Singapore Airlines Krisflyer is devaluing their award chart, making awards across several regions more expensive for travel. The airline claims the devaluation is needed to keep Singapore Airlines competitive, but in all actuality the change comes at a time that Singapore Airlines Krisflyer points are among the easiest to collect. Some medium and long haul travel prices will increase, whereas regional travel and short-haul travel award pricing will stay static. Award flights to China, the Middle East, Africa, and Western Australia will not see a price change. In addition to increasing award costs in several regional, Singapore Airlines is eliminating the 15% discount for booking tickets online. This will raise all ticket costs by 15%! Long haul travel to Europe, Japan and Korea, the United States, Eastern Australia, and New Zealand will see addition award costs increase by 5-15%. The silver lining, the airline is removing fuel surcharges from award tickets.
Overview of Changes to KrisFlyer Awards
- Revisions to Saver Award levels in the Singapore Airlines and SilkAir Award Chart have been made to ensure that flight rewards remain sustainable yet competitive. We last made adjustments to award levels in various zones in 2012.
- The 15% discount for redemption and redemption upgrade bookings made through singaporeair.com and the SingaporeAir app will be discontinued. The same redemption fare will be effective for all channels.
- Fuel and insurance surcharges from all redemption award tickets on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir operated flights will be removed.
- Premium Economy Award prices are not changing.
- Standard awards which cost additional miles and have more award availability are remaining the same cost.
- No changes to Upgrade award chart prices.
- No changes to Star Alliance award prices.
- Award prices only change for travel to and from Zone 7, 9, 11, 12, 13.
Key Cost differences
Singapore Airline is not changing the cost of flights for all regions. Only Zones 7, 9, 11, 12 and 13 will see increases. Not all of these charges quite make sense as flights to zone 5 (Beijing and Shanghai) and zone 10 (Turkey, Middle East, Africa) are longer flight segments than to some of the zones that are seeing an increase. Premium cabing bookings will demand a much higher award cost starting March 23, 2017.
Not including the 15% discount for booking online, the new Business Class saver awards will see the following changes:
- Singapore to San Francisco/Los Angeles increases to 88,000 miles from 80,000. A 10% increase.
- Los Angeles – Tokyo/Seoul increases to 85,000 miles from 77,500 Los Angeles. A 10% increase.
- Houston – Manchester increases to 65,000 miles from 57,500. A 12% increase.
- New York JFK – Frankfurt goes increases to 65,000 miles from 57,500 to 65,000. A 12% increase.
- Singapore to Europe increases to 85,000 miles from 80,000 miles, a 6% increase.
- Singapore to Eastern Australia & New Zealand increases to 58,000 miles from 55,000 miles, a 6% increase.
Not including the 15% discount for booking online, the new First Class saver awards will see the following changes:
- Singapore to San Francisco/Los Angeles increases to 115,000 miles from 107,500. A 7% increase.
- Los Angeles – Tokyo/Seoul increases to 95,000 miles from 87,500 Los Angeles. A 8.5% increase.
- Houston/New York JFK – Europe increases to 76,000 miles from 67,500. A 12.5% increase.
- Singapore to Eastern Australia & New Zealand increases to 80,000 miles from 75,000 miles, a 6% increase.
To see all changes, compare the new Singapore Airlines Award chart to the old Singapore Airlines Award chart.
On the surface, these award changes do not appear devastating. However, when the former 15% saving for booking online is included in the calculation, the cost difference of award prices are actually increasing by nearly 20-30% on several routes! This large of a devaluation is outrageous! Yet, nothing can be done! Frequent Flyer programs are constantly loosing value. Earn and burn!
Buy Now and Save
Singapore Airlines new award chart goes in effect on March 23, 2017. Travelers can purchase tickets for future travel at today’s rate until March 22, 2017. By purchasing a ticket now, travelers will easily save 15-30% off the new awards prices. The downside, tickets purchased made now will incur fuel surcharges which can be over $300 for long haul business class each way. Although the fuel surcharges can be steep, paying $300 to save 20,000 miles is well worth it in my opinion.
Singapore Airlines is transfer partner will Chase, American Express and Citi. With so many transfer options available, I am not surprise to see Singapore Airlines revising their award chart. Transfer your points now to save thousands of miles.
