VA and SQ Alliance Final Approval

[dajop]

Big difference in redemption for ADL/BNE/PER and SYD/MEL tables:

[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR="class: last"]
[TD]

9,501-15,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

75,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

175,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

250,000​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Versus

[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR="class: last"]
[TD]

9,501-15,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

90,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

300,000​

[/TD]
[TD]

400,000​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Points Tables | Velocity Frequent Flyer

The quoted parts of the tables you have provided does not seem relevant. The earlier table says "Services between Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Singapore only", with distances of 3350 miles, 2420 miles and 3816 miles. So only the zones with these miles would be relevant. As I read it all destinations from BNE, SIN & ADL, other than SIN, would seem to follow the bottom table in the Velocity link.

So the way I see it, ADL-SIN and PER-SIN are 30,000 (Y) and 60,000 (J), BNE-SIN 32,500 (Y) and 70,000 (J). Contrasts MEL-SIN and SYD-SIN which will require 35,000 (Y) and 120,000 (J) ..... which is all about the whole 77W/A380 better business class which historically have not been available for saver awards. So for business class awards using Velocity points SQ really will not be competitive. Krisflyer would be a much better option.

 

[SeaWolf]

Next key question, can we book them online yet?

 

[dajop]

Having said that, so why do we need more points to fly out of Melbourne? we are only serviced by the 777 now. that's abit unfair.

MEL is served one flight a day by the 77W - which has more or less the same business class seats as the A380 (slightly narrow), but as you point out not the A380 from 15 Jan. Not good they are taking a route by route approach as opposed to a by aircraft approach. Even SYD has only two of its four services on the 380/77W style seats.

 

[bcworld]

MEL is served one flight a day by the 77W - which has more or less the same business class seats as the A380 (slightly narrow), but as you point out not the A380 from 15 Jan. Not good they are taking a route by route approach as opposed to a by aircraft approach. Even SYD has only two of its four services on the 380/77W style seats.

Yes, MEL is also served one flight a day by the 777-300 with regional business class, same as on the A330 for ADL/PER/BNE. I believe the 777-300 may also feature on one of SYD's daily flights...hard to keep up with SQ's frequent SYD/MEL aircraft changes.

The points levels ex MEL/SYD are a massive disappointment...unable to get excited about this.

SQ seems to be finally opening up some business class awards on A380/77W to partner airlines (not charged at a massive premium)...so these points levels suck.

 

[dajop]

Yes, MEL is also served one flight a day by the 777-300 with regional business class, same as on the A330 for ADL/PER/BNE. I believe the 777-300 may also feature on one of SYD's daily flights...hard to keep up with SQ's frequent SYD/MEL aircraft changes

Makes a good reason to use Krisflyer or other programs. I actually have no complaints about the regional business product, on Sunday night travelling to MEL, I slept right through to 40mins prior to landing (drug free .. no sleeping tablets), and really was better than expected. But I would expect it to be charged the same number of velocity points as BNE-SIN on A330's.

 

[airtraveladdict]

Oh btw the way, did you all get your emails today about the additional benefits we get with SQ?
As a Velocity Gold member you now have access to a range of travel benefits when you fly with Singapore Airlines:

Access for you and a guest to the KrisFlyer Gold lounges at Changi airport in Singapore and the SilverKris lounges worldwide outside of Singapore#

• Priority Check-in (I guess its the business class counter, which is a benefit we get with Etihad)
• Priority Baggage (we dont get that benefit with Etihad)
• Additional checked baggage of up to 15kg, or 1 additional piece of up to 23kg on flights to the US and Canada
• Priority Boarding (we SOMETIMES get that benefit with Etihad, depends on the staff on the ground)

Platinum members get 20kg additional checked luggage.

 

[markis10]

The quoted parts of the tables you have provided does not seem relevant. The earlier table says "Services between Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Singapore only", with distances of 3350 miles, 2420 miles and 3816 miles. So only the zones with these miles would be relevant. As I read it all destinations from BNE, SIN & ADL, other than SIN, would seem to follow the bottom table in the Velocity link.

