Last 2 days: Lock in KrisFlyer redemptions at pre-devaluation award rates

As you’re probably aware, back in early June Singapore Airlines announced that it was devaluing its KrisFlyer miles, hiking award and upgrade rates in all cabins for new redemption bookings made from 5th July 2022 onwards, both on its own ‘metal’ and on Star Alliance carriers.

Time flies, and there are now only a couple of days left to lock in awards at existing rates, for travel up to 355 days from now.

That’s something you should definitely consider if you have a reasonably firm idea of your upcoming travel plans, especially for the first half of 2023, which boasts better award space.

The devaluation

Here’s a reminder of the extent of this devaluation, which sees rates for KrisFlyer saver awards hiked by 8% to 16%, depending on cabin class and routing.

KrisFlyer 2022 Devaluation
Key Points

Based on flights to and from Singapore:

• Economy Saver awards are increasing for the first time in years, by around 8% to 16%.
• Premium Economy Saver awards will also set you back around 8% to 16% more miles than before.
• Business Class Saver awards will cost roughly 10% to 15% more. This is the biggest hit in our opinion.
• First Class and Suites Saver awards suffer a 10% to 13% higher redemption rate.
• Some longer Advantage awards will cost 2% to 16% more miles.
• Star Alliance awards increase by around 8% to 16%.
• Pricing for Star Alliance round-the-world award tickets using KrisFlyer miles remains unchanged, for now.

Here’s how the damage looks more specifically, for Saver, Advantage and Star Alliance award redemptions (click to expand).

Saver Awards Devaluation Economy Economy Class Saver Awards Current Rate New Rate Change Zone 2 Malaysia, Indonesia & Brunei 7.5 8.5 +13.3% Zone 3 Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia & Laos 12.5 13.5 +8.0% Zone 4 South China, Hong Kong & Taiwan 15.0 16.5 +10.0% Zone 5 Beijing & Shanghai 20.0 21.5 +7.5% Zones 6 India, Sri Lanka, Maldives & Bangladesh 18.5 20.0 +8.1% Zone 7 Japan & South Korea 25.0 27.0 +8.0% Zone 8 Perth & Darwin 20.0 21.5 +7.5% Zone 9 Other Australia & New Zealand 28.0 30.5 +8.9% Zone 10 Africa, Middle East & Turkey 25.0 29.0 +16.0% Zones 11 & 12 Europe, Canada & USA West Coast 38.0 42.0 +10.5% Zone 13 USA East Coast & Houston 40.0 44.0 +10.0% Redemption rates are shown in thousands of KrisFlyer miles Premium Economy Premium Economy Saver Awards Current Rate New Rate Change Zone 4 South China, Hong Kong & Taiwan 24.5 26.5 +8.2% Zones 5 & 6 Beijing & Shanghai India, Sri Lanka, Maldives & Bangladesh 32.0 34.5 +7.8% Zone 7 Japan & South Korea 34.5 37.5 +8.7% Zone 9 Australia & New Zealand 47.0 51.0 +8.5% Zone 10 Africa, Middle East & Turkey 37.0 43.0 +16.2% Zone 11 Europe 64.5 71.0 +10.1% Zone 12 Canada & USA West Coast 68.0 75.0 +10.3% Zone 13 USA East Coast & Houston 73.0 80.5 +10.3% Redemption rates are shown in thousands of KrisFlyer miles Business Class Business Class Saver Awards Current Rate New Rate Change Zone 2 Malaysia, Indonesia & Brunei 19.0 21.0 +10.5% Zone 3 Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia & Laos 21.5 24.0 +11.6% Zone 4 South China, Hong Kong & Taiwan 30.5 34.0 +11.5% Zones 5 & 6 Beijing & Shanghai India, Sri Lanka, Maldives & Bangladesh 39.0 43.0 +10.3% Zone 7 Japan & South Korea 47.0 52.0 +10.6% Zone 8 Perth & Darwin 36.5 40.5 +11.0% Zone 9 Other Australia & New Zealand 62.0 68.5 +10.5% Zone 10 Africa, Middle East & Turkey 49.0 56.5 +15.3% Zone 11 Europe 92.0 103.5 +12.5% Zone 12 Canada & USA West Coast 95.0 107.0 +12.6% Zone 13 USA East Coast & Houston 99.0 111.5 +12.6% Redemption rates are shown in thousands of KrisFlyer miles First Class & Suites First Class & Suites Saver Awards Current Rate New Rate Change Zone 2 Malaysia, Indonesia & Brunei 27.5 30.5 +10.9% Zone 3 Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia & Laos 32.5 36.0 +10.8% Zone 4 South China, Hong Kong & Taiwan 40.5 45.0 +11.1% Zones 5 & 6 Beijing & Shanghai India, Sri Lanka, Maldives & Bangladesh 53.0 58.5 +10.4% Zone 7 Japan & South Korea 70.0 77.0 +10.0% Zone 8 Perth & Darwin 52.0 57.5 +10.6% Zone 9 Other Australia & New Zealand 85.0 93.5 +10.0% Zone 10 Africa, Middle East & Turkey 75.0 86.5 +15.3% Zone 11 Europe 125.0 141.0 +12.8% Zone 12 Canada & USA West Coast 130.0 146.5 +12.7% Zone 13 USA East Coast & Houston 132.0 148.5 +12.5% Redemption rates are shown in thousands of KrisFlyer miles

