Velocity reinstates Singapore Airlines redemptions

[Coathanger]

Thanks to this thread, I snagged a SYD-SIN roundtrip in SQ J for the peak Lunar New Year period in January.

Good to see the world returning to a semblance of normal.

 

[Happy Dude]

I have both QFF and Velocity, it would seem to me that business redemptions with SG offer far far greater value than Qantas/Emirates for the same destinations to Europe.

For example, I'm looking towards the end of the year but before the holidays so not really peak, Sydney-Munich return:

Velocity: 278k points + 302.74 taxes
QFF: 345k points + 1,374 taxes ??? for Qatar (I looked further out due to all seats sold out)
For Emirates it's even more expensive in taxes and similar points.

How can Qantas be so utterly poorly competitive? And it's not like their redemptions to NA are any better, the only saving grace is JAL to Japan which are pretty decent.

I'm probably going to switch my primary card to Velocity when this one's year is up, just seems like QFF is not worthwhile anymore, and I bet Virgin will only compete harder as they rebuild their international network.

Yes the new taxes hike on EK and the general gouging by QR/QF mean that many dudes have already come to the same conclusion as you. Gonna be a lot more demand for SQ redemptions now.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I have both QFF and Velocity, it would seem to me that business redemptions with SG offer far far greater value than Qantas/Emirates for the same destinations to Europe.

For example, I'm looking towards the end of the year but before the holidays so not really peak, Sydney-Munich return:

Velocity: 278k points + 302.74 taxes
QFF: 345k points + 1,374 taxes ??? for Qatar (I looked further out due to all seats sold out)
For Emirates it's even more expensive in taxes and similar points.

How can Qantas be so utterly poorly competitive?

Well competitive wise they actually dominate in terms of FF programs used by Australians.

So perhaps your question is more How can Qantas FF redemptions be such poor value?

1/ Because in Australia so many just go to them in without really considering the pros and cons. Being "First in Mind" is a core QFF marketing advantage that they in Australia. So they can offer poor FF value and it does not matter.
2/ Some point earning opportunities can only go to QFF, and in Australia there are many such "earn" opportunities.
3/ They look after their corporate flyers with status benefits for better flight experience on paid flights and greatly increased availability on redemptions.

Though for some it can make sense for QFF to be your No. 1 Program.

eg Those whose employers have them flying regularly mainly or only on QFF and so they gain high status. QFF without status is not that an attractive FF program in general. Or where you may want to fly to may be best, or even only serviced via QFF (or at least in terms of a FF program that you can earn enough points with). QFF Status can also be a very nice benefit if you are flying often for work, but are doing so in Y.

And it's not like their redemptions to NA are any better, the only saving grace is JAL to Japan which are pretty decent.

I'm probably going to switch my primary card to Velocity when this one's year is up, just seems like QFF is not worthwhile anymore,

Personally this has been the case probably since Ansett disappeared.



With FF programs I would suggest casting the net wider. This may include other allied programs such as hotels.

We are all different in our FF and flight needs and what is best can also vary by a particular trip. One FF program will not always be best. Whereas having access to multiple programs will allow one to more often secure an optimum result.

For many, unless your point acquisition is quite small, the strategy that will often work best is to:
* Belong to multiple FF programs, including Award Programs that can feed into them. Each will have different "earn" and "burn" opportunities that can be maximised relative to one another. ie the QFF Oneworld Award can be very attractive.
* Within those programs also think of redemptions within the Alliance (if applicable) and with Partners (ie with Velocity there is no alliance, but there are partners.

Collecting and using FF points is not static. Things change. Fuel Fines, redemption rates, award availability, where one wants to fly, where individual airlines do fly, etc

At this point in time I actively collect points in 3 Airlines Programs and 1 Hotel Program. At times in the past it has been 6 airlines programs and multiple hotel programs (mainly due to business travel at that time). And yes CC point earn that comes and goes in various banks. Plus other opportunities like Woolworth Rewards, Flybuys etc.

In terms of FF programs themselves what the program offers is one thing to consider (awards, fuel fines, availability of J/F redemptions etc), but another is the ability to get sufficient points to it.

