Singapore F redemption downgraded!

[drcam]

Dear people,

Just received a nasty surprise that my F redemption for July 2026 has been partially downgraded for the section from SIN-MEL.
So I believe I remain eligible to visit TPL in SIN on arrival.... but would I get any refund in either cash or points?
What would you do?

I know this is a first world problem, but I am VERY angry! Especially as this will probably be my last major SQ redemption, I am moving away from Krisflyer due to poor conversion rates from credit cards.

There remains availability from SIN to both SYD and MEL in F on the other flights on that day, but only in Advantage rewards.

Many thanks for your help
Cam

Changes to your cabin class and seat selection Booking Reference ------ ​

[td]Dear ---------------- ​ [td] Due to the change of aircraft, your cabin class has been changed from First Class to Business Class. As a result, we are unable to provide you with the original seat you have selected, and a refund of the fare difference between the different cabin classes will be accorded to your original form of payment. We will be contacting you to assist with your booking, and we seek your patience as we are progressively contacting all affected customers.​ ​ ​

​

[td]

If your ticket has been issued, and a new seat number is indicated in the 'Seat Number' column, you have been successfully reassigned to a seat of the same seat type at no charge. If you would like to change this reassigned seat to another seat of the same seat type, you may do so at no cost by logging into our Manage Booking webpage. For more information, please click here.​

[/td]​

[td]

If your ticket has been issued and ‘NIL' is indicated in the 'Seat Number' column, you may visit our Manage Booking webpage to select a new seat of the same seat type for the affected journey at no charge. Should you choose not to select any seat, one will be assigned randomly to you closer to departure. You may also approach our ground staff at the airport to make any changes to your seat and this will be done subject to seat availability.​

[/td]​

[td]

We will be contacting you to assist with your booking, and we seek your patience as we will be contacting all affected customers. Should you require assistance on urgent requests to bookings made directly via the Singapore Airlines website, mobile app, reservation hotline or local office, please contact Singapore Airlines. For bookings made through a travel agent or partner airline, please contact them directly for assistance.​

[/td]​

[td]

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.​

[/td]​

[td]Flight[/td] [td]Depart[/td][td]Arrive[/td][td]Class/Seat Number[/td] [TR]
[td]

Original Seat(s):

​

[/td]

​

[TR]
[td]SQ 217[/td][td]SIN 11:10
14 Jul 2026
Singapore
Changi[/td][td]MEL 20:35
14 Jul 2026
Melbourne
Melbourne Intl[/td][td]First Class
1D (SIN - MEL)
[/td]

​

[TR]
[td]

Reassigned Seat(s):

​

[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]SQ 217[/td][td]SIN 11:10
14 Jul 2026
Singapore
Changi[/td][td]MEL 20:35
14 Jul 2026
Melbourne
Melbourne Intl[/td][td]Business Class
15D (SIN - MEL)
[/td]
[/TR]

​

[/td]
[/TR]

[td]

Yours sincerely,
Singapore Airlines​

[/td]​

[/td]
[/TR]

​

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Simply move to another flight where there is F availability. You don’t have to rely on award seats being available. Just talk to them

 

[drcam]

Simply move to another flight where there is F availability. You don’t have to rely on award seats being available. Just talk to them

I have heard of nightmare stories that they don't honour that kind of thing. If you call up they say that there are no flights available on the alternative flights, they are available for "new bookings only". And hours wasted. If you have experienced precedent for a better outcome, let me know.

 

[kamchatsky]

Simply move to another flight where there is F availability. You don’t have to rely on award seats being available. Just talk to them

Agree, and on top of it, you can even ask them to move you to SIN-SYD on Suites if necessary.

I don't think you get points back for moving from F to Mixed class tickets.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have heard of nightmare stories that they don't honour that kind of thing. If you call up they say that there are no flights available on the alternative flights, they are available for "new bookings only". And hours wasted. If you have experienced precedent for a better outcome, let me know.

I think you might be confusing another airline with Singapore Airlines?

See the advice, immediately above from Kamchatsky.

 

[drcam]

The only Suites flight from SIN-SYD occurs at an inconvenient time (0045) arriving in the morning, meaning I end up wasting another day of my limited lifespan.

Looks like, if they agree, I'll just be moved onto the evening flight to MEL in plain old F.

 

[drron]

Simply move to another flight where there is F availability. You don’t have to rely on award seats being available. Just talk to them

Not always. Pre Covid I had a SIN-FRA F award downgraded to J. There were 3 F seats still available on another flight but they point blank efused to change up I did the Huaca 4 times with no result.
There were also the cheaper F award seats on a SIN - CDG flight but told they couldn't change destination.

The other problem there was going to be no return of the extra points for f over J.
Ended up cancelling and buying an EK business light fare insted so got a full refund.

So all though you have many positive stories there is no quarantee that they will change you.

 

[lovestotravel]

SQ217 had great flight timings, the other 2 flights with F have disgusting times

Singapore Airlines NS26 Service Changes – 16AUG25 — AeroRoutes

Published at 0500PDT / 1200GMT 16AUG25 Singapore Airlines in this week’s schedule update filed initial aircraft changes on selected routes for Northern summer 2026 season. Planned adjustments as of 16AUG25 includes the following. Singapore – Auckland eff 01MAY26 777-300ER replaces A350-900, 1

www.aeroroutes.com

Singapore – Melbourne 01JUL26 – 30AUG26 SQ217/218 253-seater A350-900 service maintained, instead of 777-300ER

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not always. Pre Covid I had a SIN-FRA F award downgraded to J. There were 3 F seats still available on another flight but they point blank efused to change up I did the Huaca 4 times with no result.
There were also the cheaper F award seats on a SIN - CDG flight but told they couldn't change destination.

