Star Alliance Gold Status Effect on Krisflyer Waitlist Priority

Lmuzzheng on 07/07/2024 - 17:05

I'm waitlisting on SQ flights in Jan 2025, and have the HSBC star alliance gold credit card. I originally plan to choose Aeroplan for the HSBC star alliance bonus offer of 50k points. But I'd also like to get priority waitlist on these SQ flights. The confirmation of minimum spend is yet to come for another few weeks, so I still have time to change to Krisflyer.

Wondering if anyone can shed light on whether having Star Alliance gold status (from the HSBC credit card) will give you any higher priority on Krisflyer waitlists IF you haven't nominated Krisflyer as the status airline? Or would you need to have actual KF gold status, therefore forfeiting the Aeroplan 50k bonus points?

Guessing I can't double dip and just change to Krisflyer after receiving the Aeroplan points either.

Thanks!

Financial

Comments

  • LemonShapedRock on 07/07/2024 - 20:28

    Great question, I'd also like to know this answer.

    In general does status at all affect reward seat availability? EG Velocity Gold/Platinum do you see extra rewards seats on partner airlines?

    • freshofftheboat on 07/07/2024 - 21:05

      No. Rule of thumb is that having status will NOT have increased award availability on partner airlines. After all, any home airline would want to incentivise/prioritise awards to its own members, than that of its partners.

      However having said that, Virgin Australia has very strange partnership dynamics (particularly with Qatar and Singapore Airlines). I have seen on several occasions where Velocity has shown availability on QR/SQ, despite QR/SQ not showing availability for its own members. This wasn't phantom availability, and I was able to book those flights.

      • ol mate on 08/07/2024 - 20:55

        I have seen on several occasions where Velocity has shown availability on QR/SQ, despite QR/SQ not showing availability for its own members. This wasn't phantom availability, and I was able to book those flights.

        Can confirm this too - picked up SIN-LHR in business via VFF when Krisflyer was showing waitlist for both saver and advantage tickets.

  • freshofftheboat on 07/07/2024 - 21:01

    It will have no impact on waitlisting of SQ award flights at all. For revenue (paid) flights, you do get priority if the flight is full, however, in my past 15 years of Star Alliance Gold, this has no materialistic impact at all.

    PPS status on Singapore Airlines will have increased award availability on Singapore Airlines flights.

    Stick with Aeroplan for HSBC with the 50k bonus.

    • muzzheng on 07/07/2024 - 23:42

      Okay, so confirming you're saying that even with Krisflyer Elite Gold (i.e. by nominating KF as the status airline on the Star Alliance site), it doesn't actually seem to increase your chances of confirming a waitlist flight? Only having PPS status does?

      • freshofftheboat on 08/07/2024 - 13:27

        Is this for a paid ticket or an award (points) ticket?

        • muzzheng on 09/07/2024 - 07:27

          Award ticket.

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