Velocity reinstates Singapore Airlines redemptions

[SCM]

November this year? That's way too short a timeframe for an award seat on SQ via Velocity unless there's a lucky release of some extra seats. Earlier posts in this thread show how hard it can be.

Not at all, they have plenty of premium econ reward seats on many airports to Europe all the time, including November, and for sure economy.

You will typically have much more luck on shorter dates by searching for flights ex-SIN, and paying to position up there yourself. Similarly if BCN is not available, check the destinations with more capacity such as London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris then position accordingly.

E.G. You could consider CDG then getting the TGV down to BCN.

They are available to CDG and FRA for my timeframe, but I would love to fly direct in this case because it's a short trip.

I guess my question is more for BCN, I am sure it's not even in velocity because it doesn't come up in any way on their website, whereas I think it should.

 

[Must...Fly!]

It's a hugely popular destination with 4 flights a week at 3 months notice, I'm not sure why you're necessarily expecting it to be available to be honest.

 

[levelnine]

I guess my question is more for BCN, I am sure it's not even in velocity because it doesn't come up in any way on their website, whereas I think it should.

What do you mean? It does come up. There's just no availability in J at that time of year (completely understandable).

 

[SCM]

What do you mean? It does come up. There's just no availability in J at that time of year (completely understandable).

View attachment 341525

Yeh that's perfect, I'm not sure why I couldn't find it - I would want from Sydney though not Singapore, but I was able to get it from that date also, thanks. It does seem like a lot of points for econ premium, but oh well.

 

[JasonK]

Heya, does anyone know how I can do seat selections for an SQ flight booked via Velocity? I used to be able to do it on the SQ website but now it says it needs my email address and there is no way to update the email address on the SQ website.

 

[GDale]

Heya, does anyone know how I can do seat selections for an SQ flight booked via Velocity? I used to be able to do it on the SQ website but now it says it needs my email address and there is no way to update the email address on the SQ website.

Try using the SQ app instead - I think it works that way. Once you have the email address updated, the website will work as well.

 

[JasonK]

Thanks! I just tried the SQ app after adding the trip to my list. However it won't let me select a seat without going into Manage My Booking in the app (which still goes back to the website version with the same error). However it does let me select meals using the app though...! (as there's an Edit button). Next to the Seats though it's just blank and won't let you select seats...

 

[Auski]

Heya, does anyone know how I can do seat selections for an SQ flight booked via Velocity? I used to be able to do it on the SQ website but now it says it needs my email address and there is no way to update the email address on the SQ website.

I am having the same issue. Earlier in the year I did a booking LHR to SIN and then went into manage booking on SIA and after entering details, passport etc I could then select seats (they now show in manage booking). My most recent booking SIN-MEL-CBR could access manage booking but after entering details they would not stick (tried numerous times ) and still asked for email to select seats. I rang SIA and sent web enquiry both responded that VA would need to provide the details. I contacted VA and they said details were in the booking and SIA should have them. Stalemate. It appears the only option is to enter passport and select seats at checkin? As stated above it used to be possible.

 

[serfty]

I am having the same issue. Earlier in the year I did a booking LHR to SIN and then went into manage booking on SIA and after entering details, passport etc I could then select seats (they now show in manage booking). My most recent booking SIN-MEL-CBR could access manage booking but after entering details they would not stick (tried numerous times ) and still asked for email to select seats. I rang SIA and sent web enquiry both responded that VA would need to provide the details. I contacted VA and they said details were in the booking and SIA should have them. Stalemate. It appears the only option is to enter passport and select seats at checkin? As stated above it used to be possible.

I have no such problem with a VA redemption on SQ made 8 weeks ago.

I retrieved the SQ Amadeus booking reference from the Virgin Australia e-ticket ,pdf and used that on the singaporeair website mange booking to select seating.

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/home#/managebooking

 

[Auski]

I have no such problem with a VA redemption on SQ. I retrieved the SQ Amadeus booking reference from the Virgin Australia e-ticket ,pdf and used that on the singaporeair website mange booking to select seating.

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/home#/managebooking

How recently did it work for you? Apart from timing the only difference between my booking the firs which worked and the second that did not was that the second had a connecting domestic VA flight.

 

[Mr H]

How recently did it work for you? Apart from timing the only difference between my booking the firs which worked and the second that did not was that the second had a connecting domestic VA flight.

Timing might be the thing - if SQ has intentionally withdrawn seat selection on awards booked through VA…

 

[serfty]

How recently did it work for you? Apart from timing the only difference between my booking the firs which worked and the second that did not was that the second had a connecting domestic VA flight.

It is working for me currently - just moved to a comaprable seat and expert flyer reflects this.

The booking was made 8 weeks ago in mid July. (Note this booking is solely SQ flights.)

 

[bcworld]

Heya, does anyone know how I can do seat selections for an SQ flight booked via Velocity? I used to be able to do it on the SQ website but now it says it needs my email address and there is no way to update the email address on the SQ website.

You have to contact SQ and ask them to add your email address...they can do this via chat. Once that's done you will be able to do seat selection.

 

[chk123]

You have to contact SQ and ask them to add your email address...they can do this via chat. Once that's done you will be able to do seat selection.

2nd this point, I had the same issue with a rewards booking recently.

Refer to this thread

Unable to select seats VA booking- Asking for EMail.

