SQ metal booking using VA site - seat selection?

[Fiches Mouser]

That's another reason why we booked direct with SQ for our upcoming trip to Sweden. Our last few international trips (to the US with VA) have been in either Y+ or J - finances don't allow for either of those this time, so because we have to travel in Y, we wanted to be sure we could purchase preferred/exit row seats for at least the long sectors SIN-FRA-SIN. Thanks to the goldmine of information here at AFF , I knew we'd need to book with SQ in order to do this, as it wouldn't be an option if we'd booked through VA.

It's certainly preferable, but if you're after some creative routing to rack up the SCs or want to get the 50/75/100% points bonus, it's pretty hard to avoid booking through VA.

 

[Jurahn]

It's certainly preferable, but if you're after some creative routing to rack up the SCs or want to get the 50/75/100% points bonus, it's pretty hard to avoid booking through VA.

Yes, that's the problem - on this occasion though, the trip won't accrue enough SCs to requalify either of us anyway and the points bonus, whilst it would have been nice to get, isn't something that's usually a major consideration for us when booking trips, so we thought we might as well book direct with SQ this time and then get the remaining SCs and eligible sectors we need from a couple of domestic trips we've got planned later in the year.

 

[davidsilver]

I fly SQ frequently and this, along with Goldflyer lounge, is my biggest annoyance.

I find that if using the SQ app I just login with my SQ PNR and it opens up the limited seat selection that is available. I have booked directly with SQ previously and also found that advanced seat selection is quite poor, for some reason SQ like to keep seats blocked until T-96 (This is even as *A SG) so it's not just limited to the poor excuse of an "alliance/partnership" between VA & SQ

 

[awkwardpaws]

Just to update everyone, more seats have opened up via the SQ mobile app for me at T-96 (despite booking via VA website on a VA flight number)

I have chosen 82D for me, it shows up yellow on seatguru but I thought I should see whether the direct aisle access for me and my seatmate can be any good. The only other one I wouldve chosen was 72C (as I presume all the exit row are blocked off for paying Y Preferred Seats on SQ)..

Assuming this is the right SQ config (SQ232 // VA5510 ), the seatmap is below:



Thanks everyone for your help!

 

[Fiches Mouser]

I fly SQ frequently and this, along with Goldflyer lounge, is my biggest annoyance.

I find that if using the SQ app I just login with my SQ PNR and it opens up the limited seat selection that is available. I have booked directly with SQ previously and also found that advanced seat selection is quite poor, for some reason SQ like to keep seats blocked until T-96 (This is even as *A SG) so it's not just limited to the poor excuse of an "alliance/partnership" between VA & SQ

It's true, because even if you booked via SQ, some flights will still only open up a small handful of seats initially.

 

[Jurahn]

It's true, because even if you booked via SQ, some flights will still only open up a small handful of seats initially.

I found this with one of our flights during the booking process with SQ. I was able to select seats for 4 of our 6 flights (FRA-ARN return operated by Lufthansa, so unable to select those) - surprisingly good selection of seats for the sectors between PER-SIN-PER and was able to book exit row/preferred seats for the SIN-FRA sector, but very limited seating showing and all preferred seats were blocked out for FRA-SIN. Immediately after I'd completed the booking and received the itinerary, I went into the booking on the SQ website and checked the seats for that flight - a lot more seats had suddenly opened up, including the preferred seats which I was able to select and pay for, so I don't know what changed in the period of about 5-10 minutes or why those seats weren't available during the booking process.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

I found this with one of our flights during the booking process with SQ. I was able to select seats for 4 of our 6 flights (FRA-ARN return operated by Lufthansa, so unable to select those) - surprisingly good selection of seats for the sectors between PER-SIN-PER and was able to book exit row/preferred seats for the SIN-FRA sector, but very limited seating showing and all preferred seats were blocked out for FRA-SIN. Immediately after I'd completed the booking and received the itinerary, I went into the booking on the SQ website and checked the seats for that flight - a lot more seats had suddenly opened up, including the preferred seats which I was able to select and pay for, so I don't know what changed in the period of about 5-10 minutes or why those seats weren't available during the booking process.

There really is no rhyme or reason to it!

 

[vmile]

Bump. Anyone with recent experience ?

 

[awkwardpaws]

Bump. Anyone with recent experience ?

vmile - I recommend requesting for your SQ PNR, and then using the SQ app T-72/T-48 and it should work for you (it worked for me)

 

[davidsilver]

I just last week flew on VA ticket on SQ in J and was still not able to select my seat online. The SQ app works fine though with the SQ PNR.

For Y tickets it only has limited selection available until closer to departure, just need to keep an eye on it

 

[JohnK]

For Y tickets it only has limited selection available until closer to departure, just need to keep an eye on it

I have been thinking of booking SQ flights via VA website for November as it gives some nice connections in Australia such as BNE-MEL-SIN for extra SCs.

With limited seat selection I do not want to get stuck in a middle seat until T-72 hours. Might be too late by then.

No other workarounds?

 

[davidsilver]

You can use the SQ iphone app and choose from what limited seats will be available.

Even if you book via SQ they still only have limited options available. I have *A gold with SQ and I don't get any better seat selections

For some reason SQ like to keep seats blocked until checkin and I can't quite work out why. The only benefit of booking really with SQ is if you want to pay for extra leg room seats

 

[JohnK]

You can use the SQ iphone app and choose from what limited seats will be available.

Even if you book via SQ they still only have limited options available. I have *A gold with SQ and I don't get any better seat selections

For some reason SQ like to keep seats blocked until checkin and I can't quite work out why. The only benefit of booking really with SQ is if you want to pay for extra leg room seats

When I book with with SQ I am generally able to choose an aisle seat somewhere in the cabin. I don't care if the aisle seat is not forward aisle as long as I get aisle seat. The exception was SIN-MNL last week which only had 4-5 middle seats available so I paid for exit row aisle at time of booking.

If you are saying the same availability is there on the VA codeshare then I'd happily book knowing I have aisle seat in the bag.

 

[davidsilver]

I've never had an issue selecting an aisle seat in advance with a VA booking. I usually just select whichever aisle is showing and then might check it once or twice closer to departure for something more forward

 

[vmile]

Thank you all for your help.

I booked a few days ago, 2 tickets, VA codeshare SYD-BKK via SIN on SQ in whY flexi for a positioning flight at the end of this month.
Using you advice in this thread i.e. use the SQ mobile app, I now have seat reservations that I can live with, even if more open up at T-96, T-72, etc.

Two observations.

1. The seating availibility you see on ExpertFlyer is what is available on the SQ mobile app to select.

2. My VA Eticket, Itinerary,Receipts and Tax invoice showed that I did have a confirmed seat (60D) on the A380, and (51D) on the SIN-BKK flight, before I went anywhere near the SQ app.

My wife's VA Eticket, Itinerary,Receipts and Tax invoice showed no seat just 'Economy Check in Required'

The SQ mobile app let me select seats (from a limited choice) for both of us.

I am VA Plat, she VA Gold ????? I booked the tickets in my name?? Why did I get a reserved seat? And it was in the SQ system.

As an aside the VA velocity system would not let me log in, nor would the phone system recognise my membership number today.

But the CSA was excellent when I got to speak to her.

Again, thank you all.