Flight cancellation and rebooking problems

[kpc]

I initially had 2 reward bookings in J for early next year as follows:

Mon: Sq232 Syd 1215 Sin 1720
Tues: Sq462 Sin 1005 Mle 1140 (Rebooked by Sq automatically to: SQ452 SIN-MLE 20:35 - 22:10)

Mon: Sq461 Mle 1420 Sin 2210 (Rebooked by Sq automatically to: Sun SQ451 MLE-SIN 23:25 - 07:15))
Tues: Sq231 Sin 0045 Syd 1145

Got an SMS yesterday that Sq462 and Sq 461 were cancelled and we were rebooked as above in blue

Managed to change (as they still had award seats available) the Sq452 flight on Tues to a day earlier (Mon) so we will continue on to Mle after transitting through Sin.
Mon: Sq232 Syd 1215 Sin 1720
Mon: Sq452 Sin 2035 Mle 2210

The problem is coming back as we have been put on the Sun evening (the day before) SQ451 MLE-SIN 23:25 - 07:15 and we will still be in Maldives. When I asked about putting us on the Mon SQ451 MLE-SIN 23:25 - 07:15, connecting to Tues Sq211 Sin 0940 to Syd 2035, they said they couldn't as there were no award seats in J on Sq 211 available.

I argued that shouldn't matter as Sq had cancelled our booked flights and should open up seats for us on Sq 211, she told me she would request that and will get back to me in a few days...a bit annoyed that I'm still waiting and that Sq wouldn't do that automatically on request as by cancelling 2 flights thay have messed up our itinerary, and currently have us leaving Mle a day earlier whilst we are still in the Maldives!

Any similar experiences and advise?
Thanks

[hvb]

KPC

Two issues here.

Firstly, your rebooked flight puts you into MLE late at night. If your destination island requires sea plane transfers you will have to overnight in MLE, then sea plane to your island the next day. ( lost day of holiday ).

Secondly, if they Cancelled SQ461 and rebooked you to SQ451 the day before then you have every right to insist they rebook you to the Tuesday flight or whatever suits you. You just need to keep ringing back till you get the flight you want ( they buggered it up so they have to fix it ) .

Thirdly ....... so jelous....
We were there in Feb last year and only just last week SHMBO and I were trying justify going again.

Enjoy...would be curious to know where you are staying and your impressions when you return. ( we stayed an Constance Halevali ( excellent)).

HVB

[Kyo]

SQ cancelled the flight for what reason? Is this happening to further flights or just a once-off? Odd...

They're definitely inconveniencing you and you have every weapon in your arsenal to put up a fight.

[kpc]

KPC

Two issues here.

Firstly, your rebooked flight puts you into MLE late at night. If your destination island requires sea plane transfers you will have to overnight in MLE, then sea plane to your island the next day. ( lost day of holiday ).

Yes, we will have to overnight in Mle now as we get in too late for the seaplane transfer....the original plan was to fly Syd-Sin, stay overnight in Sin, then take the day flight the next day to Mle arriving at 1140, and then take the seaplane transfer immediately. Now we will overnight in Mle instead...any suggestions of a cheap hotel at Mle?

Secondly, if they Cancelled SQ461 and rebooked you to SQ451 the day before then you have every right to insist they rebook you to the Tuesday flight or whatever suits you. You just need to keep ringing back till you get the flight you want ( they buggered it up so they have to fix it )

They're definitely inconveniencing you and you have every weapon in your arsenal to put up a fight.

Rang Sq again today and tracked down the person (it's all recorded on the computer) I spoke to on 12.8.13. She reassurred me that whilst I was still currently waitlisted for my desired flights (Mon SQ451 MLE-SIN 23:25 - 07:15, connecting to Tues Sq211 Sin 0940 to Syd 2035), it will be approved but it just takes time for this to be approved by the powers to be....will wait and see. She has promised to call me back when this happens!

SQ cancelled the flight for what reason? Is this happening to further flights or just a once-off? Odd...

Sq have 2 daily flights Sin-Mle return, and I gather on certain days, they have cancelled the day flights....and of course both my flights are on the days that the day flights are cancelled!

Thirdly ....... so jelous....
We were there in Feb last year and only just last week SHMBO and I were trying justify going again.

Enjoy...would be curious to know where you are staying and your impressions when you return. ( we stayed an Constance Halevali ( excellent)).

HVB

We are staying 6 nights at Conrad Maldives, blowing all my HHonors points (booking made prior to the huge Hilton points devaluation!)

[b777jubilee]

i had the same issue. Booked on J class on SQ 462 but was moved to SQ452 but as my accomodation cost USD$1000 a night, going on SQ452 means i will have to waste 1 night stay. Initially they say no to moving me to SQ462 the day before citing saver redemption are not available! Stood my ground and the person on the phone said the seat controller needs to approve my new flight and will need 3 days to revert.

I basically told them its not my fault and SQ is making things inconvenient for me and I have every right to expect SQ to put things right by allowing me to move to an available flight of my choice. I ask them are they gonna pay for my 1 night hotel cost that is USD$1000? Even travel insurance will not compensate to that amount for few hours delay!

Well, the next day, my seat on SQ462 on the day before has been approved

PErsistency counts here but i sometimes wonder if they could have fewer angry passengers if the empower the staffs to allocate seats due to such scenarios instead of reverting to seat controller every time. Now that leaves a sour note on affect passengers like myself and I am not alone! Flyertalk has a forumner complaining as well on the SQ462 cancellation

[Kyo]

Well, tell them to fly you back on MH via KUL - for me personally, I'd view that $1000 a night stay as justification enough. I won't let my holiday plans get trampled on, especially for something so silly like this.

[andrit]

From my experience, when sq cancel or reschedule a flight that you have booked, you have the right to change to other flight even the award flight is not available. If they don't, ask to speak to the CS manager. I booked J class SIN-IST last year from award flight and bought a separate commercial connecting flight from Turkish airlines from IST to TLV. SQ cancelled the award flight i have booked so I have to be rebooked to the next day. I refused and saying I prefer to be rebooked the day before. SQ said the no award flight available on that day, I insisted and ask to be put to the manager in my call. They finally get an approval to put me to the flight day before on award flight(even initially i was told the saver award flight are all full). SQ even said they would reimburse me the fee that I had to pay to Turkish airlines flight for changing my connecting flight. But I didn't bother to do all the claims paper work as it was only $50, but I was very much appreciate SQ in this. So if SQ has promised you they will get approval to put u on other flight, that will do

[kpc]

Finally, got my desired flight from Sin-Syd on the return from Maldives confirmed after nearly a month of ringing Sq. Happy with the end result but not on how difficult and long it took for SQ to open up 2 award J seats on the Sin-Syd sector...all the problems caused due to Sq's own doing in cancelling the Sin-Mel, Mle-Sin day time flights!

[726]

i had mine cancelled. sq305. it was blessing in disguise. i used my right and requested for sq321. the ticket is non changeable