I’ve wrapped up my time in Singapore and have narrowed my return flights to two choices. The decision has been surprisingly difficult.
Often, time and value work against each other. While I am thankful to have the freedom to set my own hours, I recognize what a valuable commodity time is, especially as my son continues to grow so fast. Thus, I am faced with what I’ll call a time option or value option.
Option One: fly to Taipei on Scoot, then take Philippine Airlines (PAL) to New York via Manila aboard the A350 in business class. I’ve been wanting to review this airline and particularly this A350 product and a one-way ticket is only $1287, an extraordinary value. The routing would force an extra night in Singapore, an overnight in Manila, and arrive in New York too late to catch a connection back to Los Angeles. In short, I’d lose an extra 2.5 days in exchange for a chance to review PAL. I also likely would not get upgraded from New York to LA…
Option Two: take United home to LA via San Francisco. I’d get home quickly and my overall travel time would be greatly reduced. But there’s a catch. Business class is full: I’d have to fly in economy class. 15+ hours is a long…long…long…long time to fly economy class. It’s not that I cannot do it, it is that I don’t have to do it. But I could use the EQMs.
You might say there is a third way. Why not fly Singapore Airlines back to LAX nonstop? I would if there if there was a business class award space, but there is not…not even at the higher “advantage” level. I’d rather take United EconomyPlus and save the money then take Premium Economy on Singapore. I’d take Singapore Suites in a heartbeat if there was award space…to Zurich, London, or even in Shanghai. There’s not. I’d take Korean Air home (I’ve got the miles), but we are in peak season and I’m not paying the huge mileage premium. So I am limiting myself to the two options above.
Family Matters
My wife has given me the green light to review PAL. She shares in my hope that I am building something great at Live and Let’s Fly. But I’m feeling guilty. I’ve been away all week…now 2.5 days more? I miss my wife. I miss my son. As much as I don’t want to have to return to Taipei to take this trip at a future time when I am so close now; as much as I want to avoid economy class on a transpacific flight…I just want to get home. That’s why, as odd as it may sound, I am leaning toward the United option.
CONCLUSION
Now you know my dilemma. Am I missing anything in my analysis? Let me know your thoughts.
image: Itsquietuptown / Wikimedia Commons
UA to sfo via HKG, TPE or PEK avail on real polaris? Or if u have to do a 788/9 how about NRT to DEN?
I’d see about business class availability non stop to SFO, San Jose or LAX from Taipei, Beijing, Hong Kong or Tokyo.
Or TPE to YVR and connect to LAX.
Okay, you already said that you have wanted to both review the A350 service and go to Taipei. The domestic non-upgrade is a red herring. If you really need an upgrade on that segment, I’m sure it can be arranged. The shorter United trip might take more out of you with it taking you more than 2.5 days to recover from it taking the same time away from your family as opposed to being able to be productive. Besides, it sounds like you just want us to talk you into option 1 instead of the seemingly more practical option 2 which has real potential to turn into a disaster. You already know the right option. It’s behind door number 1 aka Scoot and then A350 in biz via Taipei and Manila.
Exactly – he should have flown SINTPE @ Scoot & onwards to JFK @ PAL
I’d read that TR
The rest of it is just .. blah
Out of the two options, PAL has my vote. But it does seem like there’s quite a bit of saver award availability in business class on United from Los Angeles to LAX in the next four days for 90K UA miles (I assume that you have that many United miles) on partner airlines (EVA via Taipei, Lufthansa via Frankfurt, ANA via Tokyo).
Nothing on EVA? They usually are pretty good for award avail.
I don’t want to use miles this time.
No brainer for me : I travel a lot and will always take family time over flight comfort
That being said, there are ways for you to fly home quickly in business if you look at other Trans pacific flights with a domestic connection.
I’d try the PAL, but that’s just me.
Go south via SYD or MEL
If you have the discretion, take the PAL route (working as much as you can) and then spend extra time at home with family in two and a half days. Win-win.
Heidi sounds great, and good for you both that she’s confident enough to be at home with your son, and share a vision with you.
I will tweak your ‘Option One’ a little: Fly to Xiamen (XMN) on Silkair (short-haul business using SQ miles?), then fly Philippine Airlines (PAL) to Los Angeles via Manila. You will get to review the airline, but aboard a 777. The one-way business ticket is a little higher (about $1470) to LAX compared to JFK, but, you get to get home earlier and avoids you going to New York and back. This routing also avoids an overnight in Manila.
Another ‘Option One’: Fly to Quanzhou (Jinjiang) (JJN) on China Eastern and then fly Philippine Airlines (PAL) to Los Angeles via Manila. But, this option will force an overnight in Quanzhou (Jinjiang) (JJN).
777 is a dealbreaker or else that would be the ideal option.
Just go home and have a nice time with your family. Do not take them for granted.
PAL definitely.
would love to see a PAL review
from SIN to LAX I have done SQ, and SQ/EVA air which was fast on the *A side. CX and JAL J is usually avail too
Definitely scoot which is never reviewed. And Pal which is rarely reviewed.
PAL all the way! Especially because I’m flying it soon (EXACT same itinerary originating in TPE with overnight in Manila arriving to NYC) and I’d like to compare our experiences. Plus PAL has dine on demand, can’t beat that!
I hate United, but recommend the UA choice because PAL is not worth 2.5 days more of your life that you can never get back.
Your life is priceless and to blow an extra 2.5 days just to travel PAL? That is absurd.
The people recommending that you take PAL don’t know how valuable your life and your time with family is. It’s absolutely not worth it.
I would spend more money and/or time for not having to fly a US airline so thats a simple choice.
In this case it’s even more simple as only EC is available.
PAL for me. I face similar dilemmas all the time with three kids. But if wife has it under control will be fine. Just come home and tell her you have the boy under your control next couple of days. Baths. Dinners. Books etc etc. give her two hours to herself. Makes a world of difference. Or night in a hotel
Save the PAL review for another time; take UA Y and get home sooner. Try to leverage your status to get the best Y seat possible, including a vacant seat next to you if the flight isn’t completely full.
SQ economy is quite decent. Great IFE, decent food. One of the best economy products out there.
United. I’d like to see your take on their transpac economy class! Plus, you’ll get home to your family sooner.
I would do UA and get the EQM.
United. 2.5 days with lil’ Augustine is worth a LOT more than contents for this blog.
JAL not an option? A JAL or EVA review would be good to see. Or anything but United really.
I love your blog but family first. Do what makes you happy.
I’d vote for taking United. Having 2.5 extra days at home is just too valuable to miss out on.
What about PAL A350 to Toronto instead? Is there a same-day to LAX that way?
Also, in Taipei if you have time in the layover make sure you grab some Chia Te pineapple cakes!
better do that PAL review while the going is good. once your second little maniac arrives the wife (if she’s still around) may not be so willing to hold the fort.