Hundreds of Suites saver award seats on SIA’s A380 to and from Osaka this winter

Singapore Airlines fly their largest plane, the Airbus A380, seasonally during the winter months between Singapore and Osaka and here’s the good news this year – it’s running for just over 3 months from 28th October 2018 to 31st January 2019. That’s a total of 96 flights in either direction, or as we see it 96 opportunities to try out the fantastic Singapore Airlines A380 suites product.

Let’s clarify one thing to start with, this isn’t the new 2017 Suites product installed on the latest A380 aircraft. Those are flying daily between Singapore and Sydney, London, Hong Kong and soon Zurich and Shanghai, but won’t be flying to or from Osaka.

This route will get the 2006 Suites but don’t let the age put you off, if you haven’t tried Singapore Airlines in Suites this is still a fantastic product, refreshed with new seat covers and other fittings only a few years ago.

The Schedule

Here’s the daily flight you’ll have to pick to experience the A380 with the Suites product on Osaka flights this winter.

From 28th October 2018 to 31st January 2019 30th March 2019

* Next day

Update 9th June 2018: Note that A380 service on this route has now been extended to 30th March 2019. See our article for details.

Award Availability

The problem is, being Suites, there’s hardly any redemption availability – right? Wrong! Singapore Airlines doesn’t normally operate a First Class cabin to Osaka, let alone a Suites cabin. It doesn’t even operate Suites to Tokyo.

That makes it very difficult for them to capture a market for these seats on this particular route.

It means on this 6 hour 15 minute flight to Osaka (or back to Singapore) you can experience the Suites product at the saver rate of 65,000 KrisFlyer miles and there’s tons of award space loaded.

Here are the KrisFlyer redemption rates you’ll pay by cabin on this route:

When we say tons, we mean it. In fact Advantage rates in Suites on this route are pretty irrelevant – you almost never have to pay it. We found at least 735 saver award seats in Suites class between Singapore and Osaka during the 3-month period of operation; 360 northbound and 365 southbound.

Here’s the rule of thumb. There are at least 4 saver Suites redemptions on this route in both directions every single day from 28th October 2018 to 31st January 2019.

That’s because we only searched availability up to 4 Suites award seats – on some dates there may be more. There are a few days where fewer than 4 seats are available, as follows.

Singapore – Osaka (SQ618)

• 22nd November – 1 available
• 29th November – 3 available
• 3rd December – 2 available
• 8th December – Waitlist
• 21st December – 3 available
• 25th December – 2 available
• 7th January – 3 available

Osaka – Singapore (SQ619)

• 23rd November – 2 available
• 2nd December – 2 available
• 3rd December – 2 available
• 21st December – 2 available
• 27th December – Waitlist
• 28th December – 1 available
• 29th December – 3 available
• 2nd January – 3 available
• 3rd January – 2 available

On all other dates of operation there are at least 4 saver awards in the Suites cabin in both directions, as of 2nd June 2018.

Remember there are two pairs in the 2006 Suites cabin where you have the opportunity for the double bed arrangement – at 2 C/D and 3 C/D.

While the forward pair at 2 C/D are blocked for allocation due to the bassinet position, if you can’t secure 3 C/D as a couple then Singapore Airlines should be able to allocate 2 C/D over the phone. You risk being moved to other seats if a booking including an infant is then made on your flight in this cabin – a small chance.

Is it good value?

Many of you will recall our article a couple of months ago which listed all the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer saver redemptions to and from Changi by miles per minute of flight time. We basically copied someone else’s idea (with permission, naturally) and it was meant as a bit of fun. Surprisingly though it got a lot of traction.

The Osaka route wasn’t included in the First / Suites table as it wasn’t operating with that cabin at the time, but it would work out at 177 KrisFlyer miles per minute of flight time on a saver Suites redemption. That’s on the high side with the average route coming in at 150 miles per minute in this cabin but it’s identical to Singapore – Melbourne.

Would we do it?

Absolutely, but our advice would actually be to split a return journey – redeem to Osaka on the afternoon 787-10 flight (SQ622) for 43,000 miles and try out the new 2018 RJ regional business class. We reviewed it a couple of months ago and there’s no doubt – this is a long-haul business class product for most airlines. You could also redeem a saver for the same cost to Tokyo on the 787-10, A350 or 777-300ER.

Then take the A380 Suites home from Osaka on the daytime flight (SQ619) for 65,000 miles to make the most of the product and service offered. You won’t take full advantage of Suites on a 6-hour overnight flight from Singapore to Osaka in our opinion.

Don’t forget that apart from your own enclosed suite and the fine dining options you’ll also be getting 6 hours of free-flow Dom Perignon and Krug 2004 Champagne – probably not your everyday drop.

Summary

All the hype lately is about the new 2017 Suites product, but this is a great opportunity to try the older and still excellent 2006 Singapore Airlines A380 Suites on a flight with a decent total duration for a reasonable miles cost. Most importantly the saver award availability on this seasonal route is remarkably good. If you’ve never flown Suites before this version certainly won’t disappoint.

Remember this seasonal upgrade also represents your only opportunity to fly Singapore Airlines Suites class to or from Japan.

(Cover Photo: Singapore Airlines)