VA Gold recognition on SQ - positive result

[Moopere]

Thought I'd post a recent experience for the benefit of others.

PER-SIN-HKG return

I booked via VA on an SQ codeshare. Price in full flex was pretty steep, but this was my issue as I had no time to plan and dates were fixed. SQ offers a 'flexi saver' variant on Flexi tickets which are apparently not made available to VA codeshares - the price difference PER-HKG return was just under AU$200 per PAX

I hold VA Gold and this was the reason I ended up choosing the more expensive VA codeshare tickets. I'd not done this before, so, despite reading up on the VA website about conferred benefits I was apprehensive about how this would play out in the real world as reports over time have varied. I am happy to say that SQ didn't let me down:

- Business/First/Star Gold check in honoured at PER/SIN/HKG together with priority bag tags
- Priority screening at PER/HKG (didnt leave the terminal at SIN so only went through the pre boarding screening there)
- Priority boarding at PER/SIN/HKG
- Silverkris lounge at PER (nice lounge by the way, first time I've been in there), Goldkris lounge in SIN (which is a bit meh ... but still better than being out in the zoo) and Silverkris again in HKG on return


Didn't need to try the 15KG extra baggage but given the above success I suspect it would have worked out fine.

Looked in my velocity account today (now in PER again) and looks like FF + gold extra and SC's already in the account (320 SC's ... family pooling), nice!

All in all, my expectations were met and I was surprised and delighted to see the VA partnership with SQ appears to be functioning well. Wouldn't hesitate to do this again. I won't ever travel on SQ enough to gain any sort of meaningful status with them, so it was great to not only receive my existing VA Gold benefits but also boost the VA coffers.

I should add that I _always_ presented my VA Gold card along with boarding passes at each status related check point - maybe it doesn't make any difference, but, as I say above, I was a bit apprehensive and it didn't hurt.

 

[kpc]

My parents fly frequently Sq in Y: Adl-Sin-Kul vv. As a VA Gold, they seem to get all the advertised bennies without an issue

 

[MacBH]

Apart from the bonus points you'd get the same benefits when booking your flights with an SQ number on the SQ website or via an agent. SQ "Flexi Saver" fares are generally a little cheaper when compared to the VA Flexi fares. Those fares are still pretty flexible and attract full status credits (while the Saver fares only attract half).

The other benefit you could expect is to be given a departures express card when checking in at the priority check-in counter in Australia.

I've also discovered that on your way back you can ask for an arrivals express card for your Australian destination at the gate in SIN (at the counter where they scan your boarding pass, after security). Last time all I had to say was "I'm a VA Gold..." and I was handed a card before I could even finish my sentence.

At least this is what happens for MEL flights. PER may not have express lanes. Btw there are no express lanes in SIN, nor would they be necessary in T3 (at least 85% of the time).

I've found that status recognition can get slightly tricker when travelling a bit further afield, though. E.g. in FRA the ground staff seem to be very Star Alliance oriented. They didn't immediately know how to treat me with my VA status last time but upon request they attached a priority tag to my bag nonetheless.

I'm not a fan of the Gold lounge in SIN. I find it hard to take a lounge without toilets seriously and I've never been impressed by their food, either. So I normally skip it. I do like the Maggie Beer ice cream at the SilverKris lounge in MEL though.

 

[Wezza]

Got all the same benefits flying EY recently on BNE-SIN-AUH-DME return. Even had lounge access at DME.

 

[notzac]

Even had lounge access at DME.

Yup, EY is good about handing out lounge access at ports where they don't run their own - SQ (and other partner airlines), not so much.

 

[Wezza]

Yup, EY is good about handing out lounge access at ports where they don't run their own - SQ (and other partner airlines), not so much.

I have to say though, the priority boarding didn't work very well at DME, Russians don't really understand the concept of lining up.