Changes are coming to the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program, and it’s not good news.
In this post:
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer 2022 devaluation
The Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program will be devalued as of this summer. With this, we’ll see award redemption and upgrade rates on Singapore Airlines increased across the board, as well as on Star Alliance partners. On top of that, Singapore Airlines will be modifying its stopover policy for the worse.
Note that the devaluation applies based on the booking date, and not based on when you travel, so you can still lock in travel for the future at the old rates. Waitlisted awards maintain their current pricing as long as they clear before the changes kick in, while if they clear after, the new pricing will apply.
There’s nothing here that’s earth shattering, but it’s bad news. Let’s go over all the details.
Award rates on Singapore Airlines increasing
Saver award rates are increasing on Singapore Airlines across the board:
- Here’s the KrisFlyer award chart for bookings through July 4, 2022
- Here’s the KrisFlyer award chart for bookings as of July 5, 2022
As you can see, KrisFlyer continues to have zone based award charts. Nothing is changing about the 13 different zones, but rather just the pricing is being adjusted. With these changes, we’re seeing award costs increase anywhere from 8-16%, depending on the region and class of service.
Just to give an example, one-way between New York and Frankfurt:
- Before the devaluation you’d pay 22,500 miles for economy, 47,000 miles for premium economy, 72,000 miles for business class, and 86,000 miles for first class
- After the devaluation you’d pay 25,000 miles for economy, 52,000 miles for premium economy, 81,000 miles for business class, and 97,000 miles for first class
One-way between New York and Singapore (nonstop):
- Before the devaluation you’d pay 73,000 miles for premium economy and 99,000 miles for business class
- After the devaluation you’d pay 80,500 miles for premium economy and 111,500 miles for business class
Those are just a couple of examples, though you can take a look at all the combinations directly on the charts (just scroll down to the “Saver” section if you want to see the lowest pricing).
Award rates on Star Alliance partners increasing
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Star Alliance award costs will be increasing as of July 5, 2022:
- Here’s the KrisFlyer Star Alliance award chart for bookings through July 4, 2022
- Here’s the KrisFlyer Star Alliance award chart for bookings as of July 5, 2022
The award cost increases largely follow those for travel on Singapore Airlines, and you can expect that on average award costs are increasing around 10%. Singapore KrisFlyer has never been that lucrative of a program for partner awards, so I don’t view this as that huge of a loss.
For example, for one-way awards within North America:
- Before the valuation you’d pay 12,500 miles for economy and 23,000 miles for business class
- After the devaluation you’d pay 14,000 miles for economy and 26,000 miles for business class
Upgrade rates on Singapore Airlines increasing
Singapore Airlines upgrade rates are increasing on Singapore Airlines across the board as well:
- Here’s the KrisFlyer upgrade chart for bookings through July 4, 2022
- Here’s the KrisFlyer upgrade chart for bookings as of July 5, 2022
Upgrade costs are increasing an average of around 10%. In general I consider it a much better value to outright book an award ticket than to upgrade, so I won’t get into too much more detail on that.
Stopover policy being devalued
Historically Singapore Airlines has had an awesome award stopover feature. On a one-way award ticket you could pay $100 to have a stopover enroute without paying additional miles. For many based in Singapore, this was used as a way to essentially combine two separate awards and save a lot of miles.
For example, you could book a business class award from New York to Sydney via Singapore, with a 10 month stopover in Singapore (just to give an example).
As of August 1, 2022, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer will be eliminating paid stopovers altogether, so unfortunately this will no longer be possible.
My take on Singapore KrisFlyer program changes
Singapore Airlines almost exclusively makes long haul premium cabin award seats available to members of its own KrisFlyer program. This means that if you want to fly Singapore Airlines in a long haul premium cabin, you have to book through KrisFlyer, rather than through a partner program.
The good news is that Singapore KrisFlyer is transfer partners with Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou, so there are lots of easy ways to earn points that can be redeemed for these flights.
Obviously this devaluation is bad news, no matter how you slice it. However:
- It has been a few years since KrisFlyer has increased award costs
- At least we’re seeing consistent and relatively mild award increases, so it’s not like there’s some award costs increased by 50%, as we sometimes see during devaluations
This devaluation is negative, no matter how you slice it. But it’s also something we have to live with, given that it’s not like there’s really an alternative to KrisFlyer if you want to fly Singapore’s premium cabins.
