Benefits for Platinum when booking with SQ

[luanix]

Hi,

I recently booked a flight to Vietnam with SQ and I'm currently a Platinum member.

- Is it more beneficial to link the booking to my KrisFlyer FFP (I have zero point) or VA FFP?
- Do I entitle to priority boarding, check-in through business lane and also boarding?
- Do I get extra baggage?

I tried to contact both SQ and VA and it doesn't seem like they know either.

Thanks

 

[SuzieQ68]

Hi luanix

I guess up to you re which FFP you wish to use, but personally, I would link it to Virgin Velocity as you'll earn status credits and points which will go towards re-qualifying.

As Plat, you'll be eligible for priority check in (through business lane), priority boarding, lounge access and extra baggage. Check out the link below. Should clarify.

http://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Status/PlatinumMembership/

Happy trails.

 

[luanix]

Thanks

My experience with booking for seat with SQ is not a good one. There are 3 of us travelling and there is no 3 seats in a row. Most of the seats up-front are also all booked out or perhaps not accessible. I tried to call SQ but they provided standard response of trying it again when it closer to travel date. Not sure if there is any tip to deal with this?

 

[dajop]

Thanks

My experience with booking for seat with SQ is not a good one. There are 3 of us travelling and there is no 3 seats in a row. Most of the seats up-front are also all booked out or perhaps not accessible. I tried to call SQ but they provided standard response of trying it again when it closer to travel date. Not sure if there is any tip to deal with this?

Try 24-48 hrs before online checkin opens or again after online checkin opens (at 48 hrs before the flight). Sometimes previously blocked seats open up. Also if you are on the same PNR there's a good chance you will be allocated seats together. I think one of the reasons SQ holds back blocks of seats is to allocate to parties travelling together (just a hunch).

 

[Fiches Mouser]

I wish I knew why they are so tight about seat pre-selection but it is honestly a mystery to me.

I booked a VA codeshare on SQ today, hoping to call up and select seats and I was told they could put in 'requests' (whatever that means) but that they couldn't guarantee it.

Just ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as not being able to access a decent lounge in SIN with top-tier status.

 

[quokka77]

I got a seat allocated by calling SQ in this situation. Entirely operator dependent. Sadly.

 

[dajop]

I got a seat allocated by calling SQ in this situation. Entirely operator dependent. Sadly.

I believe it is loading dependent, not operator dependent. If the flight is fairly full all the seats available for allocation fill up.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

KF points also have expiry, so if you don't use your points, you will lose them.
You can of course transfer those KF points to VFF points later, but its not a 1:1 transfer.
VA also does not have any int lounges, so you will still be using SK lounges anyway.

 

[mel-world]

SQ are especially strict on looking after their senior Krisflyer Gold and PPS members as that's where they get much of their revenue. Although there is already a strong tie-up with VA, they will always hold back seat allocations and waitlists until they are sure they can satisfy late booking SQ members. As mentioned, try again as soon as on-line Check In opens as you will find more (but not all) choice seats become available (usually). Obviously I am talking selfishly as a TPPS member.

 

[Nexus9]

Hi luanix

I guess up to you re which FFP you wish to use, but personally, I would link it to Virgin Velocity as you'll earn status credits and points which will go towards re-qualifying.

As Plat, you'll be eligible for priority check in (through business lane), priority boarding, lounge access and extra baggage. Check out the link below. Should clarify.

http://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Status/PlatinumMembership/

Happy trails.

Slight correction ... with SQ Velocity Plats/Golds do not get Priority Boarding unless you are in J or better - and you only get lounge access in Int Airports that actually have a KrisLounge, otherwise again you will need to be travelling J or better.

 

[SuzieQ68]

Slight correction ... with SQ Velocity Plats/Golds do not get Priority Boarding unless you are in J or better - and you only get lounge access in Int Airports that actually have a KrisLounge, otherwise again you will need to be travelling J or better.

Oh, has something changed in the last couple of weeks? We just returned from Thailand flying SQ Y and used priority boarding with no issue as Velocity Plat & Gold.

 

[Nexus9]

Oh, has something changed in the last couple of weeks? We just returned from Thailand flying SQ Y and used priority boarding with no issue as Velocity Plat & Gold.

Maybe it is an Airport type thing?? - or the FA didn't apply the rules properly in which case cool!

In my experience of flying out of Brisbane with SQ .... Brisbane to Changi does not allow Velocity Plat/Gold Y or less to use Priority boarding - Changi to anywhere doesn't usually allow plat/gold to use priority boarding - I just came back from Barcelona via Frankfurt and Changi to Brisbane on Saturday and my colleague travelling in Y was denied priority boarding at every gate even though he is Velocity Plat and it being acknowledged on his ticket.
Usually do Brisbane to Changi at least 10 times a year and then onto to other destinations, only time I have ever been allowed to use the priority boarding lane is when I am flying J.

Might be one of those YMMV situations

 

[rtyuiop]

Very weird. I fly out of Brisbane on SQ in Y very frequently - never been denied priority boarding at any station. Admittedly they don't check maybe 50% of the time, but I've *never* been knocked back.

 

[Nexus9]

Very weird. I fly out of Brisbane on SQ in Y very frequently - never been denied priority boarding at any station. Admittedly they don't check maybe 50% of the time, but I've *never* been knocked back.

Well I stand corrected - might try my luck again next time I have to go by Y and see what happens.
Admittedly I fly J generally when I go OS with SQ so it has been a while since I have used Y with SQ, it was just interesting seeing my colleague get rejected this time around, so I assumed that it was still a thing.
It definitely says it is a benefit on the VA website for Plats, so must be bad luck on my part getting untrained people in the past - and now that I think about it, it is usually contract ground staff that have denied access