SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[EuroKick]

Yes it’s normal. They don’t allow online seat selection/changes T-48, no idea why

You can call customer service and do it over the phone.

Thank you! Very baffling.

 

[wenglock.mok]

Thank you! Very baffling.

I think that might be because at that time, online check in opens.

In the backend, the flight has now come under airport control which means seating may no longer be controlled by the GDS (i.e. Manage Booking).

In my experience with QF, during this time window, whatever seat changes made in the "Manage Booking" function will no longer stick as OLCI may reflect seating that is completely different. Not sure about how this works with SQ as I have never needed to change my seats after OLCI opens.

 

[daft009]

I get the sense also that Australian routes are not the most disliked. The Indian routes combine very demanding passengers with short red eyes on the return.

Yeah I would agree. North Indians are very demanding. In a country of 1bil+ if you don't demand it won't happen in their books.

South seems a bit more civilised

 

[serfty]

I think that might be because at that time, online check in opens

No - it's 96 hours or more beforehand when this happens, a couple of days before online/auto check in opens.

 

[JohnK]

Yes it’s normal. They don’t allow online seat selection/changes T-48, no idea why

You can call customer service and do it over the phone.

I think any airline is the same as the flight usually comes under airport control at T-72 hours or online checkin at T-48 hours.

 

[serfty]

I think any airline is the same as the flight usually comes under airport control at T-72 hours or online checkin at T-48 hours.

No , this is something SQ do; I have learned to lock down seating a week before.

 

[JohnK]

No , this is something SQ do; I have learned to lock down seating a week before.

In my experience Qantas do it too. I have allocated seat outside of online checkin and when I went to do online checkin the seat allocation has disappeared.

We have SQ flight Monday night and I forgot to allocate seats. I have allocated seats for 3 of us Friday afternoon and looks to have stuck but we'll find out tomorrow night.

 

[EuroKick]

In my experience Qantas do it too. I have allocated seat outside of online checkin and when I went to do online checkin the seat allocation has disappeared.

We have SQ flight Monday night and I forgot to allocate seats. I have allocated seats for 3 of us Friday afternoon and looks to have stuck but we'll find out tomorrow night.

I’ve never seen a lock out of seat selection on any airline before. UA, VA or QF let you select right up to checkin

 

[Quickstatus]

I think any airline is the same

Why not lock in seats at time of booking?

 

[JohnK]

Why not lock in seats at time of booking?

Good question. Forgetfulness would be main reason.

 

[dajop]

I’ve never seen a lock out of seat selection on any airline before. UA, VA or QF let you select right up to checkin

If the flight is not full, seat selection on SQ can still be done during online checkin, just not through manage booking.

However, they do run a pre-allocation which means that for most flights (most seem to be running very full) it is all but impossible to allocate anything other than the dregs during OLCI.

 

[SYD]

I was spoilt for choice where to ask this question whether on a UA, VA or SQ thread but figured this might be best given it relates to an SQ operated flight.

I just booked 2x reward seats on SQ HKT-SIN in whY using UA miles. I have zip status with UA now so I put my VA FF (Gold) details in during booking. As an aside, I was surprised it let me do that (I know SQ is PITA with FF details on reward bookings).

During the booking process, UA let me select seats (well forward in the whY cabin) although they didn’t stick but I was able to go into UA MMB and try again and they stuck (plus I now see the SQ PNR).

Questions:
1. Is free whY seat selection normal on SQ in this scenario?
2. Or maybe my VA status (possibly because the VA-UA & SQ hookup) let me through?
3. I’m probably going to drop to VA Silver before I fly, will that impact anything?

Either myself or SYD+1 might fire off the UA status match before hand (A*G) to get lounge access etc. That might seem a waste, but we’re unlikely to be “going for Gold” in anger with UA anyway. That strategy worked a treat on Copa (probably the last time I used some residual UA miles).

Speaking of seat selection, I asked this question up thread but it got lost. Thought I’d try and bump it along.

 

[Quickstatus]

free whY seat selection normal on SQ in this scenario?

Was it a saver or advantage KF booking?

 

[SYD]

Was it a saver or advantage KF booking?

UA award - so I imagine it was “saver” bucket.

 

[serfty]

In my experience Qantas do it too. I have allocated seat outside of online checkin and when I went to do online checkin the seat allocation has disappeared.

This is different. Qantas generally do not lock down the ability to allocate seating online or via the app. What they do do is allocate/block seating for those who have not selected any making the seat map appear to fill up. You can generally still select seating from what is "left".

SQ simply completely block access to online seat selection from up to a week beforehand until check in opens.

 

[coyote25]

Hi everyone, quick question.

I have an upcoming SIA business class flight leaving from Melbourne on SQ208 at 18.25.

I’m been doing some research on the SilverKris lounge and it appears to be underwhelming.

Q: Is there any issue visiting the Air New Zealand Lounge instead of or even visiting both. Assuming I can as I’m flying business of a Star Alliance flight (SIA) but not sure if there is a local rule that I must use SilverKris lounge or can only use one lounge.

Appreciate insights including comparisons. Thanks.

 

[Mr H]

Hi everyone, quick question.

I have an upcoming SIA business class flight leaving from Melbourne on SQ208 at 18.25.

I’m been doing some research on the SilverKris lounge and it appears to be underwhelming.

Q: Is there any issue visiting the Air New Zealand Lounge instead of or even visiting both. Assuming I can as I’m flying business of a Star Alliance flight (SIA) but not sure if there is a local rule that I must use SilverKris lounge or can only use one lounge.

Appreciate insights including comparisons. Thanks.

You can use any Star Alliance Business Class Lounge and can travel freely between them, including going back in.

 

[coyote25]

You can use any Star Alliance Business Class Lounge and can travel freely between them, including going back in.

Excellent. Thanks for the quick response. As mostly Oneworld Alliance traveller (LTG QF) good chance to sample the greener side

 

[Quickstatus]

Q: Is there any issue visiting the Air New Zealand Lounge instead of or even visiting both.

AirNZ does not explicitly say access is available to passengers travelling on non AirNZ *A flights in J

However *A says the MEL AirNZ international lounge is available.

And of course the lounge dragons can deny access based on capacity which actually a vague catchall for any reason they want.

 

[boomy]

Just got back home after another great trip from LHR to MEL. I know we like to whinge sometimes on this forum (myself included) but while onboard I was thinking is there really another carrier who can provide such complete package in terms of hard and soft product? I doubt it. Oh and I was on the 777 this time, not the amazing 380. The service was flawless and food was great, even the eye fillet was properly cooked medium rare which is a rare sight (pun intended ) in the air.