SIA redemption September 2020 - change booking or cancel/rebook

[KarenD]

Hi all
We have flights to Europe in August/September 2020.

Flight out is Qatar J SYD - LHR booked via Qantas as a oneworld classic award.

Flight home is SIA Frankfurt - SYD in J booked with Krisflyer points.

At this stage it doesn't seem like we will be able to travel, so considering options to rebook for maybe May/June 2021. We are planning to wait another month or so and see what happens before we make our final decision though.

I looked at the SIA manage booking page and it seems to try to let us change our flight, but then tells us to contact our local Singapore office to process. It also doesn't allow us to change the departure city, and we are considering changing the flights slightly, so either way we would need to contact a local office.

Am I better off to:
a) try and call SIA and change the flight in May/June when the alternative flight we want is available to book?
OR
b) Cancel the flight and get the points reinstated so we can book anything when we are ready? I'm concerned the points won't be reinstated in time, does anyone know how long it takes at the moment?

Keen to hear from anyone who has been through this process. Thanks everyone!

PS. We have enough QFF points to book the new flight without cancelling the current one, so our only issue is the Krisflyer points

 

[Oubline]

Hi all
We have flights to Europe in August/September 2020.

Flight out is Qatar J SYD - LHR booked via Qantas as a oneworld classic award.

Flight home is SIA Frankfurt - SYD in J booked with Krisflyer points.

At this stage it doesn't seem like we will be able to travel, so considering options to rebook for maybe May/June 2021. We are planning to wait another month or so and see what happens before we make our final decision though.

I looked at the SIA manage booking page and it seems to try to let us change our flight, but then tells us to contact our local Singapore office to process. It also doesn't allow us to change the departure city, and we are considering changing the flights slightly, so either way we would need to contact a local office.

Am I better off to:
a) try and call SIA and change the flight in May/June when the alternative flight we want is available to book?
OR
b) Cancel the flight and get the points reinstated so we can book anything when we are ready? I'm concerned the points won't be reinstated in time, does anyone know how long it takes at the moment?

Keen to hear from anyone who has been through this process. Thanks everyone!

PS. We have enough QFF points to book the new flight without cancelling the current one, so our only issue is the Krisflyer points

Singapore Airlines is only allowing free changes / cancellations for flights up until 30 June 2020, at the moment.

Travel Waiver Policy T&C | Covid-19 Info Centre

Terms and Conditions of Singapore Airlines’ Covid-19 Travel Waiver Policy. Click here to read on eligibility and more.

www.singaporeair.com

So I would probably hold off to see if they lengthen out that 30 June 2020 date to cover your flights, otherwise I think you'll be charged for the change.

 

[KarenD]

All good, cancelled yesterday and managed to rebook for Singapore and Japan in April 2021 (fingers crossed).

Probably will have a cancellation fee taken out of our refund, but i got the points back straight away so that's the main thing. Cancellation fee was only about $150ish from memory, but nothing has been charged to my card yet.

 

[daft009]

Singapore Airlines is only allowing free changes / cancellations for flights up until 30 June 2020, at the moment.

Travel Waiver Policy T&C | Covid-19 Info Centre

Terms and Conditions of Singapore Airlines’ Covid-19 Travel Waiver Policy. Click here to read on eligibility and more.

www.singaporeair.com

So I would probably hold off to see if they lengthen out that 30 June 2020 date to cover your flights, otherwise I think you'll be charged for the change.

That's what I'm waiting for.
My flights are on 1st July to Paris

 

[KarenD]

That's what I'm waiting for.
My flights are on 1st July to Paris

Are they redemption flights? Mine were in September (Frankfurt to Sydney). Just checked this morning and the refund for the taxes has arrived on my credit card and so far there hasn't been a cancellation fee charged. When I cancelled it did get "charged" as I got a notification from my credit card but then it never showed up on my transaction list.

 

[daft009]

yes my flights are award flights

 

[Oubline]

Are they redemption flights? Mine were in September (Frankfurt to Sydney). Just checked this morning and the refund for the taxes has arrived on my credit card and so far there hasn't been a cancellation fee charged. When I cancelled it did get "charged" as I got a notification from my credit card but then it never showed up on my transaction list.

Isn’t the fee attached to the reinstatement of the points though? Have the points been refunded yet?

 

[KarenD]

Isn’t the fee attached to the reinstatement of the points though? Have the points been refunded yet?

Guess not, it's all been refunded, points and dollars

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Guess not, it's all been refunded, points and dollars

Did you do by phone or email?

Interesting since you flight was in Sept and you cancelled it and no them that they have not charged the redeposit fee. I think their latest advice was that they were waiving fees to the end of June.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Guess not, it's all been refunded, points and dollars

Did you do by phone or email?

Interesting since you flight was in Sept and you cancelled it rather than them that they have not charged the redeposit fee. I think their latest advice was that they were waiving fees to the end of June.



And have you actually got the points and $$ refunded?

I had them cancel flights in April, and while they agreed by email that they would refund both I am still waiting. Mind you they did indicate that it would take a while.

 

[KarenD]

Did you do by phone or email?

Interesting since you flight was in Sept and you cancelled it rather than them that they have not charged the redeposit fee. I think their latest advice was that they were waiving fees to the end of June.



And have you actually got the points and $$ refunded?

I had them cancel flights in April, and while they agreed by email that they would refund both I am still waiting. Mind you they did indicate that it would take a while.

I cancelled online by managing my booking. Cancelled it last Thursday.

Got the points back instantly and the refund of 220 euros for the taxes came though to my credit card today.

I was advised the taxes refund could take up to 20 weeks so not sure why mine came through so fast

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I cancelled online by managing my booking. Cancelled it last Thursday.

