Linking 2 separate rewards bookings

[Rayesfeg]

Hi all, Seeking advice regarding a somewhat niche situation:

Looking at a flight from Munich to Singapore (Flight 1), then Singapore to Sydney (Flight 2). Here is where it gets complicated:
- Flight 1 will be a points redemption from Aeroplan (Air Canada)
- Flight 2 will be a points redemption with KrisFlyer (Singapore Airlines)
The layover time in Singapore is quite long but is less than 24 hours and as such I am a little nervous that if flight 1 is delayed/cancelled etc, I may be 'on the hook' if I don't make it to flight 2.
What I am hoping is that Singapore Airlines will join/link these two separate tickets together to become a single itinerary. That way, if I miss flight 2, the airline will 'look after me'. Question: Does anyone have experience or knowledge if this is something Singapore airlines will do?

The reason I cannot book the entire journey through the same airline program is 1 - I don't have enough Krisflyer miles or Aeroplan points to do so (I don' want to have to buy Aeroplan points), and 2 - the Singapore to Sydney leg is only available as a redemption through KrisFlyer (the only options through Aeroplan are non-direct flights, and even then, the booking engine will force these two legs as separate tickets/multi trip booking and I will still face the same issue of 2 separate tickets).

Appreciate any insights around this.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all, Seeking advice regarding a somewhat niche situation:

Looking at a flight from Munich to Singapore (Flight 1), then Singapore to Sydney (Flight 2). Here is where it gets complicated:
- Flight 1 will be a points redemption from Aeroplan (Air Canada)
- Flight 2 will be a points redemption with KrisFlyer (Singapore Airlines)
The layover time in Singapore is quite long but is less than 24 hours and as such I am a little nervous that if flight 1 is delayed/cancelled etc, I may be 'on the hook' if I don't make it to flight 2.
What I am hoping is that Singapore Airlines will join/link these two separate tickets together to become a single itinerary. That way, if I miss flight 2, the airline will 'look after me'. Question: Does anyone have experience or knowledge if this is something Singapore airlines will do?

The reason I cannot book the entire journey through the same airline program is 1 - I don't have enough Krisflyer miles or Aeroplan points to do so (I don' want to have to buy Aeroplan points), and 2 - the Singapore to Sydney leg is only available as a redemption through KrisFlyer (the only options through Aeroplan are non-direct flights, and even then, the booking engine will force these two legs as separate tickets/multi trip booking and I will still face the same issue of 2 separate tickets).

Appreciate any insights around this.

You cannot join separate PNRs into a single one.

You can ‘link’ PNRs by getting the airline to put a note in the second booking that you have an incoming flight. The effect of linking is virtually nothing. The only really advantage is when checking in for the first flight, if your bags can be through-checked, the PNR of the second booking is already there, as the agent can print a bag tag.

You can also save the call simply by presenting you next ticket at checkin. It has the same effect as linking by the phone.

If the bookings are linked, you get NO protection. They are still separate PNRs, separate tickets, and separate itineraries.

If you book multi-leg via aeroplan, and everything is on the one ticket, you will be protected. You can buy points very cheaply at the moment with Aeroplan’s 80% bonus. It would be 30k extra aeroplan points which is just under $600 aussie.

Note that if your flight leaves MUC so late that you eat up the 24 hours in singapore, you’ll be eligible for €600 compensation.

 

[Cynicor]

what he said.
Though it’s about a single ticket, it is technically possible to put them in the same PNR; but it’s irrelevant because the ticket is not 1 single ticket with protections.

 

[Rayesfeg]

You cannot join separate PNRs into a single one.

Thanks very much for your detailed reply. This was what I thought might be the case, especially given the bookings would have been through 2 different rewards programs.

Re Aeroplan: Yes, they often have good bonus points deals which makes it an attractive program. Unfortunately, it seems that the Singapore rewards availability via Aeroplan is limited versus the availability via Krisflyer (which makes sense) so 'Flight 2' would have a layover in Brisbane or Perth which isn't the end of the world, but as it would be a multi-city trip, it would not be ticketed on a single PNR (i.e. searching Munich > Sydney yields no results on my dates. Searching a multi stop journey/two separate journeys from Munich > Singapore, and then Singapore > Sydney (via Perth/Brisbane) does yield results)

 

[masco131]

Thanks very much for your detailed reply. This was what I thought might be the case, especially given the bookings would have been through 2 different rewards programs.

Re Aeroplan: Yes, they often have good bonus points deals which makes it an attractive program. Unfortunately, it seems that the Singapore rewards availability via Aeroplan is limited versus the availability via Krisflyer (which makes sense) so 'Flight 2' would have a layover in Brisbane or Perth which isn't the end of the world, but as it would be a multi-city trip, it would not be ticketed on a single PNR (i.e. searching Munich > Sydney yields no results on my dates. Searching a multi stop journey/two separate journeys from Munich > Singapore, and then Singapore > Sydney (via Perth/Brisbane) does yield results)

If you have enough points, maybe you can call aeroplan and try to see if they can help link it. Can you see thr flights on aeroplan??

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Even if it was the same program, two PNRs can’t be merged.

While MUC-SYD might not have come up, did MUC-BNE? Aeroplan can so,times manually add the VA connecting sector.

Alternatively, a stopover on aeroplan would have cost an extra 5k, and would likely have resolved any married segments issues.

 

[Rayesfeg]

If you have enough points, maybe you can call aeroplan and try to see if they can help link it.

You know what, I have nothing to lose so I may as well try. Here's hoping though I am not hopeful - I did try similar with Velocity trying to book a similar itinerary in the opposite direction and they said it is not possible (Despite the flights being available to purchase on the same ticker with cash).

Alternatively, a stopover on aeroplan would have cost an extra 5k, and would likely have resolved any married segments issues.

I was really hoping that a stopover would solve all of my problems, but when I select a stopover in Singapore for MUC-SYD or BNE, the results all show mixed cabin bookings where a majority of flights are in Economy (I am booking Business), and the previously available flight direct from SIN-SYD 'disappears'.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You know what, I have nothing to lose so I may as well try. Here's hoping though I am not hopeful - I did try similar with Velocity trying to book a similar itinerary in the opposite direction and they said it is not possible (Despite the flights being available to purchase on the same ticker with cash).

I was really hoping that a stopover would solve all of my problems, but when I select a stopover in Singapore for MUC-SYD or BNE, the results all show mixed cabin bookings where a majority of flights are in Economy (I am booking Business), and the previously available flight direct from SIN-SYD 'disappears'.

It’s likely to be married segments. SQ doesn’t want to sell MUC-SYD as a single award.

But worth checking to MUC—PER/ADL/CNS and then the connecting flight to SYD. Failing those options, two awards probably does it nicely.

Given you are flying SQ/SQ, i wouldn’t be too worried about separate tickets. If their own delay causes you to misconnect in SIN, hopefully they’ll look after you anyway.