No reason to fly Singapore Airlines as a VA Plat

[striking]

Well,

I am just on the last leg returning from a trip BNE-PVG via SIN. As a Velocity WP there is absolutely, no reason to fly SQ again.

1. There is no way to select seats, I even tried ringing SQ days before and even within 48 hours of the flight - no luck.
2. While I could use the business checkin lane, my request for an exit row seat was denied despite the checkin attendant confirming there was availability.
3. Lined up for priority boarding and was told this was only for Krisflyer Gold or PPS club members. I had to push back and pull out my velocity card and stand my ground.
4. Absolutely no recognition on flight what so ever. My Velocity numbers was printed on the ticket by there was no "Gold" or "Platinum" to alert anyone of the status levels for VA FF's.
5. Krisflyer Gold lounge is a waste of time, no toilets or showers, food selection is garbage and it is only saved by the free and easy to connect to Wifi.
6. All flights were extremely full so there is little chance of having a seat for your shadow.
7. Cannot book J upgrade seats
8. J Reward seats are deadly expensive
9. Refused Entry to the Lounge in Shanghai as I was not a member of any Star Alliance network (fortunately I could freshen up in the Priority Pass lounge).

Interested to here everyone else experience.

For me, this just cements my consideration to move from VA to QFF and the One World partners.

 

[Melburnian1]

If true, let';s hope that the VA equivalent of 'Red Roo' reads this and responds.

 

[rtyuiop]

It could certainly be improved, but you may have had bad luck - I've never had any issues with things like priority check in and boarding. Bear in mind SQ is a bit of an anomaly in general, they don't seem to treat their own KF golds as nice as top tier FFs on other airlines, they reserve that for the PPS club folks.

Having said that, VA does need to either fix a few things up or at least add some improvements (more long haul international flights on VA metal would be my preference!) or I'll be thinking about a possible switch back to OW too.

Edited to add: J rewards pricing on SQ flights via VFF bugs me too, it's pretty absurd...

 

[Melburnian1]

It could certainly be improved, but you may have had bad luck - I've never had any issues with things like priority check in and boarding. Bear in mind SQ is a bit of an anomaly in general, they don't seem to treat their own KF golds as nice as top tier FFs on other airlines, they reserve that for the PPS club folks.

Having said that, VA does need to either fix a few things up or at least add some improvements (more long haul international flights on VA metal would be my preference!) or I'll be thinking about a possible switch back to OW too.

The poorly designed VA Velocity website is not much help either. It can be impossible to find how many points are needed using SQ for some second tier destinations.

 

[straitman]

Irrespective of your decision re OW partners I have to say that most of your issues appear to be are SQ issues and not VA issues.

 

[rtyuiop]

Yes, but if one of VAs major partners isn't working out well for velocity fliers, that's a problem for VA...

 

[roby]

This is the problem with these non-aligned carriers such as Etihad. They can have as many partners as they like but when each of these partners sets different rules the benefits will be significantly reduced. I sympathise your experience in Shanghai but do you really expect the ground staff in Shanghai, presumbly contracted and employed by China Eastern, to know or care about a standalone agreement between SQ and VA, one of which doesn't even fly to Shanghai. How many customers will read the small print that lounge access on SQ is only available if the lounge is owned by SQ. In Shanghai, the Star Gold lounge is owned by China Eastern subsidiary Shanghai Airlines.

It's the same with VA partner NZ. Velocity Gold/Platinum was printed on the the priority boarding sign here in Sydney but on NZ service ex Shanghai, they will only allow Star Gold to board with Business pax even though as Velocity Gold/Platinum you are entitled. If you argued with the staff, they would tell you they had never heard of Virgin Australia. They would have never heard of say Aegean Airlines but the Star Gold logo on the Aegean card would make all the difference.

Perhaps it's time for VA to think about joining Star Alliance.

 

[AdMEL]

Irrespective of your decision re OW partners I have to say that most of your issues appear to be are SQ issues and not VA issues.

Yes, but if one of VAs major partners isn't working out well for velocity fliers, that's a problem for VA...

Whilst I don't know which of the services listed in the original post are benefits published by VA, I suspect a number would be, particularly those related to status. As for seat selection, whilst this may not be a published benefit (it may actually be a published negative), it is an expectation of a full service airline! And whilst some of these issues may be SQ's fault, as the marketing carrier, the buck stops with VA - in this situation you are a VA customer and have no come back on SQ, only on VA. Not a great partnership if your partner treats your customers badly.

In my observation, VA charge more than SQ for the same seat, whilst giving you less (e.g. Inability to select seats). The only advantages I see are status points bonus, sometimes status credits and if flying Flexi via PER, the potential to upgrade to J on VA's A330's. Lack of seat selection is a big detracting feature for me.

