Change to SQ Earn Rates

[andyhui01]

Did I miss the original announcement? How can VA announce something on the 12th march and retrospectively apply its new rules from the 1st March? I am out by 140 SC even though there was no announcement about this when I flew on the 8th

 

[Bagpuss]

Received a response to my email enquiry about my flight this week booked nine months ago saying please call to discuss.

Called to discuss and told that the new rates apply to all flights from 1 March 2018 regardless of booking date.

This is what or similar your initial email should have been. If not, resend using as template:

Hi,


MEMBER: xx_X


Following reading this article : Singapore Airlines revamps Velocity points, status earn rates which quotes "a Virgin Australia spokesperson has confirmed to Australian Business Traveller that flights booked before March 13 2018 will earn points and status credits at the previous rates." , it reflects my flight SQxx_ on xx_x should have been credited as per the old earn rates as I had purchased flights with Singapore Airlines prior to March 13 2018.

Can you please credit my account appropriately.

In the event Australian Business Traveller, a well respected published has incorrectly supplied information, please contact them to correct their information immediately. As long as their information remains publicly available, my request remains.

Regards

 

[MH_fan]

Just looking at the changes again...
So, a W fare still earns full economy SCs but is now only earning 0.75 points/mile?

 

[bcworld]

Just looking at the changes again...
So, a W fare still earns full economy SCs but is now only earning 0.75 points/mile?

No.

https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Info/StatusEarnFareClass/

Discount economy:

• Singapore Airlines*: N, Q, V, K, L, M, H, W

Full Fare Economy:

• Singapore Airlines*: Y, B, E

...and

Classes M, H, W, L were classified as Full Fare Economy prior to 1 March 2018.

 

[andyhui01]

3 days later, still no response regarding my flight from 8th March credited at the new rates. Just sent an Email again. Pretty poor service for WP members.

 

[Mr Pumblechook]

Received a second email confirming that all flights from 1 March will earn at the new rates but told to send a retro claim after the flights post and they might see if they can negotiate a deal with SQ =/

I think whoever briefed AusBT knew that it was poor form to base the changes on flight date rather than booking date, let alone that they weren't even bothering to announce it until 12 days after the fact, and they've given a guarantee they weren't in a position to give. Certainly everybody that I've spoken to at Velocity has been very clear that it changed on 1 March and that's that.

 

[serfty]

www.airlinecustomeradvocate.com.au

This may be useful to some soon enough - just make sure you have at least two VA customer service references for failed attempts at resolution before initiating.

 

[Must...Fly!]

www.airlinecustomeradvocate.com.au

This may be useful to some soon enough - just make sure you have at least two VA customer service references for failed attempts at resolution before initiating.

Normally not a fan of using these services, but in this case, absolutely. Velocity members put up with enough inconsistency from the day to day, let alone this cough. Multiple answers from different agents, different answers in the press, on the website, it's all a joke and nothing was announced until the evening of March 12 anyway.

 

[N860CR]

Unfortunately the entire Velocity operation has been outsourced to the Philippines to a contract company who clearly don't care very much. Dealing with them is very painful. The premium team in Brisbane only handle reservations now. When you get emails from Velocity, they will use Western names to make you think they're from said premium team, but unfortunately it's all the outsourced department. This makes is very difficult to deal with any sorts of issues like these.

 

[mrfreeze]

Received a second email confirming that all flights from 1 March will earn at the new rates but told to send a retro claim after the flights post and they might see if they can negotiate a deal with SQ =/

I think whoever briefed AusBT knew that it was poor form to base the changes on flight date rather than booking date, let alone that they weren't even bothering to announce it until 12 days after the fact, and they've given a guarantee they weren't in a position to give. Certainly everybody that I've spoken to at Velocity has been very clear that it changed on 1 March and that's that.

I have a 6 flights on SQ ticket crediting to VA coming up next month and booked just before SQ made their changes.
So it looks like I am going to have to have bit of a fight with VA to have them credited "correctly".
With out looking it up SQ advertised flights booked before Jan 20? were under the old fare rules and those after were the new ones so any "might see if they can negotiate a deal with SQ" response from them will have me mentioning the booked before date and under those conditions.... once I find the page with it on

 

[MH_fan]

All the blame shouldn't just be on VA. SQ is also to blame for this, probably more. There are travellers who have purposely booked higher fare brackets (like me) for the sole purpose of earning more SCs. Changes that they've just made should be based on booking date and not travel date! Will SQ refund us the difference between the original fare I paid and the fare for the SCs I will now earn? I think not! SQ can't have their cake and eat it too!!

