No reason to fly Singapore Airlines as a VA Plat

[Markmat]

We were in Y

 

[Flywithd]

Flew to SIN in y the other day on SQ, we used the first class checkin then offered the standard express cards as well as business lounge access. Priority boarding worked well via the J line.

Theres no seat selection offered to VA.. Best to reassign seats when you checkin 48 hours ahead.

 

[lc_461]

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

I have noticed when flying on SQ it will not print any VA status on the boarding pass, whereas for a Star Gold it clearly says *G.
Perhaps the two computer systems have not yet meshed? It would explain the supposed poor seating availability as well as lack of recognition on board. In terms of lounge access /priority baggage etc, why not just wave around your VA Plat/Gold card to gain the listed benefits?

 

[Flywithd]

The SQ system can't see if the member is a SG or WP but it's printed when you checkin.... at least the checkin staff know that theres a partnership between SQ and VA. Flashing your SG or WP card at checkin and at the lounge also helps.

 

[Markmat]

not keen on flashing a card, I expect benefits, rather than want to demand them. Did ask for a seating change at check-in and basically was told there were no seats available, and that was the case when we got on the plane

 

[anat0l]

Flew to SIN in y the other day on SQ, we used the first class checkin then offered the standard express cards as well as business lounge access. Priority boarding worked well via the J line.

Theres no seat selection offered to VA.. Best to reassign seats when you checkin 48 hours ahead.

Must've been a quiet check-in at the premium area, or the staff don't care much (or just called you forward). Otherwise, I can't believe you used F check-in as a VA WP. Even a SQ KF Gold would (or should) get knocked back from F check-in unless they are flying F. Certainly as a *G the other day, I didn't dare try F check-in and went straight for the J line (as signposted).

J lounge access is a given, as is priority boarding with J (including SQ KF Gold and Star Gold).

Actually I was in MEL when I flew Y MEL/SIN using TK*G (could've used VA G as well but what the hell). When they called boarding they called for First and Business customers first. I stood up because I took Business to mean Business + Star Gold + other qualifying elites. Maybe they really only meant Business Class passengers. I wasn't knocked back, but it was awkward having that green striped boarding pass in a sea of blue, then boarding the 77W and walking through all of Business to get to my seat.

not keen on flashing a card, I expect benefits, rather than want to demand them. Did ask for a seating change at check-in and basically was told there were no seats available, and that was the case when we got on the plane

You have to flash the card somewhere, and often (especially in other lounges overseas) they can and may demand to see your qualifying membership card in addition to your boarding pass in order to grant access to lounges.

As for at check-in, again having the card helps and sometimes is demanded. (For example, I've pulled up to Star Alliance Gold desks at check-in, but before formalities even start with the passport, I've been asked to show my Star Alliance Gold status). After this, everything usually smooths out - priority baggage, priority security / immigration access (where applicable - not a gazetted benefit), extra baggage allowance, and so on. Sometimes the desk where you're entitled for priority check-in is a Business desk (or whatever) and hence as long as they verify you are eligible to use the desk, they pretty much mechanically grant you all the other benefits as if you were that class of service (i.e. no real reason why, beyond proving your eligibility, a card is needed to enable all other perks).

Note that preferential seating is not a gazetted benefit for VA Platinum (or Gold) on SQ. Mind you, it's not gazetted for Star Gold either, so as far as seating goes we can only take what we can get (or, in some cases, what you are prepared to pay a fee for)! From what I can tell from experience, entering my *G number on a booking with SQ makes little difference to the seat availability. If the flight is full, almost no chance, but if it isn't, the selection can loosen up closer to departure. Then, your best chance - if there is any - to get the best seat will be at the airport with a polite request to the agent.

 

[Flywithd]

To make myself clear, We were in the J line but got called over to the F counter as it was free, check in angel was a....angel!

We lined up in the J line for boarding as its got the *G sign as well as used for other elites... Don't know how the staff manage to determine our elite levels as its not indicated on the bp... Maybe a red or silver member should try it out

flashed both of my VA WP and TK *G cards at the lounge as it made the process easier for the desk agent. She seemed to be in a very good mood and ushered us to the left for the F lounge... But we went to the J lounge instead.


