The Master SQ Guide (Krisflyer, Waitlists & Waitlists Clearing)

[eprentice]

Hello

Does anyone know when the next Australian credit card transfer bonus to Krisflyer will occur?

 

[MooTime]

Hello

Does anyone know when the next Australian credit card transfer bonus to Krisflyer will occur?

Unless an AFF is an employee of a credit card company, even then probably wouldn't be able to divulge that info, it would only be a guess by anyone else.

Is there some sort of pattern of recent years of these transfers?

There is the HSBC credit card that can earn krisflyer and also velocity points that can be transferred to krisflyer as alternate options.

happy to be corrected on the above.

 

[drcam]

I've booked a Redemption flight for a MEL-SIN-NRT-LAX on Tuesday 19/9 (J) with a stopover in NRT (until 3/10), however this is far from ideal and I want to make use of the weekend. So today I waitlisted a booking for the night flight on Friday 15/9 with a slightly earlier sector to LAX (1/10).

I have Gold KrisFlyer elite.

In the past my waitlists have cleared except for one occasion (J to F going from PEK-MEL).

What I don't like about waitlisting is that it messes up with my plans to book accommodation and activities.

Does anyone with KrisFlyer elite have any idea about my chances? I know these are first world issues but I always enjoy a Wednesday Whinge.

 

[mel-world]

A WL F/R Saver redemption for 2 (one LHR-SIN and one ZRH-SIN) in a fortnight were both cancelled today by SQ. I knew they would as the seats were all taken some time ago. Fortunately, I had a back-up confirmed on SQ 305, the 0910 LHR-SIN 380 just in case.

Just means less time in the LHR lounge for breakfast and a very early arrival into SIN - but I'll live with it.

We fly in from ZRH the night before to avoid the dreaded UK departure tax. (Thanks for that advice AFF).

 

[yaksha98]

Alas, none of my SYD-SIN J waitlists cleared in time before auto cancellation (had waitlisted since Jan).

Guess it's the confirmed MEL-SIN J flight for me next week...!

 

[drcam]

OK. I am not going to bet my house on any of waitlists clearing, even with Elite Gold status.

 

[BCons]

OK. I am not going to bet my house on any of waitlists clearing, even with Elite Gold status.

I hv just cancelled 2 W/L redemptions back from UK in Oct because I cant trust the chances of them ever coming thru. Am also *gold, but they were saver rdmts and thus more doubtful. Hv re-booked paying hard cash and applied for points upgrades. Now we play the delicious game of will I wont I, but my bum has a seat (width TBA)

 

[drcam]

Well mine are Advantage awards and the last sector has ready availability. It's the part getting from Oz-Sin that is the problem.

Luckily I already have a confirmed booking, just 3 days later on a Tuesday, so I waste the weekend when I already could be in Japan.

I've waitlisted some SYD and BNE departures as well. I can go and visit family and friends if one of those gets through on the Saturday morning.

 

[mel-world]

I hv just cancelled 2 W/L redemptions back from UK in Oct because I cant trust the chances of them ever coming thru. Am also *gold, but they were saver rdmts and thus more doubtful. Hv re-booked paying hard cash and applied for points upgrades. Now we play the delicious game of will I wont I, but my bum has a seat (width TBA)

I would have first checked the loading on the flights you had WL'ed. I know seat availibility on the SQ site is not always an accurate guide but, I understand, Expert Flyer will show the number of available seats. I have previously booked additional WL or confirmed award seats, or even, a refundable seat, just in case, but left the WL active until SQ either confirms or, more likely, cancels the WL 14 days out.

Mind you, given the scarcity of awards seats at the moment, you may have made the right decision.

 

[drcam]

While Singapore airlines have devalued their FF program on numerous occasions during my adult life, these days the availability of Advantage rewards is probably similar to the availability of Saver rewards pre-COVID. This, in my view, is the REAL devaluation, and the reason why we should reconsider the relative value of the program compared to others that are being offered. I am getting to the stage where I should abandon playing the points game entirely and simply seek juicier cash fare opportunities.

 

[coolkid101]

As someone who is fortunate enough to be on the top end of the KF program (PPS solitaire both my wife and I >10 years), i must say things at this part of the world have been better than i've ever experienced.

Over the last few years, and especially since COVID, KF have really stepped up their loyalty perks to us.

