With the big three US carriers awarding redeemable miles based on how much you spend rather than how much you fly, this has opened up some arbitrage opportunities for crediting miles. The number of miles you earn for a given ticket on an airline can vary drastically based on which program you credit to. That's…
Continue reading: Singapore KrisFlyer Cuts Mileage Earning Rates On United
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
My understanding is that it stayed this way for so long because SQ wouldn't renegotiate it's FFP contract with UA without them agreeing to pay extra for SQ award flights (which is why they stopped showing them online). I guess UA finally decided to bite the bullet in order to stop having to pay SQ for so many award miles. I mean, how many arbitrage opportunities like this lasted over 2.5 years?
That means Alaska/Virgin America are the only domestic carriers that still earn 100% KrisFlyer miles (or Asia Miles / Flying Blue miles) across all fare buckets. I credit all my domestic flying to either Krisflyer or Asia Miles. Now there's really no incentive left to fly UA. Good riddance? Hehe.
I credited over 50k miles to Singapore through United flights and earned Gold status with them that way. Sad this opportunity is vanishing, but glad that I at least get to hold on to Star Alliance Gold for awhile!
That said, what's the best *A program for discounted longhaul United economy tickets now?
Gio: Your comment didn't even make any sense at all. Alaska discount economy doesn't even credit to either of those programs.
so i'm guessing aeroplan and lifemiles are the way to go with long haul united economy tickets. Since both programs award 50% of distance flown.
Is that just AWARD miles or is that PREMIER QUALIFYING miles as well? United has the separation of variable award miles but PQM is based on the route distance? Will they follow the same accrual method or the % reduction and earning amount affects both? Thanks.
I've split earnings on UA metal between TK & KF ever since the United $ based system was introduced. Sad to see it go, but for now, I'll be generally TK. Glad I saw this as I might not have checked wheretocredit on my next trip, presuming stats quo and then been more upset!
What little UA flying I still do (after 10+ years of being loyal to them, which ended a couple years ago), I credited to SQ. This just provides another excuse to not fly UA, as if I needed more of them. And an excuse to slightly prefer Virgin America over other options (one can still earn SQ points at 100% of miles flown on all fare classes).
That just took away my single reason to fly UA on my transpacifics. Time to look at oneworld...
@Shane
Just remember that Air Canada is spinning off Aeroplan and making their own loyalty program. The fate of that FFP is up in the air (pun intended).
@Debit
TK is still good on paper since earnings bottom out at 50% (K, G, N). Two year status duration is also a plus. Downside is that redemptions are a nightmare. I recently gave up on trying to redeem TK to UA and bought a set of silverware with points instead.