One advantage that QFF has is that it is the easiest to generate points to. Whether one should with some of those points (ie say through CC earn) is a matter for individual consideration. For the avid point collector though the CC Churn Strategy is going to lead to regular QFF point hauls as sometimes it is not an either/or opportunity. It is QFF or nothing.

What mix is best for you, will be unique for you. It is different for all of us. And for some QFF being their No 1 program will make the most sense.


Personally for me at present Krisflyer is my preferred Program, Velocity will probably swing back into being No2 , and then QFF. QFF though will still grow its points balance more than Velocity simply due to the opportunities to earn to it that I cannot get to the other two.

 

[Mr H]

We are all different in our FF and flight needs and what is best can also vary by a particular trip. One FF program will not always be best. ... What mix is best for you, will be unique for you. It is different for all of us. And for some QFF being their No 1 program will make the most sense.

This is the key thing. Most FF programmes have their sweet spots.

Before Covid, I got super value on Kris Flyer with an F redemption MEL-SIN-DEL-IST-ASB and TAS-ICN-SIN-MEL using SQ, TK and OZ for about 215k KF points and minimal taxes (DEL-IST-ASB and TAS-ICN were in J).

I am due to do a QF OWA redemption later this year with 12 business class flights using six airlines with five stops (Sri Lanka, UK, Iran, Tunisia and Jordan) for 213k QF points and $1900 in fees which I think is astonishing value.

Even Avios, I believe, represents good value for short haul business class redemptions.

It depends so much on what you want.

 

[RAM]

This is the key thing. Most FF programmes have their sweet spots.

Before Covid, I got super value on Kris Flyer with an F redemption MEL-SIN-DEL-IST-ASB and TAS-ICN-SIN-MEL using SQ, TK and OZ for about 215k KF points and minimal taxes (DEL-IST-ASB and TAS-ICN were in J).

I am due to do a QF OWA redemption later this year with 12 business class flights using six airlines with five stops (Sri Lanka, UK, Iran, Tunisia and Jordan) for 213k QF points and $1900 in fees which I think is astonishing value.

Even Avios, I believe, represents good value for short haul business class redemptions.

It depends so much on what you want.

Earning some Avios points due to BA operator error (when Australians not allowed to join) I can say that for less than 2.5 hr intra-Europe flights they regularly offer(ed) great deals that the cheapest cash cost provided at least a 4.6 cent value for flights we needed. Even better we regularly could redeem for 5 seats per flight.

BTW cheapest cash cost was without checked bags & we always needed checked bags.

What surprised us was that we could get 5 seats on the routes we wanted, every time (3 years in a row), as long as we looked more than 6 months ahead.

Considering to even snag 2 seats with VFF or QFF nearly 12 months in advance without high status is a challenge - this made Avios a standout for our needs.

That said, having transferred a swag of points to KF, before the increased cost via VFF, being a little flexible (+/- 7 days) with dates & arrival/departure cities (Paris, Munich etc) in Europe - has always seen F seats available.

 

[AgentDCooper]

Thanks for the heads up, managed to get some BNE-SFO return tickets in Feb next year. Wasn’t game enough to wait for United

With regards to the seating selection is that something I can request in advance please eg. Via the call centre?

I didn’t see that option when I was booking. (Maybe I had a man look!)

 

[RB]

Thanks for the heads up, managed to get some BNE-SFO return tickets in Feb next year. Wasn’t game enough to wait for United

With regards to the seating selection is that something I can request in advance please eg. Via the call centre?

I didn’t see that option when I was booking. (Maybe I had a man look!)

This is what I did- Received the email from Velocity, went to print itinerary and opened it, near the top of that there were 2 codes- a reservation code used by Virgin & the line below was an Airline Reservation Code with the 6 digits & SQ in brackets at the end of it. Eventually the SQ site picked it up. Used the SQ site by manually entering the SQ reference in the "Manage Bookings" section. That was my male way of doing it

 

[AgentDCooper]

This is what I did- Received the email from Velocity, went to print itinerary and opened it, near the top of that there were 2 codes- a reservation code used by Virgin & the line below was an Airline Reservation Code with the 6 digits & SQ in brackets at the end of it. Eventually the SQ site picked it up. Used the SQ site by manually entering the SQ reference in the "Manage Bookings" section. That was my male way of doing it

Excellent thank you!

I'll keep an eye out on the SQ site for the booking.