Bottom line
The Singapore KrisFlyer program is devaluing as of July 2022. Award costs are increasing an average of somewhere around 10-15% in all cabins for travel on Singapore Airlines and Star Alliance. Furthermore, Singapore Airlines’ generous $100 stopover policy is being eliminated, which is something I know many won’t be happy about.
What do you make of this Singapore KrisFlyer devaluation?
(Tip of the hat to Mainly Miles)
That's it fellas, let's just book everything in cash
Are you aware that since March 2022 (or earlier), Singapore Airlines will NOT let you redeem Krisflyer Miles to book a flight online?
Tried numerous times, with different browsers, cleared cookies, etc., etc., to no avail.
They tell you to call them to redeem, then after waiting an hour on the phone, they tell you the redeem team will call you back to redeem – guess what? they NEVER called back yet, since...
Are you aware that since March 2022 (or earlier), Singapore Airlines will NOT let you redeem Krisflyer Miles to book a flight online?
Tried numerous times, with different browsers, cleared cookies, etc., etc., to no avail.
They tell you to call them to redeem, then after waiting an hour on the phone, they tell you the redeem team will call you back to redeem – guess what? they NEVER called back yet, since March, and I called them many a times.
We’ve sent over a dozen emails since March, and one month ago, we received a reply, with the answer “sorry, but send us detailed info” (as if we didn’t originally write 2 pages of info to them already, to begin with)!
BUT if you want to use cash & miles (at a miserable rate, to book), or just cash, then yes, you can do it online instantly.
They just want your cash, and make it impossible to redeem!
Has anyone looked at the zillion complaints against them on their Facebook page???
This airline is a joke.
Why are they still flying it’s beyond me (supposedly great service in the sky, but horrible to non-existent on the ground)!!!
Avoid at all costs!!!
George M.
Hi
Very disappointing service,
I am a one of the your loyal customer from 1979 and I traveled many time past your Singapore Airline and my KrisFlyer Membership no is 8*********
when i traveled this year Singapore Airline 21 Feb to 04 March 2022
and when i try to claim my mileage i am getting this wrong reply as a saying my Family Name/Given Name mismatch please kindly have a look the Air ticket i attach with this email
This pandemic has really screwed my points travel plans. I had an amazing family vacation booked for July 2020. Cathay Pacific business class from the West Coast to Singapore, Singapore Air Business to Bali, Singapore Air Business to Penang Malaysia, Singapore Air Business back to the West coast. The kicker was it was all booked on award travel for my whole family of four(Alaska Miles and Chase converted to Kris points). The trip was cancelled...
This pandemic has really screwed my points travel plans. I had an amazing family vacation booked for July 2020. Cathay Pacific business class from the West Coast to Singapore, Singapore Air Business to Bali, Singapore Air Business to Penang Malaysia, Singapore Air Business back to the West coast. The kicker was it was all booked on award travel for my whole family of four(Alaska Miles and Chase converted to Kris points). The trip was cancelled due to COVID. Obviously finding four business class seats was a challenge and took some serious time & effort to book. Now two years later my Singapore miles are not only going to potentially expire but booking anything for a family of four is impossible in business. . . .
I just booked a O/W CPT/DPS in business great deal, that followed a recent LHR/DPS in business and LHR/CPT on Ethiopian all at the saver rate. That's all my krisflyer miles used now. Going forward my intention is to look at all options for flights rather than one alliance, travel has changed and the cost ratio of miles has diminished.
Oh No...I have plans to book SFO-SYD for my family of 5 for July 2023. Just waiting for calendar to open up. This will definitely mean I will have to book at the higher rate.
Correct me if I am wwrong, but you need to have the miles in your account if you waitlist a flight for either Saver or Advantage award, right?
So this is really a dealbreaker. Love to invite my father for his 80. birthday in SQ Suite from SIN-FRA preferably in October. Currently, there is not a single date available as an award. All must be waitlisted. If they clear, it would be after the devaluation....
Correct me if I am wwrong, but you need to have the miles in your account if you waitlist a flight for either Saver or Advantage award, right?
