SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[Cruiser Elite]

We received invitations in ZRH for ZRH-SIN-PER with SIN-PER in J booked as a single F saver award.

Reference for all:

'You may refer to the following criterion listed for Suites and First Class passengers who are holding tickets that are eligible for the use of The Private Room (TPR). All sectors below are departure flights departing from Singapore.
1. First Class Codeshare ticket whereby the operating carrier is Singapore Airlines carrier (example OZ6782 SIN/ICN operated by SQ602)

2. Other airline ticket whereby the sector is on First Class closed on Singapore Airlines

3. Singapore Airlines Suites and First Class commercial ticket. First Class redemption ticket holders will also be able to use TPR

4. Access will be extended to inbound Suites passengers who have connecting flight from Singapore in Business Class on Singapore Airlines or SilkAir operated flights.

5. TPR invitation cards will also be issued to inbound Suites and First Class passengers with a connecting flight in First Class from Singapore on Singapore Airlines, regardless of the terminal of their connecting flight.

6. Passengers arriving in Singapore on Suites or First Class and transiting to Singapore Airlines or Silk Air in Business Class only, may also access TPR.

A formal invitation card will be presented to eligible passengers, departing/connecting to a Singapore Airlines flight departing from Terminal 3. Invitation card is presented at point of check-in, Terminal 3 First Class Check-in Reception.

The sentence "WE INVITE YOU TO THE PRIVATE ROOM T3 SKL" will appear on the boarding passes of eligible passengers, departing from Terminal 3 only.'

So there you go - so simple - could not be clearer - beats me why those silly Lounge Angels weren't all over this!

 

[Radio8tiv]

There ya go - that is exactly how it works - some dep ports such as CDG / SYD just disregard the fact that it part of the operational procedures to issue hand written TPR Invitations to ALL eligible pax - they have stock to produce as that is sent to all stations from SIN. You will get the response from some here that Invitation not worth it - but many pax do like that souvenir.

SIN F Check-in closely monitor ALL upcoming R / F bookings and any pax with greater then about 4 or 5hr layover will have an Invitation prepared for them just in case they do clear immig and then check-in again. I have also had to wait a min or 2 at F Check-in until Invitation was prepared - but it is really only a min or 2.

We just did SYD-SIN-LHR in suites and when at the gates asked about the invitation, which they seemed to know nothing about. I described what it would like from the information here and how it was handwritten and still drew a blank, however by the time we got to the SYD SKL lounge we were indeed handed our TPR invitations by the lounge angel without us asking for them. As a reference point we had a 12hr transit in SIN on our flights of sq222 and sq308

 

[Comoman]

At LHR and PER I always get mine at the SK lounge and not at check in.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

At LHR and PER I always get mine at the SK lounge and not at check in.

Diff many places - PEK always at check-in - PVG at gate - MNL at check-in - ZRH at check-in mostly - FRA who knows - sometimes checkin-in - MEL always at SKL

 

[umberloidster]

I'm sure that a couple of weeks back I was looking at a Krisflyer redemption MEL-SIN-IST-AGP on a combination of SQ and Turkish Air and the Singapore Air website was showing the whole lot bookable using Krisflyer miles.

Checking today though, the option to redeem Krisflyer points for *A partner flights is no longer displaying.

Am I going bonkers -- I know it's *always* been the case that partner flight redemptions had to be booked on the phone. But I'm stone cold sure that the option to book them online was there a couple of weeks back.

Anyone shed any light on this by any chance?

 

[cove]

Yes I booked my son online from Madrid to Perth and back on line with Turkish and SQ in business class to attend a wedding. That would have been about 4 months ago that I booked it.

 

[serfty]

I believe there are issues at the moment with some *A bookings across the alliance due to some airlines changing their fare bucket designations to accommodate Premium Economy.

Maybe that is the problem.

 

[cove]

The SQ site is best accessed off a computer rather than an iPad. I always regret using an iPad. Because I have a his and hers account I have to keep Mrscove’s mobile handy if I am using her Miles.
It took several calls to work out how to switch a redemption nominee. The form is a bit of a trick.

 

[daft009]

The form is a bit of a trick.

yes I found the form a bit tricky too.
so you only add the person you want to add/delete or fill in all nominees 100%?

 

[cove]

You put in all the names you want so when SQ do the update the one or more who are coming off are no longer on the list. You pay a fee and it will get done.
My son was a bit anxious because he wanted to book a trip to the UK with a new partner but I needed to create a spot for her in my redemption Nominees.
There is a 6 month rule and you cannot remove someone if they have a redemption booking on the account.
Finally there is a modest fee to get it processed.

