SQ web booking puzzles

[cgichard]

1. I've read somewhere on this board that it is often better to book 2 one-way fares rather than a return. But when I put in a trial booking for just LHR-MEL, the price is shown in GBP rather than A$. Is there any way to change this to A$, both on the booking page and also when it's charged to one's CC?

2. When I click to select a particular class on my chosen flight on a trial booking, a lower amount than that on the page shows up with a minus sign in front of it for a brief moment in a sort of shadow box beside the selected fare at the top of the column and immediately disappears. What's that about?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

1. I've read somewhere on this board that it is often better to book 2 one-way fares rather than a return. But when I put in a trial booking for just LHR-MEL, the price is shown in GBP rather than A$. Is there any way to change this to A$, both on the booking page and also when it's charged to one's CC?

Buying two one-ways may make sense in some circumstances with award bookings, particularly if you want flexibility or think you might need to cancel one of the legs (but want to keep the other way).

Revenue fares for legacy carriers (ie not low cost) will almost always be cheaper to buy as a return.

If you are buying one way (award or revenue), the currency of the departing country is the one that usually applies (some exceptions for USD in some countries). You are essentially buying the ticket as if you were in that country. Some on line travel agencies may convert the price for you, and bill you in Aussie dollars, but airline sites will price it in local currency.

 

[cgichard]

Many thanks, MEL_Traveller, for the clear explanation. This was for a paid booking, not an award, and I was wanting to compare one-way prices for MEL-CDG and LHR-MEL. From what you say it would be better booked as a multi-city return, now that I've worked out how to search flights and prices for that. It's not initially obvious on the search page. I had thought it would pose a problem that I'm planning to go from France to the UK on the Eurostar and not by air, but it seems that's not so.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

1. I've read somewhere on this board that it is often better to book 2 one-way fares rather than a return. But when I put in a trial booking for just LHR-MEL, the price is shown in GBP rather than A$. Is there any way to change this to A$, both on the booking page and also when it's charged to one's CC?

Previously NO there was no way to pay in any currency apart from currency of dep port country - BUT - recently SQ have introduced a 'Change Currency Payment' facility to both Comm Tix and Rdpt Bookings:



The major currencies that you can choose to change to are: SGD, AUD, GBP, EUR, USD and JPY - this 'Change Currency Payment' facility will appear when you fill in your CC details ready to pay.

2. When I click to select a particular class on my chosen flight on a trial booking, a lower amount than that on the page shows up with a minus sign in front of it for a brief moment in a sort of shadow box beside the selected fare at the top of the column and immediately disappears. What's that about?

I really have no idea what this is that you speak of - don't you select the 'Class' before telling search engine to 'Search' for you?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Interesting CE. I just had a bit of a play around with it and it looks like a dynamic currency conversion rather than a direct payment in the chosen currency.

I entered in MEL-LHR in February which returned a fare of AUD1458.39. Using the 'select currency' to bill in GBP the price came to £899.15. The current mid-market would be charging £856.

The 899 represents an additional £43 charge over fee free credit cards, and a 5% currency conversion charge - still hefty over most banks in the 3.5-4% range.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I have never used it MEL - I always just pay in local currency - trying to pinch 'thrupence here' and 'thupence there' does my head in.