We're Heading to Airbus to Pick Up a Brand New Singapore Airlines A350
Next week, TPG and I will have an opportunity to attend a very exciting aircraft delivery as Singapore Airlines picks up its latest A350 from Airbus' facility in Toulouse, France. This is the actual A350 that'll operate the carrier's inaugural from San Francisco later this month, so it'll certainly be "factory fresh" for that flight a week or so after the plane first arrives in Singapore.
We'll be attending the delivery ceremony, at which point we'll have a chance to tour the aircraft, but we'll also be onboard the delivery flight to SIN — that'll be a first for both of us. I've been gunning to join a Singapore delivery since just before my final flight on the A340-500, so this trip has been about three years in the making! Needless to say, we're both very excited.
Delivery flights are super no-frills — expect boxed lunches in business class, plastic-wrapped carpeting and incomplete galleys — it's a very different experience than you'd have on a typical Singapore flight. It also isn't possible to redeem points or pay cash for this type of flight (though we are covering transportation to Toulouse and from Singapore, plus all other travel expenses), so we won't be sharing a typical review — you won't have to wait long, though, since we will be onboard the SFO-SIN inaugural (on a paid fare) a week or so later.
Since it's a delivery flight, most of the plane will be empty (as I experienced on my Qatar A350 charter last December), giving us a chance to try out economy and Singapore's new premium economy as well. Stay tuned for Facebook Live videos, Snapchats, Tweets and Instagram posts (from me, too), along with a whole lot of content on the blog.
Have you flown Singapore's A350?
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.