Singapore Airlines has eked out another route with a First Class cabin available, between Singapore and London from June 2021, after upping the frequency of Boeing 777-300ER operation from three per week to daily, a general prerequisite for the airline to offer its top cabin class on a route.
This will make the UK capital the fourth confirmed route seeing the return of First Class, since the cabin stopped being offered across the network close to a year ago, on 8th June 2020.
SIA has not operated a First Class cabin to or from London for even longer than that – since March 2020 – when the route’s passenger services shifted solely to the Airbus A350.
The Singapore – Jakarta route will also see both its daily Boeing 777-300ER flights offer First Class in June, the airline having initially only loaded the option on the morning flight.
First Class routes
Here’s the latest list of Singapore Airlines flights offering a First Class cabin during June 2021, with the new addition of London and additional Jakarta flights now confirmed:
- Jakarta (SQ950/953/964/965)
- Sydney (SQ231/222)
- Hong Kong (SQ882/883)
- London (SQ322/317)
The Boeing 777-300ER returns on London flights from tomorrow, 23rd April 2021, operating three times weekly as SQ306/305, though as we predicted First Class is not available until the aircraft type is deployed daily on the route, from 1st June 2021.
Flight schedule
London maintains 17 Singapore Airlines flights per week in each direction in June 2021, however Boeing 777-300ER operation has been shifted onto the daily SQ322/317 flights, with the First Class cabin now open for booking.
Originally the Boeing 777-300ER was scheduled for the three times weekly SQ306/305 flights, the same ones it operates in late April and throughout May, though these are without First Class and will transfer to the Airbus A350 in June.
Singapore London
From 1st June 2021
First Class available on highlighted flights
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
SQ306 A350-900 |
||||||||
| SIN 01:10 |
LHR 07:45 |
||||||||
|
SQ308 A350-900 |
||||||||
| SIN 09:00 |
LHR 15:40 |
||||||||
|
SQ322 777-300ER |
||||||||
| SIN 23:30 |
LHR 05:55* |
||||||||
* Next day
London Singapore
From 2nd June 2021
First Class available on highlighted flights
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ305 A350-900 |
||||||||
| LHR 09:25 |
SIN 05:30* |
||||||||
|
SQ317 777-300ER |
||||||||
| LHR 11:25 |
SIN 07:30* |
||||||||
|
SQ319 A350-900 |
||||||||
| LHR 20:50 |
SIN 16:55* |
||||||||
* Next day
The flight schedule is currently loaded through 30th June 2021, with further monthly updates expected from Singapore Airlines for July onwards in due course, so it’s not currently possible to book First Class for subsequent months yet, though this should progressively change.
Advantage awards are loaded
In common with other routes, currently you can pick up one or two Advantage awards on these newly added London Boeing 777-300ER flights.
Sadly, Advantage awards don’t come cheap!
These are the one-way KrisFlyer miles redemption rates to or from Singapore for these flights in First Class.
| KrisFlyer Redemption Rates First Class |
||
| Saver | Advantage | |
| Hong Kong | 40,500 | 73,000 |
| Jakarta | 27,500 | 52,500 |
| London | 125,000 | 220,000 |
| Sydney | 85,000 | 155,000 |
As you can see, the lack of Saver awards a this stage means it’s a very pricey option to redeem a First Class seat, for now at least, with Advantage awards coming in 76% more expensive in miles terms than the more ideal Saver option on the Singapore – London route.
SIA passengers can originate in London again
In what’s sure to be a sigh of relief for Singapore Airlines, the government has lifted its ban on passengers originating in London heading to Singapore or in transit to other destinations, first imposed in late 2020 due to a significant COVID-19 outbreak in the UK.