A nice tip for seating is if you have the *G status then put it into the loyalty box... Select your seats and then double check once its T48 ... Then you can change it back to VA via the mobile app.

Must've been a quiet check-in at the premium area, or the staff don't care much (or just called you forward). Otherwise, I can't believe you used F check-in as a VA WP. Even a SQ KF Gold would (or should) get knocked back from F check-in unless they are flying F. Certainly as a *G the other day, I didn't dare try F check-in and went straight for the J line (as signposted).

J lounge access is a given, as is priority boarding with J (including SQ KF Gold and Star Gold).

Actually I was in MEL when I flew Y MEL/SIN using TK*G (could've used VA G as well but what the hell). When they called boarding they called for First and Business customers first. I stood up because I took Business to mean Business + Star Gold + other qualifying elites. Maybe they really only meant Business Class passengers. I wasn't knocked back, but it was awkward having that green striped boarding pass in a sea of blue, then boarding the 77W and walking through all of Business to get to my seat.



You have to flash the card somewhere, and often (especially in other lounges overseas) they can and may demand to see your qualifying membership card in addition to your boarding pass in order to grant access to lounges.

As for at check-in, again having the card helps and sometimes is demanded. (For example, I've pulled up to Star Alliance Gold desks at check-in, but before formalities even start with the passport, I've been asked to show my Star Alliance Gold status). After this, everything usually smooths out - priority baggage, priority security / immigration access (where applicable - not a gazetted benefit), extra baggage allowance, and so on. Sometimes the desk where you're entitled for priority check-in is a Business desk (or whatever) and hence as long as they verify you are eligible to use the desk, they pretty much mechanically grant you all the other benefits as if you were that class of service (i.e. no real reason why, beyond proving your eligibility, a card is needed to enable all other perks).

Note that preferential seating is not a gazetted benefit for VA Platinum (or Gold) on SQ. Mind you, it's not gazetted for Star Gold either, so as far as seating goes we can only take what we can get (or, in some cases, what you are prepared to pay a fee for)! From what I can tell from experience, entering my *G number on a booking with SQ makes little difference to the seat availability. If the flight is full, almost no chance, but if it isn't, the selection can loosen up closer to departure. Then, your best chance - if there is any - to get the best seat will be at the airport with a polite request to the agent.

 

[roby]

Actually I was in MEL when I flew Y MEL/SIN using TK*G (could've used VA G as well but what the hell). When they called boarding they called for First and Business customers first. I stood up because I took Business to mean Business + Star Gold + other qualifying elites. Maybe they really only meant Business Class passengers. I wasn't knocked back, but it was awkward having that green striped boarding pass in a sea of blue, then boarding the 77W and walking through all of Business to get to my seat.

Actually I have noticed that SQ has changed their boarding procudures. They will now call First and Business first to use the blue line. They have changed Star Gold to the green economy line but it doesn't mean Star Gold has lost boarding priority. They will next call Star Gold and KrisFlyer Gold to use the green line before the rest of the pax.

 

[Flywithd]

Actually I have noticed that SQ has changed their boarding procudures. They will now call First and Business first to use the blue line. They have changed Star Gold to the green economy line but it doesn't mean Star Gold has lost boarding priority. They will next call Star Gold and KrisFlyer Gold to use the green line before the rest of the pax.

Mel the other day had 3 lines, seperate Y, J & *G then F! I like it that way as everyone lines up before the call anyway.

 

[Justinf]

So if I am a Velocity Gold member and flying Singapore airlines MEL-SIN-LHR, do I get to use all the gold benefits (including lounge access) at MEL, SIN and LHR?

 

[anat0l]

So if I am a Velocity Gold member and flying Singapore airlines MEL-SIN-LHR, do I get to use all the gold benefits (including lounge access) at MEL, SIN and LHR?

Yes, you get the gazetted benefits:

Priority Check-in
Additional checked baggage up to 15kg when travelling to other international destinations
Priority Boarding
Priority Baggage
Lounge Access

For lounge access at MEL and LHR, you have access to the SilverKris lounges (presumably only the Business Class ones); at SIN you have access to the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge. All of this presumes you are flying SQ Economy.

Have your Velocity membership card ready to present in all cases (check-in, lounge), and possibly to prompt the agent for your benefits.

