I'm traveling to Singapore from San Francisco at the end of this year.
 I've made this flight before flying coach on SQ.  While I have no 
problem with the airline, being in a seat that small for that long
drives me nuts.

What I'm looking for is a "better-than-coach" flight to Singapore that
won't break the bank. NWA business-class runs about $3800, SQ is about
$4500.  These fares are at least 3x more expensive than a coach fare. 
EVA has a "deluxe economy" class that could be good, but they are
already booked solid.  I'm looking for a round-trip ticket, probably
from SFO, but other bay-area airports are fine, and I'd consider
flying to another city (LAX?) to get the trip started.  I'd like to
arrive in Singapore on or before Dec. 24 and leave Singapore on or
after Jan 2.

The answer I'm seeking will suggest a few alternative ways to get a
better-than-coach trip with prices significantly better (say < $2500)
than the ones I have already found.  The trip also shouldn't become
any more of a marathon than it already is -- 20hr flight time there
and 16hr flight time returning is typical.

Hi stigmattic,

Following the research I carried out, here are the results that
satisfy the criteria that you specified. I selected "business class"
as your class of travel.

$2,072.27 
9:10 PM Depart San Francisco (SFO)
Arrive Singapore (SIN) 2:00 PM +2 days  Sun 22-Dec
24hr 50mn    Philippine Airlines 105 / 503 
Connect in Manila (MNL)
Total stops: 2
-----------------------------------------------------------
2:55 PM Depart Singapore (SIN)
Arrive San Francisco (SFO) 6:15 PM  Thu 2-Jan
19hr 20mn    Philippine Airlines 504 / 104 
Connect in Manila (MNL)

Source: Expedia.com
http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?tovr=2002051103&ps3u=
 

$2060 airfare  
$5 service fee 
$2065 trip cost 
Philippine Airlines 105
Sun, Dec 22 9:10p-12:45a
San Francisco (SFO) Honolulu/Oahu (HNL)  2 
   
Philippine Airlines 105
Mon, Dec 23 1:35a-5:55a
plane change
Honolulu/Oahu (HNL) Manila (MNL)  
   
CEBU Pacific Air 803
Tue, Dec 24 7:30a-10:55a
Manila (MNL) Singapore (SIN) 
total duration: 21h 45min  
------------------------------------------------------------
CEBU Pacific Air 804
Thu, Jan 2 12:05p-3:30p
plane change
Singapore (SIN) Manila (MNL)  1 
   
Philippine Airlines 104
Thu, Jan 2 10:15p-6:15p
 Manila (MNL) San Francisco (SFO) 
total duration: 22h 10min                     
__________________________________

$2066 airfare  
$5 service fee 
$2071 trip cost 
Philippine Airlines 105
Sun, Dec 22 9:10p-12:45a
San Francisco (SFO) Honolulu/Oahu (HNL)  2 
   
Philippine Airlines 105
Mon, Dec 23 1:35a-5:55a
plane change
Honolulu/Oahu (HNL) Manila (MNL)  
   
CEBU Pacific Air 803
Tue, Dec 24 7:30a-10:55a
Manila (MNL) Singapore (SIN) 
total duration: 21h 45min  
------------------------------------------------------------ 
Philippine Airlines 504
Thu, Jan 2 2:55p-6:35p
plane change
Singapore (SIN) Manila (MNL)  1 
   
Philippine Airlines 104
Thu, Jan 2 10:15p-6:15p
Manila (MNL) San Francisco (SFO) 
total duration: 19h 20min                     
__________________________________

$2071 airfare  
$5 service fee 
$2076 trip cost 
Philippine Airlines 105
Sun, Dec 22 9:10p-12:45a
San Francisco (SFO) Honolulu/Oahu (HNL)  2 
   
Philippine Airlines 105
Mon, Dec 23 1:35a-5:55a
plane change
Honolulu/Oahu (HNL) Manila (MNL)  
   
Philippine Airlines 503
Tue, Dec 24 10:30a-2:00p
Manila (MNL) Singapore (SIN) 
total duration: 24h 50min  
-------------------------------------------------------------
Singapore Airlines 76
Thu, Jan 2 4:45p-8:15p
plane change
Singapore (SIN) Manila (MNL)  1 
   
Philippine Airlines 104
Thu, Jan 2 10:15p-6:15p
Manila (MNL) San Francisco (SFO) 
total duration: 17h 30min                     
___________________________________

$2072 airfare  
$5 service fee 
$2077 trip cost 
Philippine Airlines 105
Sun, Dec 22 9:10p-12:45a
San Francisco (SFO) Honolulu/Oahu (HNL)  2 
   
Philippine Airlines 105
Mon, Dec 23 1:35a-5:55a
plane change
Honolulu/Oahu (HNL) Manila (MNL)  
   
Philippine Airlines 503
Tue, Dec 24 10:30a-2:00p
Manila (MNL) Singapore (SIN) 
total duration: 24h 50min  
 --------------------------------------------------------------
Philippine Airlines 504
Thu, Jan 2 2:55p-6:35p
plane change
Singapore (SIN) Manila (MNL)  1 
   
Philippine Airlines 104
Thu, Jan 2 10:15p-6:15p
Manila (MNL) San Francisco (SFO) 
total duration: 19h 20min  
____________________________________

$3246 airfare  
$5 service fee 
$3251 trip cost 
China Airlines 3
Sun, Dec 22 12:05a-6:05a
plane change
San Francisco (SFO) Taipei (TPE)  2 
   
