Krisflyer Redemptions - The Best Kept FF Secret [Pre Aug 14, 2019]

[trippin_the_rift]

For those not aware - from August 14, Krisflyer removed the ability to waitlist for a flight within 14 days of departure.

Being able to waitlist was (IMO) the single biggest perk of redeeming Krisflyer miles on Singapore Airlines.

Why so good, and why did SQ remove the option?

When waitlisting for a flight ~3 days prior to departure, the system would rarely 'decline' your waitlist request.
Thus your waitlist was a BOOKING with no ticket and never cancelled.

Armed with your BOOKING and PNR, you could simply turn up to the airport and attempt check-in.

Check-in agents would see your booking isn't ticketed - and, so long as there is availability in the cabin you waitlisted for - the airport had authority to liaise with Krisflyer directly, and have your waitlist request approved on the spot.

Fundamentally - you could waitlist at the Saver level, turn up to the airport, and so long as there was at least 1 available seat, you would get on the flight.

But now the game is over... it's back to fighting for seats with the other 3 million members.

 

[get me outta here]

Thanks for that update, wish I'd known that before it was enhanced. My m'ship still shows a WL, so, I guess that potential approval reverts to the longer period before the fly date?

 

[levelnine]

The changes were discussed on Points Hacks in July. More information here: A guide to KrisFlyer's waitlisting process - Point Hacks

 

[theblank]

I thought this was announced last year, when they made a bunch of changes, including guaranteeing a waitlist decision 14 days out.
For my purposes, thats better for me.

 

[SOPOOR]

For those not aware - from August 14, Krisflyer removed the ability to waitlist for a flight within 14 days of departure.

Being able to waitlist was (IMO) the single biggest perk of redeeming Krisflyer miles on Singapore Airlines.

Why so good, and why did SQ remove the option?

When waitlisting for a flight ~3 days prior to departure, the system would rarely 'decline' your waitlist request.
Thus your waitlist was a BOOKING with no ticket and never cancelled.

Armed with your BOOKING and PNR, you could simply turn up to the airport and attempt check-in.

Check-in agents would see your booking isn't ticketed - and, so long as there is availability in the cabin you waitlisted for - the airport had authority to liaise with Krisflyer directly, and have your waitlist request approved on the spot.

Fundamentally - you could waitlist at the Saver level, turn up to the airport, and so long as there was at least 1 available seat, you would get on the flight.

But now the game is over... it's back to fighting for seats with the other 3 million members.

so what would happen if your flight was fully booked?

 

[get me outta here]

My last F CBR - SIN - FRA - JFK was certainly full. I guess J may be a bit more open perhaps, I have never looked.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

so what would happen if your flight was fully booked?

You wouldn't bother going to the airport if the flight was fully booked!

 

[MathNerd]

it's back to fighting for seats with the other 3 million members.

Still better than the ~12 million from QFF

 

[dajop]

Not so much the turn up at the airport opportunity, but we are already missing the last minute waitlist/send chaser for clearance process. My partner as PPS solitaire and with my supplementary solitaire card, we had excellent clearance rates at the last minute, at least for economy savers. Now we are the whim of what is happening. For example two weeks ago we didn't act quick enough to secure a relatively last minute seat yet KUL-SIN-MEL and BKK-SIN-MEL were available, so under the old system, usually if married sectors were available they'd release the longer sector to fulfil a waitlist. But no more One of the unwritten, but very worthwhile benefits of top status disappeared.