So this is really a dealbreaker. Love to invite my father for his 80. birthday in SQ Suite from SIN-FRA preferably in October. Currently, there is not a single date available as an award. All must be waitlisted. If they clear, it would be after the devaluation. Putting everything together, it is not attractive. Will try to book WR or EK First on a differente route.
Just avoid SQ and use another airline. EK first is a far better option
I gave up on singapore miles 2 years ago with their last 10% increase. If they measure themselves against Qantas then they are cheap but I would rather put my amex points to Cathy (if they ever fly anywhere). Singapore are not worth it and the website though better is still clunky.
It definitely is not worth it anymore. Trying to get even 2 seats on saver rewards is nearly impossible as they have craftily blocked as many seats as possible. Calling their contact center is a nightmare. The whole thing seems to be planned very well by SQ
I booked round-trip award tickets to fly EWR-SIN and back.
No "saver" Business or Suite awards were available, so I first waitlisted "Advantage" Biz tickets at 140K miles each way and then, just in case the waitlisted Biz tickets might not clear, I booked and confirmed "Saver" Premium Economy award tickets at 73K miles each way.
What this award chart change means is that if my waitlisted "Advantage" Biz tickets clear in January 2023, which...
I booked round-trip award tickets to fly EWR-SIN and back.
No "saver" Business or Suite awards were available, so I first waitlisted "Advantage" Biz tickets at 140K miles each way and then, just in case the waitlisted Biz tickets might not clear, I booked and confirmed "Saver" Premium Economy award tickets at 73K miles each way.
What this award chart change means is that if my waitlisted "Advantage" Biz tickets clear in January 2023, which when the flights will happen, I will be charged 143.5K miles instead of 140k miles, i.e., just 3.5K miles more. As far as "devaluations" go, I would say this is a relatively mild one...
In their announcement, the increase was on Saver and Upgrades. They said Advantage only had a small increase - which is what you've seen.
It doesn't mean it's a mild devaluation, just that your specific booking had the smallest impact of all the changes.
You're right. I missed where it said that biggest changes were for the saver and upgrades...
So we can pay $100 for the stopover as long as we book before 8/1?
5/7
Yes you can. Do note timezone is in GMT+8 so it might be a day earlier.
Tickets booked and cleared before 4/7 is under existing rates
Tickets issued 5/7 to 30/7 would be under new rates, but paid stopover options are still available.
Krisflyer used to be my go to for booking award travel. Their website has become terrible and impossible to book, and I got tired of their limits on family "members" you can book for. Dont use it anymore.
What is the difference between Advantage awards and Saver awards?
Advantage award fares are more flexible - smaller canx fee and no change fee - than Saver awards but are more expensive.
Saver is half the number of advantage miles
Worlds inflation = Points devaluation
You might want to check your info,
They also changed the star alliance award chart. New chart is here:
https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/ppsclub_krisflyer/charts/StarAlliance_RoundTripAwds.pdf
While paid stopovers are being eliminated, you can still stopover up to 30 days, I believe.
On a return flight yes, you'll be able to do one stopover of 30 days, which can be booked online (as now)
This is the "correct" usage of the stopover that they want - folk stopping for a few days in Singapore en route to/from Aus or other Asian destinations. It'll be tricky to make use of this to engineer multiple trips like we used to be able to do when SIN based
Only on roundtrip tickets. Previously you could make a stopover on one way saver tickets by paying a sipple,ent of 100$
I've actually been using Alaska's website to search for Singapore award space in J (F still does not show up) so I can see the 30 day calendar. It's 100k AS miles EWR/JFK -SIN in J. It was slightly cheaper on SG but not after this devaluation.
Same. I recently booked a Singapore flight using Alaska miles because the rates were pretty close, with this devaluation Alaska rates are effectively the same. And Alaska has access to the same space as Krisflyer.
Though this is only practical for AS frequent flyers considering the amount of miles needed.
AS regularly has miles sales where they sell at less than 2 cpm.
AS is only of value using SQ miles on certain routes. For instance, a trip SYD-LHR in Business will cost you 100,000 + 65,000 miles (2 separate sectors).
In contrast, using AA miles for the same route on OW partners (if you can find them) is 85,000 miles. Qatar is frequently available, and is my #1 choice for this and similar routings.
oops.... Delete SQ in first sentence and substitute 'their'.
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