Singapore Airlines has announced a series of changes to the KrisFlyer program. As is often the case, there is good and bad news in the announcements.
The increase in the number of KrisFlyer required to book an award seat in the First, Business and Premium Economy has certainly got the most attention. Generally, these increases range between 5 and 10%, although they do get up to 15% in some cases.
However, there are a number of other, more member friendly changes coming through. These include:
- a new option to upgrade from economy to business class, even if your flight features a premium economy cabin,
- a flexible search option, showing redemption options over a week long period,
- waitlisted redemptions will be confirmed no later than 14 days prior to departure,
- Spontaneous Escapes, offering discounted rewards, is to become a permanent feature of the program,
Increase in Point Requirements
As mentioned, there are some increases in the number of points required for an award seat in First, Business and Premium Economy. On the other hand, there are no changes to the points required for an Economy award seat. The changes to the points charts is set to occur in just three weeks time, on January 24, 2019.
The following tables shows the effect that the changes have on travellers from Australia. This analysis is done on the Saver version of the different cabins. In some cases, specific cabins may not exist for certain routes, so bear this in mind with some of the redemption rates.
The first table is for passengers from Australia/New Zealand, except for Perth and Darwin. The second table is for Perth and Darwin passengers.
| Changes to KrisFlyer Award Chart | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (except Perth and Darwin) and New Zealand to | Current | New | Change | Percentage Change | ||||||||
| PE | Bus | First | PE | Bus | First | PE | Bus | First | PE | Bus | First | |
| Zone 1: Singapore, Zone 2: Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei Zone 3: Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand |
45 | 58 | 80 | 47 | 62 | 85 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4.4 | 6.9 | 6.2 |
| Zone 4: South China, Hong Kong and Taiwan | 45 | 58 | 80 | 49 | 65 | 88 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 8.8 | 12 | 10 |
| Zone 5: North China (Beijing & Shanghai) | 65 | 76 | 98 | 69 | 84 | 105 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 6.1 | 10.5 | 7.1 |
| Zone 6: South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Maldives & Bangladesh) | 63.5 | 76 | 108 | 67.5 | 84 | 116 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 6.3 | 10.5 | 7.4 |
| Zone 7: Japan & South Korea | 67.5 | 83 | 105 | 71.5 | 91 | 115 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 5.9 | 11.8 | 9.5 |
| Zone 10: Africa, Middle East & Turkey | 60 | 78 | 112 | 64 | 86 | 122 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 6.7 | 10.2 | 8.9 |
| Zone 11:Europe | 87.5 | 105 | 148 | 91.5 | 116 | 163 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 4.6 | 10.5 | 10.1 |
| Zone 12: USA (West Coast) | 90 | 110 | 154 | 95 | 121 | 167 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 5.6 | 10.0 | 8.4 |
| Zone 13:USA (East Coast & Houston) | 95 | 118 | 152 | 99 | 129 | 167 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 4.2 | 9.3 | 9.9 |
| Changes to KrisFlyer Award Chart | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia – Perth and Darwin | Current | New | Change | Percentage Change | ||||||||
| PE | Bus | First | PE | Bus | First | PE | Bus | First | PE | Bus | First | |
| Zone 1: Singapore, Zone 2: Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei Zone 3: Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand |
– | 32.5 | 47.5 | – | 36.5 | 52 | – | 4 | 4.5 | – | 12.3 | 9.4 |
| Zone 4: South China, Hong Kong and Taiwan | – | 32.5 | 47.5 | – | 36.5 | 55 | – | 4 | 7.5 | – | 12.3 | 15.7 |
| Zone 5: North China (Beijing & Shanghai) | – | 50 | 65 | – | 57 | 72.5 | – | 7 | 7.5 | – | 14 | 11.5 |
| Zone 6: South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Maldives & Bangladesh) | – | 55 | 87.5 | – | 63 | 95 | – | 8 | 7.5 | – | 14.5 | 8.6 |
| Zone 7: Japan & South Korea | – | 58 | 75 | – | 66 | 84.5 | – | 8 | 9.5 | – | 13.8 | 12.7 |
| Zone 10: Africa, Middle East & Turkey | 55 | 62.5 | 100 | 59 | 70.5 | 109.5 | 4 | 8 | 9.5 | 7.3 | 12.8 | 9.5 |
| Zone 11:Europe | 66 | 95 | 128 | 70 | 106 | 142.5 | 4 | 11 | 14.5 | 6.1 | 11.6 | 11.3 |
| Zone 12: USA (West Coast) | 85 | 102 | 148 | 90 | 113 | 160 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 5.9 | 10.8 | 8.1 |
| Zone 13:USA (East Coast & Houston) | 90 | 110 | 145 | 95 | 121 | 160 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 5.6 | 10 | 10.3 |
For members of Velocity, this may come as a bit of a double whammy. The conversion rate from Velocity to Krisflyer changed from 1.35:1 to 1.55:1 at the beginning of January.
For members that transferred prior to the change, they now find that their points aren’t worth quite as much as they were.
Other Changes
New Ability to Upgrade from Economy Class to Business Class
Passengers that have purchased an eligible Economy fare class will be able to upgrade to Business, even when the aircraft had a Premium Economy cabin. This relaxes the rule that only allowed a one class upgrade. This is similar in principle to Qantas that allows members to place a request for either Premium Economy or Business class when seated in Economy.
These changes come into effect on January 24, 2019
Flexible View on redemption availability
KrisFlyer will be adding an option to allow you to view redemption options across a week long period. This period will be the date you have selected, plus three days before and after that date,
This facility will be available from January 31, 2019.
Waitlisted flights to be confirmed 14 Days Prior to Flight
To provide members with great certainty about waitlisted award flights, you will be informed of the outcome of your waitlist at least 14 days prior to the date of travel.
There is no specific date announced for this change – it is planned for the second quarter of 2019.
KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes to become a Permanent Monthly Feature
Spontaneous Escapes is a program where Krisflyer make available discounted redemptions. While it has been running for several months, it has only ever been a promotional offer. As of February 15, 2019,KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes will become a permanent feature of the programme. As part of this, KrisFlyer are promising deals not previously offered. I guess we will have to wait until February to see what this means.
Full details of the changes can be seen on the KrisFlyer website.
