Cancelling of Economy Advantage redemptions

[Dantheman22]

Hi team,

I have booked 2 x Economy Advantage fares to Europe in June for a wedding.

Unfortunately not able to go now. I went to cancel them on the SIA website, and it has said that my points have expired, and will not be refunded. It also says I need to call the local office to cancel the flights.

Has anyone had the same experience? Will I be able to salvage these points at all? Any other options I may have? Just wanted to be prepped before I make the call. It's 380,000 points and desperately dont want to lose them.

Thank you in advance for your help and advice.

Cheers

 

[hossein_au]

During the time SQ kept extending miles, miles refunded due to cancellation would have been credited back to the account (and could immediately expire). The system that kept extending miles automatically did not catch these and to reinstate the miles a phone call was required.

I believe they have now changed the rule so that the miles which expire upon crediting back are not reinstated, even after a phone call. However, there are still agents who may send a system request to reinstate the miles. YM, as always, MV.

Having said that, I think you have two options:

1) keep calling to cancel the trip till you get an agent who can request reinstatement of the expired miles; or
2) re-schedule the trip to a later date; you will need to pay the change fee (IIRC it should be USD25) but you won't lose the miles.

 

[Dantheman22]

During the time SQ kept extending miles, miles refunded due to cancellation would have been credited back to the account (and could immediately expire). The system that kept extending miles automatically did not catch these and to reinstate the miles a phone call was required.

I believe they have now changed the rule so that the miles which expire upon crediting back are not reinstated, even after a phone call. However, there are still agents who may send a system request to reinstate the miles. YM, as always, MV.

Having said that, I think you have two options:

1) keep calling to cancel the trip till you get an agent who can request reinstatement of the expired miles; or
2) re-schedule the trip to a later date; you will need to pay the change fee (IIRC it should be USD25) but you won't lose the miles.

Thanks Hossein_au, appreciate the reply

 

[burmans]

You do know you can change rather than cancel?

 

[jellybelly]

You do know you can change rather than cancel?

I thought this depends on how long ago the original booking was made though?

 

[burmans]

Reportedly, though I have had success with extending well beyond original dates.

 

[SydneySwan]

One of the cygnets has a one way saver booking on SIA from AMS - SYD for September this year. It was booked on points on his mother's SIA account in late September 2022. We has been trying to change it online to early November and although we can select a saver flight for November 8 the system does not let him proceed. The 'NEXT' button is not enabled and there is a message at the top of the screen

Click here if you are trying to change your bookings due to VTL changes. We are unable to process your request. Please contact your local Singapore Airlines office.

That message is meaningless to me.

I am wondering if the ticket is only valid for 365 days from the booking date or something like that although I remember about 10 years ago we booked flights to Vietnam on SIA using Air NZ Air Points that we later had to amend by several months and SIA allowed us to explaining that the tickets were valid for 365 days from the initial travel date.

Anyone have any insights?

 

[burmans]

My experience was that it was possible 365 days from travel date, not booking date, and I remember this well as I had previously rang up and asked. The answer was travel date, when I then went to book this agent tried to tell me booking date, but I persisted and told them what I had been told previously and sure enough the booking as able to be made. Though this clearly sounds like a YMMV situation. Certainl worth a go though, and a HUACA if it doesn't work first time.

 

[jkoh]

I have a MEL-TPE trip booked in J (Business Saver) which I had to cancel recently, mainly by my circumstance but lucky to have had a flight schedule change twice as well on one of the legs. So I rang up SQ to explain, was originally happy to postpone trip to end of year but was told that could only do it within +/- 7 days of the original itinerary. So I said I could not as it wouldn't work and they have suggested cancellation and re-book at my convenience. I then asked for miles that would expire last year to be reinstated (~75k out of 138k total redemption). That was approved and reinstated to my account.

 

[burmans]

Clearly sounds like YMMV to me, when I did it I booked more than 6 months further out, in fact when I first rang up I didn't have any plans, so they were able to put the booking in some sort of hold situation (unsure of actual terminology), and I didn't actually confirm the required change until about 2 months after (which was change to both destination and date). This second phone call was after original booking travel date.

 

[jkoh]

Clearly sounds like YMMV to me, when I did it I booked more than 6 months further out, in fact when I first rang up I didn't have any plans, so they were able to put the booking in some sort of hold situation (unsure of actual terminology), and I didn't actually confirm the required change until about 2 months after (which was change to both destination and date). This second phone call was after original booking travel date.

Maybe status plays a part too?

 

[burmans]

Maybe status plays a part too?

Doubt it since I have none!