VA on SQ booking limitations

[oliverd]

Trying to book SYD/BKK using a VA codeshare on SQ metal - but:
a) the VA Web site only shows a small subset of SQ flights
b) I can't book only the return leg on VA (which does seem to have the flights I'm after)
c) I've tried to use a third party booking site (which I hate doing) but none offer a mixed VA/SQ fare combination.

I presume VA has significantly reduced their SQ codeshares. Any work-arounds?

Mostly I like Virgin... but sometimes they are a real pain in the cough reducing SC earn on partner airlines but then making it impossible to book as a VA codeshare :-(

 

[trisreed]

You can try changing the airport codes in the URL (web address) which sometimes works. Often for me, I just ring up and say "I can't do this on your website" and they'll waive the fee. That second point only helps if you are certain of what you want to book. It's worth noting as well though that you might not be able to book the return leg on its own, though - it may be only possible to purchase as a return flight.

 

[bcworld]

I presume VA has significantly reduced their SQ codeshares. Any work-arounds?

I don't think it's VA doing the limiting...whatever allocation was made available from SQ for the codeshare has sold out.

You can't book the return leg as VA because all VA codeshare tickets must originate in Australia.

There aren't workarounds for what you want.

 

[oliverd]

You can try changing the airport codes in the URL (web address) which sometimes works. Often for me, I just ring up and say "I can't do this on your website" and they'll waive the fee. That second point only helps if you are certain of what you want to book. It's worth noting as well though that you might not be able to book the return leg on its own, though - it may be only possible to purchase as a return flight.

Thanks - I did call VA as I knew my flights. The agent wasn't overly helpful - just gave me the same options I could see on VA web site..

 

[oliverd]

I don't think it's VA doing the limiting...whatever allocation was made available from SQ for the codeshare has sold out.

You can't book the return leg as VA because all VA codeshare tickets must originate in Australia.

There aren't workarounds for what you want.

cheers thanks. Always though VA had access to every fare class on every SQ flight... never had an issue before where SQ had more options. Makes sense that it's a SQ allocation issue, Just makes VA increasingly less compelling than QF... esp when the SQ SCs won't count towards the VA Forever Gold status I'm chasing.

 

[trisreed]

Thanks - I did call VA as I knew my flights. The agent wasn't overly helpful - just gave me the same options I could see on VA web site..

cheers thanks. Always though VA had access to every fare class on every SQ flight... never had an issue before where SQ had more options. Makes sense that it's a SQ allocation issue, Just makes VA increasingly less compelling than QF... esp when the SQ SCs won't count towards the VA Forever Gold status I'm chasing.

Most of the time when I have looked the pricing of the codeshare is hilariously more than the SQ flight anyway. That being said, it could work out 'economical' for the SC's vs getting them another way.

 

[bcworld]

cheers thanks. Always though VA had access to every fare class on every SQ flight

Not even close. VA can't sell Premium Economy or First at all.

Remember for codeshares VA offers a minimum of Choice fares...the equivalent of Lite fares, which often appear for sale on the SQ website (e.g. Economy Lite), will not be available as VA codeshare...hence the perception that the codeshare is often more expensive.

 

[PERLHR]

Not even close. VA can't sell Premium Economy or First at all.

Remember for codeshares VA offers a minimum of Choice fares...the equivalent of Lite fares, which often appear for sale on the SQ website (e.g. Economy Lite), will not be available as VA codeshare...hence the perception that the codeshare is often more expensive.

Try booking biz. Often the VA codeshare is hideous compared to the SQ.

 

[Montien]

Trying to book SYD/BKK using a VA codeshare on SQ metal - but:
a) the VA Web site only shows a small subset of SQ flights
b) I can't book only the return leg on VA (which does seem to have the flights I'm after)
c) I've tried to use a third party booking site (which I hate doing) but none offer a mixed VA/SQ fare combination.

I presume VA has significantly reduced their SQ codeshares. Any work-arounds?

Mostly I like Virgin... but sometimes they are a real pain in the cough reducing SC earn on partner airlines but then making it impossible to book as a VA codeshare :-(

Try using the VA Multi-City booking tool rather than the standard return search. Sometimes entering SYD-SIN and SIN-BKK as separate legs on the same search forces the VA-coded SQ flights to appear.

 

[bcworld]

Try using the VA Multi-City booking tool rather than the standard return search. Sometimes entering SYD-SIN and SIN-BKK as separate legs on the same search forces the VA-coded SQ flights to appear.

VA does not have a multi-city booking tool for international.

 

[PERLHR]

VA does not have a multi-city booking tool for international.

Indeed. Are we missing something on how to over ride that?

Try using the VA Multi-City booking tool rather than the standard return search. Sometimes entering SYD-SIN and SIN-BKK as separate legs on the same search forces the VA-coded SQ flights to appear.

How do we do that?

 

[ozstamps]

These 'top line seamless global partners' like SQ and Qatar airlines to get exactly where you are going using Virgin codeshares etc, seem to be a bit of a disaster lately. United seems to be a mess too at times.

That guy this week who got half way to Europe with wife and toddler and got told - 'Virgin has cancelled your ticket - call them to sort it out - you cannot board until they do' is a very sad example.

Then of course these cheapskates have no-one at all at Virgin answering phones early hours. And same mess happened on his return flight. And he was a travel journalist, and still got caught up for hours in their own mess.

Race to the bottom continues full steam.

If they for one SECOND think anyone sane is paying ~$15,000 a couple to fly to Europe in Biz and get jerked abouit like that mid flight, they are insane.

A

Thread 'Story of Qatar codeshare ticket desync and uncontactable customer service'

Sunday at 1:29 PM

Virgin Australia debacle on both legs of international holiday exposes 'infuriating' airline issue

Reading this article, I really question whether flying VA is worth the customer risk.

The fact that there was a major issue with this guy's ticket in both direction on his Qatar codeshare seems like a major and frustrating problem; but assuming it was a one off that happened to a very small number of customers (was it really? unlucky for VA it happened to someone that had a website platform to write about it) it maybe is understandable that these issues can happen. But then the...

• andrewpf
• Replies: 30
• Forum: Virgin Australia | Velocity

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