VA transfer to SQ 1.35:1 VA

[777]

Actually I just saw the Singapore news release and they definitely say from November (as per below). Virgin releases I've seen have said in November.

"The new conversion capability will be available to members of both programmes from November as well as an improved online booking capability for Velocity Frequent Flyers to redeem flights on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir."

From November means beginning sometime between November 1 and November 30 and available from then on.

I really don't understand why this confusion is even a thing.

 

[TomVexille]

The response I got from the social media team yesterday said that the conversion capability will be available to members of both programs in November 2014.

That's pretty specific that they plan on being live sometime by the end of the month.

As we all know, don't hold your breath...

 

[Cruiser Elite]

FWIW - spoke to Crystal last night and whilst she stopped working for SIA a month or so ago she spoke to the Managers on duty in SQ/KF call ctr last night - they are totally in the dark re the transfer of pts bw programs - they have received no notification or advice re commencement date or indeed actual mechanics of said transfer / conversions. To best there knowledge the relevant depts are still working on this matter and no final agreement on transfer rates has been achieved.

She then went on to say - 'BUT - this is not unusual that we are last to know and that the SQ/KF call ctr teams will need to be fully briefed and some minor training workshops undertaken prior to launch - this has not happened as yet'.

 

[PLANT]

So really it was like speaking to a crystal ball?

 

[anat0l]

If this rumour is correct, it would seem that 4:1 (each way) would be the compromise and if that is the case I wonder if they'll bother going ahead with it at all. Its even worse value than the appalling value you can currently use VA points for on SQ. Apart from the ability to use your VA points to redeem for non-SQ *A flights (at terrible value) will there be any points to having this transfer at all?

Well I guess one use is that if people travel in either programme then they can use this feature to consolidate points into their most useful programme.

The exchange rate may not be great but it is better than having two useless accounts with orphan points.

For KF members who might travel a smattering of SQ N fares, this could at least be some way of salvaging something from their accounts before their points expire at 36 months.

You never know - something lucrative may come out of this. Whether there will be a full on arms race to sweep and book out every Suite saver seat out there will be another thing, but if SQ seemed uptight about that possibility then they wouldn't have consented to this idea in the first place (so I doubt they are).

In any case, inaugurating bragging rights to a feature trumps any perception of usefulness.

 

[TomVexille]

In any case, inaugurating bragging rights to a feature trumps any perception of usefulness.

I believe that's the biggest point in all of this.

 

[jaspon]

To be announced tomorrow
1.35 VA = 1 KF
1.35 KF = 1 VA

 

[777]

To be announced tomorrow
1.35 VA = 1 KF
1.35 KF = 1 VA

Not too bad if true. I feared worse.

 

[TomVexille]

Not too bad if true. I feared worse.

I think most of us feared worse.

 

[Colin 2905]

To be announced tomorrow
1.35 VA = 1 KF
1.35 KF = 1 VA

Bismark was quite close.....

Sadly, I doubt it'll be a bi-directional rate. Probably 1:3 VA-KF and 1:3 KF-VA.

 

[777]

Bismark was quite close.....

We should have run a betting market on it.

Having said that 1.3:1 is quite different to 3:1 or 1:3

 

[Colin 2905]

We should have run a betting market on it.

Having said that 1.3:1 is quite different to 3:1 or 1:3

/Slaps self on forehead and checks glasses.

 

[PLANT]

Cove Suites here we come........
Oh in about 10 years at that rate!

 

[Pleb Status]

To be announced tomorrow
1.35 VA = 1 KF
1.35 KF = 1 VA

If this is true, it is very good news for VA customers, less so for SQ customers. Roll on the announcement!

 

[dajop]

If this is true, it is very good news for VA customers, less so for SQ customers. Roll on the announcement!

Still reasonably good news for some KF members (as opposed to SQ customers) as unless based in SIN (for 7.5k Bali awards!) there's limited opportunity to use/extend a low number of points, that may otherwise expire. It's also a good opportunity for one-off/infrequent star alliance customers to accrue velocity points via KF.

