BNE => HGH with Virgin/Singapore Airlines

[empiretraveller]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the Forum (well posting anyways) and had originally thought to place this in the Flight Assistance section but seems I can't until I've made a couple of posts and get a bit more active here. So instead of getting anyone to do all the leg work for me I'm just hoping I could have some general advice and assistance to help me do this myself.

On the 7th of April I want to head to Hangzhou from Brisbane or Sydney (I'm on the Sunshine Coast) with the Star Alliance network. Reason being is I have not built up any status yet on OneWorld. I'm Silver with Virgin and have lounge access and only 50 Status Credits from Gold. I have access to about 500k velocity points from my business that have built up in our Amex Gold Business card.

I can see that flights through the Virgin site are operated through Singapore Airlines.

My questions are:

1. Seeing as I have built up most of my Virgin status with domestic flights, should I use this as an opportunity to start working on Qantas and just deal with economy for now? My review is up on May 15th and I just don't think I'll get Platinum this year. Maybe during the next 12 months as I'll now be doing a whole lot more international trips.
2. Some of the flights are overnight and I have trouble sleeping on planes and would like to fly those times in business, can I book a premium or flexi flight and use my points for the upgrade as opposed to bidding as I'd like to guarantee being on business. I know I can book a flight and then use points to upgrade later but experience has shown me I can't always do that as there's no availability. Is there a way to know beforehand?
3. If instead I connect my Velocity and Krisflyer accounts should I do the booking on Singapore Airlines and transfer over to them some points from Velocity and do an upgrade there?

I apologise that there is a lot here and if someone is willing to help it would be appreciated. I am also very willing to pay for time and assistance should I need more help.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Hi Xaine05. Welcome aboard!

1. Seeing as I have built up most of my Virgin status with domestic flights, should I use this as an opportunity to start working on Qantas and just deal with economy for now? My review is up on May 15th and I just don't think I'll get Platinum this year. Maybe during the next 12 months as I'll now be doing a whole lot more international trips.

If it was me, I'd go for at least Gold with VA and then start on Qantas/OneWorld. But to be honest, status is there to make your life easier. No point in earning it with VA to then start flying with QF. Just my two cents.

2.Some of the flights are overnight and I have trouble sleeping on planes and would like to fly those times in business, can I book a premium or flexi flight and use my points for the upgrade as opposed to bidding as I'd like to guarantee being on business. I know I can book a flight and then use points to upgrade later but experience has shown me I can't always do that as there's no availability. Is there a way to know beforehand?

3. If instead I connect my Velocity and Krisflyer accounts should I do the booking on Singapore Airlines and transfer over to them some points from Velocity and do an upgrade there?

You can confirm a business upgrade at any time online. Generally, if there's reward seat availability you can upgrade. If in doubt, give SQ a call. Either way, it can be checked before booking the paid ticket, and confirmed once upgraded.

Hope that helps! Best of luck with it. That's a nice VFF point kitty you have going there. Enjoy!

 

[Eggsbenedict]

Hi Xaine05. Welcome aboard!

If it was me, I'd go for at least Gold with VA and then start on Qantas/OneWorld. But to be honest, status is there to make your life easier. No point in earning it with VA to then start flying with QF. Just my two cents.

Agreed!

You can confirm a business upgrade at any time online. Generally, if there's reward seat availability you can upgrade. If in doubt, give SQ a call. Either way, it can be checked before booking the paid ticket, and confirmed once upgraded.

Hope that helps! Best of luck with it. That's a nice VFF point kitty you have going there. Enjoy!

Are you flying for business or holiday? If it's personal I normally don't see a lot of value buying expensive tickets and upgrading a straight out reward flight is better you have plenty of points. Transfer to KF and booked with SQ or *A.

 

[mooingchicken]

Just be aware you cant "upgrade" SQ flights with virgin points. You can book a straight up reward flight with virgin points. Or you can book SQ either a straight reward or a paid and points upgrade using SQ points.
If your points are in Amex you might be able to transfer direct to SQ (im not sure never looked) or tranfer to VA then to SQ but this is at a 1:1.35 ratio so will lose points. But depending on paid fair and/or points required can be the better option the straight up virgin points reedem on some routes.

Also note some fare classes can not be upgraded with SQ so if buying a ticket make sure you can upgrade that fare bucket

 

[empiretraveller]

Hi Xaine05. Welcome aboard!

If it was me, I'd go for at least Gold with VA and then start on Qantas/OneWorld. But to be honest, status is there to make your life easier. No point in earning it with VA to then start flying with QF. Just my two cents.

