SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[junbugging]

It seems a convoluted but successful way of getting around it. Did you get your $100 back?

I didn't, but I didn't push it. The taxes did go down a little when the ticket was reissued. There were very specific dates I wanted/needed, so it worked for me.

 

[travelnutjohn]

hi everyone, been reading heaps and researching and apologies if its been asked or obvious but I couldnt get through all 250+ pages,

newbie questions,
1. if im looking for long haul melb to EU, first class/busienss class, some sites have all different mileage requirements, is it 300k points return for first class and 150k for business?
2. it says I can transfer amex ascent points to KF or velocity at 1:1 (pointhacks article), Yet some sites are saying ratio for velocity to KF is 1.35:1, which one is correct, and hypothetically am I able to transfer from velocity to KF or KF to velocity in case my options for one program is better than the other
3. I know its very subjective, but is singapores first class up there in terms of class, but ive heard that emirates first class is the best, is singapore first class up there as well? ive heard good things about economy class on a global scale, but not much of the higher

thanks for your time eveyrone

 

[JessicaTam]

hi everyone, been reading heaps and researching and apologies if its been asked or obvious but I couldnt get through all 250+ pages,

newbie questions,
1. if im looking for long haul melb to EU, first class/busienss class, some sites have all different mileage requirements, is it 300k points return for first class and 150k for business?
2. it says I can transfer amex ascent points to KF or velocity at 1:1 (pointhacks article), Yet some sites are saying ratio for velocity to KF is 1.35:1, which one is correct, and hypothetically am I able to transfer from velocity to KF or KF to velocity in case my options for one program is better than the other
3. I know its very subjective, but is singapores first class up there in terms of class, but ive heard that emirates first class is the best, is singapore first class up there as well? ive heard good things about economy class on a global scale, but not much of the higher

thanks for your time eveyrone

1. Flying SQ MEL-EU is 148k in F or 105k in J each way. Double that for return.
2. Transferring VA to SQ (or vice versa) is 1.35:1. Different credit cards have different earn rates.
3. SQ F is one of my favourites. I have not flown EK (yet) so can't compare with them.

 

[travelnutjohn]

1. Flying SQ MEL-EU is 148k in F or 105k in J each way. Double that for return.
2. Transferring VA to SQ (or vice versa) is 1.35:1. Different credit cards have different earn rates.
3. SQ F is one of my favourites. I have not flown EK (yet) so can't compare with them.

1. perfect, thank you
2. so does that mean hypothetically, if I have amex points, I can transfer 10,000 points for example, for 10k krisflyer points, and then to velocity for 13500 points??? surely not?
3. thats good enough for me

4. I ve been comparing different programs ranging from Asia mile to Kris flyer to qantas, ive deduced that qff program has the highest taxes, how does kris flyer rate?

5. so travelling long haul aus to EU/USA etc. ignoring avaiaiblety for arguments sake, is Kris flyer one of the lowest points/tax overall? or is that a depends type of question?

thanks again

 

[MEL_Traveller]

hi everyone, been reading heaps and researching and apologies if its been asked or obvious but I couldnt get through all 250+ pages,

newbie questions,
1. if im looking for long haul melb to EU, first class/busienss class, some sites have all different mileage requirements, is it 300k points return for first class and 150k for business?
2. it says I can transfer amex ascent points to KF or velocity at 1:1 (pointhacks article), Yet some sites are saying ratio for velocity to KF is 1.35:1, which one is correct, and hypothetically am I able to transfer from velocity to KF or KF to velocity in case my options for one program is better than the other
3. I know its very subjective, but is singapores first class up there in terms of class, but ive heard that emirates first class is the best, is singapore first class up there as well? ive heard good things about economy class on a global scale, but not much of the higher

thanks for your time eveyrone

Award flights on just about any carrier can be redeemed in a couple of ways... direct from the airline, or via partner airlines. The airline and each of its partners will all have different mileage requirements for their members.

You need to refer to the frequent flyer program on which you are looking to redeem the award to determine the correct award price. If you belong to KrisFlyer (Singapore Airlines' own program) the number of miles to redeem a flight is usually less than if you redeem the same flight through United's program or another star alliance partner. If you have points with Velocity, you need to look at Velocity's program to determine the number of miles required for flights on Singapore Airlines (or you can transfer your points from Velocity to KrisFlyer).

Amex and other credit cards similarly have different mileage transfer rates. You should refer directly to the card you are looking to transfer out of for their rates.

Singapore is a notch above Emirates for sure.

 

[junbugging]

2. so does that mean hypothetically, if I have amex points, I can transfer 10,000 points for example, for 10k krisflyer points, and then to velocity for 13500 points??? surely not?

