No reason to fly Singapore Airlines as a VA Plat

[maninblack]

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.

NOTHING is free in this game my friend! It's all priced in.

 

[striking]

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.

Sorry, I don't agree with this comment. I was on a VA marketed flight, on a partner airline, if they are letting down the team down, then as VA's customer it IS VA's problem. Especially when they are trying to take the fight to Qantas.

 

[striking]

This frustrating part is that I could have either flown direct on Qantas SYD-PVG for around the same price, or chosen a different carrier for a little over half the price, but I didn't, I thought I would be a loyal Velocity member and use a Partner airline, I even booked through the VA website and I received no benefits at all. Just landed in Brisbane and didn't even get a priority tag on my bag, so I waited 20 minutes for the last load of bags to come...

 

[striking]

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?



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?



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?



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.



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).



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.

Recognition - No it isn't a benefit, and I don't care much for it, I was trying to illustrate that the crew simply had no idea... They spoke individually to their KrisFlyer FF's, but had no idea of the status of their partner FF's

No Shadow seat - I don't mind when the flight is full to be crammed in, but when there are seats free all over the plane (as in my case), then surely a Platinum FF can get one on a forward row?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

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.

Keep an eye out for any elite status match offers from *A Airlines eg Turkish Airlines that may recognise your VA Plat status.

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.

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

If you had a status matched *A membership then you can go into those alliance lounges under your own steam rather than crossing your fingers & hoping an MU checkin agent (who may even work for a contract ground handler) be familiar with the adhoc codeshare agreements of VA with various other airlines.

 

[grubbidok]

I agree with other posters that lack of alliance is severely hampering VA internationally. I've only just made Plat but am already considering going back to QFF due to lack of alliance. It doesn't matter how much VA try to spin it, their 'flexible' alliance strategy is simply a second-rate alternative to proper alliance membership, and every frequent flyer knows it.

 

[jsd]

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.

In fairness, if you were boarding an AirNZ flight in SYD it is 99% likely that you were flying trans-tasman where Priority Boarding is a benefit for VA Gold/Platinum guests.

However, Priority Boarding is NOT a benefit afforded to VA Gold/Platinum for flights which do not operate across the Tasman, therefore the staff were rightful in denying the benefit ex. PVG

From: Platinum Membership | Velocity Frequent Flyer

Air New Zealand (Non-Tasman - including NZ domestic and international**)

• Priority Check-in
• Priority Baggage
• Additional checked baggage of one piece up to 23kg^
• Lounge Access

 

[lovestotravel]

Too many alliances
Too many different benefits

 

[roby]

In fairness, if you were boarding an AirNZ flight in SYD it is 99% likely that you were flying trans-tasman where Priority Boarding is a benefit for VA Gold/Platinum guests.

However, Priority Boarding is NOT a benefit afforded to VA Gold/Platinum for flights which do not operate across the Tasman, therefore the staff were rightful in denying the benefit ex. PVG

From: Platinum Membership | Velocity Frequent Flyer

[/FONT]
[/LIST]

Good observation. However, of all the airline partners NZ non-Tasman flights are the only ones not offering Priority Boarding. It makes me wonder whether that was left out by mistake.

 

[moa999]

Too many alliances
Too many different benefits

Too any shareholders in different alliances with different objectives means this is unlikely to change.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Too many alliances
Too many different benefits

Too any shareholders in different alliances with different objectives means this is unlikely to change.

I must admit, I agree with lovestotravel. I might also add "too much time wasted trying to understand the various benefits and when they're applied and when they're not". I like simplicity, which I doubt is a word anyone would use to describe VAs int benefits. I used VA to fly to NZ recently (because it was simple), but for an upcoming OS trip, I'm effectively ignoring my VA status and looking to alternatives. I think QF certainly has the edge with int travel because of OW and that also has me seriously considering a migration.

Setting aside a *A SM for the moment, could a frequent int traveller just direct credits to the ANZ FFer programme to achieve *G to resolve some of those mentioned issues?

 

[anat0l]

I see SQ operate a SilverKris lounge in PVG. In which case you should've been granted access. Had it been a Star Alliance partner operated lounge or generic operated lounge, you would not have access. (But according to the benefits on the VFF website, you are entitled to access to SilverKris lounges outside of SIN).

