Lounge Access in SIN when flying VA on SG metal

[RooAvery]

Hello all,

I am looking at flying VA in late July, albeit on SQ metal, so marketed by VA and operated by SQ. I will be flying BNE-SIN-BKK and return. I am, courtesy of various status matches, AB Topbonus Gold, EY Guest Gold, QF Flyer Gold and I will be VA Velocity Silver. What, if any, lounges will I be able to access at each airport. I believe I can access the VA lounge in BNE as I have AB Gold and I will not have access to any SQ lounges in SIN or BKK as I do not have *A membership, that status match request is still pending

If I have no lounge access other than at BNE, I will need to swap over to Oneworld I suppose, which basically means QF, but I would like to use the flights to move from VA Silver to VA Gold :!:

Thanks for any help

<updated to correct SG to SQ >

 

[SuzieQ68]

Hello all,

I am looking at flying VA in late July, albeit on SG metal, so marketed by VA and operated by SG. I will be flying BNE-SIN-BKK and return. I am, courtesy of various status matches, AB Topbonus Gold, EY Guest Gold, QF Flyer Gold and I will be VA Velocity Silver. What, if any, lounges will I be able to access at each airport. I believe I can access the VA lounge in BNE as I have AB Gold and I will not have access to any SG lounges in SIN or BKK as I do not have *A membership, that status match request is still pending

If I have no lounge access other than at BNE, I will need to swap over to Oneworld I suppose, which basically means QF, but I would like to use the flights to move from VA Silver to VA Gold :!:

Thanks for any help

Hi RooAvery.

Just clarifying, assume you mean SQ (Singapore Airlines) for this flight? Someone else may be able to confirm better than I can, but as you're flying VA marketed on SQ metal, I don't believe you'll have any lounge access in BNE, SIN or BKK. I don't believe AB Gold will give you access to the SQ lounge or any VA partner lounge in BNE as you're flying SQ metal. Happy to be corrected if that's not the case.

Depending on the layover in SIN and how keen you are on attaining VA Gold, I'd forfeit the lounge access this trip. Once you have VA Gold you'll have access to SQ lounges in BNE, SIN (Krisflyer Gold) and BKK in the future (as well as other SQ lounges in other cities/countries on VA or SQ marketed flights). If there is a long layover in SIN, you can always access the Ambassador Transit paid lounges in T2 or T3.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[williamsf1]

Hi RooAvery.

Just clarifying, assume you mean SQ (Singapore Airlines) for this flight? Someone else may be able to confirm better than I can, but as you're flying VA marketed on SQ metal, I don't believe you'll have any lounge access in BNE, SIN or BKK. I don't believe AB Gold will give you access to the SQ lounge or any VA partner lounge in BNE as you're flying SQ metal. Happy to be corrected if that's not the case.

Depending on the layover in SIN and how keen you are on attaining VA Gold, I'd forfeit the lounge access this trip. Once you have VA Gold you'll have access to SQ lounges in BNE, SIN (Krisflyer Gold) and BKK in the future (as well as other SQ lounges in other cities/countries on VA or SQ marketed flights). If there is a long layover in SIN, you can always access the Ambassador Transit paid lounges in T2 or T3.

Enjoy your trip!

SuzieQ68 is correct .. Your AB / EY /QF and VA silver will not get you any access to any lounges on a International booking VA*SQ

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Side track, why would SQ recognise QF, after all they are on the opposition to each other.
As of Feb 14, there is/are pay per use entry to lounges, but not airline linked.
Singapore airport, in itself caters for transits, they even have the hotel inside the terminal, have used it before, it does get booked out far in advance, they have also got showers you can use, just have to pay for towel and soap.
Google pay per use lounges Changi.
Oh, ps, by the way, even if you had *A PS, there is no entry to the KF lounge, that is only SG territory.

 

[a330j]

Perhaps slightly off topic, but I would recommend flying direct with SQ, not codeshare VA. There is no advantage other than bonus points if you have status with VA but plenty of disadvantages (covered in other posts).

 

[auriga]

Perhaps slightly off topic, but I would recommend flying direct with SQ, not codeshare VA. There is no advantage other than bonus points if you have status with VA but plenty of disadvantages (covered in other posts).

What is the advantage of flying direct with SQ rather than codeshare VA? Especially if VA is a little cheaper?

 

[Ausbt]

What is the advantage of flying direct with SQ rather than codeshare VA? Especially if VA is a little cheaper?

As it happens I was doing the maths on this today. Searching for SYD-SIN mid-August, SQ was running out circa $1,400 Y return for some reason yet VA codeshare was $900. Maybe it was my browser.

 

[Aus ATC]

What is the advantage of flying direct with SQ rather than codeshare VA? Especially if VA is a little cheaper?

You can often get good value SQ fares at "full economy" for VA status credits, whereas booking the same flight as a VA codeshare may only give you "discount economy" i.e half.

And as an SQ flight you have better chance of seat selection.

 

[a330j]

Seat selection booking with SQ is the main advantage, and having recently been allocated row 62 (ie the last row in an A330) on a VA codeshare, seat selection is a distinct advantage.

From my experience VA has tended to be more expensive although the example provided above show its always worth checking - that's quite a disparity. Just having a look myself SQ has flexi saver fares (which accrue full VA status credits) for around $950 rtn in August, so about $100 more than VA.