Yep, surely not. It means you get 7,408 ( I think they round up). And then if you send them back to Krisflyer, you'd lose more.

You would just send the Amex points to whichever program you need in the first place.

If you're in research mode, understanding things like this is a good start:

Redeem miles for award tickets

 

[JessicaTam]

Yep, surely not. It means you get 7,408 ( I think they round up). And then if you send them back to Krisflyer, you'd lose more.

You would just send the Amex points to whichever program you need in the first place.

If you're in research mode, understanding things like this is a good start:

Redeem miles for award tickets

Exactly. 135 KF miles becomes 100 VA points.

 

[cove]

I would be stunned if anyone did that JT.
Maybe I am lucky having VA and QF points and SQ and AA Miles.

 

[HeavyElectricity]

hi everyone, been reading heaps and researching and apologies if its been asked or obvious but I couldnt get through all 250+ pages

This might be an unpopular suggestion (as I know some love this thread), but I also find it confusing, as it's purpose almost duplicates the purpose of this entire 'Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer' forum category. I think people used to prefer the one thread so they could get notifications when people posted replies? But since the forum upgrade, it's possible to subscribe to the entire 'Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer' forum category anyway.

What would people think about finishing this thread of nearly 4 years old and 5000+ messages, and start posting under more specifically labelled threads? Just an idea, not trying to assume a mod role!

 

[travelnutjohn]

Award flights on just about any carrier can be redeemed in a couple of ways... direct from the airline, or via partner airlines. The airline and each of its partners will all have different mileage requirements for their members.

You need to refer to the frequent flyer program on which you are looking to redeem the award to determine the correct award price. If you belong to KrisFlyer (Singapore Airlines' own program) the number of miles to redeem a flight is usually less than if you redeem the same flight through United's program or another star alliance partner. If you have points with Velocity, you need to look at Velocity's program to determine the number of miles required for flights on Singapore Airlines (or you can transfer your points from Velocity to KrisFlyer).

Amex and other credit cards similarly have different mileage transfer rates. You should refer directly to the card you are looking to transfer out of for their rates.

Singapore is a notch above Emirates for sure.

Thanks for Reply and sorry for delay

Is there a general rule as to whether the airline program or program such as velocity is better?
As ive yet to find a site that has comparisons or a site that you can quickly enter destination and it comes up with taxes


Oh and you said sg airlines well above emirates? Is this for busienss and first. I know sg economy is one of the best. Ive just been reading that first and busienss emirtaes is the industry benchmark overall

 

[travelnutjohn]

Yep, surely not. It means you get 7,408 ( I think they round up). And then if you send them back to Krisflyer, you'd lose more.

You would just send the Amex points to whichever program you need in the first place.

If you're in research mode, understanding things like this is a good start:

Redeem miles for award tickets

Yes i would have thoguht so too.
Someone previously mentioned it was 1.35 :1 ratio and its possible (is it?) To transfer to and from velocty and kf.
I only ask because if you dont devalue when transferring it would give added flexibikity say you had more points in one program or another

Thanks for link

 

[travelislife]

Refer comments in Bold below.

1. perfect, thank you
Refer point 5 for further information.

2. so does that mean hypothetically, if I have amex points, I can transfer 10,000 points for example, for 10k krisflyer points, and then to velocity for 13500 points??? surely not?
MR should be able to transfer direct to either VA or SQ programmes. I would't do the double transfer as you lose points.

3. thats good enough for me
You can't really go wrong with any of the First Class products out of Australia, they are just all different and probably more based on taste than anything.

4. I ve been comparing different programs ranging from Asia mile to Kris flyer to qantas, ive deduced that qff program has the highest taxes, how does kris flyer rate?
Taxes should be the same on every airline for that specific port of travel. These are regulated by the government and/or charged by the Airport for the use of their facilities.

Some programmes (QF for instance) charge a fuel surcharge. This is nothing to do with taxes. Neither VA or SQ have a fuel surcharge.

5. so travelling long haul aus to EU/USA etc. ignoring avaiaiblety for arguments sake, is Kris flyer one of the lowest points/tax overall? or is that a depends type of question?
It depends on route. For example (note all on the exact same SQ flights):
MEL-SIN-LHR: Booked through VA = 139,000 points one way in business class
MEL-SIN-LHR: Booked through SQ = 105,000 points one way in business class (= 141,750 points if transferred from VA)

MEL-SIN: Booked through VA = 65,000 points one way in business class
MEL-SIN: Booked through SQ = 58,000 points one way in business class (=78,300 points if transferred from VA)

So generally (very generally):
- if you can get SQ points through direct earn this is best.
- next best is to book SQ flights through Velocity
- last resort (i.e. you want to waitlist) is to transfer points from Velocity to Kris Flyer

thanks again

Thanks for Reply and sorry for delay

Is there a general rule as to whether the airline program or program such as velocity is better?
As ive yet to find a site that has comparisons or a site that you can quickly enter destination and it comes up with taxes

No rule. It is route dependent. Refer point 5.