You can confirm a business upgrade at any time online. Generally, if there's reward seat availability you can upgrade. If in doubt, give SQ a call. Either way, it can be checked before booking the paid ticket, and confirmed once upgraded.

Hope that helps! Best of luck with it. That's a nice VFF point kitty you have going there. Enjoy!

Thanks so much for that. I have just tried to focus on one airline at a time right now and Virgin was it seeing as they seemed a little more generous with points and status. I'll give SQ or VA a call and see how I can do this booking by paying for a premium fare and upgrading with points. To book a Business Class seat for my trip over there with points would pretty much empty out my points as we're looking at 400k points from the VA booking site, hence why I'm happy to pay something and just upgrade with points and ensure I still get some status credits earn.

I'm so far loving this and getting lounge access and priority. For years I travelled and never took advantage of any of this stuff, so I'm kicking myself and now trying to make up for lost points, status and benefits.

Thanks so much for your help.

 

[empiretraveller]

Are you flying for business or holiday? If it's personal I normally don't see a lot of value buying expensive tickets and upgrading a straight out reward flight is better you have plenty of points. Transfer to KF and booked with SQ or *A.

This is a business flight but I still have budget constraints and trying to do a comfortable overseas flight. I travel domestically on business often but I've never done international on anything above Economy and looking forward to enjoying a more comfortable flight.

 

[empiretraveller]

Just be aware you cant "upgrade" SQ flights with virgin points. You can book a straight up reward flight with virgin points. Or you can book SQ either a straight reward or a paid and points upgrade using SQ points.
If your points are in Amex you might be able to transfer direct to SQ (im not sure never looked) or tranfer to VA then to SQ but this is at a 1:1.35 ratio so will lose points. But depending on paid fair and/or points required can be the better option the straight up virgin points reedem on some routes.

Also note some fare classes can not be upgraded with SQ so if buying a ticket make sure you can upgrade that fare bucket

Thanks for pointing all of that out. With this information I'll see what I can come up with or what I can achieve. This has actually been a really difficult route for me to organise.

 

[Eggsbenedict]

Thanks for pointing all of that out. With this information I'll see what I can come up with or what I can achieve. This has actually been a really difficult route for me to organise.

You can transfer Amex to KF (Much better than to VA then KF) This is the only way you will be able to upgrade and then you will still need to make sure the flights are actually on SQ planes. Regarding points cost VA redemptions on SQ are really high (but no Fuels or surcharges)

There is plently of SQ Availivy on the 7th here is just one option

[*=left]SQ246Singapore Airlines(Airbus A330-300)Business [*=left]DepartsBrisbane (BNE)23:35 (07 Apr) [*=left]ArrivesSingapore (SIN)05:55 (08 Apr) [*=left]Layover time4hrs 5mins	Available	Not Offered	Not Offered
[*=left] [*=left]MI918Silkair(Boeing 737-800)Business [*=left]DepartsSingapore (SIN)10:00 (08 Apr) [*=left]ArrivesHangzhou (HGH)15:20 (08 Apr) [*=left]Total travel time17hrs 45mins

46750 KF points

 

[Eggsbenedict]

Only looking one-way because I don't know your return date. Upgradable Flexi is $1121.90 + 25000 points. Might actually be worth buying the flexi and upgrading. If you send me the exact flight dates/time requirements I'll work out the paid (Upgradable fare) price and make sure there is Saver rewards (Upgrades Available) on those flights and send you the details.

 

[empiretraveller]

You can transfer Amex to KF (Much better than to VA then KF) This is the only way you will be able to upgrade and then you will still need to make sure the flights are actually on SQ planes. Regarding points cost VA redemptions on SQ are really high (but no Fuels or surcharges)

There is plently of SQ Availivy on the 7th here is just one option

[*=left]SQ246Singapore Airlines(Airbus A330-300)Business [*=left]DepartsBrisbane (BNE)23:35 (07 Apr) [*=left]ArrivesSingapore (SIN)05:55 (08 Apr) [*=left]Layover time4hrs 5mins	Available	Not Offered	Not Offered
[*=left] [*=left]MI918Silkair(Boeing 737-800)Business [*=left]DepartsSingapore (SIN)10:00 (08 Apr) [*=left]ArrivesHangzhou (HGH)15:20 (08 Apr) [*=left]Total travel time17hrs 45mins

46750 KF points

Oh wow thanks for that and clarifying the difference in redemptions. That's really helpful and generous of you. I'll go over and take a squizz now.

