Is there any other downside to using Velocity points to redeem business class tickets with Singapore Airlines to LA?

Flights & Airfares
, ,
1

Hi Guys,
Long time reader, rare poster - thank you for all the incredible information.

I’m currently a platinum VA member and have a points balance of over 600k

I don’t want to purchase 2 x freedom fares to LA and risk waiting for reward seats to become available and possibly miss out. I also don’t have enough points to book 2 x return business class tickets straight out with VA.

For some strange reason, I can purchase 2 return business class tickets with SQ and receive my free stopover and not spend a cent (except for taxes - $400 odd). The only downside is that the journey is longer but it’s in SQ business class so it’s far from terrible.

My question is ; Is there any downside to doing this besides for draining my points balance.

I’m struggling to see why I wouldn’t do it (and there is availability)

My pros are ;

a350
free stopover
better business class than VA (from all aspects)

Thank you in advance

2

If you don’t mind, may I ask how many Krisflyer miles was required to book your return business class per person as I’m looking at a similar route but flying solo? Cheers

3

Hey Isklee\r\nSure. It was 220k Krisflyer miles per person return. A total of 440k but I had to pay the $450 taxes which is nothing.\r\nI didn’t mind parting with the points as the free stopover in Tokyo is a big bonus as we are staying there a week. I did book a saver ticket which apparently has low availability. I booked 10 months out. Happy to help if you need anything else as I learnt a lot from this and this site of course.

4

I’ve just logged into Krisflyer for a similar route for Sept 2018 and it comes back at 220k krisflyer miles each way (+$214 in taxes each way)…am I doing something wrong? I just want to be sure as I do not wish to transfer my Velocity points to Krisflyer only to discover that I’m short and unable to complete the booking! I also note that the Business Saver ticket is also noting as Waitlisted??? Cheers

5

That sounds very good to me. Also you will have access to the Star Alliance lounge at LAX and lounge at SIN

6

Downsides: costs more points, spend more time in the air (though that is an upside for some), hard product isn’t superior (on par I’d say).

Upsides: a350 is rly nice (recent went to Europe on SQ in J), soft product is better, added stopover in Singapore.

I’d take the VA flight any day if I could find availability, but the SQ option is good if not. SQ availability through VA isn’t as good as through SQ themselves, so if you have to transfer VA>SQ points you’ll lose 35%…

7