I'm trying select seats for an upcoming flight using seatguru.com. I know the aircraft is a 777, but seatguru shows 5 different versions of the 777 for SIA.

I've run into this problem before and called the airline to ask which version would be used, but I got two different answers. Is there another way to find out?

SIA - SIN-CHC
AIR NZ CHC-MEL
SIA - MEL-SIN

Not really. Singapore Airlines doesn't release its economy (I assume you're in coach?) seat maps to the GDSs as far as I know.

The equipment most days is shown as a 772 in 2-class configuration. Looking at Seatguru, I can only see one version with no first class cabin, so I think that's your answer.

I'm flying business class.

What's GDS?

G lobal
D istribution
S ervices

Provides electronic global distribution services for the travel industry utilizing a computerized reservation system.

Is seatguru.com a GDS?

No, seatguru is basically a "hobbyist" site.

No, Seatguru is just a website put together to illustrate seating configurations. It's incomplete and sometimes inaccurate, but it's a great benefit compared to the airlines' own seat maps.

GDSs have names like Sabre, Amadeus, Worldspan, Apollo... and contain real-time reservations, fare, seating, and many other types of information used by the airlines, travel agencies, and booking engines.

No.

GDS companies, Amadeus, Galileo, etc. have contracts with airlines and hotels to distribute their product worldwide.

Some of these companies provide some direct service to the travelers, such as www.checkmytrip.com, but their main business is to distribute the services of airlines and hotels all over the world.

Some airlines allow GDS companies to show seat maps and some don't. It depends on the contract between the the two.

www.seatguru.com, www.seatexpert.com, www.seatmaestro.com are just a seat opinion sites that have nothing to do with GDS. They just collected seat maps wherever the could find them and then ask flyers for opinions on which are the prefered seats.

SQ SIN-CHC is 777-200
NZ CHC MEL is A320 100/200 but NZ is not the operating airline
SQ MEL-SIN could be a 777-300ER or 777-300 or a 747-400, as they operate different aircraft for different days

Thanks Odin - that helps a lot!

Ok guys, please don’t think I am promoting my website but I couldn’t help asking since I have been wondering about this for ages...

I am the owner of www.seatmaestro.com and many site visitors keep sending emails asking me where they can find the EXACT aircraft-type they will be flying in.

Since I don’t know how to effectively find this information I created a link where I give users some hints on where to get it. However, most people still can’t find that information. Believe me…it’s not always an easy task.

I would love to provide that information for free to my visitors, even if it costs me but I need to know where I could get it or who to contact…

I know www.checkmytrip.com works pretty well telling you the aircraft type (among other things) and I thought about doing a mash-up but still that wouldn’t solve the problem since it only works with Amadeus…

Any help…please…

Singapore Airlines B777-300ER Seat Plan of Economy Class is 3-3-3. B777-300 ER: SIN-ZRH, SIN-CDG