SQ *A Devaluation

[travelislife]

Bugger...

Award Tickets on Star Alliance airlines

Does remove the quirk where a Star Alliance redemption could be cheaper than an SQ redemption. I was planning to use this for Europe at only 95,000 each way in business class (128,250 Virgin points). But this will now go up to 105,000 each way (141,750 Virgin points). Again, bugger!

 

[Steady]

Is the $25 fee new (or returned)

 

[StevePER]

Also business class within South West Pacific up from 35k to 56k.

 

[Mattg]

I just noticed the upcoming changes to KrisFlyer redemptions on Star Alliance partner airlines. I guess it was only a matter of time, but disappointing nonetheless.

There has been a very neat little loophole with KrisFlyer for the past few months, whereby Star Alliance redemptions (any award including only Star Alliance airlines, or a mix of SQ/other Star Alliance) are cheaper than SQ awards on many routes. The upcoming changes basically make all the Star Alliance awards the same (higher) price as SQ awards. This actually results in some significant price increases on some routes.

For example:

• Australia-Europe increases from 190K to 210K miles in J, or from 265K to 296K miles in F
• Australia-NZ increases from 17.5K to 28K miles in J
• Australia-North America increases from 195K to 234K miles in J, and from 255K to 305K miles in F

On the plus side, SQ says that it will soon be possible to make partner airline bookings on their website.

Looks like I will be making a few more Star Alliance redemptions between now and 7 December!

 

[Haplo]

However it would be interesting to see if they waive YQ in the same way as their own flight, which was the justification for the higher points on their own metal.

 

[Mattg]

However it would be interesting to see if they waive YQ in the same way as their own flight, which was the justification for the higher points on their own metal.

I would say this is extremely unlikely...

 

[tizey]

Dang, and just before I would have been able to book Christmas 2018 flights!

Anyone reckon its worth a punt to book a *A flight at the reduced rates pre-7 December, and then look to change the dates when the dates open up?

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Dang, and just before I would have been able to book Christmas 2018 flights!

Anyone reckon its worth a punt to book a *A flight at the reduced rates pre-7 December, and then look to change the dates when the dates open up?

Other programmes basically will recalc under the new rates.

 

[daft009]

Not having to call them for partner bookings is a huge win for me.
Hopefully all partners are included in the new search

 

[jetpack]

Maybe their new partner booking engine might spit out some interesting routings.

 

[Glider_]

I was a bit miffed to read that now you also have a $25USD/2500 point penalty for call centre assistance. Last devaluation removed the 15% discount for web-only transactions and now they want to charge extra again now for the call centre.

 

[daft009]

I was a bit miffed to read that now you also have a $25USD/2500 point penalty for call centre assistance. Last devaluation removed the 15% discount for web-only transactions and now they want to charge extra again now for the call centre.

I'm happy about the 15% as it reduced the cash component significantly

 

[Glider_]

I'm happy about the 15% as it reduced the cash component significantly

Different strokes for different folks... for me SQ points are hard to come by so the 15% increase was an upset.

 

[travelislife]

Quick question to the brains trust. Can you get a stopover on a oneway *A award? I know you can pay the USD$100 to do it on a one way SQ award but wasn’t sure with *A?

 

[Mattg]

Quick question to the brains trust. Can you get a stopover on a oneway *A award? I know you can pay the USD$100 to do it on a one way SQ award but wasn’t sure with *A?

That's a good question. The KrisFlyer terms & conditions specifically say that complimentary stopovers are not permitted on one-way Star Alliance award bookings. But it doesn't say anything about paying for a stopover. My gut feeling is that no, they wouldn't be allowed. But it may be worth calling KrisFlyer and asking them if you're interested.

 

[halogen]

Does this only affect *A mixed flights? Was planning a trip from PER - > CDG or SFO/JFK, would that count as a Star Alliance redemption? From my understanding it should be just a straight SQ booking and potentially unaffected by this second round of devaluations (twice in a year!)

 

[Mattg]

Does this only affect *A mixed flights? Was planning a trip from PER - > CDG or SFO/JFK, would that count as a Star Alliance redemption? From my understanding it should be just a straight SQ booking and potentially unaffected by this second round of devaluations (twice in a year!)

If the booking includes only SQ flights, it is not affected.

 

[travelislife]

Does this only affect *A mixed flights? Was planning a trip from PER - > CDG or SFO/JFK, would that count as a Star Alliance redemption? From my understanding it should be just a straight SQ booking and potentially unaffected by this second round of devaluations (twice in a year!)

It is totally up to you how you book it and on what airlines. If you have one leg on an airline other than SQ then it straight away is assessed under the *A tables.

 

[halogen]

Thanks for the quick response, will have to reassess the upcoming travel plans, unlike the first devaluation (where there was a slight benefit due to lesser cash costs) this seems to be pretty negative overall

 

[coolkid101]

That's a good question. The KrisFlyer terms & conditions specifically say that complimentary stopovers are not permitted on one-way Star Alliance award bookings. But it doesn't say anything about paying for a stopover. My gut feeling is that no, they wouldn't be allowed. But it may be worth calling KrisFlyer and asking them if you're interested.

Been there many times, it's a no go. System picks it up and prices it as separate awards. The sq star alliance award chart also explicitly says "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..."