" o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

[BacchusMarsh]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

So this will be my strategy. I want to travel in August or September 2018 (the segments above in A380 R). I will book the flights for any available dates in March 2018. Then when August/September 2017 rolls around, I will request the date change to same destination and cabin class 2018. All I will pay is a small change fee.

The uncertainty as I see it stems from the fact that your ticket will only be valid through March 2018. So the date change might not be completely straightforward.

 

[isdnman]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Not going to work. SQ award tickets are valid one year from issue date. Not from first segment !

Interesting strategy. Thanks gold member and others.

I will discuss with my SO and see if I can get the 'ok' to try that strategy...

Perhaps it will be tricky moving two one way segments MEL-SIN-LHR//ZRH-SIN-MEL but worth a shot!

So this will be my strategy. I want to travel in August or September 2018 (the segments above in A380 R). I will book the flights for any available dates in March 2018. Then when August/September 2017 rolls around, I will request the date change to same destination and cabin class 2018. All I will pay is a small change fee.

 

[auriga]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Looks like the Star Alliance chart will be my good to with Singapore Airlines. Wonder if I can pay the $100 for a stopover on a 1 Way Star Alliance flight using Singapore with a partner airline.

Based on the second paragraph --> doesn't sound like it

The mileage required for one-way Star Alliance awards that includes at least one stopover will be calculated based
on each flight sector in the itinerary, unless otherwise
specified in our Terms and Conditions.

http://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/ppsclub_krisflyer/charts/StarAlliance_RoundTrip_Jul16.pdf

 

[lovetravellingoz]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Yep that was my experience and the way I got around the 3 year expiry of points to take a flight closer to 4.5 years after points earn (+6 months by extending, +11 by rebooking). However have no experience in regards to Gold Members comment regarding repricing. I've never had a ticket repriced but then again I'm not sure they would ever have needed to.

So just to be clear. You booked a reward ticket but as one can always book 11 months in advance how did the rebooking come into play. ie With the 4.5 years. You always have 3 years. The 6 months was by extending leaving 1 year. But as one can book an award up till just shy of a year out how did the rebooking come into play? Would it not be more like:
- 3 years normal point life
- 6 months points extension (3.5 years reached)
- Award booked for 11 months in advance (ie 4.5 years reached)
- Award booking rebooked for 11 months in advance = almost 5.5 years?

 

[Dannyism]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

The uncertainty as I see it stems from the fact that your ticket will only be valid through March 2018. So the date change might not be completely straightforward.

Not going to work. SQ award tickets are valid one year from issue date. Not from first segment !

Hi, thanks for your input, I do appreciate it.

However there seems to be a bit of conflicting info around. Can you please provide a link to your statement "SQ award tickets are valid one year from issue date".

I have had a look myself and all I can find is this, "11. An award ticket may be reissued, but only for travel by the same person and provided no part of the award ticket has been utilised. Additional KrisFlyer miles may be applicable. If the new journey requires fewer KrisFlyer miles, the excess cannot be refunded. The award ticket at the point of reissue must still be valid. There will be a reissue fee for each ticket. The reissued ticket must have the same expiry date as the original ticket and it must be for the same airline. However, if the date of the first flight on the reissued ticket is earlier than that of the original ticket, then the expiry date of the reissued ticket will be readjusted to the earlier date accordingly."

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/ppsclub_krisflyer/termsconditions-kf/

 

[Dannyism]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Hi, thanks for your input, I do appreciate it.

However there seems to be a bit of conflicting info around. Can you please provide a link to your statement "SQ award tickets are valid one year from issue date".

I have had a look myself and all I can find is this, "11. An award ticket may be reissued, but only for travel by the same person and provided no part of the award ticket has been utilised. Additional KrisFlyer miles may be applicable. If the new journey requires fewer KrisFlyer miles, the excess cannot be refunded. The award ticket at the point of reissue must still be valid. There will be a reissue fee for each ticket. The reissued ticket must have the same expiry date as the original ticket and it must be for the same airline. However, if the date of the first flight on the reissued ticket is earlier than that of the original ticket, then the expiry date of the reissued ticket will be readjusted to the earlier date accordingly."

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/ppsclub_krisflyer/termsconditions-kf/

Oh I found it, same link

19. All award tickets are valid for twelve months from the date of the first flight as ticketed, unless otherwise specified.

I interpret that to mean if I book a flight for March 2018 it will be valid for changes til March 2019

 

[BacchusMarsh]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Oh I found it, same link

19. All award tickets are valid for twelve months from the date of the first flight as ticketed, unless otherwise specified.

I interpret that to mean if I book a flight for March 2018 it will be valid for changes til March 2019

My only actual experience in this regard was trying to do an online date change, and I hit up against a 365-day wall.

What is in the rules and what can be achieved in practice are not always the same thing (there are people in Japan still flying QF JASAs, which should not technically be possible). Best you can do is try it and see, and argue your case if and when things don't work.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Hi, thanks for your input, I do appreciate it.

