Singapore call centre wait list availability vs website

[Skrambled]

I am looking at a points trip for 2 x PAX from PER to KIX and returning from HND to Perth so I cannot book it online. When I search for the dates online separately, I see waitlists available for Saver fares on the dates I am looking at. When I click through online it shows me the points balance and cost for 2 PAX and let's me click through to the next screen to enter passport details.

When I called up tonight they say I'm only able to waitlist 1 PAX on these dates and there is not room for 2. Has anyone had this experience before? Does me searching for the dates online place any kind of reservation on the waitlist?

Thank you.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Shik if the web site shows ability to proceed with WL completion then do so - call ctr Agent may not quite have understood exactly what you wanted - there is absolutely no reason why you cannot WL 2 pax.

Did you call the SIN call ctr on 02 8228 1188? SQ have call ctrs in SIN, MNL, KUL and India (BOM I think) - but by far best results call the local SYD number I have listed and that takes you direct to SIN call ctr.

 

[Skrambled]

Shik if the web site shows ability to proceed with WL completion then do so - call ctr Agent may not quite have understood exactly what you wanted - there is absolutely no reason why you cannot WL 2 pax.

Did you call the SIN call ctr on 02 8228 1188? SQ have call ctrs in SIN, MNL, KUL and India (BOM I think) - but by far best results call the local SYD number I have listed and that takes you direct to SIN call ctr.

I called 13 10 11 but pretty sure I ended up in Singapore. The problem with the website is I have to do each leg of the trip as separate bookings rather than the one (open jaw). Will try again tonight.

 

[Ausbt]

So when you are waitlisted with SQ and the waitlist does not clear, what happens? Do they just slot you in Y or PE at the same points cost?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

So when you are waitlisted with SQ and the waitlist does not clear, what happens? Do they just slot you in Y or PE at the same points cost?

If your WL does not clear it disappears into wild blue yonder - no drop to Y or PE.

 

[dajop]

Do you need a stopover in SIN in either direction?

If not, you can simply book the itinerary online as two one-way awards. The only penalty for doing this (vs booking it as an open jaw), is an extra $30USD (or $15 USD if elite) per passenger cancellation fee if cancelling the whole journey.

If you have a stopover planned for in SIN in one direction, to take advantage of the free stopover in one direction on a saver award, then yes, you need to book over the phone.

 

[Skrambled]

If not, you can simply book the itinerary online as two one-way awards. The only penalty for doing this (vs booking it as an open jaw), is an extra $30USD (or $15 USD if elite) per passenger cancellation fee if cancelling the whole journey.

I was under the impression if I waitlist A to B and then C to D under one booking, it will either all get awarded or all rejected? I'm worried that if I do it as two separate bookings I might end up with a flight there but not home or vice versa.

Is this a correct understanding?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Is this a correct understanding?

100% correct.

 

[dajop]

I was under the impression if I waitlist A to B and then C to D under one booking, it will either all get awarded or all rejected? I'm worried that if I do it as two separate bookings I might end up with a flight there but not home or vice versa.

Is this a correct understanding?

Yes that is correct, that's where the $30 USD per passenger comes into it. If you do end up with one and not the other booking, it will cost you about $40AUD each to cancel the booking that was confirmed. A risk you may or may not want to take, but if you have no joy with waitlisting for 2 pax with the call centre it may be a risk worth taking.

Also how flexible are your entry and exit points? If wanting to maximise your chances of waitlist clearance, depending on your travel plans (rail pass, ultimate destinations etc) on the ground, worth considering doing several waitlists - looking at NGO as an alternate to KIX (if for example you plan visiting Kyoto, NGO is only extra 30 mins vs KIX) and NRT as alternate to HND. Of course this is moot if the PER/SIN sectors are the limiting factor.

 

[Skrambled]

Thanks everyone. Makes sense now. I tried booking the individual legs online for the days I wanted and it let me enter all the passenger information but then I got a generic error . We cannot process your request right now. Please try again later, or get in touch with your local Singapore Airlines office." . I guess that is why the call centre would not book it.

I booked the individual legs online departing a day later each and then called the call centre up and they added the return flights into my departure flight relatively painlessly.

Now the question is how much of a holiday can you plan around a waitlisted ticket!