Oh and you said sg airlines well above emirates? Is this for busienss and first. I know sg economy is one of the best. Ive just been reading that first and busienss emirtaes is the industry benchmark overall

SQ business is probably one step behind the leaders (QR, EY, QF on Asia flights). No amenity kit. No pyjamas. Tight pitch with narrow foot hole on new business class seating.
SQ first is right up there with the top end of town.

 

[travelislife]

Yes i would have thoguht so too.
Someone previously mentioned it was 1.35 :1 ratio and its possible (is it?) To transfer to and from velocty and kf.
I only ask because if you dont devalue when transferring it would give added flexibikity say you had more points in one program or another

Thanks for link

On a point for point basis it definitely devalues transferring either to/from each programme. But part of the 'value' equation is dependent on cost and access to flights so it isn't necessarily clean cut!

 

[burmans]

This might be an unpopular suggestion (as I know some love this thread), but I also find it confusing, as it's purpose almost duplicates the purpose of this entire 'Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer' forum category. I think people used to prefer the one thread so they could get notifications when people posted replies? But since the forum upgrade, it's possible to subscribe to the entire 'Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer' forum category anyway.

What would people think about finishing this thread of nearly 4 years old and 5000+ messages, and start posting under more specifically labelled threads? Just an idea, not trying to assume a mod role!

How a bout a combination of both of these. If you feel a topic deserves a thread of its own create it (anyone can do this, no mod required). This way this thread will only contain orphan items not covered elsewhere, of which there will always be some.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

3. I know its very subjective, but is singapores first class up there in terms of class, but ive heard that emirates first class is the best, is singapore first class up there as well? ive heard good things about economy class on a global scale, but not much of the higher

thanks for your time eveyrone

As I said, Singapore Airlines is well above EK. To suggest EK is the benchmark is laughable. Maybe once upon a time gone by. But certainly not these days (except possibly for their 2 brand new 77Ws to BRU and GVA).

 

[ninja-tim]

So here's a solution to a problem with "married segments" logic.

MEL-SIN Dec XX: Available
SIN-LHR connecting flight: Available

Combined award: not available, even to waitlist

MEL-SIN Dec XX-1: Available

Pay $100 for a stopover (on a Saver award), and book MEL-SIN Dec XX-1 + the desired connecting flight.

Call next day, and change first leg to MEL-SIN Dec XX. Presto!

YMMV.

I'm currently in the same situation.

Need to book BKK-SIN-MEL with a 3 day stopover in SIN. If searching up each segment, they are all available, but when searching up as "one/married segment" then SIN-MEL becomes waitlist. However there are other flights available on that day but need to book this specific flight as parents are already booked on it.

Currently I have both flights waitlisted (even though BKK-SIN is available), it's just what the website automatically did for me.

Do I just book the available seats/flight and then change the flight time afterwards to the flight I want? Wouldn't this still be affect by their weird "quota" system of redemption seats of separate vs married segments?

 

[ninja-tim]

1. perfect, thank you
2. so does that mean hypothetically, if I have amex points, I can transfer 10,000 points for example, for 10k krisflyer points, and then to velocity for 13500 points??? surely not?
3. thats good enough for me

4. I ve been comparing different programs ranging from Asia mile to Kris flyer to qantas, ive deduced that qff program has the highest taxes, how does kris flyer rate?

5. so travelling long haul aus to EU/USA etc. ignoring avaiaiblety for arguments sake, is Kris flyer one of the lowest points/tax overall? or is that a depends type of question?

thanks again

Just be away certain flights will be cheaper off booking thru VA (assuming you already have VA points to spend) and also possibly cheaper taxes. Check the pointshack for a range of examples.

2. As others have said, each transfer between SQ <--> VA you will always loose points in the conversion. Just think of it as the commission they take for converting points.

 

[firstclasser]

Question for the SQ gurus.
I'm flying in F NRT-SIN on 15/4 and suites SIN-SYD on 17/4.
When it comes to meal selection, when does the inflight menu made available for viewing? Reason I ask is I want to decide between BTC and inflight menu.

 

[jbman]

Should be up already. Most flights now have a button next to inflight that brings up the menu

 

[firstclasser]

Should be up already. Most flights now have a button next to inflight that brings up the menu

Thats what I thought, but there's no button there to open up the menu....