SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[Kimster]

@Cruiser Elite are these the right ones. If yes, I have 10-12 each of these and would be happy to part with a few if anyone is keen.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Yep any of those will get you over the line - TBH staff on duty will basically have no clue about what flt you originated from - as long as you have an Express Path Card of any description you will waltz through.

 

[LinaLee]

Ive had one where they didn't take it back. But unfortunately cant rely on that enhancement

I’ll check if I have any left. Looks like I have a return via Melb coming up in early Nov.

 

[MathNerd]

Arriving into MEL yesterday on 237 no gates available so we had remote deplaning - it took ground staff 25mins to position the stairs to allow door opening - then ALL pax crammed onto 1 bus to transfer to terminal - by the time last couple wheelchair pax were assisted downstairs bus was bursting at seams - pax had to de-bus and clear seats to allow wheelchair pax onboard then bus to terminal.

Terminal was just a zoo inside - queues 20-30 deep waiting for immig ticket terminals - straight through gates once ticket in hand.

By this time luggage was on carousel together with another Chinese flight so carousel chockers but all luggage there due to delay deplaning /. immig etc. Then the lines trying exit - 100mts long - LUCKILY I still always carry an Express Path card from yesteryear which got me through in mins.

I called SQ MEL Station Mgmt this morn to make sure they had full story - they said they knew there was a short delay in stairs positioning but no idea it was 25mins - but they do now. MEL is currently so busy mid morn to midday lack of gate availability is common on most days for whichever carriers. SQ are not handing out Express Path Cards per se to pax but they have now asked SIN and other outstations to start printing EXPRESS @ MEL on bottom right of your BP - see below.

I don't blame SQ for the delays as is totally fault of MEL Mgmt - but still there seemed to be a distinct scarcity of SQ staffed advising / directing / assisting pax once on ground.

*TIP* - If you are still in possession of Express Path cards from the good ol' days then tuck one in your ticket wallet just in case.
View attachment 410823

My experience mirrors yours - also arrived in MEL on the morning of 27SEP on AI308 (the horror), and the queues, at every stage of the exit journey, were not just a zoo but an actual cattle carrier.

Fortunately I had 2 express path cards tucked away in my travel wallet from eons ago that were generously gifted by a friend a while back after he stopped flying for work, and I thanked my lucky stars that I had them. Still, exit at customs did take long (I had wooden items to declare), but it avoided the 200m long line to get to the point of the checking of the IPCs and that's where the card did it's thing.

Far out MEL needs to get its s$#t together, this can't keep going on.

And it also needs to stop cost cutting its SQ boarding passes (wtf is with premium pax getting plain white card flimsy paper BPs regardless of R/F/J/W/Y?). It reeks of LCC stunts. Rant over haha.

 

[Kimster]

My experience mirrors yours - also arrived in MEL on the morning of 27SEP on AI308 (the horror), and the queues, at every stage of the exit journey, were not just a zoo but an actual cattle carrier.

Fortunately I had 2 express path cards tucked away in my travel wallet from eons ago that were generously gifted by a friend a while back after he stopped flying for work, and I thanked my lucky stars that I had them. Still, exit at customs did take long (I had wooden items to declare), but it avoided the 200m long line to get to the point of the checking of the IPCs and that's where the card did it's thing.

Far out MEL needs to get its s$#t together, this can't keep going on.

And it also needs to stop cost cutting its SQ boarding passes (wtf is with premium pax getting plain white card BPs regardless of R/F/J/W/Y?). It reeks of LCC stunts. Rant over haha.

I've noticed the plain BP is more often for flights originating from Mel as opposed to other destinations. They are still dishing out the coloured SQ BP's at nearly all other airports.

 

[SOPOOR]

I've noticed the plain BP is more often than flights originating from Mel as opposed to other destinations. They are still dishing out the coloured SQ BP's at nearly all other airports.

Ive done maybe 3 or 4 total F and J flights from.melb and each time its been a flimsy boarding pass. My first time i was disappointed (first world.problems) but now i dont expect anything different as ive never seen a premium one

 

[MathNerd]

I've noticed the plain BP is more often for flights originating from Mel as opposed to other destinations. They are still dishing out the coloured SQ BP's at nearly all other airports.

Yep, it seems to be a MEL - only issue. I know SYD is doing the coloured ones (at least for J/F/R) and for BNE/PER/DRW I believe they are, and for ADL I'll find out in Jan. But it appears that only MEL has taken the amateur approach, which is terribly disappointing (especially for pax that only get to fly in premium classes every now and then rather than all the time).

