Best route Geneva to Singapore?

[Octopussy2]

Hello travel gurus!

I have to make a business trip GVA to Spore in October - it's not clear yet whether I'll be able to swing business class, but I should manage premium economy or equivalent.

My question to those in the know is which airline/route do you recommend? My first choice would probably be with a Star Alliance member (Swiss, Singapore Airlines, maybe Turkish?) but I'll consider all options. Leaving Sunday in time for a day in the office on Monday, returning Friday night.

I'd be grateful for your thoughts.

[mixture]

Cheapest business class in October is likely to be Emirates via DXB in the 3000CHF mark.... Lufthansa via FRA is 3500+... Swiss ZRH non-stop you're looking at 5k

Cheapest economy 600CHF on AF/KL via AMS or CDG

[Gibon2]

Hello Octo

I've done this trip in almost every conceivable way over the years, but things are constantly changing so there's no avoiding trawling through the booking sites to find a good deal.

As mixture says, Emirates is likely to have the best business-class deal, and when I used this route a couple of years ago, the stop in DXB wasn't too long. Also check Etihad and Qatar, although when I last looked the schedules weren't great (long transit stops).

Best if money is no object is SQ via Zurich; Swiss is also OK but doesn't seem much cheaper.

For premium economy, Air France may be the best bet - I've done a couple of trips to Asia with them recently (with some misgiving), but was pleasantly surprised by the premium eco product (much closer to business class than the eco-seat-wth-extra-legroom offerings of some other carriers), and the prices were very good. Downside is the transit at CDG, but this does seem to have improved somewhat recently.

I dream of the day someone starts a direct flight from GVA to SIN (or another Asian hub), but sadly it doesn't seem to be on the cards...

[Octopussy2]

Thanks both.

Gibon I was told that the reason for no direct flight was that the runway at GVA is too short, they can't accommodate the size of aircraft you'd need to get to the Far East (although I think there's a direct Beijing flight, but perhaps that's nearer?) It may be nonsense, but it would make sense in that surely it would be a commercially viable route, so perhaps the only reason is that it's not physically possible?

[mixture]

things are constantly changing so there's no avoiding trawling through the booking sites to find a good deal

Well, there is an alternative. Its called ITA Matrix.

To quote myself from a previous thread on the topic ...

There is a learning curve, so prepare yourself to do a lot of reading, and a lot of testing but as free tools go, you won't find anything better.

Sure you can't book on ITA. But if you want to find the best deals, you'll seriously struggle to find a better tool.

[mixture]

but it would make sense in that surely it would be a commercially viable route, so perhaps the only reason is that it's not physically possible?

Given that Switzerland is a mere smudge on the European map, and you've already got non-stops to SIN going from ZRH, you'd have to be doing something special to justify directs from GVA in addition to what you've already got. Supply and demand old boy.

It only takes 3 hours to drive from ZRH to GVA, so there likely won't be much interest from the freight boys either since its no doubt cheaper to road-haul across Switzerland than spend sums of money setting up a satellite site at GVA.

ZRH sees 25m passengers a year, Geneva 13 million..... by the time you discount all the short-haulers, there's probably not much left at GVA ... a statement on the GVA website supports this "Around 95% of passengers are from or travelling to the region."

[PAXboy]

On one occaision, I needed to go between biz appts in ZRH to GVA. I opted for the train as it was less hassle than the connecting flight - and about the same time AND the view was great. Driving would be tiring.

[Gibon2]

I was told that the reason for no direct flight was that the runway at GVA is too short, they can't accommodate the size of aircraft you'd need to get to the Far East (although I think there's a direct Beijing flight, but perhaps that's nearer?) It may be nonsense

It's nonsense. GVA can accommodate an A380 (although there are currently no scheduled flights), and you will see the occasional VVIP 747 visit. As you say, China Airlines operates direct to Beijing (A330), the big three Gulf carriers all operate direct (EK with a 777, the other two with A330s).

So the reason must be commercial. EK operates to both ZRH and GVA, so the numbers presumably work for them. But for East Asian carriers, Switzerland seems to have lost appeal - I think both Malaysian and Thai have pulled out of ZRH, and CX went long ago.

[ExXB]

The longest (only, if you don't count the grass strip) runway at Geneva is 12,795 feet or 3,901 m while the longest (of 3) at Zurich is 12,139 feet (3,701 m).

The difference is that the GVA market is less than half that of Zurich and has few connections (the largest airline at GVA does not do connections).

[SeenItAll]

For itineraries that require a connection, if I am traveling in J, I seek the routing with the most uneven sector lengths (so I have the greatest uninterrupted sleep time on the long sector). If I am traveling in Y, I would seek a routing where the two sectors are most equal -- to give me a standup and walk-around break in mid-trip. So for you, Y would suggest TK or one of the Gulf carriers; while J would suggest a European carrier.

[ttodd]

Its called ITA Matrix

Easy peasy to use the trial version. Malaysian in my trial, LHR to BNE business

[Octopussy2]

Thanks again, all. Sadly it turns out I will be going economy, but I've gone for Singapore Airlines (because they are Star Alliance) - they were more expensive that Swiss, I hope that translates to a better product!

Last time I flew Singapore they were great, but that was HKG-SIN and years ago.

Hoping to get some sleep on the 12 hour Frankfurt to Changi leg, ready for a full day in the office on Monday! Hopefully I'll be so exhausted I'll resist the temptation to go out partying on Monday night, thus acclimatizing more quickly...

They can't force me to pick a cheap hotel though, so I haven't

[ExXB]

Er, Swiss are Star Alliance as well ...

[Octopussy2]

Yes, I know, and I fly them on short hops to London about once every 6 weeks. But I thought SQ's reputation for service is better.

Just checked and the flight is the New York to SIN flight via FRA - so on the A380. Never flown on one and am hesitating between nerdily excited and a bit scared (I used to be very nervous flyer, it's why I joined Pprune countless years ago - I calmed down after commuting London - GVA every week for 4 months, but I still get nervous on unfamiliar routes etc).

[1DC]

Daughter flew the 380 recently in economy and was pleasantly surprised at the amount of room..Much quieter too..

[parabellum]

Octopussy2

If SIA still do Economy upstairs on the A380 then suggest you go for that.


SIA also operate the A380 out of ZRH to SIN, guess you didn't fancy that route? (Maybe it is now B777 but I don't think so).