Enhancements to KrisFlyer Redemption

[dajop]

It always worries me when I see the word "enhancement" associated with an airline loyalty program. But SQ have made some enhancements to KrisFlyer Redemptions it seems there is a genuine enhancements that SQ are implementing (one way redemptions now become 50% of return, was 70% previously)., coupled with a QF style "anyseat" or as SQ call it "Full Award" with less restrictions on availability but hefty (read ridiculously high) points requirements.

The summary:

More seats available with a new award type
Currently, there are two award types available for redemption – Saver award and unrestricted award (renamed as Standard award). With the introduction of a new award type – Full award, we will be offering three award types for redemption. As a result, you will enjoy greater value by mixing and matching the various award types and different classes of travel.
Saver award
Saver award is offered in Economy, Business and First Class on most aircraft types, and requires fewer KrisFlyer miles as compared to Full and Standard awards. Saver award provides for one free stopover per round-trip and a ticket validity of 6 months. As Saver awards are very popular, availability may be limited and some restrictions may apply.
There will be no change to the number of miles required to redeem for a round-trip Saver award.
Standard award
The current unrestricted award will be renamed Standard award. Standard award provides a greater selection of seats on all flights than Saver award, extended ticket validity of 12 months and two free stopovers per round-trip, giving you the extra flexibility.
Full award
The Full award is the new award type that will provide you with access to more redemption seats when redeeming your miles, especially on popular flights and during peak periods.
You will also enjoy two free stopovers per round-trip and extended ticket validity of 12 months when you travel on a Full award ticket.
All three award types will be available for redemption on Singapore Airlines flights only. For redemption on SilkAir flights, only Saver award is available.
For redemption on other airline partners such as Star Alliance carriers, please refer to the respective award charts.
For details on the number of miles required for the respective award types, please click on the charts below:
One-Way Full Award
One-Way Standard Award
One-Way Saver Award
One-Way Economy to Business Class Upgrade
One-Way Business to First Class Upgrade
Redeem one-way award tickets with fewer miles
When you redeem your miles for a one-way award ticket, you will need only 50% of the number of miles required for a round-trip award ticket (instead of the existing 70%).

[StevePER]

Fantastic, this is very helpful for combining QF/SQ awards.

[QF009]

I think about the only real enhancement i see is the one way awards at 50%.
The introduction of the new tier along with how Krisflyer miles are transacted represent a devaluation of Krisflyer miles and is reminiscent of the recent QFF changes.

Saver awards cannot be redeemed on A380 and 77W flights - this virtually wipes out anything but premium awards on regional configuration aircraft as the 744s are rapidly replaced by the A380. For instance, it is now all but impossible to fly to Europe on an F saver other than FRA as all flights offering F to Europe have already been switched to 77W/A380 operations (LHR, CDG, ZRH, MXP, BCN, 1 of 2 FRA dailies) or are in the process of being changed over (ie all remaining LHR services). Soon saver awards might well only be limited to a handful of regional routes, as North American and South Pacific services slowly morph to the new aircraft.

The Standard awards cost double the amount of miles required for the Saver's. They book into discount revenue buckets. Currently these do not exist for A380 Suites because they book into A for First awards and the only fare bucket for Suites is R. Soon these will be the main type of awards that'd be available.

Full awards at first glance operate like QF Anytime Awards except there's no option of the cash offset. Level of miles required will depend on the revenue cost of the seat. They might allow R redemptions on these. Introduction of this new tier looks v much like an attempt to 'normalise' the cost of Standard awards (notice change in language 'Unrestricted' -> 'Standard').

According to the website, a sample one way award on SIN-LHR in J will cost:
Saver - 60k
Standard - 120k
Full - 315k

And they've not even revised the accrual rate to reflect the new burn rate, so if this isn't a devaluation I don't know what is. Coming on the heels of last September's PPS changes, this is truly a slap in the face for SQ's loyal frequent flyers. It might make sense if you're a corporate executive who has a corporate spend credit card linked to your Krisflyer account, but narrowing down the target market to these travelers truly reeks of short termism at a time of global economic uncertainty.

This just confirms why I've never bothered accruing on Krisflyer despite the fact that a large portion of my *A flights are flown on SQ. Sure I might miss out on F and J awards on the 77W and A380 by redeeming M+M or DC miles, but at the end of the day I just want to get somewhere comfortably and affordably - even if that means redeeeming on another *A carrier.

Thanks for indulging me....

[dajop]

Originally Posted by QF009

It might make sense if you're a corporate executive who has a corporate spend credit card linked to your Krisflyer account, but narrowing down the target market to these travelers truly reeks of short termism at a time of global economic uncertainty.

If SQ had double pts for top tiers (instead of 25% bonus) it would be a lot better. You are right about it being great for credit card holders, if u look at QF "classic" awards to Europe and SQ's now "standard" awards on the 380/77W (when booked online with 15% discount) they are virtually identical - 128K on QF, 127.5K on SQ. But better availability on SQ Standard awards than QF classic. This means it is same same for credit card holders (if earning at 1:1) but for flying - QF are superior. One wonders if SQ are watching QF closely ... but not quite closely enough.

Interesting that there are a lot of parallels between QF & SQ - arrogance is a charge levelled at both airlines, a lot of concerns around the cost of awards, better to accrue mileage on their partners programs (AA & BD/LH etc respectively). Yet in a difficult environment, both remain in reasonably profitable, whilst many airlines are bleeding. The trouble is when you try to take your loyalty elsewhere (and I don't mean taking your QF miles to AA or your SQ miles to BD - I mean flying other carriers) the alternatives are not always practical, or as good (CX being the standout exception to this of course).

[QF009]

Chart for Full awards:
http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U...neWay_Full.pdf

Full awards aren't available on A380 Suites.

[futaris]

Is the 15% discount (for booking online) still available?

[dajop]

Originally Posted by futaris

Is the 15% discount (for booking online) still available?

Yes it is.

[JohnK]

In another thread someone mentioned that if I purchased miles from KrisFlyer then the 15% online discount was not available. Is this true? What if I purchase miles now and redeem an award in December? How would KrisFlyer know that I am using purchased miles and not apply the 15% discount to the award redemption?

[auriga]

Originally Posted by JohnK

In another thread someone mentioned that if I purchased miles from KrisFlyer then the 15% online discount was not available. Is this true? What if I purchase miles now and redeem an award in December? How would KrisFlyer know that I am using purchased miles and not apply the 15% discount to the award redemption?

You cannot just buy miles from Krisflyer. It is more a cash top-up for a particular award if you do not have enough miles. From memory, I think you need to have at least 70% of the miles required.



Having one-way awards at 50% is great for flexibility, but pity about no stop-over!

[JohnK]

So in other words no 15% discount if one needs to purchase miles to make the difference. Not worth it spending US$240 to get to the required 25,000 miles....