It's not something I'd have expected SQ to have done (and for the record I've flown both TG and AI out of MEL as well, both way below in terms of perception and level of regard compared to SQ, and they've both had beautiful BPs (and that's in Y!!). Just something I've raised with SQ in feedback but have been ignored).

Ive done maybe 3 or 4 total F and J flights from.melb and each time its been a flimsy boarding pass. My first time i was disappointed (first world.problems) but now i dont expect anything different as ive never seen a premium one

Yeah exactly, it's not even cardstock, it's literally just a flimsy $2 shop ream of paper that the BP is printed on... Very LCC-like. For Y I'd understand, but if I paid full cash fares for J or F or R I'd be seriously disappointed.
SQ must know that people do keep BPs as souvenirs of important flights don't they?

On a similar note if the itinerary is connecting in SIN then the transfer desks can re print the onwards SIN - xx_ BP on the proper coloured BP stock (and recently it's been a pain to do this too), but if that flight is a smaller part of the journey than MEL - SIN, then it's just not the same. They won't reissue the MEL - SIN one.

Sorry for the rant, this has been a bugging issue ever since they dropped this.

@Cruiser Elite could you ask SQ MEL stn mgmt the next time you get on the blower to them? I'd ask you for the number but I feel that's restricted to confidential status so I won't. Cheers mate.

 

[Rangalad]

Yep, it seems to be a MEL - only issue. I know SYD is doing the coloured ones (at least for J/F/R) and for BNE/PER/DRW I believe they are, and for ADL I'll find out in Jan. But it appears that only MEL has taken the amateur approach, which is terribly disappointing (especially for pax that only get to fly in premium classes every now and then rather than all the time).

It's not something I'd have expected SQ to have done (and for the record I've flown both TG and AI out of MEL as well, both way below in terms of perception and level of regard compared to SQ, and they've both had beautiful BPs (and that's in Y!!). Just something I've raised with SQ in feedback but have been ignored).

Yeah exactly, it's not even cardstock, it's literally just a flimsy $2 shop ream of paper that the BP is printed on... Very LCC-like. For Y I'd understand, but if I paid full cash fares for J or F or R I'd be seriously disappointed.
SQ must know that people do keep BPs as souvenirs of important flights don't they?

On a similar note if the itinerary is connecting in SIN then the transfer desks can re print the onwards SIN - xx_ BP on the proper coloured BP stock (and recently it's been a pain to do this too), but if that flight is a smaller part of the journey than MEL - SIN, then it's just not the same. They won't reissue the MEL - SIN one.

Sorry for the rant, this has been a bugging issue ever since they dropped this.

@Cruiser Elite could you ask SQ MEL stn mgmt the next time you get on the blower to them? I'd ask you for the number but I feel that's restricted to confidential status so I won't. Cheers mate.

Was issued blue boarding passes last week ex ADL.

 

[Rangalad]

Yep, it seems to be a MEL - only issue. I know SYD is doing the coloured ones (at least for J/F/R) and for BNE/PER/DRW I believe they are, and for ADL I'll find out in Jan. But it appears that only MEL has taken the amateur approach, which is terribly disappointing (especially for pax that only get to fly in premium classes every now and then rather than all the time).

It's not something I'd have expected SQ to have done (and for the record I've flown both TG and AI out of MEL as well, both way below in terms of perception and level of regard compared to SQ, and they've both had beautiful BPs (and that's in Y!!). Just something I've raised with SQ in feedback but have been ignored).

Yeah exactly, it's not even cardstock, it's literally just a flimsy $2 shop ream of paper that the BP is printed on... Very LCC-like. For Y I'd understand, but if I paid full cash fares for J or F or R I'd be seriously disappointed.
SQ must know that people do keep BPs as souvenirs of important flights don't they?

On a similar note if the itinerary is connecting in SIN then the transfer desks can re print the onwards SIN - xx_ BP on the proper coloured BP stock (and recently it's been a pain to do this too), but if that flight is a smaller part of the journey than MEL - SIN, then it's just not the same. They won't reissue the MEL - SIN one.

Sorry for the rant, this has been a bugging issue ever since they dropped this.

@Cruiser Elite could you ask SQ MEL stn mgmt the next time you get on the blower to them? I'd ask you for the number but I feel that's restricted to confidential status so I won't. Cheers mate.

Were the boarding passes issued at the check in desk or via the self service check in kiosk?

 

[MathNerd]

Was issued blue boarding passes last week ex ADL.

That's excellent to hear. Cheers for the confirmation. That's one upside of having to reposition to ADL from MEL when there wasn't any availability ex-MEL.

Were the boarding passes issued at the check in desk or via the self service check in kiosk?

