VA and SQ Alliance Final Approval

[kpc]

My matched DJ Plat status (unless I requalify) will drop back to Gold in Sep 12. Assuming SQ follows this table,
Earning Status Credits | Velocity Frequent Flyer

my planned SQ flight for Oct 2012 in J class Syd-Sin-Cpt return should net (120+160) x 2 = 560SCs if credited to DJ. With a further 4 eligible flight sectors on DJ eg a cheap Syd-Cbr, Syd-Mel return this would keep me DJ Gold til Sep 2014. Can't complain about that!

My only major gripe is that DJ Plat / Gold members flying SQ Y class can only access the inferior Kris Flyer Gold lounge at Changi as opposed the Sliver Kris lounge with full shower / toilet facilities!!

 

[oz_mark]

My only major gripe is that DJ Plat / Gold members flying SQ Y class can only access the inferior Kris Flyer Gold lounge at Changi as opposed the Sliver Kris lounge with full shower / toilet facilities!!

You could become a PPS again

 

[codash1099]

Yes, i am not saying it will definitely work like that but there's no reason to assume it won't until we hear otherwise.

On the contrary! I would think that, given the confusion, I'd rather believe that it won't work that way until I hear otherwise. I'd prefer to find out that there are no SC's before I leave, rather than when I've completed the journey.

 

[kpc]

You could become a PPS again

The flight to Cpt mentioned above will be my FIRST paid flight on SQ since the PPS devaluation changes SQ announced 3-4 years back:evil::evil::evil:. I went PPS, PPS, Sliver Elite, Silver Elite, Silver Elite to SQ NOTHING now!!

The main reason why I'm flying paid SQ again is that I have already redeemed a J saver SQ award Syd-Sin-Cpt for 123250 Kris Flyer miles (TF from Amex) and $870 in taxes /surcharges for my +1 which is a great deal in my book. QF Syd-Cpt in J required rediculously more points, not to mention availability issues; the surcharges were similar, tho....with the added bonus now of DJ Gold status due to the SQ / DJ alliance:idea:

 

[neon_crossing]

Is Virgin Australia ever going to join Star Alliance?

 

[Justchecking]

Is Virgin Australia ever going to join Star Alliance?

do DJ even meet the basic requirements for *Alliance? Its only in the past few months they've given being a budget airline.

 

[Saji]

Here's hoping they can clear up some of the confusion too - SQ have told me that Velocity gold/plat don't have access to their lounges, although I finally found someone to say that they do after a bit of battling. Still only access to the Krisflyer Gold lounge at Change (the infamous no toilets lounge) though accorgind to SQ and not the hallowed halls of the SilverKris lounge, as the VA webiste states.

SQ can be a bit nasty with their lounge access. I was on an Asiana flight to Seoul from Sydney and being a SQ*Gold, I went into the SQ lounge. At first they wanted to see my actual membership card , eventhough it was on my boarding pass. On producing the actual card, they told me that the lounge for this trip was the Air Newzealand Lounge and furrther the SQ would be closing soon. Therefore I had to go to the Air newZealand but after an hour on my way to gates, the SQ lounge was still open... Strange!!

 

[airtraveladdict]

do DJ even meet the basic requirements for *Alliance? Its only in the past few months they've given being a budget airline.

There is a checklist of things an airline has to meet before they can apply to the Star Ally including FF loyalty program, airport lounges, etc.

But apparently Etihad and Gulf Air have been in talks to join Star. I wish Qatar would join team up with Virgin, they are an underrated airline.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Unfortunately I think that's the way it's likely to continue. I'm *G and the only time I'm allowing the SilverKris lounge at T3 SIN is if I'm flying business class, otherwise it's the infamous no-toilets, no-showers KrisFlyer Gold lounge. Which is very pleasant other than the lack of toilets and showers. I believe that SQ doesn't even let its own elites into the T3 SIN SilverKris lounge unless they're flying business. This obviously doesn't apply in any other port, where SQ will have just the one lounge for everyone.

It's also the same in T2 SIN, there is a separate SilverKris lounge and a KrisFlyer Gold lounge, though I believe the Gold lounge is actually a contract lounge. This one does have showers though but isn't as nice as the Gold lounge in T3. I seem to recall it being mentioned that the T2 Gold had been renovated very recently though, so I'll be curious to see what it's like when I'm up there in a few weeks.

Yeah, it is a bit confusing, it happens because in every other port they have one lounge and they call it the SilverKris lounge. SIN is the only port with KrisFlyer Gold lounges.

