No Virgin Redemptions Using Krisflyer Miles

[ramboflyer]

There don't appear to be any Virgin domestic award bookings using Krisflyer miles at the moment. Looking at different routes and dates brings up blanks. I have checked using Velocity points and award seats are available on the same routes and dates I am looking at in Krisflyer.
I am using the "OTHER PARTNER AIRLINES" option. There is a message that appears to relate to Japan and NZ domestic flights and other partner airlines to call Singapore Airlines. Is there some sort of technical glitch at the moment?

 

[Scr77]

I’ve noticed this too and pretty sure it was possible to book online in the past.

 

[ramboflyer]

I’ve noticed this too and pretty sure it was possible to book online in the past.

Yes, I booked earlier this year.

 

[Gold Member]

I noticed this 1 week ago when searching domestic trips. I’m assuming it’s a temporary bug rather than anything else.

 

[Scr77]

It’s been 2 months that I know of.

 

[scubabe]

I booked F redemptions back in August, and no option to include a VA leg SYD-BNE as the last leg of my routing. I called contact centre 11 times over 6 days, including multiple HUCA attempts, and not one single person was able to assist, they all told me that VA flights were unable to be either redeemed or booked as revenue.

Really poor service. Now I just have to book a separate ticket and cross my fingers that SQ231 does not land late and I can make my connection. Thinking of booking my connection like 6 hours later, and hoping VA will allow us to fly ahead if they have availability.

 

[ramboflyer]

I booked F redemptions back in August, and no option to include a VA leg SYD-BNE as the last leg of my routing. I called contact centre 11 times over 6 days, including multiple HUCA attempts, and not one single person was able to assist, they all told me that VA flights were unable to be either redeemed or booked as revenue.

Really poor service. Now I just have to book a separate ticket and cross my fingers that SQ231 does not land late and I can make my connection. Thinking of booking my connection like 6 hours later, and hoping VA will allow us to fly ahead if they have availability.

Really poor service is an understatement. I rang SQ call centre yesterday to ask why Virgin redemptions were not showing for Krisflyer domestic bookings. Was transferred to someone who allegedly was an expert. I was asked which routing I was looking at. I had randomly looked at SYD - MEL in March 2023. I had checked Velocity and there were numerous awards showing. "Expert" tried to look at same booking and said nothing showing. I know I said, that's why I'm calling, nothing is showing anywhere at any time.

Expert then said I had to book with Virgin using KF miles! I said that's not possible. I terminated the call saying I'll check back in a few weeks.

Amazingly I got a call back. Aha! I thought someone with an answer. Alas it was the same person who then told me bookings using Krisflyer miles cannot be made for domestic bookings on Virgin!! I quickly told her I had done that very thing a few months ago. She asked for the booking reference number which I gave her. I was told that shouldn't have happened and she would refer it on for further investigation.

Still none the wiser.

 

[ramboflyer]

Really poor service is an understatement. I rang SQ call centre yesterday to ask why Virgin redemptions were not showing for Krisflyer domestic bookings. Was transferred to someone who allegedly was an expert. I was asked which routing I was looking at. I had randomly looked at SYD - MEL in March 2023. I had checked Velocity and there were numerous awards showing. "Expert" tried to look at same booking and said nothing showing. I know I said, that's why I'm calling, nothing is showing anywhere at any time.

Expert then said I had to book with Virgin using KF miles! I said that's not possible. I terminated the call saying I'll check back in a few weeks.

Amazingly I got a call back. Aha! I thought someone with an answer. Alas it was the same person who then told me bookings using Krisflyer miles cannot be made for domestic bookings on Virgin!! I quickly told her I had done that very thing a few months ago. She asked for the booking reference number which I gave her. I was told that shouldn't have happened and she would refer it on for further investigation.

Still none the wiser.

I've contacted SQ using a form on their web site. I'll share here when I get a reply.

 

[jakeseven7]

I wonder why they have removed the ability to book Virgin flights…

 

[ramboflyer]

Last night I noticed on the Singapore Airlines app that when trying to book a domestic flight in Australia that it won't allow you to even put the destination city in. Unlike the web site where both departure and destinations can be entered and then get no results.

No reply from my e-mail to SQ a week ago about this issue.

 

[AIRwin]

Alas it was the same person who then told me bookings using Krisflyer miles cannot be made for domestic bookings on Virgin!!

Not according to their website (updated effective August 2022):

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/au/ppsclub-krisflyer/use-miles/redeem-miles/award-tickets-on-partner-airlines/

The page contains a Reservation Form - did you try?

