Has SQ Stopped all MEL/SYD Business Awards from Velocity

[ben95]

UA used to consistently release J availability for their TPAC routes MEL/SYD/BNE <-> LAX/SFO/IAH, sometimes at T-1 and all the way up to T-30 even.

Now, when running any sort of search (Example 1 or Example 2), there's nothing (at least in J).

Has a "change" happened? I have been monitoring the LAX/SFO <-> MEL route recently, as I need to book a flight home after a trip to the US in about 2 months time.
I'm a fair way away from their usual T-14 (I think?) drop, but if what I'm seeing right now is the usual, then it'll be a bit tough to get the date/s I'm after when that window does roll around.

Any advice or insight into what's going on?
Thanks!

This coincides with SQ pulling all J rewards inventory from MEL/SYD on Velocity. Really limits the option in where you can go with velocity points out of Australia.

 

[bcworld]

This coincides with SQ pulling all J rewards inventory from MEL/SYD on Velocity.

When did this happen? I certainly can't find any.

 

[ben95]

When did this happen? I certainly can't find any.

Late aug early sept it seems like. Not in front of a computer so can’t screenshot but the stats chart from seats.aero clearly shows an overnight disappearance on those routes.

 

[bcworld]

Late aug early sept it seems like. Not in front of a computer so can’t screenshot but the stats chart from seats.aero clearly shows an overnight disappearance on those routes.

I don't want to take this thread off topic but you can add PER-SIN to the disappeared list.

 

[zeruassiul]

Late aug early sept it seems like. Not in front of a computer so can’t screenshot but the stats chart from seats.aero clearly shows an overnight disappearance on those routes.

Hey, how do you look at these stats retrospectively on seats.aero?

 

[antycbr]

Between UA and SQ both pulling availability this is a major devaluation of velocity points.

 

[zeruassiul]

Between UA and SQ both pulling availability this is a major devaluation of velocity points.

And QR. I can't find anything on QR/VA to DOH, used to be 4 a flight in J.

 

[drron]

The problem is likely to be due to more than 1 reason and not all due to pulling awards from Velocity. KF release awards 25 days before they would be able to be booked via velocity. I have noticed that it is harder to redeem long haul flights in Premium cabins. For example I wanted 2J awards on this sector for mid October next year. so at 10am QLD time each day I would log on to see availability. Between 100 and 1002 I would see the new days availability. On 2 days only advantage awards available and no saver awards at ll. on another 2 days only waitlist awards. So only 3 days out of 7 were saver awards available within minutes of release. On 2 of those days they went to waitlist within an hour. On 1 day they lasted 4 days before being snapped up. So no chance of getting them through velocity. Of course the day my preferred date came up it was waitlist only and today no saver awards. So I had to transfer some points for the extra cost.

Looking at SYD/MEL to SIN there was pretty good availability on release but several dates had no saver awards before the day they were released to Velocity. There were usually only flight per day after the VA release date that had availabiliity. flying out of BNE had reasonable availability but nothing like the past.
So I think this is the major problem and I can't help thinking that the many times it has been said on AFF that KF is better value than Velocity is bit to blame
. Those of us who booked frequently to SIN through Velocity knew that if you had to transfer your Velocity points to KF it certainly wasn't better value.

So going forward the points game is only going to get harder.

 

[elanshin]

The problem is likely to be due to more than 1 reason and not all due to pulling awards from Velocity. KF release awards 25 days before they would be able to be booked via velocity. I have noticed that it is harder to redeem long haul flights in Premium cabins. For example I wanted 2J awards on this sector for mid October next year. so at 10am QLD time each day I would log on to see availability. Between 100 and 1002 I would see the new days availability. On 2 days only advantage awards available and no saver awards at ll. on another 2 days only waitlist awards. So only 3 days out of 7 were saver awards available within minutes of release. On 2 of those days they went to waitlist within an hour. On 1 day they lasted 4 days before being snapped up. So no chance of getting them through velocity. Of course the day my preferred date came up it was waitlist only and today no saver awards. So I had to transfer some points for the extra cost.

Looking at SYD/MEL to SIN there was pretty good availability on release but several dates had no saver awards before the day they were released to Velocity. There were usually only flight per day after the VA release date that had availabiliity. flying out of BNE had reasonable availability but nothing like the past.
So I think this is the major problem and I can't help thinking that the many times it has been said on AFF that KF is better value than Velocity is bit to blame
. Those of us who booked frequently to SIN through Velocity knew that if you had to transfer your Velocity points to KF it certainly wasn't better value.