 

[EuroFlyer]

Well,

I am just on the last leg returning from a trip BNE-PVG via SIN. As a Velocity WP there is absolutely, no reason to fly SQ again.

1. There is no way to select seats, I even tried ringing SQ days before and even within 48 hours of the flight - no luck.
2. While I could use the business checkin lane, my request for an exit row seat was denied despite the checkin attendant confirming there was availability.
3. Lined up for priority boarding and was told this was only for Krisflyer Gold or PPS club members. I had to push back and pull out my velocity card and stand my ground.
4. Absolutely no recognition on flight what so ever. My Velocity numbers was printed on the ticket by there was no "Gold" or "Platinum" to alert anyone of the status levels for VA FF's.
5. Krisflyer Gold lounge is a waste of time, no toilets or showers, food selection is garbage and it is only saved by the free and easy to connect to Wifi.
6. All flights were extremely full so there is little chance of having a seat for your shadow.
7. Cannot book J upgrade seats
8. J Reward seats are deadly expensive
9. Refused Entry to the Lounge in Shanghai as I was not a member of any Star Alliance network (fortunately I could freshen up in the Priority Pass lounge).

Interested to here everyone else experience.

For me, this just cements my consideration to move from VA to QFF and the One World partners.

sorry to hear of your bad experience on SQ, after reading this wont be too fast to use them now.
Iv used Ethiad a few times and although there far from perfect (crews in non oz/abu dhabi ports dont know much) at least theres no hassle with lounges and baggage etc, plus the F lounge in Abu Dabhi is great !!

 

[777]

This is the problem with these non-aligned carriers such as Etihad.

Not it's not. It's a problem with SQ.

Etihad are actually much better and all your examples are actually about SQ and NZ.

EY have much better and more consistent recognition than SQ for VA plats in my experience.

 

[maninblack]

It's a problem with VA. They cut the deals with their various 'partners' and need to ensure that the recognition is given and that their premium flyers are getting some form of decent benefits. As a Velocity Platinum member I expect VA to look after my interests and deliver the product they are offering, even if it's a 3rd party ultimately providing it.

 

[roby]

Not it's not. It's a problem with SQ.

Etihad are actually much better and all your examples are actually about SQ and NZ.

EY have much better and more consistent recognition than SQ for VA plats in my experience.

NZ's problem is SQ's problem. That ultimately is VA's problem as the host program providing these benefits. As I explained, SQ use China Eastern as agent in Shanghai. They are trained to provide benefits to Star Gold but I doubt they will have been told about VA. EY has many partners with different sets of rules given to their elite members. Some provide lounge access, some only limit benefits to codeshare flights, some give additional baggage allowance, etc. Each one of them is different. That creates problems for check in agents. Agents are employees. They are not savy frequent flyers like you and me. I know you think it all comes down to training but experience tells me it is unrealistic to have them remember all the different rules. The best solution has been alliance. There is one set of rules. All they need to look for is the Star Gold logo.

 

[rtyuiop]

Etihad are actually much better and all your examples are actually about SQ and NZ.

This is the peril of all of us only having access to anecdotal evidence... I know I've been a bit down about my SQ experience as a VA status flyer, but they've actually been pretty good to me!

Counting only non-Australian or Singaporean ports (I've never had issues in AU or SG, I guess they see more VFF cards there than elsewhere), I've had no issues with lounge access or priority anything (bags, checkin, boarding) in DPS, LHR, or BLR - in fact, leaving Bangalore they keep giving me lounge access I'm not actually entitled to (it's the worst lounge I've ever seen, but it's the thought that counts!).

Danny

 

[777]

The key difference between SQ and EY is that EY provide lounge access at all their lounges because they have set it up that way. The issue is that SQ and NZ don't because they are part of an alliance and rely on their alliance partners. I'm not saying there aren't problems but "non-aligned carriers such as Etihad" aren't the ones that suffer from this particular problem.

 

[samh004]

2. While I could use the business checkin lane, my request for an exit row seat was denied despite the checkin attendant confirming there was availability.

That sounds very odd, that they'd confirm there were seats but not move you to them. Did they offer a cash price to move to them or was it simply a flat out no?

4. Absolutely no recognition on flight what so ever. My Velocity numbers was printed on the ticket by there was no "Gold" or "Platinum" to alert anyone of the status levels for VA FF's.

Is recognition on board a benefit though? And even if it is a published benefit, would it make that much more difference? I'm not sure what a fake friendly greeting would solve, unless you were hoping it also included the ability to request items from a higher cabin?

6. All flights were extremely full so there is little chance of having a seat for your shadow.

Surely this is just a sign that they receive good loads and are profitable. Would you prefer they didn't sell the seat next to yours so you could have extra room, but perhaps increase your fare to compensate for it?