 

[ramboflyer]

Not according to their website (updated effective August 2022):

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/au/ppsclub-krisflyer/use-miles/redeem-miles/award-tickets-on-partner-airlines/

The page contains a Reservation Form - did you try?

Thats useful information. I don't actually want to make a booking at this time, just be prepared for when I do.

"Award redemptions for partner airlines can be done via KrisFlyer Membership Services and will be available for redemption on singaporeair.com progressively."

I may well have missed the announced change but earlier this year I made a booking in the usual manner, using KF miles in the booking page where all other flight bookings are made.

 

[TSV]

I have Krisflyer miles expiring next March that I am considering transferring back to Velocity as I am having a similar experience. I am prepared to take the hit to have points I could actually redeem; all the routings I am using domestically or between Australia and NZ are showing as 'no availability'. And when I rang, I got the same advice as ramboflyer, saying I had to book via Virgin using Krisflyer miles. (Edited to add; this is clearly nonsense, and not the basis for my thoughts that I might just transfer my points balance).

Good to know it's not user error on my part; it seems to be a pretty longstanding issue as I think I experienced it back in August as well??

 

[ramboflyer]

I have Krisflyer miles expiring next March that I am considering transferring back to Velocity as I am having a similar experience. I am prepared to take the hit to have points I could actually redeem; all the routings I am using domestically or between Australia and NZ are showing as 'no availability'. And when I rang, I got the same advice as ramboflyer, saying I had to book via Virgin using Krisflyer miles. (Edited to add; this is clearly nonsense, and not the basis for my thoughts that I might just transfer my points balance).

Good to know it's not user error on my part; it seems to be a pretty longstanding issue as I think I experienced it back in August as well??

I first wrote to SQ asking why bookings could not be made on their web site using KF miles for Virgin domestic flights. I mentioned I had done this earlier this year for a flight HBA - CNS. They thought I was trying to make that booking.

SQ: We acknowledge your concern about the redemption flights with Virgin Australia. However, as of the moment we are unable to find any availability for redemption booking for flights departing Hobart to Cairns as of now .We highly suggests to kindly contact Virgin Australia to check their flights within Australia.

I wrote back saying I'm not trying to make a Virgin booking, just trying to find out why they cant be made using KF miles on the SQ site. I actually included a screenshot of the page where it says call membership services or fill out the form.

SQ: Please be informed that member can redeem their KrisFlyer miles on Virgin Australia flights.

Becoming more and more frustrated I sent back another message saying NO, that's not possible using the Singapore airlines booking page.

SQ: If you are unable to redeem a flight online, you can contact us on the numbers listed on the link below for offline assistance.
https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/contact-us/

You can also fill up the form below for us to review.
https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/ppsclub_krisflyer/forms/PartnerAL-ResRequest.pdf

Honestly I have no faith in phoning them and getting flights booked. I also have miles expiring next March but don't want to transfer them to Virgin for the devaluation. I also don't want to pay $US100 to have then extended for just 6 months. I'm hoping another covid extension might happen but that probably unlikely.

 

[Scr77]

This seems to have been resolved. Can now book VA using KF miles.

 

[ramboflyer]

I checked a few different options. Looks like there are award seats on Virgin only on about 1 or 2 days a week for the 3 options I looked at.

 

[philr2000]

Somewhat related question - my wife has some points, but doesn't have enough quite Krisflyer points in her account, and I don't have quite enough in mine to book for her myself...

My understanding is you can't transfer Krisflyer points between family members (unlike Qantas), so is there any flaw in my plan if I transfer my Krisflyer points to my Virgin account, then from my Virgin to her Virgin account, then she transfers from her Virgin to her Krisflyer...?

 

[Scr77]

Somewhat related question - my wife has some points, but doesn't have enough quite Krisflyer points in her account, and I don't have quite enough in mine to book for her myself...

My understanding is you can't transfer Krisflyer points between family members (unlike Qantas), so is there any flaw in my plan if I transfer my Krisflyer points to my Virgin account, then from my Virgin to her Virgin account, then she transfers from her Virgin to her Krisflyer...?

That will work but you loose points transferring to virgin and then back again. Transfer rate is 1.55 to 1 each way.

 

[philr2000]

That will work but you loose points transferring to virgin and then back again. Transfer rate is 1.55 to 1 each way.

Yep i worked this out last night - not a smart move...in any event, my waitlist came through last night (after less than 48 hours), so crisis averted

 

[LMT]

Just spoke with KrisFlyer membership services trying to book a Virgin Australia domestic flight using soon to expire KrisFlyer points but was told that Singapore Airlines doesn't service the route. That I can't book domestic flights using my KrisFlyer points. Not happy.