BABENS
Junior Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2009
- Posts
- 31
I recently thought I would book a trip to HK using the new VA - Singapore Airlines arrangements. As a platinum assumed I would be given the same priorities etc as a normal VA arrangement. Suffice to say after the booking was made, I found out I could not get priority seating. In fact I could not get allocated seating at all until 72 hours before the flight.
I am not the calmest of people when I start doing the rounds of call centre staff and when I was informed I should know this because it is in the fine print on one of the pages on the website, I advised I wanted a full refund and it was time VA realised they were not competing appropriately with Qantas where I was also a platinum holder.
After a lengthy call with Singapore Airlines where I confirmed the alliance did not include allocated seating, I confirmed I wanted the refund and to VA's credit it was processed immediately.
Still wanting to go to HK I rang Air New Zealand. Wow what a different attitude. A customer rep worked with me to arrange the flights - with the seating apart from one leg, which has now been confirmed - and VA alliance status as well. A couple of extra hours - which I would have been spending in Singapore anyway and a good feeling about the service.
It is a shame that VA and Singapore Airlines did not do the one thing that most high tier status flyers want - organise priority seating. I won't be trying it again.
I am not the calmest of people when I start doing the rounds of call centre staff and when I was informed I should know this because it is in the fine print on one of the pages on the website, I advised I wanted a full refund and it was time VA realised they were not competing appropriately with Qantas where I was also a platinum holder.
After a lengthy call with Singapore Airlines where I confirmed the alliance did not include allocated seating, I confirmed I wanted the refund and to VA's credit it was processed immediately.
Still wanting to go to HK I rang Air New Zealand. Wow what a different attitude. A customer rep worked with me to arrange the flights - with the seating apart from one leg, which has now been confirmed - and VA alliance status as well. A couple of extra hours - which I would have been spending in Singapore anyway and a good feeling about the service.
It is a shame that VA and Singapore Airlines did not do the one thing that most high tier status flyers want - organise priority seating. I won't be trying it again.