Virgin and Singapore

[Virgin Flyer]

Hi,

I’m a platinum member of Virgin and am about to book flights for next weekend to London.

Does anyone know when the virgin and Singapore alliance will start – Ethiad are currently 600 bucks more expensive than Singapore, but the perks in terms of express check in, lounge and points almost make this worth while………… but I’m not quite sure!

Thanks

 

[notzac]

Hi Virgin Flyer, welcome to AFF!

Pretty unlikely that the VA / SQ tie up will begin so soon; only you can determine what the points are worth to you but I would probably lean towards booking the VA codeshares (100% points bonus vs. booking the direct EY flights and only getting 50% points bonus)

Actually, you didn't mention what class of service. If you're booking whY, you may well find that the EY code will actually earn more - the base rate is 1 point per mile .. as opposed to VA, which could be as low as 0.5 points per mile).

Especially if you're flying whY, the perks make something of a difference. Also, how does VS stack up price wise? Points/status earn isn't quite as good but the lounges are better.

 

[Justchecking]

They are still waiting on reg approval best estimates are year end. But I have a related question. Velocity allows retrospective points allocation on partner airline flights taken in the last 6 months. Does this mean that if I fly SQ today, and they gain reg approval say in Nov, I can then get my flights points credited to the velocity program (provided I've not had the points credited on Krisflyer?).

 

[Virgin Flyer]

They are still waiting on reg approval best estimates are year end. But I have a related question. Velocity allows retrospective points allocation on partner airline flights taken in the last 6 months. Does this mean that if I fly SQ today, and they gain reg approval say in Nov, I can then get my flights points credited to the velocity program (provided I've not had the points credited on Krisflyer?).

would like to know that too - I've got about 40,000 Krisflyer points and about 110,000 Virgin miles, would much rather the miles go to Virgin esp. with status points rather than Krisflyer

 

[oz_mark]

Does anyone know when the virgin and Singapore alliance will start – Ethiad are currently 600 bucks more expensive than Singapore, but the perks in terms of express check in, lounge and points almost make this worth while………… but I’m not quite sure!

My understanding is that reciprocal lounge access has already commenced.

 

[leemin]

But I have a related question. Velocity allows retrospective points allocation on partner airline flights taken in the last 6 months. Does this mean that if I fly SQ today, and they gain reg approval say in Nov, I can then get my flights points credited to the velocity program (provided I've not had the points credited on Krisflyer?).

+1 for wanting an official answer to that question

 

[mavrick9]

Im looking for flights to Singapore ex MEL. The only SIN flights ex Australia seem to be on Etihad ex BNE.

You can go PER - LHR via SIN on Singapore Airlines, but that seems all you can book via the VA website. As mentioned in another thread, you can't get off in Singapore.

I'm hoping that we'll soon be able to book our Sing Air tickets via the VA website. The SA website really needs some work.

 

[chrisjrn]

At the moment, just book on the SQ website... or through a travel agent ^_^

 

[jneufeld]

I'm hoping that we'll soon be able to book our Sing Air tickets via the VA website. The SA website really needs some work.

I spoke to a BNE based GCC rep the other day about when you could start booking codeshares, and they have been trained in SQ bookings. They estimated bookings would commence mid-March, I assume this would be when the website would become able to book SQ too.

 

[mavrick9]

.. or through a travel agent ^_^

A travel agent? so 80's

 

[medhead]

I had a good look at booking via the SQ website today. Make sure you check the fare code is one that earns points, seems to be flexi-saver and above only on SQ. But as full economy. Hopefully one advantage of VA codeshares will be discount Y earning. Not that the price difference is that big anyway.

 

[jneufeld]

I had a good look at booking via the SQ website today. Make sure you check the fare code is one that earns points, seems to be flexi-saver and above only on SQ. But as full economy. Hopefully one advantage of VA codeshares will be discount Y earning. Not that the price difference is that big anyway.

SQ doesn't allow KrisFlyer miles to be earned on discount fares so I doubt VA will get that privilege.

Eligible Velocity earn fares on SQ

Eligible KF earn fares on SQ

 

[medhead]

SQ doesn't allow KrisFlyer miles to be earned on discount fares so I doubt VA will get that privilege.

That's fine if on an SQ flight number, which is what I said BTW. However, a VA codeshare flight number would be different, well that was my speculation, because VA actually give points for discount economy fares. Unlike SQ. I believe this is the situation with VA codeshares on EY.

 

[Tuddy]

I'm booked to fly SYD-FCO in July on SQ and the SQ call centre confirmed with me today that my Velocity number was on the system and I would earn points (it's a W class fare). However, looking at my account on the Velocity site (the section where you can look at forward bookings for partner airlines) it seems not to be registered with them (being Velocity). Is this normal??

 

[jujay]

If anyone could answer this question, I'd be most grateful..scoured the threads and couldn't find anything.

If I book SQ flight SYD-LHR which obviously goes via SIN, will SCs be calculated as SYD-SIN then SIN-LHR or as SYD-LHR? Hoping it's the former, as this will yield more SCs. It will be on J fares.

 

[straitman]

If anyone could answer this question, I'd be most grateful..scoured the threads and couldn't find anything.

If I book SQ flight SYD-LHR which obviously goes via SIN, will SCs be calculated as SYD-SIN then SIN-LHR or as SYD-LHR? Hoping it's the former, as this will yield more SCs. It will be on J fares.

Virgin SCs are calculated from start point to finish point unfortunately. The only way around it is to have separate bookings and collect and recheck baggage at the intermediate point.

 

[jujay]

Virgin SCs are calculated from start point to finish point unfortunately. The only way around it is to have separate bookings and collect and recheck baggage at the intermediate point.

Argh, what a shame. Thanks for the quick response straitman

 

[oz_mark]

Virgin SCs are calculated from start point to finish point unfortunately. The only way around it is to have separate bookings and collect and recheck baggage at the intermediate point.

I would think that the SQ flights would be two different flight numbers and post as two flights to DJ, with 2 sets of SC's etc.

The start to finish thing is true for DJ coded flights, not for VA, and as far as I am aware not for partners.

 

[djchuckles]

We put a London to Sydney Singapore flight into Velocity and i got it in two chunks - 60SC for the shorter leg and 80SC for the longer

It was booked as one flight - though we did have a 10 hour stopover in Singapore - not sure if they made a difference?

 

[jneufeld]

T&Cs only specify DJ coded i.e Domestic and Short Haul Int'l. I assume its on a flight by flight basis with partners as djchuckles ​has witnessed.

Terms and Conditions
* When you purchase a single domestic or international short haul fare with Virgin Australia and there is a via point which does not involve a stopover, the Status Credits are awarded on the mileage from origin to destination, e.g. ABX-BNE via SYD will receive the Status Credits for the distance and fare type flown based on ABX-BNE.