Both. I've tried both methods, the fact is - SQ just doesn't stock any "thick" card boarding pass stock at all, at MEL. Period. They literally only print BPs on that flimsy paper stock (see here for an example). Doesn't matter if you're flying in Y or J or F. I've stood in line at the J counter, watching F pax get issued the same cough.

So out of all the data points here, it appears MEL is the only station (at least in AU) that's cheaping out on this aspect, and none of the other ports are. I've always wondered why, even the check-in staff (granted they're contract staff from Menzies/Swissport/dnata) don't know, and even the SKL MEL staff don't know either.

I just want to get to the bottom of it, and hopefully have someone with decision making powers reverse the decision. Or at the very least, keep aside 10 or so card stock passes with the appropriate printer, so that pax that request it (which I certainly would if given the chance) will get it.

Frankly it's a shame on SQ's part (who are so brilliantly faultless in everything else), that being based in MEL gives you cough BPs which isn't the case any other departure station.

/rantover

 

[Askance]

That's excellent to hear. Cheers for the confirmation. That's one upside of having to reposition to ADL from MEL when there wasn't any availability ex-MEL.

Both. I've tried both methods, the fact is - SQ just doesn't stock any "thick" card boarding pass stock at all, at MEL. Period. They literally only print BPs on that flimsy paper stock (see here for an example). Doesn't matter if you're flying in Y or J or F. I've stood in line at the J counter, watching F pax get issued the same cough.

I flew out of ADL a couple of months ago and was surprised they had first class card stock even though SQ doesnt fly first out of ADL. They took the time to print my connecting flight on the right card. Dead opposite of MEL by the sound of it

 

[MathNerd]

I flew out of ADL a couple of months ago and was surprised they had first class card stock even though SQ doesnt fly first out of ADL. They took the time to print my connecting flight on the right card. Dead opposite of MEL by the sound of it

Exactly. I'd hazard a guess it'd be the same as any other AU departure station.

Someone, somewhere, maybe bean counters at SQ? MEL airport management? has decided that MEL needs to be downgraded in its offering - first it was the removal of dedicated check-in counters in favour of kiosks, and secondly the massive downgrade in BP quality. They must've thought "eh, let's make the change and nobody will care". Well maybe the majority of people won't care, but there's still us avgeeks (in the loosest sense of the word) who do, and to not acknowledge it is a travesty. If even ADL (who only get 78X or 350 (previously) metal) can have the proper card stock, and proper coloured ones at that to boot (and as @Askance stated, even stock for F which ADL has never had metal with that class), along with the appropriate printers for these, then something has gone very wrong somewhere.

Mrs MN thinks I'm making a mountain out of a mini molehill (and many on here might too, rightly so - we do still get to fly in J, experience the SQ service, get to our destination etc, all completely valid points I fully agree), but when you look forward to J flights as much as I do (even more than the destination/trip in some cases), the boarding pass is a critical element of it. Especially when your mileage earn is slow (due to constant devals from Amex, banks, SQ themselves, non-business spend, etc), so every J flight taken is a massive reward for the slog that it took to get there.

Might have to keep repositioning to ADL or SYD, if no availability ex-MEL (or the prices/times suit better). Can even visit friends in either place if schedules align. Absolutely shocking whoever did this. They should hang their heads in shame.
Disclaimer: I do keep every BP of every flight I've taken, and the flimsy BPs are an eyesore amongst all the correct card ones.

 

[muppet]

…
Mrs MN thinks I'm making a mountain out of a mini molehill…

Everyone is thinking it so I’ll be the bad guy. …. Best listen to the wife, I think we’ve exhausted the boarding pass print stock issue.

but when you look forward to J flights as much as I do (even more than the destination/trip in some cases), the boarding pass is a critical element of it.

It really isn’t.

Try to focus your attention on the huge amount of personal space compared to Y, the nicer meals and priority benefits afforded to you, that makes your travel significantly more comfortable than 70% of the plane. The BP paper contributes to none of those.

 

[MathNerd]

Everyone is thinking it so I’ll be the bad guy. …. Best listen to the wife, I think we’ve exhausted the boarding pass print stock issue.


It really isn’t.

Try to focus your attention on the huge amount of personal space compared to Y, the nicer meals and priority benefits afforded to you, that makes your travel significantly more comfortable than 70% of the plane. The BP paper contributes to none of those.

Thanks @muppet. It's just one of those things that is like a nagging fly that won't go away.
I just wanted to know why is it that MEL was singled out for this (not that I wish any of SYD/ADL/BNE/PER/DRW/CNS suffer the same fate) - it's been a conscious decision made by someone with power, somewhere. Just want an insight into that somehow.

