Just wondering if anybody has come across this situation. I was doing a redemption booking for SQ Mel/CDG with both Advantage and Advantage Saver seats and was able to see that sees were available for immediate confirmation. After selecting Advantage one way and Saver return I was unable to actually ticket it due to a technical error. Literally that was the message "you have experienced a technical error, please try again later". Never fear I thought I would call my trusty PPS help line and ask them to do it, alas due to "quotas" and even though seats were available they also could not ticket it.
The only explanation I was able to gather is that each country has a "quota" enforced by the ticketing system and as such, despite seats being available everything could be waitlisted in he event that the quota was changed but in the mean time other users are able to book the open seats to other destinations ie: instead of Melb/CDG somebody could book SIN/CDG etc. While I could split the ticket Melb/Sin Sin/CDG and have two PNR's it would not be able to be merged and a high points rate would apply.
Has anybody ever heard of the SQ Quota system before and what it actually is?
Yes it exists. Availability is restricted depending on where you are flying to and from. It gives people from all around the world equal access to seats instead of it all being taken by the French, Singaporeans, Australians etc.
I've been told by regular KrisFlyer users that there can also be 'POS restrictions' for booking frequent flyer seats in specific countries - so while it might be visible in the system, you may not be able to book it from a certain place. My suggestion would be to call SQ if you can't book online as an 'Australian passenger', as their call centre is most likely based in Singapore and thus can search the same flights as a 'Singapore passenger', even though the journey commences in Australia.
There may be a number of ways around this. I would be interested to know if they work - airline websites aren't always the smartest, when it comes to IT ..
1. Since SQ's website detects and defaults to your location, if you don't check you'll be subject to it. However, the website allows you to change your location. See the dropdown in the uppermost right of the screen,
2. What is to stop you using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on the search? The SQ network would then be unable to determine your IP address or default location.
I actually called SQ a couple of times and whilst they can see the seats as being available they cant book them either from Sin. It seems that as I am originating from Australia (Sydney/Melb makes no difference) rather than my home address is the "quota" problem...
Thanks for your feedback, Taylor. Your call to SQ and their response indicates to me that their RES system is checking availability and then explicitly validating eligibility against the physical address recorded in your FF program membership, rather than just checking against your IP address. Sneaky b*ggers LoL. That is a fairly smart implementation.
Usually, the first line of 'attack' is for an airline website to check your IP address and re-direct you to a local website first. The second step is often, 'out of country' purchases etc. are tied to credit card country codes etc.
We learn something new every day! I will keep this in mind. So, the upshot is that yes - SQ does have a regional quota .. and secondly, it is heavily enforced. I feel your frustration. Given you are an SQ PPS member, I wonder if there is any value in escalating this issue higher within SQ to see if anyone has 'over-ride' permissions within their system? Quota not withstanding, it's not a good look to deny PPS members ..
Hi Kimshep. Thank you. As it turned out I was at a function with heavy SQ management presence and mentioned to one of the SQ managers. His advise was to always call local PPS representatives (each state has one or two) rather than the central call centre. I called, they check and then called again to say that a seat has been made available as per what was on the public system!
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on
SQ Country Quotas for F/F Redemptions..
Taylor
Taylor
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
Member since 19 Mar 2016
Total posts 53
anonymous
anonymous
Member since 24 Dec 2013
Total posts 159
Yes it exists. Availability is restricted depending on where you are flying to and from. It gives people from all around the world equal access to seats instead of it all being taken by the French, Singaporeans, Australians etc.
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
I've been told by regular KrisFlyer users that there can also be 'POS restrictions' for booking frequent flyer seats in specific countries - so while it might be visible in the system, you may not be able to book it from a certain place. My suggestion would be to call SQ if you can't book online as an 'Australian passenger', as their call centre is most likely based in Singapore and thus can search the same flights as a 'Singapore passenger', even though the journey commences in Australia.
kimshep
kimshep
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 11 Oct 2014
Total posts 412
There may be a number of ways around this. I would be interested to know if they work - airline websites aren't always the smartest, when it comes to IT ..
1. Since SQ's website detects and defaults to your location, if you don't check you'll be subject to it. However, the website allows you to change your location. See the dropdown in the uppermost right of the screen,
2. What is to stop you using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on the search? The SQ network would then be unable to determine your IP address or default location.
Taylor
Taylor
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
Member since 19 Mar 2016
Total posts 53
kimshep
kimshep
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 11 Oct 2014
Total posts 412
Thanks for your feedback, Taylor. Your call to SQ and their response indicates to me that their RES system is checking availability and then explicitly validating eligibility against the physical address recorded in your FF program membership, rather than just checking against your IP address. Sneaky b*ggers LoL. That is a fairly smart implementation.
Usually, the first line of 'attack' is for an airline website to check your IP address and re-direct you to a local website first. The second step is often, 'out of country' purchases etc. are tied to credit card country codes etc.
We learn something new every day! I will keep this in mind. So, the upshot is that yes - SQ does have a regional quota .. and secondly, it is heavily enforced. I feel your frustration. Given you are an SQ PPS member, I wonder if there is any value in escalating this issue higher within SQ to see if anyone has 'over-ride' permissions within their system? Quota not withstanding, it's not a good look to deny PPS members ..
Taylor
Taylor
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
Member since 19 Mar 2016
Total posts 53
Hi Kimshep. Thank you. As it turned out I was at a function with heavy SQ management presence and mentioned to one of the SQ managers. His advise was to always call local PPS representatives (each state has one or two) rather than the central call centre. I called, they check and then called again to say that a seat has been made available as per what was on the public system!