Krisflyer Redemption HELP - 2 F Savers OR 1 F Saver + 1 F Standard

[tliu]

I have a rather complex dilemma....any help will be greatly appreciated!!!

I'm wanting to redeem 2 one way F Saver tickets from SIN to LAX through NRT on the SQ12 744s. The booking is for Aug/Sept 2010 so there is still a lot of time (and potentially availability at this stage).

Seems like SQ12 is one of the last F redemptions available at the Saver discount given it's still a 744.

The problem is, when I search for ONE passenger, there is availability in Saver. But if I search for TWO passengers, Saver becomes a wait list (but TWO Standard seats ARE available).

I read in some forum that "SIA typically only allocates ONE F seat per flight for redemptions" (I presume they meant ONE F "Saver" seat since it looks like TWO F Standard seats ARE available).

My questions are:

Option A
Suppose I wait list for TWO Saver F seats. What is the likelihood/timing of the wait list clearing? Is there a chance it will clear soon (like within a few days/weeks from now) or will it only clear like days/weeks BEFORE departure? If wait lists only clear just prior to departure, that is too risky a strategy for me.

Option B
Suppose I secure ONE Saver F seat. Does this mean I would have used up the ONE Saver F seat in the inventory (consistent with what I read in the forums), making a SECOND Saver F wait list pointless and impossible? Also, if I did secure ONE Saver F seat, does that mean a second F seat in Standard would still be available (I presume so)? I guess the latter case (1 saver + 1 standard) is a bit more certain than being put on a wait list.

Unfortunately, I don't have enough points in Krisflyer to test my theory (the points are still with AMEX).

Can anyone suggest what I should do? Assuming it is possible to first book a F saver and then in a separate booking a F standard seat, should I just bite the bullet and pay the higher F standard redemption rate on the second seat for the sake of certainty?

Thanks in advance!

 

[kamchatsky]

Have you tried other dates, or other routes? What about using other *A carriers (using ANA tool)?

Or maybe you can book 1 saver first, then book 1 waitlist to see if it clears within a few days. If not, then book it as standard? If then there are saver seats available, you can then cancel your standard redemption, and rebook the saver for that 1 person?

 

[tliu]

Thanks for replying so quickly!

Yes I did try many different dates and it's the same thing each time.

The reason I'm stuck redeeming on Krisflyer is because I'm only looking to do a one-way redemption. I think with *A redemptions through Krisflyer only return redemptions are allowed.

I guess my main reason for choosing the SIN-NRT-LAX route is so that I can try out SIA F Class at a reasonable redemption rate (even if it's on the older 744s).

The other problem is I can't try any dummy bookings with SIA without actually transferring AMEX points across to KF first. Does anyone have a large enough KF balance to test it out for me? Or is that too much to ask assuming taxes would be payable when booking (and are there cancellation charges)?

 

[StevePER]

From what I've read on Flyertalk, it sounds like you can usually book one F saver award, wait a while (an hour or a day) and then another F saver seat will be released. I haven't tried it though. I would try this, and if it didn't work get the second seat as a standard award.

 

[albatross710]

I tried a dummy booking and can see the dilemma of the OP.

I'd be thinking that it is worth making a call to the KF call centre and seeing if they can do it over the phone.

If I had this much time I'd grab the one seat when I can and then keep watch over the next few months. If you have to change flights then the penalty is not a significant number of points.

On the dummy booking I did SQ12/11 on F Saver it was 153,000 pts plus SGD640.

 

[tliu]

I'm freaking out right now!!!

Last night in a last ditch attempt I did a search for 2 F Savers and there WAS immediate availability without the wait list problem I encountered before!!

I panicked and quickly went on AMEX to transfer all the points I needed at about midnight last night.

I can't believe the points came through to my KF account at about noon!!!!!

And I just booked it!!!! 2 confirmed 2 F Savers SIN-NRT-LAX Woo Hoo!!!!!!

Thanks everyone for your kind advice. YAY!!

 

[albatross710]

And I just booked it!!!! 2 confirmed 2 F Savers SIN-NRT-LAX Woo Hoo!!!!!!

Thanks everyone for your kind advice. YAY!!

As a matter of interest what were the final taxes etc?

 

[tliu]

The fuel surcharge out of Singapore was a killer.......$268 SGD (and tax was $79 SGD).

But still, I'm happy!

 

[auriga]

That's lucky! Congratulations.

It is likely that SQ won't be flying 747's by the time you fly.

 

[tliu]

I hope so too!

Especially if they upgrade to 77W or A380!

From what I've read, SQ has honoured 747 F redemptions where planes were change to the A380. The lucky people got suites!