 

[bcworld]

All the blame shouldn't just be on VA. SQ is also to blame for this, probably more. There are travellers who have purposely booked higher fare brackets (like me) for the sole purpose of earning more SCs. Changes that they've just made should be based on booking date and not travel date! Will SQ refund us the difference between the original fare I paid and the fare for the SCs I will now earn? I think not! SQ can't have their cake and eat it too!!

I am fairly sure that when SQ updated their fare classes...Krisflyer accrual etc. was based on booking date. Velocity is the one that has done the no notice devaluation and it seems increasingly likely, based on the balance of responses so far, without any grandfathering.

 

[odysseus]

I am fairly sure that when SQ updated their fare classes...Krisflyer accrual etc. was based on booking date. Velocity is the one that has done the no notice devaluation and it seems increasingly likely, based on the balance of responses so far, without any grandfathering.

While that's true of Krisflyer, it comes down to payment/crediting of points.

Either SQ have reduced their credit for bookings with that entitlement and Velocity are just passing it on, or SQ continue to make full payment and Velocity are taking a cut for themselves. I find the latter unlikely so agree with MH_Fan the fault likely lies with SQ, that they have taken the higher payment, yet now aren't crediting as per agreement when the booking was made.

 

[mrfreeze]

From SQ's FAQ:
I've made a booking before 20 January 2018 but will not ticket it until after. Can I still enjoy the old fare conditions?

Tickets issued before 20 January 2018 will be subject to the old fare conditions, while tickets issued on or after 20 January 2018 will be based on the new fare conditions. This means that if you only ticket your booking after 20 January 2018, the new fare conditions will apply.

So the question is this, are points and SC part of the fare conditions.

Edit: Maybe I should of read further down the FAQ page.

Will the new mileage accrual rates affect tickets I've already purchased?

If your ticket was issued or you make changes to your booking before 20 January 2018, the old mileage accrual rates apply. If your ticket is issued or you make changes to your booking on or after 20 January 2018, the new mileage accrual rates apply. The old mileage accrual rates will continue to apply to your unchanged sector(s).

 

[Bagpuss]

From SQ's FAQ:
I've made a booking before 20 January 2018 but will not ticket it until after. Can I still enjoy the old fare conditions?

Tickets issued before 20 January 2018 will be subject to the old fare conditions, while tickets issued on or after 20 January 2018 will be based on the new fare conditions. This means that if you only ticket your booking after 20 January 2018, the new fare conditions will apply.

So the question is this, are points and SC part of the fare conditions.

Edit: Maybe I should of read further down the FAQ page.

Will the new mileage accrual rates affect tickets I've already purchased?

If your ticket was issued or you make changes to your booking before 20 January 2018, the old mileage accrual rates apply. If your ticket is issued or you make changes to your booking on or after 20 January 2018, the new mileage accrual rates apply. The old mileage accrual rates will continue to apply to your unchanged sector(s).

This actually relates to the ticket changes SQ did on the 20th January as they made their fares similar to unstsand. It's unrelated.

 

[mrfreeze]

This actually relates to the ticket changes SQ did on the 20th January as they made their fares similar to unstsand. It's unrelated.

The part about milage accrual I would argue is related..... but the issue is it's SQ not VA saying ticketed flights will still earn at the old rate.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

I can't get a straight answer either.

I booked on 16 Jan 18, 4 x SQ tickets between SYD and LHR to fly in Sept, in fare classes H and W (at the time, full economy) specifically for the Velocity SC and points earn rates.

I rang Velocity about this on Saturday just gone and they said "Wait till your flights are done and SCs are applied, then call us and we'll see if we can work something out with SQ."

This is a joke. I have deliberately chosen these fares to use family pooling for my wife and I to both get the SCs to renew Gold and boost our points with a plan for reward redemptions. Under the new earn rates this won't be possible.

 

[bcworld]

This was the response I received (not a fan of apostrophes obviously!):

If youve made your Singapore Airlines or Silk Air booking prior to Velocitys earn announcement (13 March 2018) and youd like to earn at the old rates, please send us a copy of your flight booking so we can further escalate it to the partner.

Please know that we cant provide any guarantee as this will be subject to the partners approval.

 

[serfty]

Earn what at the old rates?

It's generally about the SCs, not redeemable points!

... And I doubt SCs earned with Velocity would have much to do with how much SQ pays.

 

[andyhui01]

No reply to my 2nd Email. I am surprised you guys are getting responses. Is there a specific Email for WP members?