Advantage Awards Devaluation Economy Economy Class Advantage Awards Current Rate New Rate Change Zone 10 Africa, Middle East & Turkey 55.0 63.5 +15.5% Redemption rates are shown in thousands of KrisFlyer miles Business Class Business Class Advantage Awards Current Rate New Rate Change Zone 10 Africa, Middle East & Turkey 90.0 103.5 +15.0% Zone 11 Europe 120.0 123.0 +2.5% Zone 12 Canada & USA West Coast 125.0 128.5 +2.8% Zone 13 USA East Coast & Houston 140.0 143.5 +2.5% Redemption rates are shown in thousands of KrisFlyer miles First Class & Suites First Class & Suites Advantage Awards Current Rate New Rate Change Zone 10 Africa, Middle East & Turkey 135.0 148.5 +10.0% Zone 11 Europe 220.0 225.5 +1.6% Zone 12 Canada & USA West Coast 222.0 228.0 +2.7% Zone 13 USA East Coast & Houston 237.0 243.0 +2.5% Redemption rates are shown in thousands of KrisFlyer miles

Star Alliance Awards Devaluation Economy Class Star Alliance Awards (one-way, in thousands of miles) Singapore to/from Current rate New rate Change SE Asia 1 7.5 8.5 + 13.3% SE Asia 2 12.5 13.5 + 8.0% N Asia 1 15 16.5 + 10.0% N Asia 2 25 27 + 8.0% SW Pacific 32.5 35 + 7.7% N America Hawaii C America 55 60.5 + 10.0% S America 67.5 74.5 + 10.4% Europe 45 49.5 + 10.0% ME / N Africa 35 40.5 + 15.7% C & S Africa 37.5 43.5 + 16.0% C & S Asia 25 27 + 8.0% Business Class Star Alliance Awards (one-way, in thousands of miles) Singapore to/from Current rate New rate Change SE Asia 1 19 21 + 10.5% SE Asia 2 21.5 24 + 11.6% N Asia 1 41.5 46 + 10.8% N Asia 2 47.5 52.5 + 10.5% SW Pacific 74 81.5 + 10.1% N America Hawaii C America 105.5 119 + 12.8% S America 119 134 + 12.6% Europe 92 103.5 + 12.5% ME / N Africa 71 82 + 15.5% C & S Africa 60 69 + 15.0% C & S Asia 47 52 + 10.6% First Class Star Alliance Awards (one-way, in thousands of miles) Singapore to/from Current rate New rate Change SE Asia 1 27.5 30.5 + 10.9% SE Asia 2 32.5 36 + 10.8% N Asia 1 51.5 57 + 10.7% N Asia 2 70 77 + 10.0% SW Pacific 98 108 + 10.2% N America Hawaii C America 148.5 167.5 + 12.8% S America 151.5 170.5 + 12.5% Europe 140.5 158.5 + 12.8% ME / N Africa 91 105 + 15.4% C & S Africa 80.5 93 + 15.5% C & S Asia 66.5 73.5 + 10.5%

Upgrade awards are also taking a hit, though these were rarely good value in the first place, even at current rates.

For the time being, rates for partner airline awards and Star Alliance round-the-world awards are not increasing (but watch this space, since this is also likely soon).

New award charts

You can compare the award rates on Singapore Airlines, including for zone combinations we haven’t mentioned here, by downloading SIA’s current and future award charts via the following links.

• SIA KrisFlyer redemptions (until 4th July 2022)
• SIA KrisFlyer redemptions (from 5th July 2022)

Here’s the ‘before and after’ for upgrade awards on SIA:

• SIA KrisFlyer upgrade awards (until 4th July 2022)
• SIA KrisFlyer upgrade awards (from 5th July 2022)

The Star Alliance redemption charts are:

• SIA KrisFlyer Star Alliance awards (until 4th July 2022)
• SIA KrisFlyer Star Alliance awards (from 5th July 2022)

You can also view (unchanged) partner award charts via this page.

Avoiding the increases

Provided you lock in your redemption booking on or before 11.59pm Singapore Time on Monday 4th July 2022, you’ll still be paying the existing award rates, regardless of your travel date.

Remember you can book up to 355 days before departure, with Singapore Airlines adding a ‘fresh day’ of availability each morning at midnight GMT (which is 8am Singapore Time).

That means from the morning of Monday 4th July, your last day of redemption at current rates, you can book travel up to and including Saturday 24th June 2023.

Here’s what you need to know about booking at existing award rates.