Got the points back instantly and the refund of 220 euros for the taxes came though to my credit card today.

I was advised the taxes refund could take up to 20 weeks so not sure why mine came through so fast

Thank you and good result for you.

But in my case despite the fact that my booking is in June when all fees are meant to be waived it shows a Re-deposit fee (See below).

So when you did yours, did it show that too? And if so they just did not deduct it?

2 ADULTS
232,000 miles + AUD 191.78 Total to be paidAUD 236.00

Refund and cost breakdown

• Fare232,000 miles
• Airport/Government taxesAUD 191.78
• Previously paid232,000 miles + AUD 191.78
• Fare (expired miles)0 miles
• 
  KrisFlyer miles that have expired at the time of this request connot be refunded
• Total to be refunded232,000 miles + AUD 191.78
• Re-deposit of miles feeAUD 236.00
• Total to be paidAUD 236.00

And my later July flight shows as :

Total to be refunded
2 ADULTS
232,000 miles + EUR 225.80Total to be paidEUR 140.00

Refund and cost breakdown

• Fare232,000 miles
• Airport/Government taxesEUR 225.80
• Previously paid232,000 miles + EUR 225.80
• Fare (expired miles)0 miles
• 
  KrisFlyer miles that have expired at the time of this request connot be refunded
• Total to be refunded232,000 miles + EUR 225.80
• Re-deposit of miles feeEUR 140.00

 

[KarenD]

Thank you and good result for you.

But in my case despite the fact that my booking is in June when all fees are meant to be waived it shows a Re-deposit fee (See below).

So when you did yours, did it show that too? And if so they just did not deduct it?

2 ADULTS
232,000 miles + AUD 191.78 Total to be paidAUD 236.00

Refund and cost breakdown

• Fare232,000 miles
• Airport/Government taxesAUD 191.78
• Previously paid232,000 miles + AUD 191.78
• Fare (expired miles)0 miles
• 
  KrisFlyer miles that have expired at the time of this request connot be refunded
• Total to be refunded232,000 miles + AUD 191.78
• Re-deposit of miles feeAUD 236.00
• Total to be paidAUD 236.00

And my later July flight shows as :

Total to be refunded
2 ADULTS
232,000 miles + EUR 225.80Total to be paidEUR 140.00

Refund and cost breakdown

• Fare232,000 miles
• Airport/Government taxesEUR 225.80
• Previously paid232,000 miles + EUR 225.80
• Fare (expired miles)0 miles
• 
  KrisFlyer miles that have expired at the time of this request connot be refunded
• Total to be refunded232,000 miles + EUR 225.80
• Re-deposit of miles feeEUR 140.00

Yes same for me. It showed a fee and I put my credif card details in to pay the fee upon cancellation, and when I cancelled the fee did hit my credit card briefly but then it disappeared from my transaction history. Maybe that's how their system processes things, they have to charge the fee and then it gets immediately reversed?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Yes same for me. It showed a fee and I put my credif card details in to pay the fee upon cancellation, and when I cancelled the fee did hit my credit card briefly but then it disappeared from my transaction history. Maybe that's how their system processes things, they have to charge the fee and then it gets immediately reversed?

Well I have since cancelled my June redemption (I did not try my July one as I wanted see what would happen with the June one first) online and where SQ has stated that the redeposit fee would not be charged.

However it was, and furthermore it has now stopped showing as a pending transaction, and is now shown as an actual transaction. So I will now have to seek a refund.


My guess is that your cancellation not having it charged for a month that SQ has not stated redeposit fees would be charged was very lucky.


However the points did post back virtually instantaneously.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well I have since cancelled my June redemption (I did not try my July one as I wanted see what would happen with the June one first) online and where SQ has stated that the redeposit fee would not be charged.

However it was, and furthermore it has now stopped showing as a pending transaction, and is now shown as an actual transaction. So I will now have to seek a refund.


My guess is that your cancellation not having in charged fora month that SQ has not stated redeposit fees would be charged was very lucky.


However the points did post back virtually instantaneously.

Update:

1/ I have now called SQ and they will refund to me the $236 redeposit fee in this case. Though it will take a while.


2/ The CSR advised that for any other eligible changes (ie cancelling flights) to use the CV19 online form as otherwise the redeposit fee would be charged. Note I assume the email method that I had used for my April bookings would also still work (though note neither points nor fees have yet arrived back).

 

[KarenD]

As an update to my situation, it turns out it was a system error and I was supposed to be charged the fee. SIA called me to tell me and wanted me to call back to pay, but the call cut out. I'm not going to wait on hold for ours to pay a fee, so will see if they chase me up again

 

[lovetravellingoz]

As an update to my situation, it turns out it was a system error and I was supposed to be charged the fee. SIA called me to tell me and wanted me to call back to pay, but the call cut out. I'm not going to wait on hold for ours to pay a fee, so will see if they chase me up again

Thank you for the update. So for my July fight I will just wait till they extend the Travel Waiver to include it.

 

[KarenD]

Thank you for the update. So for my July fight I will just wait till they extend the Travel Waiver to include it.

Yes probably the best course of action. I just got lucky i guess, but I may have to pay the fee down the road...

 

[Toula92122]

Anyone wanting to cancel I would suggest that wait until the airline releases their cancellation. My redemption flight was book for mid July, first of June if I cancelled there was a cancellation fee with expired miles lost. A few day offer they sent out the email allowing me to cancel for no fee, a refund of taxes and the expired miles to be redeposited with a 2021 expiry date So think it's likely best to wait until you are 6 weeks out before trying to cancel

 

[jbman]

I have a booking for October and some of the points were set to expire between now and the flight date. Anyone know if they are extending refunded points or would I need to try and get a flight change instead or a refund?

cheers