7. Cannot book J upgrade seats

You would find the same problems if you were with Qantas and flying Cathay Pacific/Dragon Air (to PVG in your example, although you could fly direct with QF). Upgrades generally seem limited to the FFP matching the airline.

8. J Reward seats are deadly expensive

Again, J reward seats are often labelled as quite expensive on Qantas, compared to other carriers within the same alliance. I'm only brining this up as you say you're considering a move to QFF, but the other OneWorld partners might be a better bet (though no upgrades with points in that case).

9. Refused Entry to the Lounge in Shanghai as I was not a member of any Star Alliance network (fortunately I could freshen up in the Priority Pass lounge).

This could happen on many different airlines, potentially even Qantas, such as flying Fiji Airways, which can earn you SC/points but if you're not on the QF codeshare you don't get lounge access (although it's been a couple years and I could be slightly mistaken there).

All up, it sounds like VA WP doesn't offer you much on SQ, but in a similar situation with the Qantas FFP on a OneWorld or partner airline you may get similar results. You'll always get the most value from your FFP membership with the airline issuing it.

 

[maninblack]

This thread makes me think a bit of Starwood Gold. What are the actual benefits? There virtually are none and most of them like an 'enhanced room at check-in' simply never materialise. Sometimes loyalty programs are to be taken with the proverbial 'grain of salt'.

 

[Pumbaa]

This thread makes me think a bit of Starwood Gold. What are the actual benefits? There virtually are none and most of them like an 'enhanced room at check-in' simply never materialise. Sometimes loyalty programs are to be taken with the proverbial 'grain of salt'.

I think Starwood Gold isn't too bad. Free internet, and more importantly 50% bonus points on bookings!

 

[maninblack]

I think Starwood Gold isn't too bad. Free internet, and more importantly 50% bonus points on bookings!

Starwood Gold does not provide complimentary internet. http://www.starwoodhotels.com/en_US/Media/PDF/SPG/Member_Benefits/Member_Benefits_Guide_Gold.pdf

In fact it provides sweet F-A. Yes you get to pay them for a hotel room and you get a 50% bonus on points issued by them to keep staying in their hotels. If they issue the currency then what's it's value? It's a game that the 'house' stacks in their favor otherwise they wouldn't offer it. All loyalty programs are so designed but some are better or worse than others and some people will actually win a little.

 

[Joshua]

Starwood Gold does not provide complimentary internet. http://www.starwoodhotels.com/en_US/Media/PDF/SPG/Member_Benefits/Member_Benefits_Guide_Gold.pdf

In fact it provides sweet F-A. Yes you get to pay them for a hotel room and you get a 50% bonus on points issued by them to keep staying in their hotels. If they issue the currency then what's it's value? It's a game that the 'house' stacks in their favor otherwise they wouldn't offer it. All loyalty programs are so designed but are worse than others and some people will actually win.

SPG Gold you get to choose from a free gift, free drink, bonus points or free internet. Depending on your rate and the location, the free internet is a no-brainer.

If you're getting SPG gold 'free', then it's good. If you're earning it the hard way then yes the benefits are limited.

However I agree with the overall theme. VA's lack of alliance, lack of consistency of partner benefits, lack of global coverage of benefits (intra EU was non-existent) were just some of the reasons I quickly gave up on them. If you were predominantly flying domestically then sure VA WP is quite good, but for my patterns, 90%+ of my flights would be non-VA metal, meanwhile QF WP covers me 80-90% of the time. I'm happy to keep flying ad-hoc VA J domestically however, just care little about Velocity.

 

[Pumbaa]

Starwood Gold does not provide complimentary internet. http://www.starwoodhotels.com/en_US/Media/PDF/SPG/Member_Benefits/Member_Benefits_Guide_Gold.pdf

In fact it provides sweet F-A. Yes you get to pay them for a hotel room and you get a 50% bonus on points issued by them to keep staying in their hotels. If they issue the currency then what's it's value? It's a game that the 'house' stacks in their favor otherwise they wouldn't offer it. All loyalty programs are so designed but some are better or worse than others and some people will actually win a little.

I don't agree ... during promotion periods, you can get 6 points for every $1 US spent at their hotels. You can then transfer those points 1:1 to any FF program of your choice. Transfer in 20 000 lots, and you will get a 5000 bonus.

So basically, during a promo period, by spending $3333 on starwood hotels, and you will receive 25 000 points. Considering you can get from Perth - Melbourne / Sydney - Auckland in business class on Qantas metal through American Airlines for 17 500 points, I'll just keep staying at Starwood hotels, saving up my valuable SPG points thank you very much!