Worthless SQ codeshares - warning

[rtyuiop]

Hi folks,

So, as I just got bitten by this, just a warning to anyone who hasn't figured this out already... I recently booked some flights to Bangalore, and stupidly decided to book via the VA codeshare instead of SQ...

I neglected to read the fine print under the codeshare points table properly (it lists the fare classes I was using in the table but underneath it in literal fine print, specifies Singapore Air operated flights will not earn on a subset of those classes), so didn't end up earning either points or SCs for my outbound flights. In addition, booking through VA instead of SQ penalises you with an inability to select seats and book exit rows.

I'm afraid I'm right on the edge of calling the SQ alliance almost worthless (despite most of my travel recently being on them!) - the fare classes that earn are heavily restricted, and the burn rates are... well, hilarious for lack of a better word. It's a shame, because I really like SQ and Changi as a connection point!

Cheers,

Danny

 

[markis10]

In many cases the cost of upgrading to the fare classes that do earn is not much, at least on the SIN bound fligts ex Aus.

 

[toowongman]

In many cases the cost of upgrading to the fare classes that do earn is not much, at least on the SIN bound fligts ex Aus.

Indeed. Was around $70 difference each way between saver and flexi for MEL-SIN-MEL in a few weeks time. And via PER for those extra SCs.

 

[anat0l]

It pays to check before you book. This is particularly so with any kind of alliance or cross-crediting.

You obviously paid the cheapest deal for SQ, and these classes rarely get any sort of credits. I think on SQ's KrisFlyer programme the cheapest fares can earn a little bit, but on SQ's partner programmes they mostly earn nothing.

Can't SQ allow you to select seats on a booking done through VA? Seems rather poor. At the very least, you should be able to do this at the airport (and have often done this and gotten exit rows for free), but of course this is not desirable. Could VA have helped you out in seat selection?

The burn rate for SQ, except to and from Singapore, does leave much to be desired, not to mention availability. If you regularly fly SQ, you may be better off considering the KrisFlyer programme and a credit card which can credit to KrisFlyer, even if they impose a hard 3 year expiry on miles.

 

[rtyuiop]

Yeah, I just didn't read the points earn table closely enough, I may have been able to do something about it if I'd realised.

Mind you, I'm forced to book through a terrible corporate travel agent, so I'm not sure if I could have fixed it even if I'd noticed!

Danny

 

[rtyuiop]

You obviously paid the cheapest deal for SQ, and these classes rarely get any sort of credits. I think on SQ's KrisFlyer programme the cheapest fares can earn a little bit, but on SQ's partner programmes they mostly earn nothing.

Can't SQ allow you to select seats on a booking done through VA? Seems rather poor. At the very least, you should be able to do this at the airport (and have often done this and gotten exit rows for free), but of course this is not desirable. Could VA have helped you out in seat selection?

Bizarrely enough, this was actually a flexible ticket according to my corporate travel agent, but booked into Q class which is zero earn for VA codeshares on SQ metal.

Seat selection turned into a complete disaster - after spending maybe an hour on the phone, I was able to select seats (non-exit row) for a couple of flights by getting the SQ reference number from VA and then calling SQ, but repeated attempts afterwards to do the same thing for other flights failed, so I believe the successful ones probably should not have been! You also can't check in online, so just about anyone who cares will grab a seat before you're able to...

Cheers,

Danny

 

[Bodie]

Sorry to hear your issues.

Sounds very similar to what Mrs Bodie and I had last year.

Booked via Singapore Air site, entered our velocity gold numbers in, got widely advertised price, no mention of saver etc, no class type on e-ticket , got seat preference, luggage allowance . Got to airport, received lounge access, priority boarding etc, same on return. All very good.

Waited few weeks, no status credits or points. put in claim, advised class placed in on didn't earn either credits or points. not happy jan.

As was surprise to Mrs Bodie for 40th birthday, and due to family pooling to her, didn't book via virgin aust as wanted surprise, my mistake, BUT full credit to Velocity after explanation re reason as surprise 40th, they gave us several thousands points as good faith, so very happy and thanks Velocity.

 

[markis10]

Booked via Singapore Air site, entered our velocity gold numbers in, got widely advertised price, no mention of saver etc, no class type on e-ticket , got seat preference, luggage allowance . Got to airport, received lounge access, priority boarding etc, same on return. All very good.