 

[Ads22]

Reference for all:

'You may refer to the following criterion listed for Suites and First Class passengers who are holding tickets that are eligible for the use of The Private Room (TPR). All sectors below are departure flights departing from Singapore

Many thanks for the updates re: the TPR access rules and invitations info.

Will be taking my first F flight in June (extremely excited!) First flight will the the overnight SQ218. Would be grateful for any tips and general advice for this flight and others (flying to NRT and back for the trip).

Also what peoples experience is with accessing TPR for a shower/breakfast after this flight since it arrives at 0600 and will be the start of a stop over for a few days in Singapore for us. Any issues with leaving the bags on the carousel and picking them up later?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Many thanks for the updates re: the TPR access rules and invitations info.

Will be taking my first F flight in June (extremely excited!) First flight will the the overnight SQ218. Would be grateful for any tips and general advice for this flight and others (flying to NRT and back for the trip).

Also what peoples experience is with accessing TPR for a shower/breakfast after this flight since it arrives at 0600 and will be the start of a stop over for a few days in Singapore for us. Any issues with leaving the bags on the carousel and picking them up later?

No issues leaving the bags on the carousel. They will be removed after 'last bags' and stored securely at the left luggage counter which is adjacent to the carousels. Just remember to 'enter' Singapore through the terminal where you flight arrived if that is different to T3 (where TPR is located).

I can't think of any tips. The crew will make sure you don't miss out on anything.

 

[earlyriser]

Has anyone had success bidding for an upgrade from Y to Premium CBR - SIN? I see the minimum bid is $215 which seems worth a shot for an overnight flight.

 

[ninja-tim]

So in a sticky situation here and bit of advice needed.

Currently mid trip in Koh Samui. Have my flight tomorrow morning 28th Jan 9.50am USM-SIN in J, then 30th Jan SIN-MEL in F, Sq218. That's a married sector/mixed class redemption booking.

Unfortunate circumstances, daughter admitted to hospital with chest infection last night, have made it pretty much impossible to fly tomorrow morning and do no have exact date I can fly again. Dr needs to clear her to fly but has said maybe 1-2 days, so just booking blindly at this stage.

Trying to change date of USM-SIN for 29th as I see 4 seats available on MI 771 (12pm arr) and 3 seats available on MI 773 (3pm arr) so I can avoid No show fee. Operator can't see it and only flight (for USM-SIN) they can find saver for is on 30th which won't work with Sq 218 (11am dep). They can only waitlist the flights on 29th Jan, which I've done.

Anyways, if WL doesn't clear in the next 9hrs then I'll be charged a No show fee (compulsory) of $300 per passenger (2 adults, 1 inf, not sure if inf will get that charge....???) and also a change date fee of $25 per passenger. I can't cancel the flight to avoid the no show fee as it's technically "married" to the SIN-MEL flight. I was told by a different operator earlier on that I need to change flight up to 2-3 hrs before flight takes off otherwise No show fee applies, but then 2nd operator said once it hits 9.50am that's when the no show fee apply. Who is correct?

The operator wasn't clear on my question of: Can I No-show my 28th Jan flight, book a new ticket for 29th Jan as I can see availability and they can't, then resume my original ticket for SIN-MEL F.

Really annoying how operators have different view of redemption availability and how website still can't do mixed class redemption bookings & changes.

Also anyone with experience with travel insurance claims on cancelled/changing of Redemption flights? I'm with Amex plat travel insurance (Chubb Travel insurance)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Frustrating. I can't seem to find anything about the 2 hour rule. However, maybe the second agent is just being practical?

Come 0950 you will be a no-show for the flight and the additional fees will kick in. But if you want to avoid that no-show you'll need to re-ticket and have everything sorted before that time. So advising you'd need to do that a couple hours before makes sense.

In relation to your insurnace, a very quick reading of the policy seems to show the following:

https://www.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/au/benefits/Platinum/Insurance17July2018.pdf

Cover 1.

