SQ Redemption Devaluation

[fone]

YQ is carrier dependent. If you redeem a SA flight and the carrier does not charge YA (eg UA and NH), then there will be no YQ.

Not sure how this works with Krisflyer miles, I've not really redeemed *A international flights using Krisflyer miles. At least, redemption with UA miles (does not charge YQ) for SQ flight (charges YQ), there is no YQ, but will it be the same for SQ miles after they ceased to charge YQ?

 

[swordspirit]

Not sure how this works with Krisflyer miles, I've not really redeemed *A international flights using Krisflyer miles. At least, redemption with UA miles (does not charge YQ) for SQ flight (charges YQ), there is no YQ, but will it be the same for SQ miles after they ceased to charge YQ?

they say depends on partner airlines. If you noted, the partner airline award chart is cheaper on quite a number of routes. So could be better to use the star alliance award chart for booking instead (just add in a domestic sector)

 

[the.guru]

Received the following email from SQ this evening:

Summary:

1. Miles required for a number of regions increased

2. 15% online discount is no longer offered

3. Award tickets no longer has YQ (fuel surcharge)


Overall I'd say it's a devaluation, since the 15% online discount could be quite significant sometimes. However, by removing YQ from their award tickets, SQ is moving in the positive direction and being more aligned with other Star Alliance carriers (UA,NH etc). For certain routes that are YQ heavy, the 15% *could* possibly break even against the original YQ.

Thoughts?

Edit: I had a read at the latest redemption chart, and some changes are highlighted below:

Affected regions are Zone 7 (Japan & S.Korea), zone 9 (Australia excl. Perth & Darwin & NZ) and zones 11-13 (EU&USA)

Miles for all cabins are increased, with the most significant being zones 11-13 F, they have increased by as much as 10k per way.

Redeem Star Alliance awards better. Choose airlines with no fuel surcharge like Thai Airways and ANA. Or mix with SQ on Thai and ANA. That way you save miles and fuel surchange.

 

[elnewbie]

If you mix SQ with a different Star A carrier on 1 itinerary, it's considered a Star A award and the SQ seat availability will be different compared to a pure Krisflyer award. For business class, I don't think SQ will be easy in releasing these as part of a Star A itinerary.

Redeem Star Alliance awards better. Choose airlines with no fuel surcharge like Thai Airways and ANA. Or mix with SQ on Thai and ANA. That way you save miles and fuel surchange.

 

[dahnoob]

Redeem Star Alliance awards better. Choose airlines with no fuel surcharge like Thai Airways and ANA. Or mix with SQ on Thai and ANA. That way you save miles and fuel surchange.

The miles required for SQ and SA flights do not differ by a significant amount. Perhaps +-10k difference, so I would actually use this opportunity to piece together some creative itineraries. Would not recommend mixing SQ and SA in 1 ticket.

 

[swordspirit]

If you mix SQ with a different Star A carrier on 1 itinerary, it's considered a Star A award and the SQ seat availability will be different compared to a pure Krisflyer award. For business class, I don't think SQ will be easy in releasing these as part of a Star A itinerary.

I would think that for SA through KF on SQ flights, it would have the same availability as direct SQ flights since they are actually booked by SQ team. The different availability is where other SA trying to book SQ flights. However, I have limited experience in this sort of bookings. But so far, as long as i see availability on SQ website, there is no problem for the SQ agent to book it under SA award

 

[the.guru]

I would think that for SA through KF on SQ flights, it would have the same availability as direct SQ flights since they are actually booked by SQ team. The different availability is where other SA trying to book SQ flights. However, I have limited experience in this sort of bookings. But so far, as long as i see availability on SQ website, there is no problem for the SQ agent to book it under SA award

Availability is the same cos booked by KrisFlyer. Done many times.

Avoid European airlines like SWISS and Lufthansa, and others for oneworld like British Airways and Qatar Airways, need to pay a lot of fuel surcharge, like $400 for 1 way Europe trip.

For EVA Air, so long as the trip starts from SIN, the flight from SIN to TPE will need to pay US$100 fuel surcharge, the next EVA Air flight pay US$10 fuel surcharge (before Jan 2017 was each flight US$100!!) so plan the trip to be return to SIN or start from KUL/BKK with 2 tickets.

 

[swordspirit]

Availability is the same cos booked by KrisFlyer. Done many times.

Avoid European airlines like SWISS and Lufthansa, and others for oneworld like British Airways and Qatar Airways, need to pay a lot of fuel surcharge, like $400 for 1 way Europe trip.

For EVA Air, so long as the trip starts from SIN, the flight from SIN to TPE will need to pay US$100 fuel surcharge, the next EVA Air flight pay US$10 fuel surcharge (before Jan 2017 was each flight US$100!!) so plan the trip to be return to SIN or start from KUL/BKK with 2 tickets.

But the domestic sector shld have min surcharge? So it will be good for open jaws in different part of that country

 

[Spk307]

YQ being waived off is not that great a change as fuel surcharges have become much cheaper in recent times.

I think you are confusing fuel price with fuel surcharge. Fuel surcharge is just a silly excuse used by airlines to keep base fare low. Don't think that has changed much recently.

 

[final1]

I am not confused about anything.
You can check for yourself on historical fuel surcharges SQ had been charging in years past and today.

 

[Spk307]

I am not confused about anything.
You can check for yourself on historical fuel surcharges SQ had been charging in years past and today.

One way to SYD on J, the YQ is currently S$172. Can you show how this was higher earlier?

 

[Inix]

I am not confused about anything.
You can check for yourself on historical fuel surcharges SQ had been charging in years past and today.

YQ on SQ has dropped but it hasn't been significant. And considering that oil prices are going up, possibly to around US$70 a barrel by the end of the year, I see YQ going up again

 

[Inix]

Overall, different people will see this differently. For someone like me who hates fuel surcharge, I see this as a positive outcome. For those who are thinking about redeeming SQ metal using other miles, I'll say god bless you as you won't really get anything much out of it.

Essentially KF is a decent program compared to the others that I have with very decent availability for both Saver and if 1 don't mind, Standard. I rue the loss of the 15% online discount, but considering that its now offset with no YQ, I'm actually incredibly happy.

And lest we forget, a $150 YQ 1 way is actually $300 round trip. For trips to USA, it adds up. QUICK.

 

[final1]

One way to SYD on J, the YQ is currently S$172. Can you show how this was higher earlier?

I wrote "you can check for yourself".
So, please do so if you want to.
Or, don't if you don't want to.

 

[chopra]

May i know whats SQ METAL?

 

[Spk307]

I wrote "you can check for yourself".
So, please do so if you want to.
Or, don't if you don't want to.

Thanks for confirming you were wrong. It's not unusual that people make claims and fail to prove it.

 

[elnewbie]

It means where the operating physical aircraft is SQ

May i know whats SQ METAL?

 

[chopra]

It means where the operating physical aircraft is SQ

Ic. Nowadays they use carbon fibre anyway paiseh to digress.

 

[lifeishard]

Finally can book for taipei liao. Taipei fuel surcharge was atrocious....but bye bye to japan...

 

[Spk307]

Finally can book for taipei liao. Taipei fuel surcharge was atrocious....but bye bye to japan...

One option for Japan would be to book on JL through Alaska. If you can tolerate one stop, can book CX for 5k less miles on Alaska. they have a sale of miles going on.

Can also check for NH through Krisflyer.