Velocity Platinum Bad deal KrisFlyer Gold lounge

[Lemon_Party]

Exactly why I go with Etihad to Europe, not SQ... but on Asia runs there doesn't seem to be a better option

The flipside to the SQ lounges is the excellent status credit earn opportunities. Flying some partners with QF can net you close to zero SC's. Flying SQ, and for often $50-$100 more than the cheapest fare, a "semi-flexible" return fare from aus-SIN-asia can net 120-200 SC's. Makes keeping platinum (and sometimes partner gold) fairly easy.

Swings and roundabouts I guess - although the real aim would be to become Cruiser Elite who probably isn't even aware a "krisflyer gold" lounge exists...

 

[JohnK]

Assuming that you don't care about having a shower in transit in SIN there is nothing wrong with the KrisFlyer Gold lounges in any terminal.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Swings and roundabouts I guess - although the real aim would be to become Cruiser Elite who probably isn't even aware a "krisflyer gold" lounge exists...

Oh but I am totally aware - and YES I have spent quite a few hours in there over the journey. During my pre AFF days (read before I learnt how to cultivate / fabricate / create a bucket load of FF pts) I did possibly 100 trips MEL-SIN-PEK/PVG/NKG/CAN/SZX in SQ Y and ret. Mostly those were before T3 was constructed and I never paid for J tix - I copped a fair share of upgrades Y to J due to my KF Gold Elite status I think it was. The lounge KF Gold Elites could access in T2 did indeed have showers - and 218 being one of first flts in meant no waiting for the 2 or 3 showers available - toilets in lounge also.

I think Malaysian use that lounge now - go up escalators and it's over to your right as you approach SKL Lounges T2. Food there was basic but hell it was free - it seemed excellent to me in those days - I had never ever flown inter J or F until I copped my first upgrade SQ Y to J. Have oinly had a couple visits into Gold Lounge in T3 - the toilets not an issue IMHO cause general public toilets which are rarely used are basically right outside door of Gold Lounge - hell much shorter walk than from far end SKL J to toilets. But I agree no showers is a real bummer. Again this was never a biggie to me as I would just walk down to Ambassador Lounge opposite end of mezzanine and flash PP to use their showers.

Then I discovered AFF - changed my life - I quickly learnt how to cultivate / fabricate / create plenty FF pts to see me basically sit in F as often as I like - J at worst long haul - nothing comes easy but rewards are always there for those who are prepared to work at it.

But I did like your post Lemon.

 

[oz_mark]

My understanding is that Velocity wanted access to Sq Business Krisflyer lounge in Sin for its Plat members but Sq said "no".

Bilaterals are a two way steet. It comes down to what they can offer each other. Presumably SQ saw what VA could offer its elites, and matched the offer in return....

 

[Kolo]

Assuming that you don't care about having a shower in transit in SIN there is nothing wrong with the KrisFlyer Gold lounges in any terminal.

The T2 lounge is pretty ordinary as are the adjacent toilets. On a recent trip my partner, who gets annoyed if we don't have lounge access, actually preferred to sit at the gate rather than stay in the lounge!

 

[Pleb Status]

Spending about 45 minutes in the T3 KFG lounge last Sunday afternoon, I was able to get a seat, something reasonable to eat (a chicken curry), drink and charge my phone and tablet. It is nowhere near as good as the SIN QP but is habitable. The suggestion that sitting in the gate area is preferable to the KFG lounges is laughable.

My biggest issue (along with everybody else) with the T3 KFG lounge is no toilets within the lounge area. SQ (but not VA) really should be called out on that omission.

VA elites are not given any more of a 'bad deal' than the equivalent *G or even SQ KFG elites. I see no valid reason why VA elites should get a better deal flying SQ than even their own elites flying on SQ (and WP is not equivalent to PPS).

Having been in there so many times now, I just work around the toilet issue so it does not bother me as much as when I was forced to switch from QF to SQ.

If I was really offended by the KFG lounge, I (and those who have Priority Pass via Amex) can use the Dnata or SATS lounges which are actually located closer to the escalators up from the main floor area in T3. It has not come to that yet but I should have a look at some stage just for interest.

 

[Kolo]

I've only seen the T3 KFG lounge as I passed it but it looks infinitely better than the T2 lounge .

 

[JohnK]

The T2 lounge is pretty ordinary as are the adjacent toilets. On a recent trip my partner, who gets annoyed if we don't have lounge access, actually preferred to sit at the gate rather than stay in the lounge!

I guess we are all different. I have been in this lounge quite a few times and was quite sick one morning after spending the night in the lounge. Used the toilet quite a few times.

Passing through again Thursday afternoon/evening although may be departing from T3 to SYD. I wouldn't wait the 3-4 hours transit at the gate with wife and daughter.

 

[samh004]

To be fair to VA it's the same cough deal that Star Alliance Golds suffer when passing through Changi.