 

[Danp]

another point to note was that not all SQ flights generate SC's for VA when booked via the VA site, found that out the hard way and dropped from Platinum to Gold because of it, not going to be flying with VA international again int he future

 

[Lowjhg]

Note that preferential seating is not a gazetted benefit for VA Platinum (or Gold) on SQ. Mind you, it's not gazetted for Star Gold either, so as far as seating goes we can only take what we can get (or, in some cases, what you are prepared to pay a fee for)! From what I can tell from experience, entering my *G number on a booking with SQ makes little difference to the seat availability. If the flight is full, almost no chance, but if it isn't, the selection can loosen up closer to departure. Then, your best chance - if there is any - to get the best seat will be at the airport with a polite request to the agent.

So i was looking at my bookings the other day. I was traveling with my sister who is a VA gold and I'm a A3*G. We both were on different PNR(s) but were on the same booking fare class (H) (purchased on singaporeair.com). I first entered my PNR to manage my own booking to select seat, and ended up with an aisle seat at the port-side of the plane (A380-841 lower deck, 3-4-3 seating arrangement). The middle and window seats were empty then. When i logged out of my PNR and did the same with my sister's PNR, the middle seat shows as occupied, but the window seat was empty. This shows that SQ gives higher priority to *G(s) than VA elites when it comes to seat selection such as seat blockage (taking into account if the plane is not full in cattle class).

So if I am a Velocity Gold member and flying Singapore airlines MEL-SIN-LHR, do I get to use all the gold benefits (including lounge access) at MEL, SIN and LHR?

If you're looking at accessing the SKL in LHR as an arrivals lounge you're out of luck, as SQ doesn't operate any arrivals lounge, with the exception of F BP holders or TPP/LPP members in any class arriving on SQ306/322, of which they can access the VS Revivals lounge without guest. If you are talking about ex LHR on SQ, then by all means the LHR SKL J section will be open to you with 1 guest allowance that must also be traveling with SQ.

 

[anat0l]

So i was looking at my bookings the other day. I was traveling with my sister who is a VA gold and I'm a A3*G. We both were on different PNR(s) but were on the same booking fare class (H) (purchased on singaporeair.com). I first entered my PNR to manage my own booking to select seat, and ended up with an aisle seat at the port-side of the plane (A380-841 lower deck, 3-4-3 seating arrangement). The middle and window seats were empty then. When i logged out of my PNR and did the same with my sister's PNR, the middle seat shows as occupied, but the window seat was empty. This shows that SQ gives higher priority to *G(s) than VA elites when it comes to seat selection such as seat blockage (taking into account if the plane is not full in cattle class).

What would be a better comparison is what seats were available to both of you had you wanted to shift about the entire cabin? Was it different or much the same?

Also, when did you select seats (i.e. well before 48 hours to departure, within etc.).

 

[Lowjhg]

What would be a better comparison is what seats were available to both of you had you wanted to shift about the entire cabin? Was it different or much the same?

Also, when did you select seats (i.e. well before 48 hours to departure, within etc.).

Yup i tried it thrice, and all 3 times it threw up same results. Once was 1 week before departure, the next was 49 hours before departure, and the last during online checkin. All 3 times yielded the same result, i.e. middle seat blocked for *G. I shifted from row(s) 54, to 56 then to 34.

 

[jmphoto]

I flew SYD-SIN in Y yesterday on SQ. Check In staff fully aware of VA benefits, gave express card and organised an Exit Row for me, which was appreciated on an overflowing plane. With the SQ Lounge closed was advised that some VA customers are receiving vouchers instead of access to the NZ Koru Lounge, but in my case was fine. Given how underwhelming that lounge is would probably be happy enough with a voucher.

Boarding seemed a bit of a mess, with dedicated lanes for J and F, but seemingly not status flyers. I asked if I could board via that path and was given the OK, but wasn't clear at all. The seat allocation is probably the only thing that let things down from my perspective - I snagged an Exit, but could have easily found myself in the middle seat up the back.

 

[jmphoto]

Got the flipside on the way back, middle seat, up the back. Gold Lounge is pitiful, to the point that I'll stick with EY for European flights. I can cope with no toilets or shower when I'm on the single-leg flight, but the quality of food, drinks, space and overall comfort is so lacking that I wouldn't even bother using it.