You say that a regional departure opens more availability (I’m flying from Belfast) does that Heathrow isn’t the only UK airport that services Singapore?

31st December 2024 at 10:53
#736213
#736213

NorthernLass 10,186 posts

You still need to fly from LHR, but connecting from a regional airport. Rob’s articles on the new-style 241 contain the details about extra regional availability.

31st December 2024 at 11:06
#736219
#736219

Supergers49 296 posts

If your outbound is flexible, you may be able to avoid needing to phone, especially if booking from a regional airport. You will need to call to add the return.

31st December 2024 at 14:39
#736279
#736279

Holidayguy 15 posts

To add a follow-up, I just ran a dry run online for T355 at 2pm and there was no availability so it looks like it’ll have to be the just before midnight scenario when the time comes.

31st December 2024 at 15:03
#736287
#736287

Holidayguy 15 posts

NorthernLass wrote:

You still need to fly from LHR, but connecting from a regional airport. Rob’s articles on the new-style 241 contain the details about extra regional availability.

Just had another run at Rob’s articles and I see where he says that “There is SUBSTANTIALLY more extra availability opened up via this route if you start your trip outside London.”

Don’t know what substantial is in this case. I also don’t know the logic behind it but l’ll take any help I can get!

On the other point I raised NorthernLass, do you know if the overseas BA centres can be contacted via WhatsApp? It seems to be universal these days.

31st December 2024 at 15:38
#736293
#736293

NorthernLass 10,186 posts

No, I don’t think they’re on WhatsApp.

There’s no set rule about how many extra seats are released, it’s something to do with the fare classes BA decides to apply. You need to keep checking, they start appearing from around 3 months after the standard award seats appear.

1st January 2025 at 20:41
#736625
#736625

qc 351 posts

In addition to Skype you can use Viber Out.

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