The other problem there was going to be no return of the extra points for f over J.
Ended up cancelling and buying an EK business light fare insted so got a full refund.

So all though you have many positive stories there is no quarantee that they will change you.

True, there’s some more information in this thread: F award downgrade - SQ242 downgraded from B777 to A350

Seems you were unlucky

 

[azza007]

MEL_Traveller linked with what happened to me.
I had a syd-sin-lhr F saver redemption with syd-sin downgraded to J.
Took me 2 calls to get put in F on an earlier flight.

Unfortunately you won't get any points back for the downgrade to J on the sin-mel sector.
You should call them & ask to moved to the later departure.

 

[drcam]

Earlier departure is not an option.
The only realistic options are to be moved to
(i) the overnight flight to MEL later that day (sleeper service with ONE meal)
(ii) the daytime flight to SYD
(iii) attempt to get on the Suites to SYD at 0145 the following day, but the scheduling is truly bad.

 

[drcam]

So, I have negative news to report.

Not only will they not move me to a different flight, they will not move me to even a flight with Advantage availability. If I want to change the flight to the latter they are saying I have to pay the full Advantage miles from FRA all the way to Oz. Even though this is an involuntary downgrade which they understood full well.

Basically this is what I have been told:
(1) They can only change the flight IF there is First Saver availability on that leg (SIN-MEL) - good luck!

(2) My choices are either to cancel the entire booking, or they will, as a goodwill gesture, refund me 8,500 miles to accept the downgrade on the SIN-MEL sector. If I choose the latter, this is irreversible.
I was also told that I could "wait another month for the possibility that first class on SQ217 to be restored" (yeah, right.)

(3) Alternatively this wasn't mentioned as an option but perhaps I could simply ditch the SIN-MEL segment, get a refund of the segment from SIN-MEL and buy an acceptable commercial fare home.

I am wondering now what the best move is. If it is possible I am happy to pay a fee for AFF Concierge to take over this case. Otherwise is there an e-mail address I could possibly send a letter to.

In summary this has left a very bitter taste in my mouth. My previous experiences with SQ customer service has not been good either, even when I had status. Either way expect this to be the last SQ redemption flight I ever take.

Many thanks
Cam

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I would refer SQ to their conditions of carriage: https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/au/global_footer/conditions-carriage/

Article 10, para 2 deals with schedule changes and inability to ‘provide previously confirmed space’. There are three options, which the carrier can choose in agreement with the passenger. One of the options is that they carry you in another of their services, or re-route you.

In the other thread I linked, it’s not uncommon for the initial pushback. But a subsequent call has usually resulted in a better outcome! fingers crossed!

 

[sudoer]

I have negative news to report.

HUACA. If you get the right person they will absolutely move you.

 

[drcam]

Well, I spoke to the person and I asked her to speak to her supervisor. She claimed to do so and said that was the decision. They weren't able to help me beyond the choices shown above.

I will try again later this week but I am not getting my hopes up. I have lived long enough to realise that life's a cough.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There’s a reddit post… pretty much the same story as you… no availability. Front line phone agents unable to help.

Apparently what you need to ask for is an email/message to be sent to the back office requesting a saver award be opened up on the flight you now wish to take, And then follow with the contact centre to see if the email has been actioned.

So there may not be any saver award availability, but that doesn’t mean yield management can’t ‘make’ it available for you.mBut you need to ask!

 

[lovestotravel]

(2) My choices are either to cancel the entire booking, or they will, as a goodwill gesture, refund me 8,500 miles to accept the downgrade on the SIN-MEL sector. If I choose the latter, this is irreversible.
I was also told that I could "wait another month for the possibility that first class on SQ217 to be restored" (yeah, right.)

(3) Alternatively this wasn't mentioned as an option but perhaps I could simply ditch the SIN-MEL segment, get a refund of the segment from SIN-MEL and buy an acceptable commercial fare home.

I am wondering now what the best move is. If it is possible I am happy to pay a fee for AFF Concierge to take over this case. Otherwise is there an e-mail address I could possibly send a letter to.

In summary this has left a very bitter taste in my mouth. My previous experiences with SQ customer service has not been good either, even when I had status. Either way expect this to be the last SQ redemption flight I ever take.

Many thanks
Cam

LOL at the suggestion that SQ217 will be restored to a 777.... for that period

A 1 way fare is not cheap on SQ SIN-MEL - About $1500 for Y and $3,200 for J... I just paid for 1 Adult and 2 kids in J as there was no saver availability on the dates I needed

SQ customer service on the phone is bad.

I'm not sure what else to recommend besides calling again

 

[Collodi]

I have heard of nightmare stories that they don't honour that kind of thing. If you call up they say that there are no flights available on the alternative flights, they are available for "new bookings only". And hours wasted. If you have experienced precedent for a better outcome, let me know.

I had such a story. One leg downgraded, tried absolutely every avenue, wasted hour after hour phoning (different days, times etc), emailing (every address I could find), social media. Ultimately ended up with no refund and no rebooking. This was about 3 years ago now though. Good luck!

 

[drcam]

I could call the Beijing number and attempt to speak to someone in customer service who speaks Chinese at a native level.
I have even lower expectations though.