Denied Priority Boarding SG Airline

[Eternalx]

Hey guys, velocity gold members should get priority boarding on international singapore airlines flights right? I was denied priority boarding at the brisbane international airport. Is this normal? The sg staff was also very condescending.

 

[TomVexille]

Yes, that is on the published list of benefits. I'm guessing that the SQ ground staff at BNE are contractors and don't actually work for SQ. However they are representing SQ and I suspect that SQ would like to know that their contractors are not presenting a good image of their airline. Do go ahead and send SQ an email about it.

 

[dec540]

Did your ticket have "Partner Silver" or "Partner Gold" on it? I recently flew SQ and mine had Partner Silver on my BP, despite being gold, which caused some small issues at the lounge etc. Nothing a flash of the card didn't fix though.

 

[maxwell]

Was your Velocity no. & status printed on your BP? I’m flying SQ256 in 2 weeks, and would not like to be denied priority boarding at the gate due to lack of staff training. Definitely follow this up with SIA.

 

[Falcs]

This is the reason why I dislike the "bespoke partnership" model that VA uses...

 

[codash1099]

This is the reason why I dislike the "bespoke partnership" model that VA uses...

I prefer the term "Mickey Mouse".

 

[clifford]

This is the reason why I dislike the "bespoke partnership" model that VA uses...

That's why I asked SQ to put my UA Mileage Plus number into a booking made using Velocity points.

 

[JohnK]

Priority boarding is on the list of benefits? How about express immigration?

 

[Lord_Lenny]

I received priority boarding on my last trip with SQ, no issues in Sydney and got a fast track pass for immigration. No issues in London either (even though we accidentally boarded through the First/Suites line and not the Business line, although in fairness all priority pax seemed to be heading down that line so we just followed the herd) however we did not get express passes for security - although I didn't think to ask either.

The only time we had an issue was ironically in Singapore itself, I had to explain the Partner benefit to what appeared to be a Police Officer who was stamping priority BP's in the line to board. I'm chalking this up to him not being SQ staff...and it being 3.30am boarding for a flight that was supposed to depart just after midnight

 

[JohnK]

No express immigration in BKK no matter how hard I tried. May need to look up the benefits of the partnership and take a copy of the benefits.

Will try my luck in SYD and BKK in Feb/Mar. Now with a young daughter waiting ~30+ minutes in security and immigration queues would be a serious health hazard. Got held up by Thai immigration outbound last month because he wanted to see my daughters birth certificate. Unfortunately wife stored that in checked luggage. Passport wasn't good enough for him. Daughter was screaming and I couldn't calm her down.

 

[SuzieQ68]

No express immigration in BKK no matter how hard I tried. May need to look up the benefits of the partnership and take a copy of the benefits.

Will try my luck in SYD and BKK in Feb/Mar. Now with a young daughter waiting ~30+ minutes in security and immigration queues would be a serious health hazard. Got held up by Thai immigration outbound last month because he wanted to see my daughters birth certificate. Unfortunately wife stored that in checked luggage. Passport wasn't good enough for him. Daughter was screaming and I couldn't calm her down.

I don't believe the VA SG or WP status equates to express immigration in any country. Thought fast track/express only occurred when flying J or above.

 

[ozmille]

Got held up by Thai immigration outbound last month because he wanted to see my daughters birth certificate. Unfortunately wife stored that in checked luggage. Passport wasn't good enough for him.

Hi John, is this normal practice? Should we carry a birth certificate as well as the passport for our baby?

 

[deva22]

Hi John, is this normal practice? Should we carry a birth certificate as well as the passport for our baby?

I'm very interested to know this as well. I'll be taking my 9 month old through SIN on the way to Europe next year...

 

[JohnK]

Hi John, is this normal practice? Should we carry a birth certificate as well as the passport for our baby?

I don't think so. We had passport, Australian tourist visa, hospital records and he still wasn't convinced. I don't understand the angle. It might be worth keeping a certified copy of birth certificate just in case. We were trying to kidnap a baby?

 

[Eternalx]

I had my VA gold member on it and it says gold on the SG ticket. I was able to use priority screening and everything but the staff at the gate refused to let me have priority boarding and told me to wait ato the end of the economy line. On the boarding sign it also grouped partner silver and gold on the economy line. The board for the priority line only let business class in

 

[Tassieoptom]

I had my VA gold member on it and it says gold on the SG ticket. I was able to use priority screening and everything but the staff at the gate refused to let me have priority boarding and told me to wait ato the end of the economy line. On the boarding sign it also grouped partner silver and gold on the economy line. The board for the priority line only let business class in

Sorry to hear that, it has been a fear of mine but not a reality. This year, as Gold, I have flown Mel-Sin-KIX return and received priority checkin and boarding at all airports, including priority immigration card for leaving Mel. Also flew MEL-SIN-CDG return recently, gold on way over, platinum on way back similarly had priority checkin and boarding on all flights.
My flights all originate from Hobart, and the Virgin boarding passes for Sin metal flights never say Gold or Platinum. I have gone either to priority checkin in Mel and requested Singapore issued BPs which always have parter gold/plat on them. Seems to save trouble.

 

[Milboo]

6 flights on SQ as VA Gold - ex SYD, SIN, JNB and CMB - never had an issue priority boarding.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

I haven't any issue with priority boarding on SQ out of SYD, PER, SIN, HKG or BKK so far with VA status showing on the boarding pass. Alarming that it happened at an Australian airport Eternalx! Let us know if you send any feedback and get a response? As has been pointed out, it's a published benefit.

I don't believe the VA SG or WP status equates to express immigration in any country. Thought fast track/express only occurred when flying J or above.

I always thought it was considered part of "priority check-in", in that you get what a J check-in would normally get you? In practice I've received Express Path cards from SQ out of SYD and inbound from SIN in Y both as SG previously and WP without hesitation. On the other hand, I've had VA proactively offer them on the ground as SG and WP, but tell me onboard that it's offered to WP only.

No express immigration in BKK no matter how hard I tried. May need to look up the benefits of the partnership and take a copy of the benefits.

I have had the same experience at BKK. They definitely recognise status and proactively offer lounge access, but won't cough up an express card unless you're flying J. I wonder if how zealously they guard them in each port depends on the actual cost the airlines is charged when they are used.

 

[JohnK]

I don't believe the VA SG or WP status equates to express immigration in any country. Thought fast track/express only occurred when flying J or above.

I thought it was part of the whole priority benefit. It is on Qantas when flying economy. Maybe SQ is different.

 

[ozmille]

I don't think so. We had passport, Australian tourist visa, hospital records and he still wasn't convinced. I don't understand the angle. It might be worth keeping a certified copy of birth certificate just in case. We were trying to kidnap a baby?

we'll take a copy just in case, we are staying a night in BKK on our way to Belgium in 2 weeks time and I want as little stress as possible