One of the questions I’ve heard most last year from readers has been about why has Vistara not provided enhanced benefits on Singapore Airlines flights to Vistara Elites. Turns out this has changed as of today and new benefits have been introduced for UK elites flying on Singapore Airlines, and for SQ elites flying Vistara.
Lounge Access On Singapore Airlines for Vistara Gold and Platinum members
Vistara Gold & Platinum members will be able to access the KrisFlyer Gold lounge in Singapore and the Business Class KrisFlyer lounges across the world. Lounge Access is valid for the member only and not their guests.
Lounge Access On Vistara for KrisFlyer Gold/PPS Club members
KrisFlyer Gold/PPS Club members will be able to access the Vistara Lounge in Delhi Terminal 3. Lounge Access is valid for the member along with one guest who is flying Vistara the same day.
Excess Baggage Allowance
Vistara Gold and Platinum members will get an additional 20 kgs of checked baggage allowance when flying Singapore Airlines. Singapore Airlines Gold members will get an additional 10 kgs of checked baggage allowance when flying Vistara.
Priority Airport Checkin & Boarding
When you are travelling on a Singapore Airlines flight, as a Vistara Elite, you will be able to check in using the business class counters where priority check-in is available. Also, when travelling in Economy Class, you will be able to board ahead of other passengers travelling in Economy Class. Similarly, KrisFlyer Gold will get benefits on Vistara business class check-in counters.
Priority Baggage Handling
Club Vistara Platinum & Gold Members will be entitled to priority baggage services when travelling on SQ where this service is available.
Bottomline
Finally, the group is integrating with the airline which is their Indian offspring. This makes complete sense to have elite privileges for members to have access to synergies across the group airlines. Now let’s hope in practice this works better than the Etihad/Jet Airways partnership where there is still some friction on offering benefits on the ground.
Vistara is not giving lounge access to krisflyer gold member at Mumbai airport
@Chandrakant KrisFlyer Gold members get lounge access at the Vistara Lounge in Delhi only, as stated in the article as well. So where is the confusion?
I am in Delhi Airport terminal 3 and also denied access at the Vistara Lounge as a KrisFlyer Elite Gold member. Perhaps the policy has changed over the years and requires an update
@Ai Jia, that policy was changed when the Vistara Lounge was closed. Now there is no Vistara lounge anymore and the airline depends on a contract lounge in Delhi.
How do we get a status match on Krisflyer to gold if I am a Vistara Gold member? Can you guide on the procedure?
@ND you don’t get status matched on Krisflyer if you are Vistara Gold
While these ddevelopments do look good, my overall experience as a Vistara platinum had been dismal so far. Have taken over 20 flights in last 3 months, mostly in premium economy, and food is the only factor that ranks above Jet Airways.
The benefits that exist on paper aren’t actually available. As a plat, I am entitled to waiver on date change fee, but that never happens by default. Any attempt for a date change online require me to pay penalty – have to always call the call centre and therefore not able to take advantage of lower fares available online. In addition, IT systems at Vistara suck – app stops responding frequently and doesn’t have date change feature. One can’t see future trips in Vistara app.
Ok The customer care too is quite pathetic – seems Vistara has poached some call centre staff from Jet 🙂
Overall, a long way to go for the airline to really cut the muster – personally for me, disappointing till date!
Writing this from the Krisflyer Gold lounge in Singapore, did a Vistara status match for my Jet platinum.
The printed boarding pass only mentions UK CV number and not the tier, it’s only the mobile boarding pass that shows the tier and that is available only for flights off Singapore. At Delhi the lady at the check-in counter called the lounge and said I would be coming, while in Sydney I was probably the first Vistara elite to go-to the lounge. There was no priority boarding announcement for CV, neither the priority baggage tag 🙁 But am assuming that is because of the newly integrated systems that do not show the tier status.
All in all, an interesting and useful partnership if you are planning to use SQ for you Pacific travels
I think my decision to ditch the increasingly I – don’t – care Jet airways for Vistara is turning out to be a wise one!
meh.
I wish Vistara had more routes. Jet airways is becoming pathetic by the day. Last 4 flights only jet were all bad. There food is worse than a 20 rs meal at a roadside stall.
About time !
Though now the next step is surely Tata/SQ opening up their chequebooks and ordering some shiny widebody metal…some 350s or 787s would be great, both of which SQ has operational experience in.
Sorry to be a pedant, but SQ doesn’t have any 787’s.
Out of curiosity, where do you think Vistara would go to first, internationally? The SQ partnership does seem like it’ll rule out South East Asia / North Asia.
You aren’t being a pedant, but what I was referring to was SQ’s fully owned subsidiary Scoot. Scoot is an all 787 airline.
I actually think that Vistara will initially fly one of the Middle East destinations (DXB/AUH/MCT) with A320s when they get an international clearance, before getting the new birds and targeting Europe.