As an international NON-Frequent Flyer these two explanations have cleared up my confusion completely (well maybe). Thanks for explanations Sea Wolf........but it does make me wonder what SQ execs were smoking when they decided on the naming of the lounges........silver better than gold in SIN but silver SIN also better than silver elsewhere :shock:. Now why would anyone be confused with that :?:

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Will this agreement also include Scoot? I wonder whether Scoot pax will be serviced here by TT or DJ?

 

[777]

Will this agreement also include Scoot? I wonder whether Scoot pax will be serviced here by TT or DJ?

IF scoot is a pure LCC i doubt it will be covered. They may not sell connecting flights either. I guess we will see eventually bit i wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[oz_mark]

Scoot is not in any agreement that I can see.

It's not even clear that Scoot will give anything to SQ's own elites at the moment..

 

[pshepvic]

I think people are confusing two issues here. One is the codeshare destinations (flights operated by SQ on which you can buy a VA ticket and sold as a VA flight) and the other is FF program reciprocity. It's quite possible/ likely that the arrangement will allow you to earn/ burn on all SQ flights but only book some of them as "Virgin Australia" codes. This is more or less how it works with Etihad. You can buy a range of destinations on the Virgin web site operated by Etihad but still earn points and Status credits on all other Etihad flights.

The issue for the ACCC (and probably VA's other partners) is that Virgin can't codeshare to the same destinations on more than one carrier so if you want to get to London and you book it via VA from SYD/ MEL /BNE they will send you on Etihad. But you can still book an SQ ticket, access their lounges and earn points or SC's.

At least that's what i hope!

I actually think you are spot on. The press release specifically says the FF benefits will launch by the end of THIS year. The codeshares will not happen until sometime NEXT year.

Therefore if we were only going to earn points & SCs on codeshare flights, why would they launch them separately? Doesn't make any sense.

I think that the FF benefits sound more likely to apply to all SQ flights, and codeshares are just for things like connection with VA flights, interlining etc, rather than to restrict points earn.

I'd also guess that if codeshares do impact anything, it would be more like different earn rates on non-VA coded SQ flights (like the lower rates on VS) rather than no points at all. However I'm still hoping for full earn rates and status bonuses!


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[Noob]

Scoot is not in any agreement that I can see.

It's not even clear that Scoot will give anything to SQ's own elites at the moment..

Isn't it best for SQ to keep themselves as far apart as possible from the Scoot brand?

 

[Mountainview547]

Where will the VA Gold and Plats sit when they are in the Brisbane SilverKris lounge. The lounge is nice but it is really only big enough for a cabin full of J pax.

I am looking forward to being able to redeem VA flights with SQ miles.

I actually did this journey in November - the nice guy on the door let me in with Velocity Gold and also advised I could have priority boarding which worked out. I was on the 9:10 on a Wednesday morning so the Business Class cabin wasn't full, so I was able to get a seat; plus I got there at 7:30 just in case.

The afternoon flight is usually much busier and when I have flown business it has been completely full, so it's a question of picking your time and get there early .

 

[oz_mark]

Looks like they've made the velocity lounge access page a little clearer in this respect..

[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]Singapore Airlines[/TD]
[TD]Singapore Airlines owned and operated SilverKris lounges worldwide plus the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge in Changi Airport, Singapore^^[/TD]
[TD]You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day travel on Singapore Airlines[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

They've changed it to make it really clear:

[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]Singapore Airlines[/TD]
[TD] KrisFlyer Gold Lounges at Changi Airport, Singapore^^

SilverKris lounges worldwide, outside of Singapore[/TD]
[TD] You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day travel in Economy Class on Singapore Airlines.


You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day travel on Singapore Airlines.
[/TD]
[TD]View Lo[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[airtraveladdict]

They've changed it to make it really clear:

[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]Singapore Airlines
[/TD]
[TD] KrisFlyer Gold Lounges at Changi Airport, Singapore^^

SilverKris lounges worldwide, outside of Singapore
[/TD]
[TD] You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day travel in Economy Class on Singapore Airlines.


You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day travel on Singapore Airlines.
[/TD]
[TD]View Lo
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

that definately makes more sense for my simple brain.

 

[kpc]

Whilst, I did not expect it, Silver Kris lounge access in Sin as a DJ plat flying Sq Y class would have been nice!,

 

[albatross710]

They've changed it to make it really clear:

[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]Singapore Airlines[/TD]
[TD] KrisFlyer Gold Lounges at Changi Airport, Singapore^^

SilverKris lounges worldwide, outside of Singapore[/TD]
[TD] You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day travel in Economy Class on Singapore Airlines.


You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day travel on Singapore Airlines.[/TD]
[TD]View Lo[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

no mention of SilkAir flights.

 

[arraitch]

no mention of SilkAir flights.

They've already been excluded (from Velocity points earn) over at http://www.australianfrequentflyer....in-routes-darwin-lounge-35078.html#post529684.