Codeshare to SIN and HKG with stopovers

[theevilmuppet]

Hi all,

Has anyone managed to book a trip from anywhere in Australia to SIN for a few days and then HKG for a few days before flying home?

Virgin Australia state that it's impossible, however my partner and I would like to at least look at the cost of the points bonus from our VA statuses.

 

[Pleb Status]

Tried and failed. You will need to book on SQ direct if you want a SIN stopover.

 

[Bolthead]

Hi all,

Has anyone managed to book a trip from anywhere to Australia to SIN for a few days and then HKG for a few days before flying home?

Virgin Australia state that it's impossible, however my partner and I would like to at least look at the cost of the points bonus from our VA statuses.

I am a little confused, (which isn't hard)...Do you mean anywhere in Australia to SIN?

Tried and failed. You will need to book on SQ direct if you want a SIN stopover.

Not doubting what your saying as I haven't tried to do this however there is a VA codeshare flight between SIN and HKG. Are you saying that VA won't allow you to book it? It seems a little odd that you can't do it if you contact VA customer service. Can't be done online.

 

[vmile]

Not doubting what your saying as I haven't tried to do this however there is a VA codeshare flight between SIN and HKG. Are you saying that VA won't allow you to book it? It seems a little odd that you can't do it if you contact VA customer service. Can't be done online.

The problem seems to be getting a stopover. The code shares only seem to work if you have direct connecting flights Australia-SIN-HKG.

VA will not sell you a code share SIN-HKG ticket on its own.

Very happy to be proved wrong.

 

[Pleb Status]

Not doubting what your saying as I haven't tried to do this however there is a VA codeshare flight between SIN and HKG. Are you saying that VA won't allow you to book it? It seems a little odd that you can't do it if you contact VA customer service. Can't be done online.

VA will let you book say PER-SIN-HKG on the codeshare, but it will not allow a stopover in SIN (you can stay for about 12 hours however on some itineraries) no matter how you try to do it (web, phone or TA).

I believe most of the codeshare restrictions are imposed by SQ. If you want anything more than the simplest return itinerary, you need to go to SQ direct. This way the 20+% owner of VA pockets all of the cash instead of having to share it with others.

Luckily, the only things you miss out on booking SQ direct are the eligible sectors and the status bonus. Far better than say QF and EK where you do not get SC unless you book the codeshare.

If VA could organise a status bonus deal with SQ, like the have with EY, then the codeshares would become a little irrelevant anyway (unless you need Australian sectors included).

 

[medhead]

1) if it's an award why do you need a codeshare.
2) you should be able to search for awards SIN-HKG by selecting the use points option. I was able to find SIN-KUL awards with VA using this method.
3) not sure about Oz to SIN as there were no available awards with VA on my preferred date. But I'm sure there were on other days. Ended up booking with SQ. ADL-SIN-KUL was available on my preferred day.
4) You would need to book 2 separate awards.

 

[vmile]

1) if it's an award why do you need a codeshare.
2) you should be able to search for awards SIN-HKG by selecting the use points option. I was able to find SIN-KUL awards with VA using this method.
3) not sure about Oz to SIN as there were no available awards with VA on my preferred date. But I'm sure there were on other days. Ended up booking with SQ. ADL-SIN-KUL was available on my preferred day.
4) You would need to book 2 separate awards.

Don't think the OP is referring to awards tickets.

 

[theevilmuppet]

1) if it's an award why do you need a codeshare.
2) you should be able to search for awards SIN-HKG by selecting the use points option. I was able to find SIN-KUL awards with VA using this method.
3) not sure about Oz to SIN as there were no available awards with VA on my preferred date. But I'm sure there were on other days. Ended up booking with SQ. ADL-SIN-KUL was available on my preferred day.
4) You would need to book 2 separate awards.

1) It's not reward seats we're looking for.
2) It's not reward seats we're looking for, however interestingly enough the online search does not offer HKG as a destination from SIN (yes, Include other Velocity Reward Seat destinations is ticked)
3) See above
4) See above

The only benefit of us booking with VA over SQ is the status bonus. The status credits we'll earn are needed by both my partner and I to achieve Platinum for next year.

 

[theevilmuppet]

VA will let you book say PER-SIN-HKG on the codeshare, but it will not allow a stopover in SIN (you can stay for about 12 hours however on some itineraries) no matter how you try to do it (web, phone or TA).

I believe most of the codeshare restrictions are imposed by SQ. If you want anything more than the simplest return itinerary, you need to go to SQ direct. This way the 20+% owner of VA pockets all of the cash instead of having to share it with others.