 

[anat0l]

Someone at KF better brace themselves for the onslaught.

At 1.35 VA -> SQ, Velocity will easily clean up KrisFlyer.

An elementary example - not even in Suites/First - illustrates very cleanly: take MEL/SIN in SQ J one-way:

• Using Virgin Velocity, the GCM is 3,744 mi, which means 80,000 VA points.
• Using KrisFlyer swept in from all Velocity points, the redemption is Australia (except Perth/Darwin) to Singapore. The Saver level redemption is 55,000 SQ miles, but if you book online you get a 15% discount. So now that is 46,750 miles. At 1.35 VA -> SQ, that means a sweep of 63,113 VA points, which is 21% lower than the redemption through Velocity.

Not to mention that (except possibly for the VA->SQ sweep process) this process can be fully done online on SQ (no more guessing availability open to Velocity), there is a lot more availability on SQ through KrisFlyer than through Velocity (notwithstanding no annoying 14 day rule), and you can deal with a (usually) much more competent phone support staff if you really need it (which might be useful if your ticket gets changed).

Probably the only main fly in the soup here is that SQ will levy fuel surcharges, rather than VA which will not.

Now some might argue that in this case, you're better off just doing a VA/EY redemption (e.g. MEL-BNE-SIN) which is cheaper in VA points (57,800 points). A more stark example might be something like PER/SIN one-way in SQ J. You could either pay 70,000 VA points, or 27,625 KF miles (with 15% online discount) which is the equivalent of 37,294 VA points.

For whatever it is worth, assuming 1.35 VA -> SQ, SQ Saver availability and including 15% KrisFlyer online discount,

• Australia (exc. DRW & PER) & New Zealand / Europe (main) one-way on SQ First/Suites will cost 152,044 VA points.
• Darwin & Perth / Europe (main) one-way on SQ First/Suites (with Business on first leg) will cost 131,963 VA points.
• Singapore to Europe (main) one-way on SQ First/Suites will cost 123,357 VA points.

For something like SYD to LHR, on EY F this will cost 187,500 VA points. So there are even substantial savings to be had there, although of course one weighs up many factors in this (e.g. EY issued on VA stock with VA/EY support, EY F vs SQ F/R product and services (remember EY F has chauffeur at both ends), AUH vs SIN stop, EY F vs SQ F/R Saver availability...)

One thing to note is that SQ Saver availability is not necessarily abundant - probably more speaking to the non-single travellers (e.g. couples). For example, SYD to Europe (main) on SQ First/Suites in Standard availability will cost 221,000 KF miles (with online discount). Converted to VA points this is 298,350 VA points, which is more expensive than redeeming through Velocity, if only that Velocity may not have access to SQ First or Suites availability (i.e. but then you will pay a premium to get it).

They say there will be transfer limits in place, but I wonder how effective (or restrictive) they will be anyway.

 

[cove]

Well reasoned anat01. I did reload my Velocity account with the 15% bonus this month as sometimes Qantas has very little availability on domestic business class points.

 

[Eggsbenedict]

To be announced tomorrow
1.35 VA = 1 KF
1.35 KF = 1 VA

Hi jaspon, is this a guess, a crystal ball or inside knowledge? Am I missing something here? Here is the supposed answer to the question many of us have been waiting on with baited breath and none of the replies so far seem to be questioning the actual source of the information.

 

[basso]

Hi jaspon, is this a guess, a crystal ball or inside knowledge? Am I missing something here? Here is the supposed answer to the question many of us have been waiting on with baited breath and none of the replies so far seem to be questioning the actual source of the information.

Wise to question as well. Some of the previous insider knowledge from within VA posted within these fora have been about as accurate as my local tarot reader.

 

[anat0l]

I will admit that (should have put a huge asterisk under my post) that the assumption of 1.35 points to unit either way was taken from unqualified sources.

There are people with quite a bit of inside knowledge which is naturally of questionable quality (and therein lies a problem because the risk of coming fully transparent could result in legal complications or at least someone being sacked).

Who knows - maybe someone planted a minor leak as such to try and gauge or quell any preliminary simmering before the official announcement?