Velocity reinstates Singapore Airlines redemptions

[Mattg]

You should be able to call Velocity (during the call centre opening hours) and book over the phone for the "correct" price.

 

[GCflyer]

You should be able to call Velocity (during the call centre opening hours) and book over the phone for the "correct" price.

I tried this again after you previously mentioned but unfortunately doesn't seem possible.

Have spoken to 3 seperate agents (based in Manila) and they all price, for example, a BNE-BKK flight with a layover under 24 hours in Singapore at 91k rather than the 65k you can get for taking the often poorly timed 'Virgin' connections.

It's a bit annoying you are only given a limited selection of flights considering they all have KF saver availability and you can do these layovers at the same points cost if booking SIN with Krisflyer.
(reluctant to book with KF due to the points being harder to obtain and the 10% infant surcharge)

 

[RAM]

Many people find overseas rail travel daunting in a way that air travel isn't - how do you buy tickets? where do you go? what if it's sold out? how do I find the station? how do I even get into it when I find it?

Air travel is easy, requires no language skills and relies on universal symbols and channelling people so they can't possibly get lost. I think many people are going to default to that and never even know how simple the rail option could have been.

The DBahn booking engine is incredibly easy to use and their 'help desk' responds promptly (the times I had questions).

Buying a 1st class ticket gets you access to the DBahn 1st class lounges (unlimited hot meals ordered from menu & alcohol, comfy chairs etc etc) while waiting for the trains at the main city railway station. Munich's Hauptbahnhof 1st Class lounge (cost EUR 12 more for a Munich to Paris ticket seated in reserved seat in 1st class carriages) food & drinks got a 2 hour workout...

 

[jakeseven7]

Any update on the Velocity KrisFlyer transfer coming back….?

 

[Mr H]

The DBahn booking engine is incredibly easy to use and their 'help desk' responds promptly (the times I had questions).

I'm not disputing that DB is easy - just that people who have never done it might expect it to be complicated.

I am a confident traveller and have used railways in many countries across five continents. I like trains. But some of those experiences have been really quite challenging in a way that plane travel isn't.

 

[RAM]

I'm not disputing that DB is easy - just that people who have never done it might expect it to be complicated.

I am a confident traveller and have used railways in many countries across five continents. I like trains. But some of those experiences have been really quite challenging in a way that plane travel isn't.

Was not suggesting that - merely letting people who do not know that the DBahn site is worth a look at. Although it does not pay to come up on Google searches....

Only drawback for rail in Europe is that (from pre-Covid memory) trains are only listed 93 days in advance. Happy to be corrected if wrong. That said, we've never missed out on our desired connection for the train journey.

Meanwhile, back on general ease of train use within Europe - EUR 19.90 fare sales happen regularly (2nd class) which we've taken advantage of numerous times for journeys from Frankfurt Airport to Southern Austria (for example).

Point to point (get on at the airport & off at train station at the bottom of the valley where we're staying) - it is faster than flying (including checking in at airport, etc etc) and much more direct - one train change normally with a 12 to 17 minute window that's always been more than sufficient to allow a quick excursion at the station to sample some German or Austrian 'comfort' food.

We tried flying twice (into/out of Innsbruck) - point to point took nearly 2 hours longer and total cost was around 15 times as much - involved 'taxi, train, taxi to get to Innsbruck Airport (return journey). Using a taxi from the valley to Innsbruck Airport would have added net another EUR 70 per person.

 

[Stealthflyer]

Was not suggesting that - merely letting people who do not know that the DBahn site is worth a look at. Although it does not pay to come up on Google searches....

Only drawback for rail in Europe is that (from pre-Covid memory) trains are only listed 93 days in advance. Happy to be corrected if wrong. That said, we've never missed out on our desired connection for the train journey.

Meanwhile, back on general ease of train use within Europe - EUR 19.90 fare sales happen regularly (2nd class) which we've taken advantage of numerous times for journeys from Frankfurt Airport to Southern Austria (for example).

Point to point (get on at the airport & off at train station at the bottom of the valley where we're staying) - it is faster than flying (including checking in at airport, etc etc) and much more direct - one train change normally with a 12 to 17 minute window that's always been more than sufficient to allow a quick excursion at the station to sample some German or Austrian 'comfort' food.

We tried flying twice (into/out of Innsbruck) - point to point took nearly 2 hours longer and total cost was around 15 times as much - involved 'taxi, train, taxi to get to Innsbruck Airport (return journey). Using a taxi from the valley to Innsbruck Airport would have added net another EUR 70 per person.

I love the trains in Germany and Italy and surrounds. Just booked a first class DB ticket from the north of Germany through to Verona (9hrs). I figured fewer people in the carriage, plenty of quiet time to work, and no need to visit the dining car, reducing potential exposure to covid. It’s the only type of first class ticket I can afford to buy! I’m looking forward to the Brennan Pass in particular. Such exquisite views.

There were a few flights that were cheaper than the €89 fare, but not when you take into account transport to and from the airport and potential delays.