Luckily, the only things you miss out on booking SQ direct are the eligible sectors and the status bonus. Far better than say QF and EK where you do not get SC unless you book the codeshare.

If VA could organise a status bonus deal with SQ, like the have with EY, then the codeshares would become a little irrelevant anyway (unless you need Australian sectors included).

From what VA have told me, it is definitely SQ who are putting these rules in place around stopovers on codeshare flights.

 

[theevilmuppet]

I am a little confused, (which isn't hard)...Do you mean anywhere in Australia to SIN?




Not doubting what your saying as I haven't tried to do this however there is a VA codeshare flight between SIN and HKG. Are you saying that VA won't allow you to book it? It seems a little odd that you can't do it if you contact VA customer service. Can't be done online.

My sloppy typing is enough to confuse most! Thanks for pointing that out (I've fixed it).

VA won't allow a PNR that includes a stop over in SIN. Interestingly the codeshare flight on SQ metal from SIN to HKG isn't bookable online as a reward seat either.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

It's just as annoying that you can't do anything multi-city (online at least) such as MEL-SIN, HKG-SIN-MEL, even if you were happy to ticket yourself for SIN-HKG.

On the bright side... at least you'll get real seat assignments by booking directly with SQ!

 

[theevilmuppet]

It's just as annoying that you can't do anything multi-city (online at least) such as MEL-SIN, HKG-SIN-MEL, even if you were happy to ticket yourself for SIN-HKG.

On the bright side... at least you'll get real seat assignments by booking directly with SQ!

Agreed!

Given both airlines use Sabre and there are zero system restrictions in place to stop either VA codeshare flights being booked with a stopover or VA multicity international flights being booked, one could easily be a Sad Panda if trying to maximise their Velocity earn!

 

[medhead]

1) It's not reward seats we're looking for.
2) It's not reward seats we're looking for, however interestingly enough the online search does not offer HKG as a destination from SIN (yes, Include other Velocity Reward Seat destinations is ticked)
3) See above
4) See above

The only benefit of us booking with VA over SQ is the status bonus. The status credits we'll earn are needed by both my partner and I to achieve Platinum for next year.

Oh. you need to call then - 13 6789

 

[eastwest101]

Oh. you need to call then - 13 6789

Or preferably call Virgin as medhead has already said and also absolutely refuse to pay the booking assistance fee because the VA website can't do it online, be prepared to have screenshots to push your case/argument that it can't be done online, seeing as the OP has Platinum status with VA they should connect to the VA WP line anyway. And get the SQ booking ref if possible so you can actually select seats on the SQ website - I would be interested to see how the OP goes if they try this.

 

[theevilmuppet]

Or preferably call Virgin as medhead has already said and also absolutely refuse to pay the booking assistance fee because the VA website can't do it online, be prepared to have screenshots to push your case/argument that it can't be done online, seeing as the OP has Platinum status with VA they should connect to the VA WP line anyway. And get the SQ booking ref if possible so you can actually select seats on the SQ website - I would be interested to see how the OP goes if they try this.

Unfortunately I have called them and there's simply no way VA can book this trip with a stopover. Direct to SQ it is!

That said, the Platinum GCC staff were very efficient about confirming that and suggested either talking to a travel agent or going direct to SQ.

 

[eastwest101]

Unfortunately I have called them and there's simply no way VA can book this trip with a stopover. Direct to SQ it is!

That said, the Platinum GCC staff were very efficient about confirming that and suggested either talking to a travel agent or going direct to SQ.

VA Website tm - helping drive sales to SQ and online travel agents since 2013!

 

[EuroKick]

So, I've got a booking going to Zurich in a few weeks on SQ but booked through VA. Called to see if we can add a couple of days in Singapore and there was no trouble in changing the flight. So have now added 2 days in SIN. But yes, it can't be booked that way, it has to be changed later.

 

[williamsf1]

Agreed!

Given both airlines use Sabre and there are zero system restrictions in place to stop either VA codeshare flights being booked with a stopover or VA multicity international flights being booked, one could easily be a Sad Panda if trying to maximise their Velocity earn!

SQ is on Amadeus

VA will allow a stop over on a codeshare flight , however it is dependent on the fare rules ... the cheaper fares DO NOT allow a stop over. you will have to look at a more expensive airfare ..

example from fare rules below
[h=3]STOPOVERS[/h] UNLIMITED FREE STOPOVERS PERMITTED ON THE PRICING UNIT
NONE IN SIN.