 

[sydneyconcierge]

I have been waiting for Business Class SQ flights SYD-LHR to open up using Velocity points for 2 months. I just checked and still not showing up as available. Is it just certain routes so far? Certain dates?

Post automatically merged: Apr 1, 2022

I have been waiting for Business Class SQ flights SYD-LHR to open up using Velocity points for 2 months. I just checked and still not showing up as available. Is it just certain routes so far? Certain dates?

 

[Mattg]

I have been waiting for Business Class SQ flights SYD-LHR to open up using Velocity points for 2 months. I just checked and still not showing up as available. Is it just certain routes so far? Certain dates?

The only routes "blacked out" are to/from HKG and China, and flights to/from India are only available over the phone.

It's probably the case that there happens to be also no KrisFlyer Saver awards on the route/dates you want.

 

[RB]

The only routes "blacked out" are to/from HKG and China, and flights to/from India are only available over the phone.

It's probably the case that there happens to be also no KrisFlyer Saver awards on the route/dates you want.

Managed to book India online on Wednesday

 

[Mattg]

Managed to book India online on Wednesday

They must have fixed this now. Good news if so!

Velocity specifically said when SQ redemptions were brought back in J that you had to call up for India bookings.

 

[Kimster]

They must have fixed this now. Good news if so!

Velocity specifically said when SQ redemptions were brought back in J that you had to call up for India bookings.

Can confirm i had multiple bookings in J to India on the 29th online. Even had 2 J redeemed in one instance

 

[jakeseven7]

Has anyone heard any updates on Velocity / Krisflyer point tranfers?

 

[jase05]

Has anyone heard any updates on Velocity / Krisflyer point tranfers?

Still working on it seems to be the constant messaging. I’d suspect it’s pretty low on the things to do list currently.

 

[HS-TQE]

Still working on it seems to be the constant messaging. I’d suspect it’s pretty low on the things to do list currently.

F redemptions are still unavailable on any partner carrier atm. I suspect that would come online first before they start on the Krisflyer Velocity transfer program.

 

[Mr H]

F redemptions are still unavailable on any partner carrier atm. I suspect that would come online first before they start on the Krisflyer Velocity transfer program.

F seats had not been available to partners long before Covid. I doubt that will change any time soon.

 

[GCflyer]

Has anyone had any experience adding an under 24 hour 'layover' to a Singapore redemption flight booked via Velocity?

I'm hoping to book to Bangkok via Singapore - seats are available for 65k (2 flights on the one day OR a red eye followed by a morning flight) but I don't love the timing of the flights and we would prefer to spend the afternoon/night in Singapore if possible and resume our flight on the next day. There are plenty of Reward tickets on all flights onwards to BKK the following day.

So for example instead of BNE-BKK (9.30am - 7.20pm with 2.5 hour stop)

I would rather BNE-SIN (930am - 3.30pm)
then the following day SIN - BKK (12.50pm - 2.20pm)

I tried the call centre and she seemed a little confused but said it would price as 2 seperate flights rather than one itinerary (so 91k instead of 65k) but Krisflyer allows you to book this connecting flight with under 24hour layover for the same amount of points.

Unfortunately it doesn't allow any Multi-city Reward bookings via the Velocity page and tends to only provide the 'shortest' layovers as bookable options.

 

[woodyren]

Has anyone had any experience adding an under 24 hour 'layover' to a Singapore redemption flight booked via Velocity?

Personally I haven't since before the pandemic but have booked a very similar itinerary to the one you are after with Krisflyer in the last week. 9 hour layover in Singapre and a morning flight to Bangkok. I have in the past booked Singapore redemptions with Velocity that transited through Changi but did not show availability on their site but did show as available for each individual leg. I called, provided the flight details and they linked the two legs. Reduced the charge to that of the full journey.

If the wait isn't too long I would see if each of the flights you want show up individually on VFF and call again with that info.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

but have booked a very similar itinerary to the one you are after with Krisflyer in the last week.

Yes long transits are normally easily obtainable via Krisflyer. Both currently and in the past.

I have in the past booked Singapore redemptions with Velocity that transited through Changi but did not show availability on their site but did show as available for each individual leg. I called, provided the flight details and they linked the two legs. Reduced the charge to that of the full journey.

Great tip to know. Thank you.