This isn't the thread, but they need a 3-tiered system like oneworld. Many programs now have 3 tiers, when previously they only had 2, yet Star Alliance is stuck in the past. Of course, airlines would be free to choose what they follow, but I could see *A-G keeping the current KrisFlyer Gold lounge, while *A-P take the SilverKris lounge. In SIN there's still an F section to that lounge and then TPR behind that, so they're not giving away anywhere close to top access. VA could slot their Platinum members into what the *A-P members received.

 

[DaveB]

An interesting thread from which I understand SQ offer VA the same lounge as if it was a member of star alliance.
If you can become platinum spending around $10K on flights a year, seems strange that airlines are then beholden to offering platinums the same ground facilities that their J and with some airlines even their F passengers are receiving.
Lounges quite frankly are becoming zoos largely due to the airlines having lost control over daily passenger numbers in Y using them through the various inducements airline partner's and credit card company's shower prospective members.
Quite frankly, I am all for SQ retaining some level of control over their better lounges.

 

[Ewing]

its offensive really, its gaps like these that drive people away from VFF.

I've already switched as a result of their degrading service. I rapidly hit Qantas Platinum again when I switched but I dropped to Virgin Gold late last year, and with the way I'm going I'll be Silver soon (I get lounge access through my Amex so I'm not fussed about that).

 

[CPMaverick]

SQ just gives Y passengers at SIN a bad deal. It's the same for their own Y passengers and Star Alliance airline status members.

SQ should step up their game. But it really isn't a VA problem IMO. I can't see VA getting a better deal from SQ than their own alliance gets.

Fly J and get access to better lounges.

 

[Jet L]

If they got the Business lounge for Platinums that would be good but as long as KF*G and all other *G's have the Gold lounge then VA-G cant expect much more

 

[Oneworldplus2]

No toilets or showers in a lounge...



Wow...

 

[SydneySwan]

Spending about 45 minutes in the T3 KFG lounge last Sunday afternoon, I was able to get a seat, something reasonable to eat (a chicken curry), drink and charge my phone and tablet. It is nowhere near as good as the SIN QP but is habitable. The suggestion that sitting in the gate area is preferable to the KFG lounges is laughable.

I agree. I spent about 3 hours there one evening last week and it was acceptable. Certainly much better than waiting at the gate. There were plenty of free seats and the food offerings I tried were fine.

 

[Moopere]

Well this thread saved me from an embarrassing moment. I was geared to present at the SilverKris lounge SIN, assuming I could get in with a Plat VA card ... sob sob.

Anyway, the Gold KF is ok in my view. Food and general amenity isn't even close to the worst I've been in. KUL SilverKris .. I'm looking at you Mind, even there the food was better than VA's domestic lounges.

As for who's to blame for all this - I'd have to assume that it would be mostly VA ... surely there would be an entry price differential that finds its way back to the originating status holders airline? I guess it could be a capacity control issue by SQ but this seems less likely to me than cost saving by VA.

 

[Lemon_Party]

As for who's to blame for all this - I'd have to assume that it would be mostly VA ... surely there would be an entry price differential that finds its way back to the originating status holders airline? I guess it could be a capacity control issue by SQ but this seems less likely to me than cost saving by VA.

As has been previously noted SQ send all star alliance status pax to this lounge. While VA could pay a different lounge operator for access, would be a little unusual to not work with SQ. And realistically it's not that bad a lounge, just no shower and toilets outside the door.

 

[Moopere]

As has been previously noted SQ send all star alliance status pax to this lounge. While VA could pay a different lounge operator for access, would be a little unusual to not work with SQ. And realistically it's not that bad a lounge, just no shower and toilets outside the door.

Yes, thats true. All affiliates via Star end up in the gold lounge ... except for some cases of NZ going by previous responses in this thread.... so I guess everything is pretty much up for negotiation ultimately ... the fallback position being you-go-to-the-gold-lounge

Luckily the toilets at Changi are normally exceptionally clean and the ones near the gold get little use being out of the way from the normal flow through traffic. Showers would be good. I'd probably be more annoyed as a Star partner at the top tier than I am as a VA affiliate.

 

[grubbidok]

As has been previously noted SQ send all star alliance status pax to this lounge. While VA could pay a different lounge operator for access, would be a little unusual to not work with SQ. And realistically it's not that bad a lounge, just no shower and toilets outside the door.

I think that's the key, if VA elites were treated *worse* than other partner elites there would be a point. But I don't think VA can be blamed for SQ having sub-par offerings at it's home airport (which they do IMO, but they're still adequate).

FWIW you probably won't catch me in the lounge on the SIN layover next month, as I'll be back in the airport's pool now it's re-opened!!! Showers are so 2016.

 

[Madison177204]

My nearest port of embarkation is Townsville and I refuse to buy Lounge membership till Virgin have a lounge there (or one I can access) as I cannot therefore use a lounge for at least for 50% of each trip. I therefore always fly Qantas or Jetstar out of Townsville so I can use the Qantas Club. Townsville is the 2nd largest city in Qld. Come on Virgin, lift your act!