Passengers flying SIA between Singapore, Seoul and San Francisco will be the first transpacific travellers to experience the carrier's widely praised new first and business classes (see Online news, October 19).
SIA says that its new B777-300ER aircraft (the only planes in the fleet which currently have the new first and business class seating) will begin operating SQ16 on January 16, returning the same day with SQ15.
Readers must note that the B777-300ERs will only operate these flights every Monday, Thursday and Saturday until March 10. On other days of the week, these flights are operated by earlier model B777s which have SIA's "older" seating.
From March 11, the plan is then to switch the B777-ERs to SQ16 and SQ15 operating every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The earlier model B777s would then be used on the other days.
Flight SQ16 departs Singapore at 0910 arriving in San Francisco the same day at 1055 following an en route stop in Seoul. In the return direction, SQ15 leaves San Francisco at 1230 to reach Singapore via Seoul two days later at 0050. Note that the international date line means travellers gain a day on the way out but lose a day on the return.
SIA has traffic rights to carry passengers Singapore to Seoul, Seoul to San Francisco and vice versa in addition to Singapore to San Francisco. To avoid disappointment readers are always recommended to check the plane type in advance as carriers are known to make changes from time to time.
For more information go to singaporeair.com.
Report by Alex McWhirter