In terms of the second point, yes I fully agree. At the end of the day, the comfort levels, service, and all ancillaries are a million times better than Y (and I'm saying this as someone who has to unfortunately fly Y a lot more than J, for reasons I've mentioned above).
It's just that, when you zoom out from all the noise, the fact is - if I had never ever flown J before, and was used to "nice" BPs from 'lesser' Airlines, and in Y at that too, and then I decided for a big occasion to splurge full retail on a SQ J/F ticket ex-MEL, rock up to MEL and get handed that piece of paper, I'd be pretty disappointed, not gonna lie. Wouldn't you?

Maybe I'll leave it there as clearly there's no will from anyone at SQ to change anything, but SQ just needs to know that they've done the wrong thing here.

Your points are all valid though, and all criticisms (positive/constructive/etc), I fully agree with. Sorry for wasting everyone's time on such a trivial issue!

 

[SOPOOR]

Thanks @muppet. It's just one of those things that is like a nagging fly that won't go away.
I just wanted to know why is it that MEL was singled out for this (not that I wish any of SYD/ADL/BNE/PER/DRW/CNS suffer the same fate) - it's been a conscious decision made by someone with power, somewhere. Just want an insight into that somehow.

In terms of the second point, yes I fully agree. At the end of the day, the comfort levels, service, and all ancillaries are a million times better than Y (and I'm saying this as someone who has to unfortunately fly Y a lot more than J, for reasons I've mentioned above).
It's just that, when you zoom out from all the noise, the fact is - if I had never ever flown J before, and was used to "nice" BPs from 'lesser' Airlines, and in Y at that too, and then I decided for a big occasion to splurge full retail on a SQ J/F ticket ex-MEL, rock up to MEL and get handed that piece of paper, I'd be pretty disappointed, not gonna lie. Wouldn't you?

Maybe I'll leave it there as clearly there's no will from anyone at SQ to change anything, but SQ just needs to know that they've done the wrong thing here.

Your points are all valid though, and all criticisms (positive/constructive/etc), I fully agree with. Sorry for wasting everyone's time on such a trivial issue!

A couple of years ago. On my first ever Sq premium flight, it was F. I mentioned on here about getting a thermal paper BP, and i was expecting something i could frame or laminate as a memory, i got criticised for it being a first world problem, but when other routes are getting a nice BP and you get a cheap one, isnt a nice feeling.
You just notice these things when you have expectations,

 

[MathNerd]

A couple of years ago. On my first ever Sq premium flight, it was F. I mentioned on here about getting a thermal paper BP, and i was expecting something i could frame or laminate as a memory, i for criticised for it being a first world problem, but when other routes are getting a nice BP and you get a cheap one, isnt a nice feeling.
You just notice these things when you have expectations,

100% @SOPOOR.
I think it's a matter of perspective - if you're in a position where work flies you everywhere or you've got a business where paying expenses means easy point earn organically, or whatever reason, then these things don't matter because you get to experience the comfort of J travel without much work needed to put into it.

But on the other end, when you do all you can to earn every single point possible from personal spend, and on a moderate income without any crazy large expenses, in the face of cough 3:1 transfer ratios from the likes of Amex etc, it's an absolute slog/marathon to collect enough points for your award redemptions. So you want the whole experience to be perfect. Which 99% of it is, but that BP issue is just... Yeah. You know what I mean. Sounds like you're in the same boat. I'd love to frame/archive my BPs someday but the plain ones just don't have that same "zing" to them you know what I mean.

Perspective.

 

[RB]

100% @SOPOOR.
I think it's a matter of perspective - if you're in a position where work flies you everywhere or you've got a business where paying expenses means easy point earn organically, or whatever reason, then these things don't matter because you get to experience the comfort of J travel without much work needed to put into it.

But on the other end, when you do all you can to earn every single point possible from personal spend, and on a moderate income without any crazy large expenses, in the face of cough 3:1 transfer ratios from the likes of Amex etc, it's an absolute slog/marathon to collect enough points for your award redemptions. So you want the whole experience to be perfect. Which 99% of it is, but that BP issue is just... Yeah. You know what I mean. Sounds like you're in the same boat. I'd love to frame/archive my BPs someday but the plain ones just don't have that same "zing" to them you know what I mean.

Perspective.

Sorry but I think the perspective is that only a very small % of flyers collect or worry about boarding passes

 

[60spud]

The Victorian lockdowns seem to have had a lasting effect on some people's mental state if all you can fill your day with is talking about boarding passes.