Recognition - No it isn't a benefit, and I don't care much for it, I was trying to illustrate that the crew simply had no idea... They spoke individually to their KrisFlyer FF's, but had no idea of the status of their partner FF's

You would expect that SQ would talk to their KrisFlyer elites, and thus so before any partner elites if they ever did. In fact, if SQ knew what was good for them, they should be talking to, in order,

• PPS members
• KrisFlyer elites
• Star Alliance Golds
• Other partner elites

Certainly as a Star Alliance Gold I didn't get nor expected any kind of recognition or greeting on SQ when I flew them. The class I flew with them counted for much more than my status.

No Shadow seat - I don't mind when the flight is full to be crammed in, but when there are seats free all over the plane (as in my case), then surely a Platinum FF can get one on a forward row?

Surely you are joking, right?

You are a partner elite to SQ (and a non-Star Alliance partner for that matter) asking for an unwritten benefit which SQ hardly even gazette to their own member base, including their PPS members? And not only that but in a forward row (which is potentially a row which SQ may demand extra money for you to pre-select before check-in)?

I'm sure at check-in asking to see if the seat beside you could be blocked would suffice and a negative answer is the minimum to be expected and be content with.

Setting aside a *A SM for the moment, could a frequent int traveller just direct credits to the ANZ FFer programme to achieve *G to resolve some of those mentioned issues?

In a way, not really. The airlines within *A are free to extend benefits to partner *Gs (or *S's) as they see fit but they must offer at least the gazetted Star Alliance benefits. In many cases, those airlines do offer those benefits and no more.

The lounge access would be no issue because the SilverKris lounge in PVG would be *G registered, hence allowable for *G access. SQ have made "special" arrangements in SIN so only SQ J and F (and possibly *A J and F) flyers may access the SilverKris lounges in SIN - all partner elites travelling in Y must use the KrisFlyer Gold lounge.

Preferred seating is not a *A / *G benefit, so that is up to SQ what they want to do (and in my experience you don't get much love in this regard - take what you can get then negotiate at the airport if you want /can); and let's not even talk about this "shadow" benefit (which doesn't even exist in print!) or requesting exit rows in advance. I've had success as a *G requesting an exit row on SQ, but this is up to the agent who helps you at the airport (and also depends on whether they want to charge you for it, just like as if you had done it online).

As for selecting seats, I would've thought that if you can obtain SQ's reference for the booking (assuming you had not booked the ticket through SQ) then you can use their website to select seats. Certainly the recent two bookings (awards) I had with Avianca LM (*A partner) this is what I did. I don't know how VA-ticketed bookings on SQ work precisely in this fashion, so it could be a whole different ball game.

Some *A partners now participate in the Alliance Upgrade scheme where you can apply for an upgrade of your seat on a partner airline using your *A FF currency. Typically it's for flexible Y to J or J to F only.

Recognition on board is spotty for *Gs and probably would only happen if there were less KrisFlyer elites on board than can be counted on two hands. I certainly don't expect it flying SQ; in fact, I can't recall a single instance flying on *A where as a partner *G I was recognised for my status (perhaps NZ did it once, but that's all I can think of). Probably doesn't help that there are enough *Gs out there like the black plague, so recognition of your own elites is much more crucial.


If the OP considers moving from the VA alliance to QF + oneworld, I don't think that necessarily addresses all of the points raised by the OP.

 

[roby]

I see SQ operate a SilverKris lounge in PVG. In which case you should've been granted access. Had it been a Star Alliance partner operated lounge or generic operated lounge, you would not have access. (But according to the benefits on the VFF website, you are entitled to access to SilverKris lounges outside of SIN).

SQ closed their SilverKris lounge at PVG when they moved from T1 to T2 a few years ago. Now all Star carriers are using the Shanghai Airlines lounge even though Shanghai has left Star and moved to T1.

 

[anat0l]

SQ closed their SilverKris lounge at PVG when they moved from T1 to T2 a few years ago. Now all Star carriers are using the Shanghai Airlines lounge even though Shanghai has left Star and moved to T1.

Looks like my lazy search on the web turned up some out of date information! (And when I need information fast, navigating SQ's website is not my first choice!)

