Velocity Booking on SQ flight - Gold member

[Pushka]

As a gold Velocity member, through Virgin. we have booked from Adelaide to Singapore, on Singapore Airlines flight. So, as a gold member, do we have priority boarding etc, and for those who know Adelaide airport, is there a Lounge past Immigration we can use before the flight.

I've tried to select seats through Virgin and they say they can't and nor can I upgrade to Business class with points. Any tips for doing this?

Thx

 

[dajop]

As a gold Velocity member, through Virgin. we have booked from Adelaide to Singapore, on Singapore Airlines flight. So, as a gold member, do we have priority boarding etc, and for those who know Adelaide airport, is there a Lounge past Immigration we can use before the flight.

I've tried to select seats through Virgin and they say they can't and nor can I upgrade to Business class with points. Any tips for doing this?

Thx

You should be able to select seats through SQ, either online or if that doesn't work, over the phone. Priority boarding is ambiguous, on FT there's evidence that suggests Star Allliance/Krisflyer (and therefore by association Velocity) golds get priority boarding only at the start of boarding, not once boarding has already commenced, although lot of variation between ports.

Unless you are on an SQ code, in a flexi-fare and have loads of Krisflyer (or other appropriate star alliance program) miles to spare, you will not be able to get and upgrade.

 

[Pushka]

Thanks dajop. We had enough points to upgrade to business, from the fare we purchased, but Virgin apparently don't like letting Adelaide people use points to fly to Singapore as the SQ flight doesn't even register when searching for awards. Virgin said they can't select seats for us as they said their system has actually cancelled bookings when they have tried to do this before. The PNR isn't recognised by SQ website. Lucky this is the only flight we have booked in this manner.

 

[markis10]

The Velocity site is clear on what to expect:

Singapore Airlines

• Priority Check-in
• 1 piece additional checked baggage of 23kg when flying to/from the US and Canada
• Additional checked baggage up to 15kg when travelling to other international destinations
• Priority Boarding
• Priority Baggage
• Lounge Access

In Adelaide the lounge is on the Second Level Opposite Gate 16 .

 

[Fruitcake]

Thanks dajop. We had enough points to upgrade to business, from the fare we purchased, but Virgin apparently don't like letting Adelaide people use points to fly to Singapore as the SQ flight doesn't even register when searching for awards.

There are very few airline alliance/partnership where upgrades can be purchased using frequent flyer points awarded by a non-operating carrier. DJ/SQ is no different in this regard. ie if you booked a BA codeshare ADL-SIN then on to LHR you couldn't use BA points to upgrade yourself on the QF operated flight from ADL-SIN.

(However, I think AA miles can be used to upgrade on BA flights - so there's a counterpoint for you; but that's very much the exception rather than the rule).

But your phrasing implied that you might have been looking at an award booking, rather than a points upgrade. As the Velocity website says (Redeem Points with Airline Partners | Velocity Frequent Flyer) EY, DL and VA reward flights can be booked online, but you need to call for SQ, NZ, HA, VS, VX and XR.

Personally, unless I really needed the eligible sector (for Velocity requalification) I would have a strong preference to booking with the operating carrier directly.

 

[Tuddy]

The Velocity site is clear on what to expect:

Singapore Airlines

• Priority Check-in
• 1 piece additional checked baggage of 23kg when flying to/from the US and Canada
• Additional checked baggage up to 15kg when travelling to other international destinations
• Priority Boarding
• Priority Baggage
• Lounge Access

In Adelaide the lounge is on the Second Level Opposite Gate 16 .

Shouldn't he be able to get into the SilverKris lounge post-customs? Quite a quaint little lounge that one.

 

[dajop]

The Velocity site is clear on what to expect:

Singapore Airlines

• ....
• Priority Boarding
• .

Not that clear regarding priority boarding!! There is a (becoming) lengthy discussion on FT on what priority boarding actually means. Anecdotal evidence suggests J, F & PPS passengers can board in priority lane at any time, but Gold passengers can only get priority boarding when boarding starts, once boarding has already commenced they get to board at the same time as other pax (of course this may be a moot point, as one in the airbridge all bets are off anyway). At remote ports (i.e. outside SIN) this may vary and it seems that Golds still seem to be lumped in with J/F/PPS at some ports, not sure about ADL)

 

[markis10]

Shouldn't he be able to get into the SilverKris lounge post-customs? Quite a quaint little lounge that one.

Yes, that is why I put in the location!

 

[jgm]

Virgin said they can't select seats for us as they said their system has actually cancelled bookings when they have tried to do this before. The PNR isn't recognised by SQ website. Lucky this is the only flight we have booked in this manner.

Try the SQ mobile app. You should be able to select your seats with it. There is a lot of threads on FT about this.

 

[Tuddy]

Yes, that is why I put in the location!

Ah sorry, I thought you may have been referring to the Lounge (something I believe OP can also access) which is also located near gate 16.

 

[Pushka]

I will try, but I dont think the Singapore Air sight recognises the PNR/booking code we've been given from Virgin. Not the right configuration for the website anyway to find us. I thought it best going with Virgin due to the Gold status re lounges etc. The International lounge in Adelaide - I've never been to and I suspect most don't even know its there as it is down some stairs.

 

[jgm]

You can always call SQ to get their booking reference. I've had to do this with UA awards.

 

[dajop]

I thought it best going with Virgin due to the Gold status re lounges etc. .

AFAIK the only difference between booking on the VA code and the SQ code (apart from the price, which of course can vary considerably) is the status bonus that accrues in Velocity for those holding status when travelling on the VA code - which may be somewhat diminished by some fare codes that have lower earn (in other words it complicated). All other status benefit apply regardless of travelling on the VA or SQ code.

 

[Pushka]

All other status benefit apply regardless of travelling on the VA or SQ code.

Gah, I didn't think of that!