Closing the loop holes on Waitlisting

[albatross710]

Hi,

I've had some success over the past few years putting together multiple bookings with various confirmed and waitlisted segments. This has resulted in my being able to secure the redemption seats and not having to pay the taxes or have the miles deducted until about 21 days before the scheduled departure.

Anyway, the system has started behaving differently now. This is what I have noticed over the last few weeks:


For a booking for next April which had 2 confirmed sectors and two waitlisted alternates it showed a ticketing deadline in March 2014. As soon as all of the waitlisted segments cleared, the system gave me three days to pay and ticket. Previously this date would have stayed at the original 2014 date.

For a waitlist booking for Christmas the BNE-SIN sector is showing Waitlist, while the other outbound sector to Suarabaya showed Confirmed, as did the return sectors. Reasonably happy days for me as 4 months out with just one sector to clear. Once I had committed the Waitlist and upon checking this morning all sectors now show Waitlist, even those that had availability.



I put these observations out there as I think it will improve things with the waitlist clearing rate. Just be aware now, that as soon as a waitlist moves to Confirmed, it will need to be booked.

This is a positive move as it will move a lot of waitlists out of the system opening up the seats for others on the waitlist.

It may also start to reduce the availability of shorter lead time redemptions as SQ will be able to offer the seats to more of those waitlisted pax.

I'd be interested to hear if others have seen changes in the waitlist process.

Alby

 

[albatross710]

Well the changing world of SQ waitlists continues. For the Christmas holiday period I had a 'best case' waitlist redemption for Mrs Albatross and I to enjoy a 10 day sojurn over the break jetting around Asia.

Today I received a call explaining that my outbound flights are now confirmed and need to be ticketed. I did point out that on the same booking are the return sectors which are still at Waitlist.

The operator confirmed that I need to ticket the outbound sector now otherwise it is cancelled completely in three days. She didn't seem to e able to explain how I would still qualify for the complimentary stopover for Saver redemption or if their was any chance of getting back in time for work.

Certainly something has changed at SQ on their waitlist policy and the pressure is on the agents to ticket (anything) at all costs.

The good news is that they are working to clear the Christmas waitlists which is good news for everyone.

Alby

 

[cove]

Thanks for posting the changes Alby. I have never used wait listing and I have noticed I can now get 2 Saver Suites in 2014 to places I fly to regularly. That saving for us is typically runs out at 80,000 miles when we travel as a couple.
Out of Perth there have been no Saver seats to Singapore in recent times.

 

[prozac]

So Alby, what happens if your waitlist do not get confirmed at all? Are you up for going to a higher level redemption or must you pay for the ticket? For me that is too risky.

 

[albatross710]

So Alby, what happens if your waitlist do not get confirmed at all? Are you up for going to a higher level redemption or must you pay for the ticket? For me that is too risky.

If it isn't Confirmed then the booking lapses.

For me, I have some flexibility around travel dates and arrangements. So, for instance, I've currently got a few options on travel over Christmas with the BNE-SIN-BNE being the bottle neck. The other travel I'm waitlisting on is that 10 day break next Easter and another to Europe in May next year. If any of these come off, then Mrs Albatross and I are happy to take them. For my critical work related travel I use paid tix.

There is always the option of moving up from the Saver award level but my miles are getting harder to accumulate.

Alby

 

[prozac]

Sorry, I should have been more specific in my question Alby. Didn't you say that KF insisted you take up by paying (ticketing) the outbound part of the booking leaving the return waitlisted? Wouldn't this place you in an awkward position if waitlist did not clear or then moving up from saver not be possible?

 

[cove]

With Citi and ATO biting the dust we switched to Westpac Black to build the Kris miles stash. No problem so far plus we have each kept Westpac Platinum Kris Flyer but those points transfer monthly.

 

[albatross710]

Sorry, I should have been more specific in my question Alby. Didn't you say that KF insisted you take up by paying (ticketing) the outbound part of the booking leaving the return waitlisted? Wouldn't this place you in an awkward position if waitlist did not clear or then moving up from saver not be possible?

Absolutely that was the issue. I guess they would have split it into two redemptions. I didn't even want to think how the complimentary stopover would have been factored in.

If the return sectors had not come through then not that hard to redeposit but why pay $100 each for having to take a gamble.

Doesn't make sense.

 

[Pukka]

I've been wait listed for 2 x Business or first suites LHR to SIN since August (for next July) not sure how often they release them. Ironically I got the first leg SYD to LAX in QF A380 suites, LAX to LHR in VS upper class no problem. I've always found great availability with VS but was told QF Suites can be hard to get. Must have just been lucky

 

[lovestotravel]

I am about to book suites MEL-SIN-ZRH-SIN-MEL with a 4 day stopover in SIN on the way home.

All sectors are confirmed except the SIN-MEL which is waitlisted sector

Wonder what will happen....

 

[albatross710]

I am about to book suites MEL-SIN-ZRH-SIN-MEL with a 4 day stopover in SIN on the way home.

All sectors are confirmed except the SIN-MEL which is waitlisted sector

Wonder what will happen....

As a matter of interest, when you view this booking on your SQ Krisflyer login, do the sectors list Confirmed or are they all waitlisted?

Just wanting to build the body of knowledge on how it progresses and get's tracked.

Alby

 

[prozac]

I know you Alby and lovestotravel are SQ diehards as am I, but what do you think of paying 190-220k for a J return Europe when you can do same run on MAS for around half the number of points?

 

[lovestotravel]

As a matter of interest, when you view this booking on your SQ Krisflyer login, do the sectors list Confirmed or are they all waitlisted?

Just wanting to build the body of knowledge on how it progresses and get's tracked.

Alby

All sectors confirmed, except the SIN-MEL which is WAITLISTED

Haven't gone to actually book it yet though!

I know you Alby and lovestotravel are SQ diehards as am I, but what do you think of paying 190-220k for a J return Europe when you can do same run on MAS for around half the number of points?

I'll be honest and haven't even thought of it!

No idea of how the MAS point system works and/or how to redeem on it...

I need to learn perhaps!

 

[k3nnis]

I am also tempted by the approx. 110k for a return J to Europe on MH. SQ is approx. double....

 

[burmans]

I am also tempted by the approx. 110k for a return J to Europe on MH. SQ is approx. double....

And me too, Poiinthacks has posted on this if you want a bit more info.

 

[prozac]

I am also tempted by the approx. 110k for a return J to Europe on MH. SQ is approx. double....

Mrs prozac and I fly to AMS on Monday. Cost in J with stopover in KL is 119k each as you can only book stopover over the phone. If booked online cost would have been 102K!!!
SQ was wanting 225k for return in saver.

 

[lovestotravel]

SQ A380 J vs MJ J which is a mixture of products

Hmmmmmmm

 

[prozac]

SQ A380 J vs MJ J which is a mixture of products

Hmmmmmmm

The SQ product is more than likely better and it is with great sadness I booked on MAS, BUT 119k is a strong argument. Different if I had millions to burn.

 

[albatross710]

And me too, Poiinthacks has posted on this if you want a bit more info.

Can you please post a link to the pointhacks page. I couldn't see it.

 

[prozac]

Can you please post a link to the pointhacks page. I couldn't see it.

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