China Airlines 665
Mon, Dec 23 9:25a-11:10a
Taipei (TPE) Hong Kong (HKG)  
   
China Airlines 665
Mon, Dec 23 12:10p-3:55p
Hong Kong (HKG) Singapore (SIN) 
total duration: 23h 50min   
---------------------------------------------------------------
Philippine Airlines 504
Thu, Jan 2 2:55p-6:35p
plane change
Singapore (SIN) Manila (MNL)  1 
   
Philippine Airlines 104
Thu, Jan 2 10:15p-6:15p
Manila (MNL) San Francisco (SFO) 
total duration: 19h 20min  

Source: Orbitz.com
http://www.orbitz.com/App/FlightSearchResults


1988.00 +  taxes: 82.30 =  $2070.30  
Philippine Air Lines / PR105 / Boeing 747  / 1 Stop  / Cabin: Business
09:10 PM December, Sunday 22       05:55 AM  December, Tuesday 24   
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, US  (SFO)    MANILA , PH  (MNL) 
  
Singapore Airlines / SQ71 / Boeing 777 Jet  / Cabin: Business 
08:15 AM December, Tuesday 24       11:40 AM  December, Tuesday 24   
MANILA , PH  (MNL)    SINGAPORE , SG  (SIN) 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
Philippine Air Lines / PR504 / Airbus Industrie Jet  / Cabin: Business
02:55 PM January, Thursday 02       06:35 PM  January, Thursday 02   
SINGAPORE , SG  (SIN)    MANILA , PH  (MNL) 
  
Philippine Air Lines / PR104 / Boeing 747  / Cabin: Business 
10:15 PM January, Thursday 02       06:15 PM  January, Thursday 02   
MANILA , PH  (MNL)    SAN FRANCISCO, CA, US  (SFO) 
___________________________________

1988.00 +  taxes: 83.30 =  $2071.30   
Philippine Air Lines / PR105 / Boeing 747  / 1 Stop  / Cabin: Business
09:10 PM December, Sunday 22       05:55 AM  December, Tuesday 24   
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, US  (SFO)    MANILA , PH  (MNL) 
  
Philippine Air Lines / PR503 / Airbus Industrie Jet  / Cabin: Business
10:30 AM December, Tuesday 24       02:00 PM  December, Tuesday 24   
MANILA , PH  (MNL)    SINGAPORE , SG  (SIN) 
--------------------------------------------------------------
Philippine Air Lines / PR504 / Airbus Industrie Jet  / Cabin: Business
02:55 PM January, Thursday 02       06:35 PM  January, Thursday 02   
SINGAPORE , SG  (SIN)    MANILA , PH  (MNL) 
  
Philippine Air Lines / PR104 / Boeing 747  / Cabin: Business 
10:15 PM January, Thursday 02       06:15 PM  January, Thursday 02   
MANILA , PH  (MNL)    SAN FRANCISCO, CA, US  (SFO) 
___________________________________
Source: "Flight Discount"
https://meridia3.sabredotres.com/meridia?posid=8YD9&sid=m1r2r72mim211-Ae:E07AEC73BA0FF9161EA956C8E3D36250&

Here are a few sites in which you email them for alternative flights
fare quotes:
"BizTravelDeals"
http://www.biztraveldeals.com/biz/business_rt.asp

"Fly First Class"
http://www.flyfirstclass.com

"Discovery World"
http://www.discoveryworld.com/form.htm

"E-Fares 4 Less"
http://www.e-fares4less.com

"4 Airlines"
http://www.4airlines.com/international-airfare.html#form

"J. S. Pujji"
http://www.abfcorp.com/quote.htm

"1st Air Net"
http://www.1st-air.net

This is a good source for finding sites for flights and travel: 
"Open Directory Project"
http://dmoz.org/Recreation/Travel/Transportation/Air/Consolidators

Keywords used:
flights "business class"

If you have any questions regarding my answer, please don't hesitate
to ask before rating.
I wish you the best of luck and safe travelling!
Best regards, 
rainbow

---

Request for Answer Clarification by stigmattic-ga on 29 Oct 2002 20:38 PST

I should have stated more strongly my preference for minimizing flight
time.   All of these flights seem to have very bad return durations --
any where from 4 to 8 hours longer than a typical flight.   Am I
correct in assuming that trying to get the flight shorter means not
using Philippine Airlines, and the price goes up substantially?

---

Clarification of Answer by rainbow-ga on 30 Oct 2002 02:24 PST

Hi stigmattic,
What I emphasized most when searching for your trip was price and the
dates you wanted to leave and return. I understood your main concern
was the expense and I went by that more than anything. You are correct
in assuming that trying for a shorter flight duration would not only
be more expensive but you would also be flying with other airlines.
For example flying Cathay Pacific decreases the duration of your
return flight by a little more than 3 hours but also increases the
cost by over $2300. The same applies to Northwest Airlines. The cost
would total $4389 but the return trip would be 17 hour 15 min.
Strangely though, flying Korean Airlines not only costs $3883 but the
return duration is 27 hours 25 min!
So I guess it all boils down to what is more important when flying,
time or money. As a flyer myself, I understand the predicament you are
in and I weigh the options I have.
Please don't hesitate to ask if you need further clarification.
Best wishes,
rainbow

Nice answer.  In the end the rainbow-ga wasn't able to find much more
specific flight data than I had already found, but I did get pointed
at a good collection of sites to consult for flights.