A number of comments here on AFF also suggest you may get treated better as an SQ passenger rather than codeshare. In addition, flying codeshare you can't upgrade to J using $ or points.

SQ had an offer (may still be on) where if you were transiting Changi on an SQ ticketed flight you were eligible for free "singapore $" to use at the stores in Changi Airport. These weren't available for codeshare passengers.

You do miss out on bonus VFF points if you book direct with SQ.

 

[kevinkhchan]

Apologies for hijacking the thread but I am looking at SYD-SIN-PEN and was initially considering SQ (over a significantly cheaper MH) in J. I was told today that I could possibly get VA for about the same price as SQ. I am currently Velocity PS with a flight booked in August to hopefully collect enough SCs to take me to SG.

I am still leaning to SQ but is it worth considering getting VA if it is about the same price? It appears that the general consensus is still SQ but just thought I'd put it out there. Cheers for answers and suggestion.

 

[dajop]

Apologies for hijacking the thread but I am looking at SYD-SIN-PEN and was initially considering SQ (over a significantly cheaper MH) in J. I was told today that I could possibly get VA for about the same price as SQ. I am currently Velocity PS with a flight booked in August to hopefully collect enough SCs to take me to SG.

I am still leaning to SQ but is it worth considering getting VA if it is about the same price? It appears that the general consensus is still SQ but just thought I'd put it out there. Cheers for answers and suggestion.

The status credit earn should be the same whether you book using VA or SQ code, so whichever you book will make no difference to status earn as you are in business class and there is only one status earn rate for business class.

The big advantage of booking VA is 50% bonus points as a Silver + earn at 2 points per mile vs 1.25 points per mile on SQ code, ie 2.5 vs 1.25 pts per mile, or an extra 10,700 pts on a return basis.

The only reasons to book SQ code would be for seat selection (although in business this perhaps isn't as important as in economy) or if you were planning to fly a lot on SQ in business (or first) over the next 12 months (spending ~$25K in fares in biz/first) and you would achieve PPS status (including star alliance gold) in which case you could credit miles to VA but you would accrue PPS status whilst doing so. But that's really only beneficial if you were doing this 5+ times a year.

 

[kevinkhchan]

The status credit earn should be the same whether you book using VA or SQ code, so whichever you book will make no difference to status earn as you are in business class and there is only one status earn rate for business class.

The big advantage of booking VA is 50% bonus points as a Silver + earn at 2 points per mile vs 1.25 points per mile on SQ code, ie 2.5 vs 1.25 pts per mile, or an extra 10,700 pts on a return basis.

The only reasons to book SQ code would be for seat selection (although in business this perhaps isn't as important as in economy) or if you were planning to fly a lot on SQ in business (or first) over the next 12 months (spending ~$25K in fares in biz/first) and you would achieve PPS status (including star alliance gold) in which case you could credit miles to VA but you would accrue PPS status whilst doing so. But that's really only beneficial if you were doing this 5+ times a year.

Thanks for the reply dajop. I don't think we will be doing that many flights these next couple of years. We are looking at going to HEL next March and haven't decided an itinerary but the questions for that will warrant an own thread. Looks like I'll go VA if the price is still similar.

 

[RooAvery]

Thank you all for your comments and advice. If I ever get this trip approved, I will let you know how it all goes.

 

[JohnK]

Seat selection booking with SQ is the main advantage, and having recently been allocated row 62 (ie the last row in an A330) on a VA codeshare, seat selection is a distinct advantage.

Huge advantage.

I am thinking of doing HKG-SIN-BKK in economy early September for no reason and I would be stressed if I did not know what seat I will be sitting for those flights.

Also thinking ahead for later in the year for fiancee to visit again and CNX-SIN-SYD would be much easier and seat selection would be very beneficial.

 

[Reise]

SuzieQ68 is correct .. Your AB / EY /QF and VA silver will not get you any access to any lounges on a International booking VA*SQ

I assume that is just for VA Silver - I though VA Gold flying VA code on SQ Tin will get you in the Lounge - Please tell me I have got this right as I am already booked.

 

[JohnK]

As a VA Gold booked on SQ flights HKG-SIN-BKK return in economy am I entitled to lounge access in those airports?

If yes does anyone knows which lounges at each airport. Flying in a couple of days time. Gold status expires tomorrow but should be valid for another month.

 

[a330j]

Pre-departure access to the following: HKG access is Silver Kris lounge, SIN is KrisFlyer Gold, BKK is Silver Kris lounge. All plus 1 guest.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

It's an old thread but a current question.

Flying SYD-SIN-AMS on SQ with wife and 2 under-12 kids later this year. I'm VA Gold, we're in W outbound and H back.

I understand that VA Gold gets me SQ lounge access at SIN and SYD with 1 guest (wife).... but the VA page says that kids can only be counted as your 1 guest.

Does anyone know if I will be likely to be able to get the kids in, even if we pay for them, like buying a kids' guest pass, or anything?

Thanks

 

[odysseus]

They're usually pretty strict by the rules with these. Also no paid access.

Normally you and one child could enter, and your wife and the other child would need to find another lounge that they have access to or can buy, or just wait in a public area.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

Bugger