Looks like FM had some legacy contracts (or was happy to keep them after leaving *A!) for its lounge in PVG. In any case, given that it's not a SilverKris lounge, Velocity elites can't use it (unless, of course, they are flying SQ J or F).

The list of SilverKris lounges, and thus the lounges VFF elites have access to if they aren't flying SQ J or F, is given here: Worldwide SilverKris Lounges

 

[grubbidok]

I had the same issue flying SQ to CDG this year. Not having lounge access was rather underwhelming as a VA plat (considering VA keep talking up the 'special relationship' between it and SQ), whilst everyone in SQ and in real alliance airlines got to go in the partner lounge.

Mind you, it was probably only slightly less underwhelming than being allowed into the SQ LHR lounge.

If push comes to shove, although I'd like Platinum, it may be better for me to get Gold on VA domestically and shift all international to QF so I can actually get benefits overseas.

 

[FlashKiwi]

I have just come back from a quick BNE-PEK trip as a DJ WP on SQ

I had the choice to fly OW or VA codeshare as am both QF and DJ WP. I chose VA code-share mainly because I have already re-qualified QF, but very easy to maxamise SC earn - 260sc and 15000 miles for $1400 using the 'why fly direct when you can connect' moto via Melbourne. It was a $70 difference between discount and flexi - a no brainer for me. For me 3 VA code-share Asia flights (confirming actual booking class!) and a couple domestic discount Y will re-qualify Plat. Try that on QF or OW?

I got exit seats on 3 of the 4 flights. I did have to ask at the terminal for each sector (and stand on my tip toes to increase my height from 6'3 to 6'5 ). For some reason at MEL I was pointed to the First Class side of the KrisFlyer Lounge but retreated to the Business lounge because it had ice cream . I did get lounge access at PEK but think that was just luck and asking nicely for invitation - nothing special in the lounge and the airport has WIFI anyway. KrisFlyer Gold is waste of time in SIN, but to be honest lounge access is overrated in SIN - plenty of things to do.

No problem with using the J line for check-in or the priority line for boarding at all ports. That coupled with the APEC card makes big difference in PEK - both in and out bound. From plane door open to taxi was less then 15 min and that was at least 12 min of walking, and checking back in was very similar - 2 min in J check-in, straight through immigration VIP line and security and to lounge. I should say MEL was particular efficient this afternoon - no queues and managed to get an earlier VA flight to BNE.

It has been a while since I have been on SQ and it was the usual efficient but robotic service from SQ, but did enjoy the quality seat back entertainment.

You can get your SQ booking res from VA and log in through the SQ site, but can't actually select seats. Maybe this will change.......

Based on this experience, and particularly the easy SC and mileage earn, I will continue to use the VA code-share on SQ. The 'no pre-selected seating' and uncertainty on partner lounges/coughpy lounge in SIN is a minus but will take the chance.

 

[maninblack]

It has been a while since I have been on SQ and it was the usual efficient but robotic service from SQ, but did enjoy the quality seat back entertainment.

I used to think SQ was rather robotic until I started to fly CX a lot, yikes talk about personality

 

[justcallmeryan]

This frustrating part is that I could have either flown direct on Qantas SYD-PVG for around the same price, or chosen a different carrier for a little over half the price, but I didn't, I thought I would be a loyal Velocity member and use a Partner airline, I even booked through the VA website and I received no benefits at all. Just landed in Brisbane and didn't even get a priority tag on my bag, so I waited 20 minutes for the last load of bags to come...

I had this same experience earlier in the year. Chose to fly to PVG via SIN on SQ over the direct QF or China Eastern service as I don't have any status or points with them and am VA Platinum. To be honest, other than lounge access in SYD and SIN there was not much point in doing this (and both lounges are pretty ordinary). Next trip I will definitely be taking the direct service to save time. Am flying to CPT via SIN in December and certainly don't have my hopes up!!!

 

[Markmat]

Had similar experiences earlier this year. VA Platinum, flew to Singapore on SQ. Had none of the recognised benefits of Platinum except lounge access. We had poor seats, and no ability to choose before hand as well as no priority luggage

 

[cssaus]

Had similar experiences earlier this year. VA Platinum, flew to Singapore on SQ. Had none of the recognised benefits of Platinum except lounge access. We had poor seats, and no ability to choose before hand as well as no priority luggage

Presumably you were travelling in Y and not J.