DC not able to book on SQ
 

Tried to book an award flight on SQ tonight but the DC agent told me that they were currently unable to book SQ and hadn't be able to do so for the past couple of weeks.

Odd.

Stephen

I've been reading the reports about the difficulty booking SQ recently. This can only just have happened as I booked 2 x C/J return flights MAN-DPS a few weeks back, done in 5 minutes over the phone with DC.

I wonder if SQ are putting the block on this. The problem they have is many of their *A partners have FF'ers who as soon as they have racked up the miles, want to spend them on SQ flights :) .

Don't believe a word they tell you!

I made an SQ J class booking on Saturday 29th Jan after a week of calling, waiting, calling, getting frustrated, waiting for call backs. Almost every diamond club agent you speak to will tell you a different story about this i.e.

1. Its been down for 3 weeks.

2. Its just gone down but it will be available later.

3. We cant do it from Sheffield but East Midlands/Derby can - I'll call you back.

4. Its bmi's fault and we are begging management to get it fixed.

5. Its SQ's fault.

.....and if you're lucky

6. What problem? Yes I can make an SQ booking for you! (have a look over on the 'How long does it take to pick up a bloody phone thread' - you'll see that other FT'ers have managed to book SQ in this time)

And they did, and it all ok because i've had SQ check. This was after a dc manager telling me there was NO WAY I would be able to make this booking on the day that I did.

All I can suggest is keep trying.

It took me about 5-6 attempts, about 5 months ago, to secure an F out, J back return LHR-SIN-HKG on SQ. It's worth keeping trying. I got the impression the agent who actually got the seats went to some 'additional effort', whatever that may entail.

checked again today and was told that it is a technical problem that means they can't see availability on SQ. I asked if there was any way they could take bookings on a request basis and check availability manually (surely they could phone somewhere to ask availability) and was told this wasn't possible.

If it is truly a technical problem (as opposed to an attempt to discourage SQ bookings) you'd think they would have come up with a work around.

I'll keep trying every day!

Stephen

As always with DC redemptions made over the phone, it entirely depends on who you answers your call. Had some brainless oick try to tell me SQ didn't fly SIN-AKL when I know they have been flying the route twice daily for years. In the end gave up and hung up. Redialed immediately and got through to a fantastic agent who was helpful and told me exactly what I needed to know. LHR-SIN full for the dates I requested. Fair enough. "But remember they fly out of FRA,AMS,CDG,CPH and FCO nonstop to SIN"
Thanks to her knowledge of the Star network, was able to secure SQ First Class FRA-SIN-AKL with just a short hop connection with LH in Business all included within the set mileage. Booked within minutes and very happy I was too!! London-Singapore and vv is SQ's most profitable route so probably no need for SQ to release too many seats for FQTV rewards when they can easily sell them all at full market price. My tip is (if you don't mind a short hop over to Europe), try an intermediate connection - chances are you'll get seats on this highly acclaimed airline - probably the best service provider of the *A :D

Have had no problems booking SQ using DC miles. Two weeks ago I booked two J class LHR/SIN/SYD return and 1 F class on the same route and same day for travel in October and last Sunday booked two return J class from LHR to MLE via SIN for travel in June.

Both times the agent know all the routings and while it took a few attempts to get availability to suit he was VERY helpful and informative about how to get the flights I was looking for.

awn

I'm currently having difficulty booking a DC award connection on UA. Keep being told about computer problems...

I've been surprised by this thread and following it with interest. I managed to book SQ to DPS last month without any problems at all, in one 'phone call to DC and with a choice of dates, at fairly short notice (c. 10 days). Couldn't have been more different from the problems described above.

I got through this morning and thought I had gotten rid of my BD jinx. But then out came the "computer links aren't working" excuse, although the woman said "all but SQ" are now working. (Wingnut, your experience contradicts what she said.) "Call back next week and we should be able to help you." Riiight.

Maybe you have a rabbit's foot you can lend me, Dakota? ;)

.............................

Me too! (Prepare for forthcoming tale of woe..)

Having been teased by an endless diet of wonderful business/first trip reports on FT over the last few months and realising I had rattled up 160k miles in my DC account decided to treat myself to a nice long haul flight at the end of May. My current longest ever flight in C is LHR-BRU so you can see that this is going to be an eagerly anticipated life changing event..
First decide on SIN - heard great things about SQ seems a nice place to visit so call asking for four or five night duration at end of May but DC say that links are down, call back in a week. I leave it about ten days to be sure but call again and still can't check availability. Say that I don't mind non-direct (learnt that you often have to ask for this explicitly as will initially only search direct) but can only bring up TG business class - thanks to FT have heard that this is really only new economy style so decide that I don't want to lose my 'C virginity' in such unglamorous surroundings.
Back to the drawing board a couple of days later - what about HKG- stut's fantastic report had really whet my appetite - no LH/SQ but you can have TG the agent informs me..
Now change track totally and try YVR (want a long one for that first time experience..) from either LHR or MAN leaving anytime during last two weeks of May in C changing as many times as needed - zero availability anywhere anytime (not even TG!). Exasperated ask the agent (who has been v helpful) if she has come across any long haul availability around that time in C - she suggests TG to BKK!

So I am still stuck in Slough for my fortnight's leave - all miled up but nowhere to go. My only choices seem to be:-
1) Go somewhere in Y (all above had tons of Y availability) but feel that it is not worth the miles as Y fares in advance are relatively cheap and is just not the C trip that I had set my heart on.
2) Go on TG

Apologies for the long post - any suggestions gratefully received!

There's a silver lining - you didn't go to SIN. I've never liked it and was stuck there for a few days last month. Very much like Slough, moved to the Equator. Dull, dull, dull and oppressively conservative.

Don't bother with either going Y or flying TG, but persist until you get what you want. It will happen, eventually.... ^

I agree TG C would be a waste of your miles, but it looks like you have enough miles for TG in F to SIN (assuming you still want to go after Dakota's review ;) ). Would that be an option? The comments in the TG forum about TG's F product are a lot more positive (just make sure you get the plane with the newer interior).

(The nice thing about the BD awards table is that it classifies any of Southeast Asia in one zone, so you can choose lots of other destinations besides Singapore, for the same number of miles.)

My only advice for redemptions is to:

1) Book more than 6 months out
2) Avoid school holidays
3) Be flexible about destination (ie Any west coast USA, rather than SFO)