Hey {{first name | reader}},
Happy Friday! Coffee's read
y, the week's almost done. Today's post is a mix of nerdy-but-useful booking tips + a reader Q&A + one ridiculous Premium Economy fare that's too good not to share.
Here's what's inside today's post:
Tips & tricks: why calling can unlock award itineraries that "don't exist" online
Reader question: "Qatar's business class is confusing… what seat am I actually getting?"
Singapore Airlines Premium Economy deal: NYC to Singapore for around ~$600
Tips & tricks: why calling can unlock award itineraries that "don't exist" online
Here's something most people don't realize until they've been burned by a clunky search engine:
A lot of loyalty programs can ticket routings over the phone that their website simply can't price correctly. (Or won't show at all.)
Why it happens:
Online tools often choke on multi-carrier itineraries (especially when you combine partners).
Some programs can "stitch" segments together manually, as long as the routing is valid under their rules.
Sometimes the website just refuses to show an itinerary that is absolutely ticketable.
Real example (and why I love this one):
For example, if you remember my post where I couldn't decide which flight to take (thanks for the answers, you guys gave me some thinking to do!), the CDG → GIG (or GRU) on Air France is bookable online…
But then you want to continue GIG/GRU → COR on Aerolíneas Argentinas on the same ticket.
Online: it cannot be booked
On the phone: you can — and that's huge, because it turns a difficult itinerary into an actually clean journey to your final destination.
Another classic "call-only" scenario:
Let's say you want LAX → FRA → JNB.
You find award space on both legs separately… but the site refuses to show it as one itinerary. An agent can often build it manually if the routing follows the program's ticketing rules.
This matters even more when you connect through a third region:
Example: Australia → Asia → Europe (city 1) → Europe (city 2) — all for one price (depending on the program). Aeroplan is especially interesting here because it's unusually flexible with segmenting.
Aeroplan in particular: up to six segments on a one-way
Aeroplan lets you book up to six flight segments on a one-way award, which is wild (and occasionally extremely useful).
Do most people want six segments? No. But can it save your itinerary when availability is weird? Absolutely.
How to do it (quick checklist):
Find space leg-by-leg (even if the full routing won't show as one price).
Write down: date, flight number, cabin, and the exact airports.
Call the program and say: "I want to book partner award space on specific flights — can you price this as one ticket?"
If the first agent can't, hang up and call again (kindly). Not every agent has the same skill level.
If you're booking something that's even slightly complex: calling is the move. Only be aware that waiting lines can be long, but that is the price you pay to save thousands!!!
Reader question: "Qatar's business class is confusing… what seat am I actually getting?"
A reader asked me about all the different Qatar seats. They are booking a ticket, and paying a lot for it, and they want to understand what they can get. Imagine thinking you are going to fly in a Qsuite and then jumping on the plane to see it is not a Qsuite at all! And not even near! Qatar has one of the best business class products in the world… and one of the most inconsistent fleets.
So here's the quick guide to the main seat types you'll run into:
A) Qsuite (the one everyone wants)
Suite-style seat with a door (on many aircraft)
Usually a 1-2-1 layout
Best for privacy + sleeping + the "wow" factor
You can find them on all A350-1000s, some 777-200s and 777-300s, and some A350-900s
How to spot it: the seat map often shows "suites," in a staggered configuration, and couples love the middle pairs.
B) Reverse herringbone (1-2-1, no door)
Still great: direct aisle access, long bed, very comfortable
You can find them on some A350-900s and on 787-8s
Less private than Qsuite (I would even say you have no privacy)
How to spot it: the seat map has a very "zig-zag" look; no doors; still 1-2-1.
C) Business suites, outward facing herringbone (1-2-1, with door)
These are amazing, you can find them on 787-9s, and offer a lot of privacy
If you zoom in on my profile picture, that’s the seat I am in. 😉
D) Older 2-2-2 lie-flat
This is where the disappointment usually starts
Still lie-flat (often), but no direct aisle access for window seats
How to spot it: seat map shows 2-2-2 across most rows.
These seats totally suck, I would be super sad if I got my plane swapped for one of these
E) Regional/recliner-style business (rare on long-haul, but it happens on shorter routes)
Not lie-flat
Fine for 2–4 hours, not what you want for anything longer
F) Reverse herringbone - another seat type
You can find these ones on some aircraft Qatar leased from Cathay Pacific, so they have their configurations and seats. These planes usually fly to Hong Kong and the Maldives. If you see a 777 with no suites and reverse herringbone, and a First Class cabin, then it is this seat.
There are even more Qatar business class seat types beyond what I covered in the post, but I didn’t want this section to turn into a novel.
If you want to see all the exact seats we’re talking about instead of guessing from seat maps, check out Dan’s video below — he breaks down the different seat types clearly and shows what to look for so you know what you’re booking before you click “confirm.”
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A reader asked for more Premium Economy deals.
We don't usually focus on PE (we're business/first lovers here)… but when a deal is so weirdly good that it deserves attention, we'll share it.
This is one of those.
Singapore Airlines Premium Economy cabin
Why this route is special:
New York–Singapore is famous for being brutal in duration — it's the longest flight in the world.
Singapore Airlines operates it with the Airbus A350-900 ULR (Ultra Long Range) — and here's the key detail:
There's no economy cabin.
It's a premium-heavy aircraft, with Premium Economy and Business Class — including 94 Premium Economy seats.
That matters because:
The whole onboard experience is designed for long-haul comfort (relative comfort, at least… it's still a long time in a chair)
Premium Economy is a "real" product here, not an afterthought
Also worth noting: Singapore Airlines has announced a major A350 cabin upgrade program, including the A350-900ULR, with the first retrofitted ULR expected to re-enter service in 2027.
My take:
If you can grab a fare around ~$600-ish for this route in Premium Economy, that's genuinely nuts compared to what these flights usually cost.
That's it for this week. Enjoy the weekend, and I'll see you Monday with more deals, routes, and strategies.
Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi