KrisFlyer News Singapore Airlines Star Alliance

Singapore Airlines devalues KrisFlyer Round The World and Partner awards

Singapore Airlines has devalued its Round The World award rates, and will apply similar hikes for mileage redemptions on its non-Star partner airlines from 1st August 2022.

Singapore Airlines has caught up with the tail end of its recent devaluation of KrisFlyer miles, confirming increased rates for redeeming Star Alliance Round The World awards and for securing redemption seats on its five non-Star Alliance partner airlines, including Virgin Australia and Vistara.

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This follows a devaluation of the airline’s KrisFlyer miles when used to book awards and upgrades on Singapore Airlines and Star Alliance flights, which came into effect in early July 2022.

These latest changes were expected, and generally increase award costs by 8% to 18%.

Star Alliance Round The World devaluation

Singapore Airlines has applied an increase to its Star Alliance Round The World award rates, effective for bookings made from 5th July 2022.

KrisFlyer Star Alliance Round The World
Award Rates

Travel Class Change
Old Rate New Rate
Economy 180,000 200,000 + 11.1%
Business 240,000 280,000 + 16.7%
First 360,000 405,000 + 12.5%

The biggest hit here is in Business Class, where an additional 40,000 KrisFlyer miles for a Star Alliance RTW award ticket is equivalent to an additional 17% compared to previous rates.

However, it’s important to note that these rates have been left untouched since 2012, so a relatively modest increase after ten years doesn’t seem too punitive.

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Be warned though, booking a Star Alliance Round The World award is not a simple process, and there are many rules and restrictions to be aware of.

We outlined the details in our full guide a few years ago, which you can check out below.

Partner airlines devaluation

Most Singapore Airlines partner redemption rates were hiked in the scheme’s 2019 devaluation, and this time round it’s no exception with all five airlines and all cabin classes impacted.

Award charts

 

Main changes

 

Economy and First Class redemption rates are increasing across the board, by around 10% to 15%. For example, a U.S. West Coast to East Coast redemption in Economy Class on Alaska will cost 13,500 KrisFlyer miles, up from 12,000 miles.

Award charts

 

Main changes

 

Economy and Business Class redemption rates are increasing across the board, by around 8% to 16%. That will push a Business Class award from Singapore to Shanghai up from 26,000 KrisFlyer miles to 30,000 miles.

Juneyao flies its Boeing 787s with flat-bed Business Class between Singapore and Shanghai. (Photo: Juneyao Airlines)
Award charts

 

Main changes

 

Domestic Australia and trans-Tasman flights are increasing in cost by around 8% to 13% in Economy and Business Class.

This Virgin Australia Business Class award will cost 44,000 KrisFlyer miles if booked on or after 1st August 2022

Remember that while domestic Virgin Australia redemptions using KrisFlyer miles may be attractive, you’re still far better off using British Airways Avios points to redeem on Qantas, or Qatar Airways Privilege Club Avios transferred for free across to your BA account.

Award charts

 

Main changes

 

Largely academic, because award availability to KrisFlyer members is scarce (and that’s a generous description), but all Virgin Atlantic redemption rates are increasing by around 18%.

Round-trip companion awards are being abolished, but again they were essentially impossible to achieve under KrisFlyer anyway.

Award charts

 

Main changes

 

Vistara’s Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class award rates are increasing across the board, by 9% to 11%.

It is still not possible to redeem Vistara’s international flights using KrisFlyer miles, only intra-India awards are supported.

SIA and Star Alliance devaluation

Singapore Airlines recently introduced new (higher) redemption rates for for Saver, Advantage and Star Alliance award redemptions.

Here’s a reminder of how that looks (click to expand).

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

2018W A350ULR Seats 31AC.jpg 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

SQ 77W J (MM).jpg 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

1F Overview Low.jpg 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

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

SQ 77W J (MM).jpg 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

1F Overview Low.jpg 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

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 have also taken a hit, though these were rarely good value in the first place, even at current rates.

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% moreThis 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%.
  • Star Alliance round-the-world award tickets using KrisFlyer miles increase by 11% to 17%.
  • Partner awards using KrisFlyer miles increase by around 8% to 16%.


 


 

Summary

It may seem like we’re talking nothing but devaluations lately when it comes to the KrisFlyer scheme, but in fact this is really one devaluation, trickled out over two or three ‘phases’ across the programme’s redemption options.

It’s actually been some time since Singapore Airlines increased redemption rates for Star Alliance Round The World award itineraries, leaving those rates unchanged in the last few devaluations, so ‘addressing them’ in this latest increase isn’t too surprising.

Most KrisFlyer members don’t often use the partner award options (though there is good value in some of them), so the impact of these increases is much less relevant than those we’ve seen for the SIA / SilkAir and Star Alliance award charts.

With this final round of KrisFlyer award chart devaluations confirmed, let’s hope for a few years of stability at these new rates across the board.

(Cover Photo: Virgin Australia)

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