Mel-Sin Upgrade using Velocity Points

[rattler]

Need some advice for this leg. I am currently Platinum with both Virgin and Qantas, and heavily use Qantas for all Int'l legs, and use VA for domestic. My travel this year has mainly been centered around Mel-Sin leg, which means I have already qualified for QF Platinum for next year. So want to use VA now for this leg.

I rang SQ for a status match, and they have given me gold. So my question is that which option shall I pick from below while booking, for a better chance to get an upgrade on economy flex fare:
- "Do I now book via SQ directly and provide my VA number as default for status credits. That way I rake the VA status credits, but being SQ gold will give me a good chance to ask for an upgrade"
- "Or I book via VA portal, and then get the SQ reference number and then ask for an upgrade using miles to SQ directly.

Or if I am dreaming, and there is no chance for upgrade, if i need VA status credits on this leg. I normally fly late Thursday or Friday over night back to Melbourne, that's why being a bit fussy around upgrade on this leg.

 

[HeavyElectricity]

You'll have to book direct with SQ for any upgrade options using Krisflyer miles (can't upgrade using velocity points directly, and can't upgrade at all from a codeshare).

After upgrading you could probably then swap the FF number on the booking to VA to earn the status credits/points prior to flying.

If you wanted/needed the qualifying sectors, you'd have to book with VA on a VA codeshare flight number.

 

[klm597]

I have successfully upgraded a flex Y SQ (direct) booking with Krisflyer miles (transferred from VA) once before.

This was an upgrade into a confirmable reward seat and not a waitlist however. VA status has no affect on waitlist upgrades with SQ but I assume SQ gold might help.

I swapped the FF number back to VA for the points and SC earn at the airport. The check-in agent couldn't do it (said it won't 'stick' and that it kept reverting to the Krisflyer number as I had used points to upgrade) but I had zero problems changing it and getting my boarding pass reprinted by the lounge attendant. Points and SC posted correctly.

 

[rattler]

Thanks - the swapping of FF number post upgrade makes sense. Will try that in the next trip. Also another question, Qantas needs around ~28K points to upgrade to J from economy flex, where as Singapore is showing potentially ~57K which is 1.3X the Velocity points as per this chart; am i reading this correctly ? https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/ppsclub_krisflyer/charts/SQMI_OneWayUpgradeCharts.pdf

 

[rattler]

In short, I am a big fan of VA on domestic sector ; and trying to figure out if I can use them for some Intl legs as well. Of course a massage from the Qantas First Spa before the flight from Mel/Syd is unbeatable, but a return flight on a SQ A350 upgraded effectively using VA points with VA status credits would be awesome!! Hehe may be I am being too greedy now!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

What I would do, if I was in your position, is to transfer all (my, in this case your) VFF miles (if you have any), to your SQ KF account (if you have one, if not, set one up, very easy), and then do the use points to go from premY booking, to get of SQ J.
Its in the payment process, ie, when you make your booking, you can pay using SQ KF miles in 900 miles steps to make the booking.
That is what my next aim is to do, with any booking with SQ, I have got about 2.5 years left before my SQ KF miles expire, so maybe the "bucket list" trip from Au to Japan, I would probably do that, booking premY on most sectors, and then use miles to part pay for J.
Argy bargy ("waste of using" points way, ie Points+Pay, to most), I agree, but I lie to tie in any J booking from the booking stage, and not take the upgrade chance, ie, raffle if there are any J spots/slots left over.
I think too that MEL - SIN overnight is a very sought after sector, so best of luck, in whch ever way you choose to do it.
I feel (from my last major SQ flight, MEL - WLG) that SQ look after their own pax more, ie, if you have booked the flight under their SQ flight number.