 

[empiretraveller]

Only looking one-way because I don't know your return date. Upgradable Flexi is $1121.90 + 25000 points. Might actually be worth buying the flexi and upgrading. If you send me the exact flight dates/time requirements I'll work out the paid (Upgradable fare) price and make sure there is Saver rewards (Upgrades Available) on those flights and send you the details.

Hey thanks, my time frame is 7th to get to HGH and anywhere from the 10th - 12th to return to BNE.

 

[Eggsbenedict]

Just 1 traveler?

 

[empiretraveller]

Just 1 traveler?

Yes, solo for this one!

 

[Eggsbenedict]

The below flight has upgrades available - Just book and upgrade straight away online.

Total $1827.30 and 50,000 KF points that can be transfer from Amex 1:1
If you add your Velocity number you will get 160 Status Credits

· SQ246Singapore Airlines(Airbus A330-300)
Economy
· DepartsBrisbane (BNE)23:35 (07 Apr)
· ArrivesSingapore (SIN)05:55 (08 Apr)
· Layover time4hrs 5mins
·

· SQ5198Operated by SilkAir(Boeing 737-800)
Economy
· DepartsSingapore (SIN)10:00 (08 Apr)
· ArrivesHangzhou (HGH)15:20 (08 Apr)

 

[Eggsbenedict]

The below flight has upgrades available - Just book and upgrade straight away online.

Total $1827.30 and 50,000 KF points that can be transfer from Amex 1:1
If you add your Velocity number you will get 160 Status Credits

· SQ246Singapore Airlines(Airbus A330-300)
Economy
· DepartsBrisbane (BNE)23:35 (07 Apr)
· ArrivesSingapore (SIN)05:55 (08 Apr)
· Layover time4hrs 5mins
·

· SQ5198Operated by SilkAir(Boeing 737-800)
Economy
· DepartsSingapore (SIN)10:00 (08 Apr)
· ArrivesHangzhou (HGH)15:20 (08 Apr)

Sorry and the return

[*=left]MI917Silkair(Boeing 737-800)Business [*=left]DepartsHangzhou (HGH)16:20 (10 Apr) [*=left]ArrivesSingapore (SIN)21:25 (10 Apr) [*=left]Layover time12hrs 15mins	Available	Not Offered	Not Offered
[*=left] [*=left]SQ245Singapore Airlines(Airbus A330-300)Business [*=left]DepartsSingapore (SIN)09:40 (11 Apr) [*=left]ArrivesBrisbane (BNE)19:30 (11 Apr) [*=left]Total travel time25hrs 10mins

 

[empiretraveller]

The below flight has upgrades available - Just book and upgrade straight away online.

Total $1827.30 and 50,000 KF points that can be transfer from Amex 1:1
If you add your Velocity number you will get 160 Status Credits

· SQ246Singapore Airlines(Airbus A330-300)
Economy
· DepartsBrisbane (BNE)23:35 (07 Apr)
· ArrivesSingapore (SIN)05:55 (08 Apr)
· Layover time4hrs 5mins
·

· SQ5198Operated by SilkAir(Boeing 737-800)
Economy
· DepartsSingapore (SIN)10:00 (08 Apr)
· ArrivesHangzhou (HGH)15:20 (08 Apr)

OK, that's absolutely brilliant, thank you so much for your help here. I'll transfer my Amex points right now and get onto this.

 

[Eggsbenedict]

There is heaps of options for longer layovers/ Different days. Sign into Krisflyer check revenue bookings first, find the ones you like best then check rewards bookings (If there is a Saver reward you can upgrade). Wait for your Amex points to clear with KF. Check the saver rewards are still there, book your revenue flight (fully Flexible) then upgrade straight away by logging into your KF account and selecting the flights you can't miss the upgrade button.

 

[Eggsbenedict]

@ Xaine05
Make sure you let us know how you end up

 

[empiretraveller]

@ Xaine05
Make sure you let us know how you end up

Well I actually think I buggered it up by entering in VA as my loyalty program, now because I did that I can't seem to upgrade my premium/economy ticket to business. I guess I may be able to call Singapore Airlines and have this fixed?

 

[empiretraveller]

I was able to speak to Singapore Airlines and get the upgrade done for my BNE - SIN leg of my journey and back as I believe the other flights from SIN - HGH are through Silk Air. It came to a total usage of 76k Krisflyer Miles.