F award downgrade - SQ242 downgraded from B777 to A350

[azza007]

Hi All

I have no status with Singapore Airlines.

Back in August I booked an F saver award for Syd-Sin-Lhr departing mid April 2024.
SQ 242 Syd-Sin 12hr layover then SQ318 Sin-Lhr
Received an email to say that there has been an aircraft change.
SQ242 has been changed from a B777 to an A350 therefore downgraded from F to J for this flight.

I can't cancel this booking as the miles expired end of September 2023 so if I did cancel the miles would be forfeited for nothing.
There are no saver awards Syd/Mel-Lhr anymore around the date I originally booked.

So my options as I see them in no particular order are:

1. Just accept the downgrade. I note that there is no points refund for the downgrade in J for Syd-sin as i'm still in F for sin-lhr.
After landing in Sin (just after midnight) so a quick visit The Private Room before a night at a transit hotel and back to the Private Room in the morning before my flight to London which departs just after midday.

2. Try requesting SQ212 B777 for syd-sin (7:55am-2:15pm) on the date I originally booked. There is only Advantage availability.
If needed I could transfer in more miles if required.

3. Request a date change to when there is saver availability which currently isn't until the end of October 2024.
Select same flights as before and risk SQ242 being downgraded again.
Select SQ202 (leaves syd 6:45 am arrive Sin 2:15pm) with only 55min connection in Singapore so not much time for a visit to the Private Room. Although I would land in London 7:10pm same day I left Sydney.

I now currently have QR J award flights and fly into Melbourne at the end of April 2024. If I go with the date change option i will need to look at award options for getting back to Australia from Europe.



What do people suggest in my situation?

 

[Oubline]

Definitely give them a call and ask to be moved to SQ212. I would assume that award availability shouldn't come into it. At least it's worth a try!

 

[drron]

How ever when I had that problem last year as a gold member despite many attempts at getting it changed I failed and ended up flying EK instead. I was only flying SIN- LHR so the no return of points stuck in my craw.
I had another twice flying through SIN before I gave up. Lounge and head office wouldn’t budge.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

I also had booked on this service...I managed to get on a same date departure in F on another flight after pushing back. I was cheeky and pushed for Suites but they wouldn't extend the one time generosity that far.

Fortunately I could've also changed dates as hadn't locked in my return but was happy enough with the outcome as I can now get a full nights sleep in SIN before continuing on in Suites the next day.

 

[azza007]

So just providing an update.
Called SQ late Dec or early Jan & had no luck, the agent not very competent.
Called again today & the agent was brilliant.
I gave the booking reference mentioned the downgrade caused by SQ & requested F on the early morning flight SQ212.
No luck first up but I repeated that the issue was caused by SQ so requested they open up space as only advantage award now available.
Called me back in 20mins and request for first class on SQ212 approved
First class all the way Sydney to London with a 22hr layover in Singapore

 

[RooFlyer]

First class all the way Sydney to London with a 22hr layover in Singapore

Perseverance pays, well done!