However there seems to be a bit of conflicting info around. Can you please provide a link to your statement "SQ award tickets are valid one year from issue date".

I have had a look myself and all I can find is this, "11. An award ticket may be reissued, but only for travel by the same person and provided no part of the award ticket has been utilised. Additional KrisFlyer miles may be applicable. If the new journey requires fewer KrisFlyer miles, the excess cannot be refunded. The award ticket at the point of reissue must still be valid. There will be a reissue fee for each ticket. The reissued ticket must have the same expiry date as the original ticket and it must be for the same airline. However, if the date of the first flight on the reissued ticket is earlier than that of the original ticket, then the expiry date of the reissued ticket will be readjusted to the earlier date accordingly."

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/ppsclub_krisflyer/termsconditions-kf/

Additional KrisFlyer miles may be applicable.

This could mean that of the point cost is different that you may need to pay the extra point cost. And in this case the new point cost would be higher.

However equally it may mean that as long as the class is not changed taht they will not check the points. However it does not expressly say and the point cost changing would not have been a consideration when the clause was written.

 

[dajop]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

My only actual experience in this regard was trying to do an online date change, and I hit up against a 365-day wall..

There are in fact two restrictions.

1) Ticket life
2) Reservations being open

So you book a flight for Mar 1 2018 - this means your ticket is valid until Mar 1 2019. However you can only move the flights to when reservations are open. So if you want to move it to say Feb 1 2019 you will have to wait until after mid Feb 2018 when reservations are open for Feb 2019.

 

[dajop]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Not going to work. SQ award tickets are valid one year from issue date. Not from first segment !

My experience and the T&C indicate validity is one year from first flight on the ticket. Not one year from date of issue, as it is with many airlines.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

There are in fact two restrictions.

1) Ticket life
2) Reservations being open

So you book a flight for Mar 1 2018 - this means your ticket is valid until Mar 1 2019. However you can only move the flights to when reservations are open. So if you want to move it to say Feb 1 2019 you will have to wait until after mid Feb 2018 when reservations are open for Feb 2019.

Sure. And what I'm saying is that when I went to change the date to say Mar 15 2018, the system wouldn't let me do that online, so I presumed that was because that date was more than a year after the date of ticketing.

 

[Dannyism]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

My only actual experience in this regard was trying to do an online date change, and I hit up against a 365-day wall.

What is in the rules and what can be achieved in practice are not always the same thing (there are people in Japan still flying QF JASAs, which should not technically be possible). Best you can do is try it and see, and argue your case if and when things don't work.

Additional KrisFlyer miles may be applicable.

This could mean that of the point cost is different that you may need to pay the extra point cost. And in this case the new point cost would be higher.

However equally it may mean that as long as the class is not changed taht they will not check the points. However it does not expressly say and the point cost changing would not have been a consideration when the clause was written.

You are all indeed correct, it does seem to be a 'wait and see' type affair....

Now I just need to familiarise myself with the award ticket cancellation terms and conditions so I have a backup plan !!!

 

[BacchusMarsh]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Just tried a date change beyond a year from the initial ticketing date on one of my existing bookings, and while it let me search dates, I ended up getting the following message. Of course, this is not to say that you might not have luck when you contact them.

 

[dajop]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Just tried a date change beyond a year from the initial ticketing date on one of my existing bookings, and while it let me search dates, I ended up getting the following message. Of course, this is not to say that you might not have luck when you contact them.

View attachment 92672

aaah, gold old SQ IT ...

 

[ninja-tim]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Looks like I need to start planning some holidays.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Now I just need to familiarise myself with the award ticket cancellation terms and conditions so I have a backup plan !!!

SQ is good. Points back and fees refunded.

Only a minor fee or $US 30.

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/us/ppsclub-krisflyer/forms-and-fees/service-fees/

 

[Dannyism]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

SQ is good. Points back and fees refunded.

Only a minor fee or $US 30.

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/us/ppsclub-krisflyer/forms-and-fees/service-fees/

Thanks, appreciate it.

It'll take six months but I'll keep the SQ forum updated on what happens.

 

[burmans]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Some interesting info here, any obvious ex Aus routes with this quirk?

Fly Singapore for Fewer Miles By Adding a Star Alliance Leg

 

[lovetravellingoz]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Some interesting info here, any obvious ex Aus routes with this quirk?

Fly Singapore for Fewer Miles By Adding a Star Alliance Leg

The problem is on the Australian leg the lack of a *A carrier that is of the same quality as SQ.

I have used Thai over the years when booking very late as they had availability when SQ did not (plus the *A chart used to be a fair bit cheaper before it too was enhanced).

Plus I have booked routing through Africa that SQ did not fly.

 

[dajop]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Some interesting info here, any obvious ex Aus routes with this quirk?

Fly Singapore for Fewer Miles By Adding a Star Alliance Leg

Anyone with knowledge of the SQ tables and how star alliance awards probably thought of this fairly quickly, however now that this loophole is all over the web, I wonder how long before SQ close it!