So the way I see it, ADL-SIN and PER-SIN are 30,000 (Y) and 60,000 (J), BNE-SIN 32,500 (Y) and 70,000 (J). Contrasts MEL-SIN and SYD-SIN which will require 35,000 (Y) and 120,000 (J) ..... which is all about the whole 77W/A380 better business class which historically have not been available for saver awards. So for business class awards using Velocity points SQ really will not be competitive. Krisflyer would be a much better option.

Why publish them if they don't apply??

 

[bcworld]

Makes a good reason to use Krisflyer or other programs. I actually have no complaints about the regional business product, on Sunday night travelling to MEL, I slept right through to 40mins prior to landing (drug free .. no sleeping tablets), and really was better than expected. But I would expect it to be charged the same number of velocity points as BNE-SIN on A330's.

I haven't yet tried it. But I could book MEL-SIN-MEL on the 777-300 in J for 90,000 US Airways miles (and NO fuel surcharges). Or 240,000 Velocity points. Hmmm.

 

[airtraveladdict]

I haven't yet tried it. But I could book MEL-SIN-MEL on the 777-300 in J for 90,000 US Airways miles (and NO fuel surcharges). Or 240,000 Velocity points. Hmmm.

whaaaaaaaa .... sigh

 

[bcworld]

Why publish them if they don't apply??

Because the same table also covers NZ and HA awards.

 

[markis10]

Because the same table also covers NZ and HA awards.

good point LOL!

 

[dajop]

Why publish them if they don't apply??

The table includes other airliens:

Air New Zealand^ (New Zealand domestic and long haul services only)
Hawaiian Airlines^*
Singapore Airlines^^^
(Services between Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Singapore only)

I haven't yet tried it. But I could book MEL-SIN-MEL on the 777-300 in J for 90,000 US Airways miles (and NO fuel surcharges). Or 240,000 Velocity points. Hmmm.

.... or 76,500 Krisflyer miles ... which if earnt by Amex is equivalent to 76,500 Velocity points. Or for that matter 75,000 BMI miles .......

 

[Andyzx]

SIA are expanding their frequency's next year. as per SMH.com.au
Between March and October they will add to and from SIN
+3 to Adelaide now 10 per week
+2 to Brisbane now 3 times per day
+3 to Perth now 3 times per day

Singapore Air will be running 95 flights per week to Oz and adding Silk Air and Scoot as well. Seems to suggest that the VA aliance is working for them

 

[Globetrotter]

When do you think VA will add the SQ destinations to their reward calculator? I want to check the number of points required for a return J BNE/MLE (Maldives) but its not listed.

 

[Globetrotter]

I called velocity and they quoted 260,000 points for a return J class seat on SQ to Maldives ex. BNE. So in essence I'll need to convert 585,000 ANZ reward points for one ticket via Velocity. But on the other hand, I only need to covert 318,750 ANZ reward points to Kris Flyer to book the same thing (J saver reward ticket booked online).

It's a no brainer. Anyone else finding Velocity more expensive against SQ's Kris Flyer?

 

[bcworld]

...that same 260k will get you J return to London on EY.

SQ velocity redemptions are looking somewhat pointless!

 

[kamchatsky]

...that same 260k will get you J return to London on EY.

SQ velocity redemptions are looking somewhat pointless!

Not exactly, given that by paying the premium you are supposed to get the A380/77W seats.

The question is, is A380 Suites opened for redemption?

 

[bcworld]

Not exactly, given that by paying the premium you are supposed to get the A380/77W seats.

Well that's a matter of personal preference as to whether the SQ A380/77W represent a more premium experience. A lot of people actually aren't keen on those wide J class seats.

 

[kamchatsky]

Well that's a matter of personal preference as to whether the SQ A380/77W represent a more premium experience. A lot of people actually aren't keen on those wide J class seats.

Well I will find out once I try it out this Sat for SYD-SIN A380 J award using BMI points ..... Chances are that I am actually happy with their New Regional C seats anyway, especially for day time flying.

 

[bcworld]

Well I will find out once I try it out this Sat for SYD-SIN A380 J award using BMI points ..... Chances are that I am actually happy with their New Regional C seats anyway, especially for day time flying.

The regionals look fine to me...but I won't be paying 240k points to sample them!