No SQ Business Reward Seats Showing after 31 Jan 2018?

[davidhes]

Hi all,

I've been patiently waiting for today to book 2 business reward flights from Darwin to Seoul via Singapore on Wed 7 Feb 2018 for the Winter Olympics. The date has finally opened up but I've noticed that there is not 1 business reward flight that I can see from almost any destination leaving Australia on SQ metal, after the 31st of Jan 2018. Plenty of availability before that date, as soon as you go to the next day and onwards, only any seat business are available. What is going on??

I can book the flights with SQ directly but I wanted to pay the slight points premium to avoid the SQ fees. ~$100 vs ~$400 per person.

Anyone have any idea what's going on? I know SQ are lifting the price of their own redemptions from 23 March. So I'm wondering if that has anything to do with it.. it shouldn't though as there is still plenty of business reward availability before 1 Feb 2018.

Cheers.

 

[williamsf1]

2018 ??

 

[davidhes]

2018 ??

Sigh.. been too long a day. Thanks. Mods able to change the title to 2018 too?

 

[PPOW]

I can see availability for 2xJ DRW-BNE-SIN-ICN on 7/2/18 ?

Maybe try a different browser or something?

 

[Pleb Status]

There is plenty of availability every day in February 2018 PER-SIN-ICN in J. As you would need to leave on the 01:10 or 06:40 flights, you would need to overnight in PER.

 

[davidhes]

I can see availability for 2xJ DRW-BNE-SIN-ICN on 7/2/18 ?

Maybe try a different browser or something?

So there is. However that still doesn't explain why there is no darwin-sin-icn after 31 Jan 18. Really don't want to have to go 4hrs south to go forward and it's a heap of extra points. The Darwin flight is so perfectly timed. Leaves in the afternoon, gets into singapore in the evening and then a relatively short stopover before arriving in Seoul in the morning.

Looking like I may just have to book with SQ directly and pay the extra fees. Just can't understand why the availability drops off after that date..

 

[Mattg]

Have you tried calling Velocity? Sometimes VA's website has issues, particularly if anything other than a short transit in SIN is required... (This isn't necessarily the solution, but worth trying.)

 

[davidhes]

Have you tried calling Velocity? Sometimes VA's website has issues, particularly if anything other than a short transit in SIN is required... (This isn't necessarily the solution, but worth trying.)

I called Velocity today and all they could say was that SQ hadn't released any business reward seats after 30 Jan for the flights I was looking for. They also couldn't tell me if the required points would go up when the SQ changes take effect in a couple of weeks. Thinking I'll just pay the extra cash and book with SQ.. worried they will get jacked up on virgin otherwise and I'll be way worse off.

 

[davidhes]

Ok guys so things have got weirder.. been checking every single day in the hope that seats will be released. Still not 1 from the 1st of Feb until the 10th of Feb. and now very strangely the 11th of feb has opened up and I can get reward seats from darwin to Seoul via Singapore for 78,000 points and $95 of fees. Why have they skipped a whole 10 days of availability? Not like they are in high demand from SQ themselves for those 10 days. I can still book multiple reward seats on any of those days direct with SQ. So frustrating..

 

[Pleb Status]

Ok guys so things have got weirder.. been checking every single day in the hope that seats will be released. Still not 1 from the 1st of Feb until the 10th of Feb. and now very strangely the 11th of feb has opened up and I can get reward seats from darwin to Seoul via Singapore for 78,000 points and $95 of fees. Why have they skipped a whole 10 days of availability? Not like they are in high demand from SQ themselves for those 10 days. I can still book multiple reward seats on any of those days direct with SQ. So frustrating..

Just transfer the required points to KF and book direct if you are 'desperate'. With the upcoming changes in the KF redemption rates, the time available is limited at the old rates.

 

[davidhes]

Just transfer the required points to KF and book direct if you are 'desperate'. With the upcoming changes in the KF redemption rates, the time available is limited at the old rates.

Yeh that's the annoying problem ATM and the only reason I'm sort of rushed. Ideally I want to book with virgin. As 78,000 points plus $95 in fees is far better than even the current discount SQ rate of approx 60,000 Velocity points (after conversion cost) and $440 in fees.

Thinking ill I'll just hang out and wait in hope. If I miss out and we just pay to fly Y it won't bother us too much. Not very long flights and just means easy platinum renewal for another year as it will top up our status credits nicely.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Hi all,

I've been patiently waiting for today to book 2 business reward flights from Darwin to Seoul via Singapore on Wed 7 Feb 2018 for the Winter Olympics.

Might it be that the Winter Olympics is the problem? SQ might figure that they can sell all the J seats at such a time, perhaps even at premium rates.

 

[serfty]

I thought it may been related to Chinese New Year, but on checking, that is not until Feb 17th.

 

[davidhes]

Might it be that the Winter Olympics is the problem? SQ might figure that they can sell all the J seats at such a time, perhaps even at premium rates.

I'm wondering if that is the problem as that's what we are going for, but it's weird that they've got availability now for the 11th as it's still going then. Also there is plenty of availability from SQ directly for every one of the days that virgin doesn't have. Just really strange.

 

[davidhes]

So interestingly enough guys and girls, after the SQ reward changes, there is now very little difference between redeeming on VA or direct on SQ. Which actually massively works out in my favour.

On VA Darwin to Seoul return is 156,000 velocity points and $152.06 in taxes.

On SQ Darwin to Seoul return is 116,000 miles (which is 156,600 velocity points after conversion cost) and $152.06.

So the difference between redeeming on VA vs directly on SQ (after points conversion) is only 600 points per person.

Means I get the benefit of free date changes etc that comes with booking through SQ for only a tiny premium. Also means I can book my flights right now for the dates I want!