KrisFlyer® - Singapore Airlines

Program Review

Singapore Airlines Unlimited, otherwise known simply as Singapore Air, has its hub at Singapore Changi Airport. This airline uses the Singapore Girl as its central figure in its corporate branding. With a fleet size of 111 aircrafts, this airline has 64 different destinations that it flies to. Its parent company is Temasek Holdings, and it ranks in the top 15 carriers worldwide in terms of revenue passenger kilometers. You will find that Singapore Air has a great frequent flyer program for those who fly with this airline often. If you want to start earning points that can be used for free flights and cabin upgrades among other things, it is highly recommended that you take the time to see what this program has to offer.

KrisFlyer Program

KrisFlyer is a frequent flyer program that is used by thousands of people to earn miles/points that can be redeemed for complimentary flights, cabin upgrades, hotel bookings, and many other things. Singapore Airlines’ frequent flyer scheme can be broken down into two separate components: KrisFlyer and PPS Club. The PPS Club is specifically reserved for the more frequent and premium Singapore Airlines’ travelers. This airline also has a number of partner airlines that members of this frequent flyer program can travel with to earn points.

Earning KrisFlyer Points

Once you sign up for the KrisFlyer program, you will discover that miles are earned based on the distance you fly as well as the class you travel in. The accruals are specified for non-airline partners. When you book an airline ticket, a fare class code will be assigned to your booking. The highest fare codes for Economy, Business, and First class are Y, J, and F. There are different fare levels in each cabin class, which accrue miles differently. A percentage is taken from the actual number of miles that you fly. Depending on the fare code, you will earn 10%, 50, or 100% of the actual distance you travel in Economy. In Premium Economy, you will always earn 110%, in Business you earn 125%, in First Class you earn 150%, and in full fare Suites (code ‘R’), you earn 300%. This system is similar for partner airlines. Miles can be earned through non-airline partners as well, such as through credit cards like American Express, which can help you increase your mileage balance quickly and significantly. Elite Miles are accrued in the same way as regular miles, and they can be used to upgrade your status to higher levels.

Redeeming Mileage Points

A majority of people decide to redeem the miles/points they have accrued for award seats on Singapore Airlines flights, and understandably so. You can redeem your miles for a ticket in any class with the exception of Premium Economy. It is recommended that you do not use your miles to purchase an Economy class ticket, simply because the marginal cost between an Economy and Business seat when redeeming points is fairly small. If you are going to redeem your points, you will most likely want to go with Business class. There are some important things to consider when it comes to redeeming your miles for an award flight, such that award tickets are subject to seat availability at the time of redemption, which may be capacity-controlled by the airline as its discretion. Also, round-trip award tickets are available at twice the number of KrisFlyer miles as one-way award tickets. All taxes, fuel surcharges, and fees are applicable and payable by credit/debit card. You also have the option of redeeming the miles you have accrued for flight upgrades. For redemption of upgrades from Economy to Premium Economy Class or Business Class, only tickets purchased in Y, B, or E booking classes on flights operated by Singapore Airlines or SilkAir or eligible. When you want to redeem your miles for an award flight ticket, you will be able to do so by going onto the official Singapore Airlines website and signing into your KrisFlyer account.

Routing Rules

With a roundtrip saver award ticket, you will be able to do one stopover and one open jaw for free. One a one-way standard or full award ticket, you will be able to do no more than one stopover. Stopovers are not typically permitted on a one-way saver level award ticket. You will be able to add a stopover to a one-way award ticket for $100, and add an additional stopover on a roundtrip award ticket for another $100.

Redeem on Upgrades

KrisFlyer members will be able to use the points they accumulate to upgrade their cabin class on booked flights. You will be able to upgrade your current Economy or Business Class booking if you have booked Y, B, E, or any other business class fares. You will then need to see if there is a upgrade award availability. The best way to do this is by going into your bookings, then Upcoming Flights, Manage Booking, and selecting. You can use the normal redemption flight booking to see if there is award space, though this method will not check your eligibility.

Booking Fees & Charges

There are some fees that you will want to know about as a KrisFlyer member, including the $75 fee for booking less than 25 hours before a flight’s departure. There is also a $12 fee for online flight changes, a $20 fee for offline flight changes, and a $30 fee for redeposit miles of completely unused tickets.

Elite Levels

You will find that there are different Elite Tiers that you can work your way through when it comes to Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program, including Elite Silver and Elite Gold. There are various requirements that you must meet in order to qualify for these tiers. Elite Miles are used for the sole purpose of upgrading your status to higher levels. You will find that Elite Miles accrue in the exact same way as regular miles do, as stated above. In order to qualify for Elite Silver, you will need to accrue 25,000 miles within a period of 12 months. If you want to qualify for Elite Gold, you will need to accrue 50,000 miles within 12 months.

Benefits of KrisFlyer Program

There are a number of benefits associated with taking advantage of become an Elite Silver or Elite Gold member, such as:

• Priority airport standby and reservation waitlist.

• 25% bonus on miles earned when flying Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, or Virgin Atlantic.

• Waived and reduced fees for KrisFlyer services (includes 50% saving to change a redemption nominee.)

• Priority boarding after Suites, First, and Business Class.

• Priority baggage handling.

• Priority Check-in.

• Complimentary access to SilverKris Business Class lounges worldwide, applicable partner lounges where there is no SilverKris lounge, and the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport.