The Master SQ Guide (Krisflyer, Waitlists & Waitlists Clearing)

[ramboflyer]

I would like some comments or advice to see if I am on the right track to change my point earning strategy to KrisFlyer.

I have vented elsewhere in this forum about the associated costs incurred when booking recent QF award bookings to Europe return in 2019. Something around $3500 for 2 in J. After 20 years of loyalty to Qantas I have all but made up my mind to change and KrisFlyer is very appealing. I originally thought Velocity but have not seen or read anything that gets my attention. I am interested in international flights to direct my points to as I have enough with QF to do me domestically.

As has been noted elsewhere getting seats back to Australia from Europe with QFF points is hard and recently has become even harder as CX and EK seem to be releasing less seats in J. Forget QF for Bronze status. I just did dummy bookings on KrisFlyer for the same days as the flights I have booked with QF. There are plenty of options in J (business advantage, 150,000 miles) and in the return flights from LHR - SYD there are 12 different options, all on Singapore Airlines. And the fees etc are $1100 cheaper one way! I assume you have to book early to get the business saver fares.

So am I on the right track or have I missed something?

 

[hossein_au]

I would like some comments or advice to see if I am on the right track to change my point earning strategy to KrisFlyer.

I have vented elsewhere in this forum about the associated costs incurred when booking recent QF award bookings to Europe return in 2019. Something around $3500 for 2 in J. After 20 years of loyalty to Qantas I have all but made up my mind to change and KrisFlyer is very appealing. I originally thought Velocity but have not seen or read anything that gets my attention. I am interested in international flights to direct my points to as I have enough with QF to do me domestically.

As has been noted elsewhere getting seats back to Australia from Europe with QFF points is hard and recently has become even harder as CX and EK seem to be releasing less seats in J. Forget QF for Bronze status. I just did dummy bookings on KrisFlyer for the same days as the flights I have booked with QF. There are plenty of options in J (business advantage, 150,000 miles) and in the return flights from LHR - SYD there are 12 different options, all on Singapore Airlines. And the fees etc are $1100 cheaper one way! I assume you have to book early to get the business saver fares.

So am I on the right track or have I missed something?

I reckon each program has pros and cons (although QF's cons far outweigh its pros at this stage). My recent 2 bookings with QF are for flights to Europe originating from Hong Kong (lots of availability of EK J and F and only A$183 in taxes and fees for each passenger, return).

With VA starting to charge fuel surcharges soon, I think they are, unfortunately, are going down the same road QF started some years ago (and it is not a good road for customers).

SQ is pretty good, but they have started to limit rewards seats they release.

AA also is/was good, but with reduction in the number of rewards seats CX releases, there are now not a lot of "viable" options to and from Australia.

I personally have points in multiple programs and use them as I see fit; there is no one program that deserves 100% of my loyalty.

 

[SOPOOR]

i have booked suites on a380 for elderly relatives, I didnt know how to tell teh difference between New vs old suites on the seat allocation but since ive booked them all in the 8 seat suites, so it looks like they all got the old suites

oh well

 

[MEL_Traveller]

i have booked suites on a380 for elderly relatives, I didnt know how to tell teh difference between New vs old suites on the seat allocation but since ive booked them all in the 8 seat suites, so it looks like they all got the old suites

oh well

Old = 12 F seats, new = 6 F seats.

 

[SOPOOR]

Old = 12 F seats, new = 6 F seats.

oops, I stand corrected

the flights are Melb to Singapore, SIngapore to LHR,
CDG to Singapore, singapore to Melb

just double checked, all old suites or A777

bummer oh well, they will still be happy

 

[MEL_Traveller]

just double checked, all old suites or A777

bummer oh well, they will still be happy

many would argue the old suites are preferable to the new (other than a brief novelty factor for the new suites). So you have got them the best they can get!

 

[SOPOOR]

many would argue the old suites are preferable to the new (other than a brief novelty factor for the new suites). So you have got them the best they can get!

yes, I was pleasantly surprised when so many people said the old ones are better,
for soemthing to be older and so favourited, it must be damn good, or the new product that bad,
reviews say the new product is very good, so the old ones must be awesome,

I have yet to travel on the either, but from the photos, the old ones look damn ugly

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have yet to travel on the either, but from the photos, the old ones look damn ugly

At 35000 feet with ambient light coming in through half closed shades, spectacular views below, total privacy with a closed door, and a glass of Krug, they look pretty damn good

 

[SOPOOR]

At 35000 feet with ambient light coming in through half closed shades, spectacular views below, total privacy with a closed door, and a glass of Krug, they look pretty damn good

if I have the points aviaible, I will fly both, preferbly on consecutive flights for the experience
before I have multiple glasses of Krug and Dom though

after about 5-10 of them, nothing seems to matter, in fact, id probably be content in economy

 

[tharaka]

*A return - maximum miles?