Booking at existing KrisFlyer rates

• Bookings made on or before 11.59pm Singapore Time on Monday 4th July 2022 will attract the current award pricing, regardless of your departure date.
• Date and / or flight number changes on the same route made to award bookings secured under pre-devaluation rates on or after Tuesday 5th July 2022 will not attract the new (higher) award rate, but the change fee will apply as usual.
• Under SIA’s Complimentary Rebooking policy, the US$25 fee for date changes to a Saver award ticket is waived. You can make unlimited free date changes by 31st July 2022, and one complimentary date change after that.
• Even after you have exhausted your free date change allowance, the US$25 fee for date changes to a Saver award ticket can be used an unlimited number of times, without affecting the miles rate.
• There is no fee for date changes on Advantage award tickets.
• A change of routing, cabin class or award type (i.e. between Saver and Advantage) made on or after 5th July 2022 will require your ticket to be reissued, which will then attract the new award rates, and therefore require a miles top-up.

For example, you can currently lock in the following Business Class Saver redemption from Singapore to Munich and back for two passengers in May next year at the current award rate.

This award will set you back 414,000 miles (46,000 miles more!) if booked from Tuesday 5th July 2022 onwards.

Even if this isn’t your perfect date for a Munich trip, you may be able to make a free change to a preferred date under the complimentary rebooking policy, provided award space is available on your new dates.

In the worst case, if you have to abandon the trip, you’ll only be on the hook for KrisFlyer’s US$75 miles redeposit fee per person.

Pro Tip: SIA regards two or more airports which fall under the same IATA city code (e.g. TYO covers both NRT and HND in Tokyo) as the same origin / destination point.

That means if you locked in a redemption booking to or from Tokyo (Narita) because no Tokyo (Haneda) flights were available, and then a Haneda flight comes up on or after 5th July, switching across is only a ‘revalidation’ not a ‘reissue’, so no additional miles will be required.

What about waitlist bookings?

If you have a waitlisted award booking, or you now make one, you’ll pay the current award rates, provided the waitlist clears and you proceed to ticket the award on or before 11.59pm Singapore Time on Monday 4th July 2022.

If it clears or is ticketed on or after 5th July, unfortunately the new award rates will apply.

“The revised redemption award and redemption upgrade charts apply to confirmed waitlist bookings ticketed on or after 5 July 2022.”

Singapore Airlines

On longer routes like Singapore to Europe, where a Business Saver is increasing in price by 11,500 miles each way (see above), you might want to consider locking in an immediately available award on a date near your intended date of travel.

You can then hope to change it across for free to your preferred date if award space comes up later, under the complimentary rebooking policy.

The ‘stopover trick’

As you may also recall, Singapore Airlines will be killing off its $100 ‘stopover trick’ for those on one-way saver awards from 1st August 2022.

With this increase in award rates from 5th July 2022, there will therefore be a four-week window where you’ll still be able to take advantage of the miles-saving stopover option, but at the new higher redemption rates.

If you’re able to secure a stopover itinerary in the next two days, however, you’ll still enjoy the current rates.

For example, you can book a five-month stopover on a Business Class Saver Seoul – Singapore – Auckland routing before 5th July at current award rates, and then shift your travel dates even after 1st August 2022, without impacting the stopover benefit at all.

That same trip can still be secured as a stopover if booked between 5th July – 31st July 2022, but the new higher award rates will apply. From 1st August 2022, sadly no such option will exist.

The stopover trick won’t totally go away of course.

It’ll still be possible to add a free stopover to a round-trip Saver award or to a one-way Advantage award from 1st August 2022, while two free stopovers will still be allowed on round-trip Advantage awards.

The downside? Stopover duration will then be capped at 30 days, which is quite limiting for those using it to save miles essentially on two separate trips through Singapore, which was always the beauty of the ‘trick’ itself.

Award space is tight for the rest of 2022

As most regular Singapore Airlines redeemers will know, ticket prices have rocketed and award space has plummeted lately during the COVID-19 recovery, with demand now exceeding supply on most routes, a situation not typically seen before the pandemic except during peak travel periods.

This is leading to very limited award space on a range of SIA routes for the rest of 2022, while capacity remains below 2019 levels to and from most regions, and other carriers also haven’t fully ramped up services to and from Asia to take up the slack.

For example, at the time of writing the first immediately confirmable Business Class Saver award using KrisFlyer miles from Singapore to London on SIA only appears on 26th October 2022, over 100 days from now.

The airline will fly over 25,000 Business Class seats on this route between now and then, which goes to highlight the enormous demand compared with supply to and from popular cities like this.

You might therefore find it difficult to redeem miles at current rates for travel in 2022, so if that’s the case our advice is to focus on the first half of next year, provided you know where you want to go, even if your exact dates aren’t locked in yet.

The 2022 KrisFlyer miles devaluation is nearly upon us, but the good news is there are still a couple of days to act by locking in available awards at existing rates.

You can book award space right through to late June 2023, with SIA often loading a generous level of saver awards at 8am each morning for those eager to play the ‘355-days-before’ game.

Even if your preferred date on a route is not available or is waitlisted, you might want to consider locking in an immediately confirmable award then hope to change it for free later, without paying any miles top-up.

While award availability for the rest of 2022 is sparse, there is much better space if you’re making travel plans for the first half of next year, including two round-trip Business Saver awards on many Europe flights.

(Cover Photo: Agent Wolf / Shutterstock)