SIN-EZE: Help please!

[Oca]

We are currently on an ex-Pat assignment in Singapore due back to the US in January, 2010. We have planned a cruise that leaves from Buenos Aires for as soon as we get back in the end of January and are looking for the best routes from Singapore to Buenos Aires. Here is our situation: the company my husband works for will pay for the two of us to fly home business class. They specify that they will fly us back home (i.e., any destination of our choosing in the U.S.) by the most direct route but there may be a little bit of leeway as to the definition of ‘most direct’. My husband and I are then obviously on our own to get to BA and back home after the cruise.

We are looking for input as to what would be the best way for us to get from Sin to Eze via the U.S. and have seen the following which we think may be doable basically keeping in mind that we have to go through the U.S. and also we would prefer to take Star Alliance airlines to help us in regard to luggage allowances and lounges (but that is not essential).

1. SIN-NRT via Singapore Air; NRT-IAD via ANA; IAD-EZE via United. (The biggest problem with this route is that we would have about a 12 hour layover at Dulles.)
2. SIN-EWR via Singapore Air; EWR-IAD via United Express; IAD-EZE via United.
3. SIN-FRA via Singapore Air; FRA-IAH via Lufthansa; IAH-EZE via Continental. (The issue with this route is that Continental is not a Star Alliance member.)
4. SIN-LAX via Singapore Air; LAX-IAD via United; IAD-EZE via United.


There are probably other routes as well but these are the ones we have come across that more or less meet the necessary criteria. Are there other routes that may be better that someone can recommend? Or do you recommend any of the above routes over the others that are listed? Considering the time of year (January) we would prefer to fly from warmer climates but can only do so much. Also we have been terribly spoiled during the past 2 plus years by flying Singapore Airlines just about everywhere we go and do not look forward to taking U.S. airlines but again, you can only do so much.

Thank you for any assistance, hints, ideas you can give us.

[Globaliser]

Originally Posted by Oca

3. SIN-FRA via Singapore Air; FRA-IAH via Lufthansa; IAH-EZE via Continental. (The issue with this route is that Continental is not a Star Alliance member.)

But CO will be a *A member by January 2010. The current expected join date is 27 October 2009.

For service quality, this is the probably best of your four options, as it keeps you off Untied and puts you on Continental, generally regarded as the least worst of a bad bunch.

[YXU AC*SE]

Alternately, upon arrival in the US, you may wish to connect via YYZ and route with AC in J. They have lie flay pod seating to EZE. http://www.aircanada.com/demos/execfirst/execfirst.html

Plus UA's new lat flat business seating is rolling out ... http://www.suitedreams.united.com/ All of the international 763s have been done, so barring an equipment swap, you should be comfy out of IAD. Alas, some of the matronly in-flight staff won't be swapped for your travels come January. Teehee.


Scott.

[FlyerTalker]

I would second the recommendation on CO. My pref would be SQ to LAX, then CO the rest of the way.

[Gardyloo]

You might also look at SQ 62 SIN-xDME-IAH. 90 min. stop in Moscow, then straight to Houston, layover, then CO to EZE. I think it may be one of the fastest routings, too. It's on a 777-300 with 3-class service, so the full deal in business. No unpleasant transits through LAX.

[FlyerTalker]

Good catch on the Moscow routing!!! Never thought of it, though I'm not a *A geek to know all their routings. That may very well be preferable to LAX, and I would suspect availability would be good.

[Oca]

Thank you, all, for your input -- especially the input about Continental becoming a member of Star Alliance. We were not aware of that.

As of now, we are considering:

SIN-DME (no plane change) -IAH-EZE
SIN-EWR-IAD-EZE

and a new idea of

SIN-FRA (no plane change) -JFK-EZE (the JFK/EZE leg being direct, non-stop on AA -- although it is not *Alliance, it keeps us on the east coast which would make our return trip from EZE more direct to our actual homebase, a consideration which I had not listed in my original question.

Again, thank you for your input. DH is amazed at how knowledgeable you all are!

[FlyerTalker]

I would not be taking the JFK option on AA. January is the start of a new qualifying year, and I would rather be banking the 10564 EQMs in your Star program rather than starting with oneWorld. That is, unless you are planning a change to OW, in which case, this would be a good start.

I gather that you are elite level with Star, and I would think that you would rather stay with one alliance rather than start over again with another. That is, unless you are thinking about using the JFK-EZE as part of an AA challenge, which is another consideration.

I'd be going through Moscow to Houston. The airport there is quite good on the international side (Terminal D and E), and CO has a pretty good product heading south. Large President's Club in Houston as well.