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anyone aware of any maximum limit for *A return via Krisflyer redemption?

I know RTW has 35k miles limit from memory.. but it seems *A return is maximum 6 segments and 25k miles!!

 

[lonewolf]

I still dont quite get how the waitlist works, so when i apply for a waitlist, it sounds like the points arent deducted yet till the waitlist gets approved? At that point is it automatic in the sense of points redemption or do i then have to go in and approve the use of points for that waitlisted product.

If people are waitlisting multiple flights / seats, how do you ensure you dont double book or end up wasting points? I was looking at waitlisting on a couple of flights but basically if i dont get them within 2 months or 3 months of flying then i would rather just purchase another flight / seats as i dont want to wait till the last minute. Can I then just cancel my waitlist and do i lose anything if i cancel a waitlist?

 

[SponsorSFC]

You have to accept the waitlist before the deadline. It isn't automatic so no risk of losing points.

They should either clear or be cancelled at 2 weeks out from departure. They can clear at anytime before this though.

 

[lonewolf]

You have to accept the waitlist before the deadline. It isn't automatic so no risk of losing points.

They should either clear or be cancelled at 2 weeks out from departure. They can clear at anytime before this though.

Thanks for the clarification, thats a load of my mind. So it sounds quite safe for me to do the waitlist option and then a few months out i can revisit it. The other thing people were telling me is probably not as much point waitlisting First class seats etc as it would be very rare if they become available or someone cancels one of them?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the clarification, thats a load of my mind. So it sounds quite safe for me to do the waitlist option and then a few months out i can revisit it. The other thing people were telling me is probably not as much point waitlisting First class seats etc as it would be very rare if they become available or someone cancels one of them?

If you have nothing to lose for a waitlist, why wouldn’t you waitlist for first class? These may not clear until close to departure, but if you have already secured business class you have nothing to lose.

 

[lonewolf]

If you have nothing to lose for a waitlist, why wouldn’t you waitlist for first class? These may not clear until close to departure, but if you have already secured business class you have nothing to lose.

thats true. I hadnt thought of it that way.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Worth bearing in mind you need to have the points in your account both at the time of the waitlist, and of course, when it clears (if you choose to take it)

So you should do your waitlists first, then book the actual flight you want (confirmed). That way you can do multiple waitlists.

 

[SponsorSFC]

Thanks for the clarification, thats a load of my mind. So it sounds quite safe for me to do the waitlist option and then a few months out i can revisit it. The other thing people were telling me is probably not as much point waitlisting First class seats etc as it would be very rare if they become available or someone cancels one of them?

I would say that is poor advice.

I have had more than on F waitlist clear on SQ and as MEL has already stated you have nothing to lose.

 

[Finale]

I might need to waitlist F but have never done it before.

Are these correct?

- Waitlist F
- Book confirmed J
- if it clears, cancel J paying $75 fee
- Confirm F

I also read on TPG and they say we can call SQ to book a confirmed J and a pay phone booking fee then the agent can waitlist F and will deduct additional miles if confirmed. I wonder if this is the case. This sounds like a better option as a phone booking fee is cheaper than a redeposit fee.

Thanks guys.

 

[SOPOOR]

If you have nothing to lose for a waitlist, why wouldn’t you waitlist for first class? These may not clear until close to departure, but if you have already secured business class you have nothing to lose.

i second that, absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain by waitilisitng, (you do need the points avaiaible though)

ive got 2 waitlists that are on about 9 months now, the flights are in june, but we have J confirmed, and F waitlisted, plus a F waitlisted for the day after,
our worst case scneario is J , best case is F on the day after (as its a afternoon flight), 2nd best is F on the originally confirmed J flight

 

[SponsorSFC]

I might need to waitlist F but have never done it before.

Are these correct?

- Waitlist F
- Book confirmed J
- if it clears, cancel J paying $75 fee
- Confirm F

I also read on TPG and they say we can call SQ to book a confirmed J and a pay phone booking fee then the agent can waitlist F and will deduct additional miles if confirmed. I wonder if this is the case. This sounds like a better option as a phone booking fee is cheaper than a redeposit fee.

Thanks guys.

You can add the F waitlist to your J booking at the same time if you call (as long as you have enough KF miles in you account for an F booking). You may be able to invoke this to avoid the phone fee to make your waitlist:

"Offline service fees will be waived for transactions that cannot be performed online, and for all PPS Club members and supplementary cardholders. "

You shouldn't have to pay a cancellation/redeposit fee but will probably have to pay a $25USD change fee to confirm the waitlist if it clears.