So going forward the points game is only going to get harder.

I don't believe that it's mainly due to awards being redeemed that's causing the issue here. A quick look at the Aeroplan thread shows similar situation on AC BUT BNE/PER has no such problems and are widely available at the same time period.

I struggle to believe that SQ would have BNE wide open but SYD/MEL with their combined (9? 10?) daily flights has close to nothing. It basically points to the scenario that SQ is holding their partner awards for SYD/MEL back.

 

[bcworld]

I don't believe that it's mainly due to awards being redeemed that's causing the issue here. A quick look at the Aeroplan thread shows similar situation on AC BUT BNE/PER has no such problems and are widely available at the same time period.

I struggle to believe that SQ would have BNE wide open but SYD/MEL with their combined (9? 10?) daily flights has close to nothing. It basically points to the scenario that SQ is holding their partner awards for SYD/MEL back.

PER-SIN is completely unavailable for redemption...even in economy.

 

[bcworld]

The problem is likely to be due to more than 1 reason and not all due to pulling awards from Velocity.

It is definitely due to these awards being pulled from Velocity.

You will not find a single DIRECT business class award on MEL-SIN or SYD-SIN in the next 330 days.

And not a single PER-SIN DIRECT in any class.

I'm only highlighting direct here because often people think they've seen something with the award tools but its actually via somewhere else. E.g. you'll find a reward seat between Perth and Singapore...but its via Melbourne!

This has been the case for about 2 months now so its not a fleeting system issue.

 

[jase05]

Something is definitely up as dates I was looking for next year there is 2xJ seats on the PER-SIN and BNE-SIN routes across several days with Aeroplan but nothing at all on Velocity

 

[antycbr]

Something is definitely up as dates I was looking for next year there is 2xJ seats on the PER-SIN and BNE-SIN routes across several days with Aeroplan but nothing at all on Velocity

Perhaps we will be “encouraged” to do xx_-DOH-SIN…

 

[drron]

So I have just looked at PER-SIN on the SQ website.
15/10 - 3of 4 flights have saver awards in J for 2 people
8/10- 2 flights of 4 have saver J awards for2.
1/10- no saver awards
And no saver awards for virtually all of September except 8/9 and 7/9 when 2 available. With only 4 available for the month maybe SQ want them for their own flyers.

But my point is valid. Most saver awards Per-SIN in J disappear within 3 weeks of being available so only the occasional one would be available to Velocity anyway .

 

[jase05]

But my point is valid. Most saver awards Per-SIN in J disappear within 3 weeks of being available so only the occasional one would be available to Velocity anyway

Question is though why is Aeroplan getting them and not Velocity.
Seeing plenty of dates where absolutely nothing showing on Velocity but available on Aeroplan

 

[elanshin]

Question is though why is Aeroplan getting them and not Velocity.
Seeing plenty of dates where absolutely nothing showing on Velocity but available on Aeroplan

Iirc velocity can only book from 330days regardless where as Aeroplan can book as soon as they're available and that's the difference in the first month. Things then get booked out.

 

[jase05]

Iirc velocity can only book from 330days regardless where as Aeroplan can book as soon as they're available and that's the difference in the first month. Things then get booked out.

Okay but
May 28th for example
Aeroplan has 2xJ seats on PER-SIN and 2xJ seats on 2 of the BNE-SIN flights

On Velocity we have zip, none, nada

What I do find strange is that when I have previously booked these awards many times they have always been on the SQ flight number yet now all I’m seeing is the VA codeshare which books at the higher points plus pay setup. Wondering if there is an error somewhere on VA’s wonderful technology

 

[Rayesfeg]

Question is though why is Aeroplan getting them and not Velocity.
Seeing plenty of dates where absolutely nothing showing on Velocity but available on Aeroplan

Aeroplan negotiated better conditions for their program, and Velocity didn't.

 

[bcworld]

Aeroplan negotiated better conditions for their program, and Velocity didn't.

Historically, Velocity has been one of SQ's "special friends". How many other programs have an ability to transfer points to Krisflyer and v/v?

But maybe that's over?

 

[bcworld]

What I do find strange is that when I have previously booked these awards many times they have always been on the SQ flight number yet now all I’m seeing is the VA codeshare which books at the higher points plus pay setup. Wondering if there is an error somewhere on VA’s wonderful technology

That's not really strange...it just reflects the fact there are no reward seats. These are regular choice or business fares converted to points...they have only ever been bookable as VA flight numbers.