Can anyone out there offer a comparison between SIA Executive Economy from SIN-LAX vs UAL Economy Plus from SIN-HK-LAX?

I've flown the SIN-LAX route on SIA before and would happily do so again (before it goes away for good in Sept 2008).

I've not flown the UAL route in Economy Plus, but I'm tempted because I'll earn double miles, get an Econ Plus seat for the price of an economy ticket, will reach my destination several hours earlier, and the cost of my connecting flight is included in the fare, which it isn't with the SIA flight - all told, the UAL route will save about $450.

BUT....

Will I be giving up too much in terms of comfort, entertainment and overall service?

I haven't flown Singapore, but I expect there isn't much of a comparison. Economy Plus is standard economy seat and service with a few extra inches of leg room--versus a true premium economy product. I would certainly consider the double miles and savings, though, and have done that for flights to Asia before and lived to tell about it.

One suggestion: on UA, I think you have an option to go via NRT as well as Hong Kong, and the route via NRT uses 777s. I would far prefer that to UAs 747s, which I believe you would have via Hong Kong (based on a quick review of today's flight schedule, anyway). The 747s don't have seatback entertainment; I try to avoid them in economy if I can.

Good point about the 777, I hadn't thought about that...

I've flown UAL from SIN to NRT before, but it was in Business Class - it's only six hours, so it's not a deal breaker, but a 777 would be nice on the long flight to the US. It might even connect with a flight to SFO, which I'd much prefer over LAX anyway, but not sure if it connects with my flight to COS on UAL - will take a look.

Considered upgrading with miles, but only one leg (of three) is available each way, so don't want to use them. I have some other long flights coming up later this year that I'd prefer to use them on.

Thanks for the suggestion - I'll take another look.

You can get on the waitlist for the upgrade for the trans pacific flights. You could specify that you want upgraded on all three legs or none. Or upgrade two of three or none. Only thing to be careful about is if two of the legs are the same flight number.

You'd be able to do this online or call an agent.

Yes, 747s for LAX-HKG-SIN. I'll be upstairs in C for that trip in a little over two weeks.

You might earn double miles, but the upgrade might cost more than you earn (COS-LAX-HKG-SIN is 19,300 roundtrip). On a Y or B fare the upgrades (both ways) would be 30,000 miles (I value at $300 to $450). For an M or H fare it would cost 60,000 miles (value at $600 to $900). The other fare classes are not upgradeable for an international trip.

So upgrading an M or H fare with miles both ways will give you a net loss of 21,400 miles but save $450.

Flying on SQ will earn 19,200 miles.

So do you want to spend 21,400 miles and save $450 flying UA biz or do you want to spend $450 and save 41,200 miles by flying SQ premium economy?

Now I'm really confused...

I checked the routing/cost from SIN-NRT-SFO-COS (777) and it's actually about $300 cheaper than going through HK. So, I'd save closer to $650 flying United, but there's an unattractive five hour layover in SFO on the return.

BUT, I just got an e-mail from United offering double Elite status miles for flying between now and June 15. So, I'd earn double redeemable miles for flying UA on this route + double Elite status miles. That's about 37,660 redeemable miles, plus 37,660 miles that will go towards my Premier Executive. I currently have 117K miles, so if I use 60k to upgrade now (if available), that will leave 57k, plus the 37+k I earn back to use on my next flight, which will also require 60k to upgrade (same route).

If I upgrade to business, I think I'll earn 2.5 times the mileage, plus the double miles that go towards Premier Executive.

Will continue to research...

When you use miles to upgrade, you earn RDM (and bonuses) based on the original fare you paid for, not where you ended up sitting.

Okay, thanks.

I don't know how you guys keep this all straight.

I think I've decided to use the 60k to upgrade to Business on UA - I'll be waitlisted for the SIN-NRT, NRT-SIN flights but will get Econ Plus if the waitlist doesn't clear.

I can get Business Class NRT-SEA-DEN both ways. Then I'll fly DEN-COS.

It's an extra flight and a route I hadn't even considered (SEA), but the connections are really good - I leave SIN nine hours earlier than the SIA-LAX flight (I'm arriving from Indonesia, so have to spend at least a night in SIN regardless) and arrive in COS six hours earlier.

