New: Redeem KrisFlyer miles for Malaysia Airlines flights

Back in November 2021, Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines announced a significant expansion of their partnership, first announced in 2019, with more codeshare services and a plan to form “a joint business arrangement between Malaysia and Singapore, subject to regulatory approvals”.

Part of the tie-up also included more alignment between the KrisFlyer and Enrich frequent flyer programmes, and today we can see the first embodiment of that plan, with KrisFlyer members now able to redeem their miles for selected Malaysia Airlines flights.

KrisFlyer miles on Malaysia Airlines

From 29th February 2024, KrisFlyer members can now redeem miles for Economy Class and Business Class award seats on the following Malaysia Airlines routes:

• Singapore to / from Kuala Lumpur
  Up to 68 x weekly, Boeing 737
• Kuala Lumpur to / from London
  2 x daily, Airbus A350

Here’s how the award chart looks.

The rates aren’t particularly attractive, effectively matching KrisFlyer Saver / Star Alliance award levels, but nonetheless having the option is a definite bonus that could come in handy when Saver award space is unavailable on Singapore Airlines services.

Award searching and booking is already available online via the Singapore Airlines website or mobile app.

Be sure to select “other partner airlines” at the award results page, in order to display Malaysia Airlines awards.

Based on our searches so far, here are the taxes and fees payable when using KrisFlyer miles to book Malaysia Airlines flights.

Kuala Lumpur to / from London

• KUL – LHR (Economy): 49,500 miles + MYR 154 (~S$44)
• KUL – LHR (Business): 103,500 miles + MYR 294 (~S$83)
• LHR – KUL (Economy) 49,500 + GBP 259.89 (~S$443)
• LHR – KUL (Business) 103,500 + GBP 384.99 (~S$656)

Do note the significant taxes and fees payable in the London – Kuala Lumpur direction, due to the UK’s high Air Passenger Duty charge.

Kuala Lumpur to / from Singapore

• KUL – SIN (Economy): 8,500 miles + MYR 74 (~S$21)
• KUL – SIN (Business): 21,000 miles + MYR 126 (~S$36)
• SIN – KUL (Economy): 8,500 miles + S$76.00
• SIN – KUL (Business): 21,000 miles + S$78.70

Note that Malaysia Airlines passes on its (relatively modest) fuel surcharge with award bookings, including those locked in using KrisFlyer miles, but it charges this fee at a higher rate for Business Class compared to Economy Class, hence the differences you see in taxes payable between the two cabin classes.

Unfortunately KrisFlyer does not appear to support Singapore – Kuala Lumpur – London awards (and vice-versa), so if you’re based in the Lion City and using this method to fly to or from the UK you’ll need to make two separate award bookings (and therefore pay for both) or self-position between Singapore and KL.

Malaysia Airlines is the second Oneworld member airline allowing KrisFlyer miles redemption, with the other being Alaska Airlines (but actually locking in a redemption on the latter is a complex affair!).

Redeem KrisFlyer miles for a Oneworld ‘lounge safari’

Interestingly, the ability to redeem KrisFlyer miles on Malaysia Airlines flights between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur opens up the option for members to experience the popular ‘Oneworld lounge safari’ at Changi Airport, a perk usually only available to those with Asia Miles, Avios or Flying Blue miles.

Such a redemption will give you access to the following fantastic selection of lounges prior to departure in Singapore, thanks to Malaysia Airlines’ Oneworld membership:

• British Airways Lounge T1 (4pm – 11pm)
• Qatar Airways Premium Lounge T1 (7.45am – 10.45am & 6pm – 2.30am)
• Qantas Business Lounge T1 (2.30pm – 1am, with earlier opening on some days)
• Cathay Pacific Lounge T4 (7am – 1.25am)

Malaysia Airlines allows early check-in at Changi from 8am, so you can potentially spend the whole day and feasting and sipping Champagne at the lounges listed above before your flight, for a 21,000 KrisFlyer miles redemption.

If you check-in at around 8am for an evening departure, for example this 9.15pm one:

Then our suggested lounge safari itinerary would be:

• À la carte breakfast in the Qatar Lounge
• Dim Sum lunch at the Noodle Bar in the Cathay Pacific Lounge in T4
• Back to T1 for afternoon bites in the Qantas Lounge
• Evening Champagne and bites in the British Airways Lounge
• Shower and à la carte dinner back in the Qatar Lounge

Champagne flows freely in all of these lounges, except the Qantas one where an Aussie sparkling is offered. Showers are available in all the lounges too, except the Cathay Pacific one.

Our advice? Save the shower experience for the Qatar lounge, where high-end Diptyque Paris toiletries await in the private suites.

Don’t drink too much though – you’ll still need to make your way to Terminal 2 on the SkyTrain to actually catch your Business Class flight to Kuala Lumpur, after all this luxuriating!

If your lounge experiences at Changi have been limited to the SilverKris facilities and / or some of the third-party options, I strongly recommend trying this Oneworld “lounge safari” the next time you need to head to KL. Your eyes will be opened to a whole new standard.

Remember though, it’s still cheaper to use Asia Miles or Avios to redeem a Singapore – Kuala Lumpur flight in Business Class on Malaysia Airlines and enjoy the same lounge safari, but at least the option is now open to KrisFlyer members for the first time.

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You can now redeem KrisFlyer miles for Malaysia Airlines flights on two of the carrier’s routes; KL to and from Singapore and KL to and from London.

The award rates aren’t particularly attractive, and Malaysia Airlines does add a small fuel surcharge to its award fares, but these could still come in handy when a Saver KrisFlyer redemption on Singapore Airlines is unavailable on your preferred dates.

For Singapore – KL travel, the interesting new option is the ability to redeem KrisFlyer miles for a ‘Oneworld lounge safari’ at Changi, and although the rate isn’t particularly attractive it could still be worth considering if KrisFlyer miles is all you have.