Why does VA price award flights by segment?

[jozdemir]

I just called to price up a ticket from PER-SIN-NRT on SQ and I'm appalled at the poor value for my points...I know that it's hard to compare different programs but I wanted to at least point out that more clarity is probably needed on your award tables.

- Nowhere is it mentioned explicitly that awards are priced up by segment. By all accounts, since the table lists all redemptions from 0-15,000 miles it could be easy to interpret that PER-SIN-NRT could be in the 4801-5800 bracket.
- Since this is priced by by segment by using VA miles you're looking at 60k miles for a one way ticket. In comparison, Qantas from PER-SYD-NRT is only 42,000 miles. United on exactly the same SQ flights is only 25k miles.

I know that this will more than likely fall on deaf ears but I wanted to at least point out my irritation. More than anything else I'm surprised that QF are so much better value in this instance whereas VA normally are a fair alternative.

Thanks for letting me rant a little!

Joseph

 

[oz_mark]

It does say this:

Where an itinerary involves one or more connecting point and/or multiple airlines, the Points price required may be higher.

 

[jozdemir]

It does say this:

Hmmm guess I missed that, still doesn't scoot around my point I guess

 

[ted123]

Hmmm guess I missed that, still doesn't scoot around my point I guess

Funny that, I contacted the platinum velocity desk yesterday enquiring on how many points required for a partner award redemption on SQ metal from SYD-SIN-MNL in J Class.

Velocity quoted me 120k points from SYD-SIN, then an additional 60k points from SIN-MNL. A total of 180,000 velocity points . Wow this is for a one way business class reward ticket.

With KrisFlyer, a saver award redemption flying SYD-SIN-MNL in J class is 46750 KrisFlyer points. This is for an online redemption with the 15% discount inclusive.

This is the reason why I continue to fly direct with Singapore.

 

[jozdemir]

Funny that, I contacted the platinum velocity desk yesterday enquiring on how many points required for a partner award redemption on SQ metal from SYD-SIN-MNL in J Class.

Velocity quoted me 120k points from SYD-SIN, then an additional 60k points from SIN-MNL. A total of 180,000 velocity points . Wow this is for a one way business class reward ticket.

With KrisFlyer, a saver award redemption flying SYD-SIN-MNL in J class is 46750 KrisFlyer points. This is for an online redemption with the 15% discount inclusive.

This is the reason why I continue to fly direct with Singapore.

Exactly my point, that same itinerary with UA miles in business would be 40k one way!

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

I just called to price up a ticket from PER-SIN-NRT on SQ and I'm appalled at the poor value for my points...I know that it's hard to compare different programs but I wanted to at least point out that more clarity is probably needed on your award tables.

- Nowhere is it mentioned explicitly that awards are priced up by segment. By all accounts, since the table lists all redemptions from 0-15,000 miles it could be easy to interpret that PER-SIN-NRT could be in the 4801-5800 bracket.
- Since this is priced by by segment by using VA miles you're looking at 60k miles for a one way ticket. In comparison, Qantas from PER-SYD-NRT is only 42,000 miles. United on exactly the same SQ flights is only 25k miles.

I know that this will more than likely fall on deaf ears but I wanted to at least point out my irritation. More than anything else I'm surprised that QF are so much better value in this instance whereas VA normally are a fair alternative.

Thanks for letting me rant a little!

Joseph

Hi jozdemir,
The itinerary you've mentioned should be priced on a journey level rather than by segment.
Apologies for the confusion.
If you are still wanting to book, we would request you phone the member call centre.

 

[jozdemir]

Hi jozdemir,
The itinerary you've mentioned should be priced on a journey level rather than by segment.
Apologies for the confusion.
If you are still wanting to book, we would request you phone the member call centre.

Oh ok that's excellent feedback thank you very much.

I shall call back this afternoon and see if I have any more luck.

Thanks!

 

[jozdemir]

Hi jozdemir,
The itinerary you've mentioned should be priced on a journey level rather than by segment.
Apologies for the confusion.
If you are still wanting to book, we would request you phone the member call centre.

Ok so it took nearly two hours on the phone and getting onto a supervisor to get this resolved but I managed to get an acceptable resolution.

The supervisor said that it's something they're looking into and it's something to do with staff training etc.

In any case I still had to be charged the full segmented pricing and I can apparently expect a refund in the next few days of the difference based on the correct pricing.

So thanks again for your feedback but I guess this is still an outstanding issue regarding how it's quoted initially.

 

[DeKa]

How many points did it end up requiring?

 

[jozdemir]

How many points did it end up requiring?

I ended up booking HKG-SIN-PER which I was initially quoted at 50k but ended up being quoted the correct price of 32.5k, one-way

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I still had to be charged the full segmented pricing and I can apparently expect a refund in the next few days of the difference

So if you only had enough points for the correct redemption amount and not the "extra" needed-for-while amount, would it just be too bad, you miss out?

 

[bnbmelb]

So, does Velocity charge per segment or route, or is route dependent? I was looking at an Air Berlin flight from Budapest to Zurich, which is via Berlin, and I've been quoted 20000 points plus taxes for a 500 mile trip. Shouldn't it be 10000 plus taxes? I've a couple of trips within Europe to book, and I want to be sure I am getting charged the right points.

 

[jozdemir]

So if you only had enough points for the correct redemption amount and not the "extra" needed-for-while amount, would it just be too bad, you miss out?

Well I think it was just simpler that I had 100k that they could charge me in my account; originally he was saying that he would need to talk to corporate to get miles deposited into my account so they could just deduct the larger cost. It was all a bit weird but I got what I needed in the end.

So, does Velocity charge per segment or route, or is route dependent? I was looking at an Air Berlin flight from Budapest to Zurich, which is via Berlin, and I've been quoted 20000 points plus taxes for a 500 mile trip. Shouldn't it be 10000 plus taxes? I've a couple of trips within Europe to book, and I want to be sure I am getting charged the right points.

From what I just went through its definitely meant to be priced by total distance, not per segment. Be prepared to argue the point though and ask for a supervisor...oh and also be prepared to be charged the full segmented amount of miles and then get the difference refunded

 

[bcworld]

I too have just tried getting a quote for the following:

BKK-SIN-MEL...on SQ in Y.

I was quoted 15k + 35k for the 2 segments...so 50k in total. I queried this and was told it was correct. From what I can see on a distance basis this should sneak into the 35k band.

VFF can you comment...is this the same as the other examples above and this should be priced at 35k?

 

[jozdemir]

I too have just tried getting a quote for the following:

BKK-SIN-MEL...on SQ in Y.

I was quoted 15k + 35k for the 2 segments...so 50k in total. I queried this and was told it was correct. From what I can see on a distance basis this should sneak into the 35k band.

VFF can you comment...is this the same as the other examples above and this should be priced at 35k?

Try calling back and speaking to a supervisor, the bloke I was dealing with was Eugene and he was really good.

I definitely had to argue for it though; the reasoning I used was that if I price up a VA domestic award online it's clearly done by distance as opposed to segments.

See how you go but from the table it should be a 35k award