I'm getting tired just thinking about it.

UA non-upgradable flight is $1,765, upgradable flight is $1,803.26, much smaller difference than I would have guessed.

This compared to SIA $1,972 & $350 for additional flight from LAX-COS and it doesn't sound so bad.

And I'll earn those extra miles...

Not sure if Fodor's airline saavy folks will approve, but I think it will work...

A double-EQM offer changes the math completely. That will work very well. Can't get much better than that - a double EQM offer when planning a trip to SIN. Probably a targeted offer that I won't get.

Okay, it's done. And not a minute too soon - there was only one upgradable Business class seat left on the NRT-SEA-DEN flight.

Regarding the double EQM offer - maybe it's because my flights originate in SIN instead of from the US???

Whatever the reason, I'm just glad I could take advantage of it.

I don't think the double EQM offer is targeted. It's on the website as a promotion (although I also got the email). Go to the Mileage Plus > Promotions > Airlines page.

>> I just got an e-mail from United offering double Elite status miles for flying between now and June 15. So, I'd earn double redeemable miles for flying UA on this route + double Elite status miles. That's about 37,660 redeemable miles, plus 37,660 miles that will go towards my Premier Executive.<<

The DEQM offer to which you refer does NOT provide double RDM's. Be aware of that as you plan your journey. It ONLY offers double qualifying miles for your PE status.

Best, Dave

Dave, Melnq8 references double redeemable miles in her original post, so I'm assuming she's already a PE. I think that's where she's anticipating the double redeemable miles, not from the promotion.

ms_go is correct - I earn double redeemable miles regardless, but with the promotion, the double miles go towards my PE status.

I didn't word it particularly well in my earlier post.

>>I earn double redeemable miles regardless, but with the promotion, the double miles go towards my PE status.
<<

My mistake, I had not seen that earlier and just wanted to make sure that the OP made the proper "math" decisions.

Best, Dave

Thanks Melnq8 for mentioning the DEQM offer. I decided to go to the Promotions-Air webpage under Mileage Plus because of your post and see that it IS NOT a targeted offer. I am horrified that I might have missed it.

The travel dates cover my 17,700 LAX-HKG-SIN-HKG-LAX trip. With DEQM for that all I need to re-qualify for 1K is to take a LAX-HKG-LAX trip during the period.

http://tinyurl.com/5j88vp

I don't see any ticket purchase date restrictions, which is good because I got the ticket in January. Melnq8, I'd like to sponsor an upgrade for you, if you are traveling UA domestic this year.

Meant to add: send me an e-mail at yahoo dot com.

mrwunrfl -

Are you serious? Wow, that's really nice. I'll be traveling UA domestic later this year, so I'll send you an e-mail. Thanks!

Did you send me that e-mail, Melnq8?

Yes, I am serious. When I get back from SIN mid-May, I will have 50,129 EQMs and figured I might finish the= year with 70K - far short of 1K. So I wasn't looking for any EQM earning opportunities and might not have seen this offer until the end of May (better check my e-mail preferences).

I was considering going to Mexico City in June (about 3100 EQMs LAX-MEX-LAX). But now I might move that date up and go the long way: LAX-IAD-MEX-IAD-LAX. That would be 16,600 with DEQM. Add in a trip to Japan in November and Vegas some time and it is 1K again.

This is a big deal because of Confirmed Systemwide Upgrades - Region 2, as explained at the link below. These are known as SWUs and a 1K gets 6 of these each year Upgrading a LAX-SIN roundtrip with 60,000 miles requires buying an M or H fare - about $1490. It would take two SWUs to upgrade the roundtrip but they can be used with W fares - $932. So I am happy about this and have a few upgrade certs (not SWUs) that I almost certainly won't use.

This offer is probably not a good sign for United. They have had DEQM offers in the fall, Oct-Dec, before but charged a fee for it and the cost increased each year: $100, then $150, then $200, I think. In 2006 they charged $500 (I paid it). It wasn't offered last year.

This is the link that explains upgrades:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,1360,50027,00.html