Really????



After selecting flights:

 

[blingy90]

What fares earn status credits and points? Is it flexi saver and above?

 

[anat0l]

Really????

View attachment 16881

After selecting flights:

View attachment 16882

We do keep harping on people about this, but many don't check the fare class code, much less on the review fares page. That is why I'm not much surprised to hear something like "no mention of Saver etc."

Also, SQ use different fare types to VA, so you can't lookup "Sweet Deals" under the VFF earning table. And all SQ revenue fares earn something on KrisFlyer (e.g. 10% of BIS on Sweet Deals as shown); that is not true for SQ's partners (including Star Alliance), but the SQ website won't tell you that.

You can find the fare class code via the review page as shown, or by viewing the fare rules (on the fare selection matrix page, scroll to the bottom of the page). The latter technique I posted about some time ago (after ] swanning_it asked a similar question.

 

[markis10]

What fares earn status credits and points? Is it flexi saver and above?

Suites	R​	1.6 Velocity Points​
First Class	F, P, A​	1.5 Velocity Points​
Business Class	Z, C, J, D​	1.25 Velocity Points​
Economy	S, Y, B, E, M, H, W, U, L, K​	1 Velocity Point​
Economy	N, Q, T, V​	Ineligible​

Basically if its earning less than 1 SQ mile, its not earning a dime elsewhere

 

[Bodie]

I stand corrected re class being in review pages, lesson learnt for next time.

Let Mrs Bodie book everything.

 

[blingy90]

Suites	R​	1.6 Velocity Points​
First Class	F, P, A​	1.5 Velocity Points​
Business Class	Z, C, J, D​	1.25 Velocity Points​
Economy	S, Y, B, E, M, H, W, U, L, K​	1 Velocity Point​
Economy	N, Q, T, V​	Ineligible​

Basically if its earning less than 1 SQ mile, its not earning a dime elsewhere

Just to clarify...
when you review the summary of the fare conditions...to find the fare class, it is for eg class of travel - economy (W).
So in this case the fare class is W?

Sorry if this is very basic

 

[markis10]

Just to clarify...
when you review the summary of the fare conditions...to find the fare class, it is for eg class of travel - economy (W).
So in this case the fare class is W?

Sorry if this is very basic

After selecting flights it will say cabin class - in the example I posted it was N in the first flight, which unofficially stands for Nada velocity points.

 

[anat0l]

Just to clarify...
when you review the summary of the fare conditions...to find the fare class, it is for eg class of travel - economy (W).
So in this case the fare class is W?

Sorry if this is very basic

Yes, in that case the fare class is W.

 

[QF21]

I also had the strange case of being told at the SQ check-in counter at BKK, that sorry you dont have a booking on today's flight. What happened, is that I had purchased a flexi-VA ticket on SQ metal, called up the velocity centre and altered my return date. VA sent me an updated itinerary showing the same. SQ knew nothing about it. Their explanation was the e-ticket was changed, but not the booking.. ?
Called VA whilst standing at the counter, they said they could see nothing wrong, SQ was telling me otherwise. A pitfall of 2 booking references etc.
SQ eventually booked me a new seat on the flight and I arrived home; My VA ticket had changed to a SQ ticket..

Be very careful when altering VA ticketed SQ codeshare flights that SQ is aware of any changes..

 

[OATEK]

And all SQ revenue fares earn something on KrisFlyer (e.g. 10% of BIS on Sweet Deals as shown); that is not true for SQ's partners (including Star Alliance), but the SQ website won't tell you that.

I booked a discount economy a couple of years back, and having enrolled in Krisflyer got seat selection. But it was a deep discount and earned zero points.

 

[anat0l]

I booked a discount economy a couple of years back, and having enrolled in Krisflyer got seat selection. But it was a deep discount and earned zero points.

A few years ago this was the case (i.e. deep discount economy fares did not earn squat on any programme, including KrisFlyer). This has only changed about a year or so ago.

 

[markis10]

A few years ago this was the case (i.e. deep discount economy fares did not earn squat on any programme, including KrisFlyer). This has only changed about a year or so ago.

To 10%, which is just above squat!

 

[anat0l]

To 10%, which is just above squat!

Well, better than zilch, and it will count towards KrisFlyer elite miles.

Yes, I'm well aware you could put the case forward to choose a flexible fare and credit to another programme...