Morning all I just booked a sq flight using velocity points but when I jump to the sq site to select my seats, it asks me to update my email and prevents me going any further. I don't recall this happening in the past? I received the itenary from virgin already so I do have an email attached...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Telemachus]

I am another with the same issue in two separate VA awards on SQ which I booked over the weekend. No such problem with another VA redemption, booked months ago, for an imminent SQ flight where my email is in the SQ PNR, I can change seats, add pax info etc.

Yesterday I used the contact webform on the SQ website to ask them to add the email address which had somehow failed to carry over to SQ’s system from both VA bookings I had just made. This is clearly the underlying problem preventing not only seat selection but input of any other pax info. The SQ CS team has now allocated my preferred seats (chosen using EF) but ignored my request about the email address. I’ve gone back to them by email ([email protected]) repeating the request to add the email address to both PNRs.

Wonder if the root of this apparently recent issue is some IT glitch (not a deliberate ‘enhancement’) with VA’s Sabre talking to SQ’s Amadeus? Software upgrade not fully tested before deployment, or something like that.

 

[JasonK]

Replying to a few responses in the one post:
* The issue noted (re. missing email) only seems to impact recent bookings. I made both of my bookings recently (over the prior weekend) and have been unable to select seats (either via VA or SQ) for a SQ rewards booking.
* For a SQ rewards booking I made a few months ago, I was able to login to SQ Manage My Booking (using the SQ reference provided by VA) and update my email there. After that I could select seats. Note that even if I login to this booking now, I can still change seats and passenger info and don't get the same error message.
* I've had the same error with a recent Air Canada redemption as well (for a SQ reward flight), re. missing email, however Air Canada lets you access the seat map and select a seat on a SQ flight (but only for flights booked through Aeroplan).

Thanks @bcworld for the suggestion! I tried the chat in the SQ app earlier today. My experience was as follows:
* The first agent I got didn't help and said they can't update an email after a booking already made and said to contact the travel agent.
* The second agent said the same thing, but said they could select seats for me because they actually read my query properly. They gave me a list of seats and I picked 2 seats. They allocated the seats and I can now see them in Manage My Booking (however I can't change the seats).
* My email still isn't updated in my booking, so I'm unable to do any other seat changes, etc but at least this can be done by via chat (even if it's frustrating to explain to them).
* The inconsistencies between agents at SQ has become worse over the years and has become frustrating to find someone who can actually help you, however I suppose the issue isn't isolated to SQ and is wide spread across a lot of airlines.

 

[Telemachus]

I’ve gone back to them by email ([email protected]) repeating the request to add the email address to both PNRs.

* The first agent I got didn't help and said they can't update an email after a booking already made and said to contact the travel agent.
* The second agent said the same thing, but said they could select seats for me because they actually read my query properly. They gave me a list of seats and I picked 2 seats. They allocated the seats and I can now see them in Manage My Booking (however I can't change the seats).
* My email still isn't updated in my booking, so I'm unable to do any other seat changes, etc but at least this can be done by via chat (even if it's frustrating to explain to them).

A further email received from SQ CS leaves me now in the same position as @JasonK and @Auski. SQ has declined to add my email address to my bookings because they are VA redemptions so I am urged to contact VA as the 'travel agent' i.e. marketing carrier. I have low expectations of VA being able to do anything - after all, everything looks fine in the VA PNRs - so I will probably leave it there until there is a need to make any future changes. If this is indeed a systemic issue affecting many/all recent and future VA redemption bookings on SQ, it is going to produce a surge in requests from unhappy customers until it is resolved.

 

[blablatj]

Hi All, just sharing my experience. I booked using Velocity points SIN to BNE Business. I followed the advice on here to contact via chat.

I was logged into the Singapore Airlines website and had joined Krisflyer. I asked if I could have my email address added to my flight and gave them the Singapore Airlines reference number.

They came back and asked some POI questions such as flight number, number of passengers etc.

Once they were happy with identification they said to give them a couple of minutes and came back saying it was added.

I was then able to go to the Singapore Airlines app and select my seats.

Thanks to everyone on here for their advice.

 

[TMP]

Hi All, just sharing my experience. I booked using Velocity points SIN to BNE Business. I followed the advice on here to contact via chat.

I was logged into the Singapore Airlines website and had joined Krisflyer. I asked if I could have my email address added to my flight and gave them the Singapore Airlines reference number.

They came back and asked some POI questions such as flight number, number of passengers etc.

Once they were happy with identification they said to give them a couple of minutes and came back saying it was added.

I was then able to go to the Singapore Airlines app and select my seats.

Thanks to everyone on here for their advice.

+ 1 for this advice just this morning

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

Holy Deja Vu!
Also on exactly the same merry go round of finger pointing between VA and SQ regarding how to access seat selection and BTC on a velocity rewards booking! Have had the email error message, contacted SQ.
This was the first reply:
We acknowledge that you want to add your email to your booking, may we request for a passport copy for us to proceed to the changes?
Sent through requested passports, next reply as follows
With regard to your concern about updating your name and email address, as we have further checked your booking and we learned that your ticket was issued by Virgin Australia Airlines. We encourage you to coordinate with the said airline to address your concern immediately. If you have any other concerns, please do not hesitate to reply on this email.

So like many others I'm back to square one. Fired off an enquiry to VA this morning so will see if that gets anywhere but this is a bit ridiculous and clearly a systemic issue! Also sent a reply to SQ asking if they could allocate seats using EF availability.

Edit... Tried the chatbot route. Got this...
As this booking is created with Velocity in order for you to indicate the email you need to contact Velocity for changes. However, if you want to do the seat selection and meal now I can give you assistance.