In the event of Travel Disruption In the event of Travel Disruption, We will pay:
(a) non-refundable deposits;
(b) pre-paid excursion costs;
(c) travel agents’ commission, which is limited to $750 or 15%, whichever is the lesser;
(d) unused travel and accommodation costs that You have paid or are contractually obliged to pay;
(e) any other reasonable additional expenses incurred limited to $5,000;
(f) the retail price for any ticket (or part thereof) of a Licensed Airplane, Ship or Bus ticket purchased using American Express Membership Rewards or similar reward points or Travel Benefit if that ticket is subsequently cancelled as a result of Travel Disruption and the loss of such points cannot be recovered from any other source;
(g) up to $30,000​

So they will pay you the retail value if you can't get the points back, but it seems you will get a refund of the points from SQ so that may not apply.

Your travel insurance might however arrange for tickets to get you back back home anyway. I would contact them to ask what they advise.

Someone else may be able to advise on the issue of a no-show for the first sector and trying to resume travel on the remaining SIN-MEL, but I have a feeling that a no-show will auto-cancel the remaining sectors. That will happen at 0950. You'd probably want to have arrangements in place to keep those tickets active before that deadline.

 

[ninja-tim]

In relation to your insurnace, a very quick reading of the policy seems to show the following:

https://www.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/au/benefits/Platinum/Insurance17July2018.pdf

Cover 1.

In the event of Travel Disruption In the event of Travel Disruption, We will pay:
(a) non-refundable deposits;
(b) pre-paid excursion costs;
(c) travel agents’ commission, which is limited to $750 or 15%, whichever is the lesser;
(d) unused travel and accommodation costs that You have paid or are contractually obliged to pay;
(e) any other reasonable additional expenses incurred limited to $5,000;
(f) the retail price for any ticket (or part thereof) of a Licensed Airplane, Ship or Bus ticket purchased using American Express Membership Rewards or similar reward points or Travel Benefit if that ticket is subsequently cancelled as a result of Travel Disruption and the loss of such points cannot be recovered from any other source;
(g) up to $30,000​

So they will pay you the retail value if you can't get the points back, but it seems you will get a refund of the points from SQ so that may not apply.

Your travel insurance might however arrange for tickets to get you back back home anyway. I would contact them to ask what they advise.

Thanks. Forgot about this part.

Hopefully insurance will cover the no show fees and change fee.

The travel insurance agent also mentioned I may not have met the activation requirements of my policy. For some reason, I always had the understanding that having the card qualifies me for the travel insurance policy regardless if I use the card to purchase flights of hotels or no not. However they required information about my flights only, not hotels. They want proof (itinerary, receipt and CC statement ) I paid for flights. Used the card to pay for flight taxes, infant fare and hotels so will have to re-read the policy in the morning to check if I do qualify for the policy or not

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It looks like the following need to be satisfied to effect cover under the card:

Cover is effective for each Trip when:

(a) You pay the full fare for a return Trip on Your American Express Platinum Card; or
(b) You pay using American Express Membership Rewards points, frequent flyer points; or
(c) You use Your Travel Benefit.

The Trip must be a return Trip and commence and end in Your Country of Residence.

Cover is not activated until a return ticket has been purchased.

Important: One-way Trips are not covered.
​

It is confusing though - (b) could mean several things. Do you have to use AMEX reward points? Or Can if be any FF points? And if any FF points do you have to pay the rest of the fees and charges on AMEX?

 

[daft009]

surely (b) would cover him.
perhaps he might need to prove he transferred amex points over to the FF program and then booked.

the policy was on my list of things to read as well for my july '19 trip. looks like I was incorrectly assuming that hotel bookings would also qualify us, guess not!
again, (b) should qualify me

 

[MEL_Traveller]

surely (b) would cover him.
perhaps he might need to prove he transferred amex points over to the FF program and then booked.

the policy was on my list of things to read as well for my july '19 trip. looks like I was incorrectly assuming that hotel bookings would also qualify us, guess not!
again, (b) should qualify me

Different policies have different eligibility. There’s at least one bank CC insurance that gives coverage if you use FF points, but only if those FF points were transferred originally from the bank’s own points scheme.

The wording of the AMEX criteria is not exactly clear, but in the event of any ambiguity I think the law requires it to be read in favour of the card holder... so it seems any FF points will do?

But i haven’t read the rest of the policy to see if there are any exclusions.

I like ANZ CC insurance because it is so simple... just $250 of any spend, even taxes and charges, and cover kicks in. No need to worry about how the ticket is paid.

 

[ninja-tim]

Oh thanks for finding that for me MT. Yeah I used Sq miles (transferred from Amex points) to book. Used the amex card to for whatever taxes and fare I could.

Gee lucky I booked as a return trip and not 2 one ways.