Our experiences, both published and un-published:
Priority/advance reward booking access before anyone else
More availability - this has been massive - R/F always 2 available, often 3, have even cleared waitlist for a 4th seat on some flights. (just last month we were 4 in R - 2 paid and 2 redemption and had 2 waitlisted from J upgraded close in SYD-LHR both sectors)
Priority waitlist - again - lots of availability being offered, even for my nominees the waitlist clearance is very high
Dedicated phone line/agent

I got given a hard time about this when i wrote about it previously but i know a lot of KF elites (ourselves included) are also holding multiple seats across dates especially if unsure when/where to go - with easy cancellation at no cost, miles that don't expire and an 8 figure miles balance SQ have been very accommodating with this.

So while I read the above and acknowledge what the experiences are like - I suppose it's like any regular flight for any airline where the 10% at the front make up 70% of the revenue

 

[beersuushi]

I went back to the beginning to try and work this out- apologies if I've missed the brief here.

Is the strategy for the SQ waitlist best as:
1. Book your flights in a fare class that allows refunds
2. Join the waitlist

In the event you clear and get a confirmed ticket, contact Singapore to back out the paid fare that was in place?

The question I have is, what if you have multiple legs? e.g. SYD-SIN-LHR. Each leg is a waitlist request but in the example, what happens if only SYD-SIN clears. Will SQ cancel just that leg or does your whole ticket need to be reissued to keep SIN-LHR and if so, are you then subject to the fare difference at the time?

I'm looking to book a multi-city trip MEL-SIN-HND-KIX-SIN-MEL as Economy Flexi (no reward seats available) and hoping to waitlist a couple segments for Business upgrade.

Am I right in thinking the redemption is pretty bad value in this scenario:
If I was able to book a Reward seat it'd cost:
MEL-SIN
90K (Bus Advantage)

If I waitlisted & upgraded after purchasing economy ticket
MEL-SIN
$$ for economy ticket + additional 80K to then upgrade (Bus Advantage)

Or are people waitlisting separately and cancelling their original ticket ($130 cancellation fee) to work around this?

 

[jetset]

Quick data point:
I was trying to get a J flight from Europe to east coast Australia. None of my FRA/MUC/AMS/CPH - SIN - SYD/BNE/MEL J waitlists cleared in time before auto cancellation last week (had waitlisted since Feb). I would have had almost 50 waitlists for flights this week or next.

 

[MARTINE]

Hello everyone - back a month from UK but need a week of heat/spas/shopping/drop and flop so plan redemption Sep MEL-SIN J
I have KF Gold status and enough pts both w VA and SQ.
It seems VA has better redemption availability for MEL-SIN

Is this the case - or do I have prolonged jet lag abd missing something?

 

[twiningb]

I'm looking at J award space on TG, which appears through UA and in ExpertFlyer. Aeroplan and LifeMiles don't show it, but it's widely understood that they don't have access to TG space in premium cabins.

Is KrisFlyer also throttled for TG space, or is it just unavailable online and I could call in and ticket it?

 

[Mr H]

I'm looking at J award space on TG, which appears through UA and in ExpertFlyer. Aeroplan and LifeMiles don't show it, but it's widely understood that they don't have access to TG space in premium cabins.

Is KrisFlyer also throttled for TG space, or is it just unavailable online and I could call in and ticket it?

I have tried calling in to SQ for TG flights that appear on the UA tool in the recent past and been told they don't see availability.

 

[Mr H]

I got given a hard time about this when i wrote about it previously but i know a lot of KF elites (ourselves included) are also holding multiple seats across dates especially if unsure when/where to go - with easy cancellation at no cost, miles that don't expire and an 8 figure miles balance SQ have been very accommodating with this.

Of course you got a hard time. That's because you are wiping out all redemptions for everyone else across a whole fortnight and you won't even use them.

 

[twiningb]

I have tried calling in to SQ for TG flights that appear on the UA tool in the recent past and been told they don't see availability.

Someone on FlyerTalk responded that it is, in fact, possible, to book TG J through KrisFlyer, and showed a screenshot. It was for very soon (a few days away). I had been looking at stuff at the end of the calendar.

I spot-checked some more options, and it looks like KrisFlyer can see space up to about six months out, but not for the full calendar.

 

[Mr H]

Someone on FlyerTalk responded that it is, in fact, possible, to book TG J through KrisFlyer, and showed a screenshot. It was for very soon (a few days away). I had been looking at stuff at the end of the calendar.

I spot-checked some more options, and it looks like KrisFlyer can see space up to about six months out, but not for the full calendar.

That’s correct - I had assumed they got inventory about three months out but maybe it’s six. It makes it of limited value in planning complex itineraries.

 

[jetset]

Anyone know what blackout dates Krisflyer runs for premium redemptions Europe->Australia?

I've been checking and Krisflyer seems to have a blanket waitlist running from June 26 2024. I imagine that's europe high season?