My only tip when booking is to double check the correct station name on Google maps before booking. It’s not always “central” something.

 

[ketsuzei]

My favourite colour is orange and I like to eat pretzels.

 

[RAM]

I love the trains in Germany and Italy and surrounds. Just booked a first class DB ticket from the north of Germany through to Verona (9hrs). I figured fewer people in the carriage, plenty of quiet time to work, and no need to visit the dining car, reducing potential exposure to covid. It’s the only type of first class ticket I can afford to buy! I’m looking forward to the Brennan Pass in particular. Such exquisite views.

There were a few flights that were cheaper than the €89 fare, but not when you take into account transport to and from the airport and potential delays.

My only tip when booking is to double check the correct station name on Google maps before booking. It’s not always “central” something.

If using the DBahn site (or App) then it provides a detailed station itinerary including platform numbers etc, that can then be expanded to list all stations it stops at en-route.

Came in very handy when tying in with the return leg on SIA F award redemption (from transferred VFF points to Krisflyer) for finding we could get off 2 stations earlier for easy connection to the airport. Something I had missed in the preparations.

 

[serfty]

I tried this again after you previously mentioned but unfortunately doesn't seem possible.

Have spoken to 3 seperate agents (based in Manila) and they all price, for example, a BNE-BKK flight with a layover under 24 hours in Singapore at 91k rather than the 65k you can get for taking the often poorly timed 'Virgin' connections.

It's a bit annoying you are only given a limited selection of flights considering they all have KF saver availability and you can do these layovers at the same points cost if booking SIN with Krisflyer.
(reluctant to book with KF due to the points being harder to obtain and the 10% infant surcharge)

They really shouldn't be doing that.

Using Points For Flights

Use your Velocity Points to fly to over 500 destinations. Check out our flight reward options and turn your Points into a flight for your next trip or dream holiday today

experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com

There is a specific definition there of "A Break in the Journey".

1) The Points required for a Reward Seat will be based on the total miles for all sectors in a one way journey, except where there is a break in the journey. Where there is a break in the journey, the Points required is calculated on a per sector basis. A break in the journey includes: (a) a stopover, which means: (i) in an Australian domestic itinerary, a break of journey at an intermediate point when onward travel does not take place on the same calendar day; and (ii) for all other itineraries, including those containing a domestic to international connecting flight, when a passenger arrives at an intermediate point and is not scheduled to depart within 24 hours of arrival; (b) a change in class of travel within the journey; or (c) a change in operating airline where the airlines are located in different Reward Seat Points tables.

 

[dajop]

They really shouldn't be doing that.

With SQ services it's not outside the bounds of possibility that it could be a married sector issue.

 

[Matty F]

SQ inventory on VA booking site is all over the shop. Searched yesterday for SIN-FRA and there were daily direct flights starting May 19th (even a J reward on the 22nd)

Now when I search, a whole weeks worth of flights has gone missing, and direct flights pushed back a week to May 26th

 

[Stealthflyer]

SQ inventory on VA booking site is all over the shop. Searched yesterday for SIN-FRA and there were daily direct flights starting May 19th (even a J reward on the 22nd)

Now when I search, a whole weeks worth of flights has gone missing, and direct flights pushed back a week to May 26th

I feel like that’s the case with SQ flights on their own site too. Repeat searches will give me 7 options for the day, then 1, then 9, and so on. The only constant was that they got more expensive each time until I cleared my cookies.

I tried to alter my booking to extend my return flight recently and it would only give me one option each day, and only at PE/J prices. So much for “complimentary changes”.

 

[jase05]

Pretty happy to score 4x J seats BNE-SIN-HAN in October

 

[Grimace1]

Has anyone had any success on requesting Velocity to ask SQ to release a business class reward seat? Currently SIN-AMS is waitlist for most of August.

I've currently got SIN-MUC booked then KLM from MUC-AMS but would much prefer to fly direct Thanks all

 

[Must...Fly!]

Has anyone had any success on requesting Velocity to ask SQ to release a business class reward seat? Currently SIN-AMS is waitlist for most of August.

I've currently got SIN-MUC booked then KLM from MUC-AMS but would much prefer to fly direct Thanks all

You can't request. What's there is there.

 

[Grimace1]

You can't request. What's there is there.

Yeah, that's what I assumed but was just curious if anyone had success with it Thanks

 

[coolkid101]

No way velocity will get sq to release an extra award seat. Those seats are already on waitlist even for KF members as you said. Getting extra seats released, maybe possible if PPS solitaire.

 

[Edge]

Is it possible to book SQ F rewards via velocity?

Also (assuming the answer is no), but if there's J award availability on the SQ website but not on the velocity website, can you call up velocity and ask to book it via phone?

 

[HS-TQE]

Is it possible to book SQ F rewards via velocity?

Also (assuming the answer is no), but if there's J award availability on the SQ website but not on the velocity website, can you call up velocity and ask to book it via phone?

No. SQ usually keeps most (if not all) F availability on their own site.
It's also difficult to find (if any) SQ F on any other partner booking sites, *A included.