Singapore Airlines has revealed new Krisflyer redemption charts for awards on the services of Singapore Airlines and SilkAir. Depending on your perspective, the biggest change may be finally announcing Awards for premium economy. In addition, there are changes to streamline the award chart to Europe, which will make some award redemptions more expensive.
Premium Economy
Singapore Airlines introduced Premium Economy last year, but this has not bee available for Award seats, or upgrade awards.
Saver Awards
From 24 May, 2016, you will be able to redeem for Premium Economy on Saver Award.
A view of the Award Charts shows that the number of points required is closed in level to Business than it is to Economy. As an example of this, the number of points required for the Sydney – Singapore is 45,000 points, compared to 25,000 for economy or 55,000 for Business. (note these figures do not include the discount available for booking online).
While seat availibility may influence your choice, I’d be tempted to try for a straight business booking, and only step back to premium economy if that were not available.
Upgrade Awards
On top of the ability to redeem for a Premium Economy seat, additional upgrade awards are being introduced which will provide the ability to upgrade to of from Premium Economy. This will permit upgrades from Economy to Premium Economy, ore from Premium Economy to Business.
Upgrade Wards will be available for all aircraft fitted with Premium Economy for bookings and flights departing from 1 June 2016. The award charts are available here.
Award Chart Streamlining
Singapore Airlines also announced some changes that they refer to as streamlining of the Award Charts. These take two forms, the consolidation of two Europe zones to one, and the remove of Full Awards
Consolidation of Europe Zones
The Award Chart will combine the existing Europe zones of Zone 11 and Zone 12 into a single Zone 11. This will take place from 24 May 2016. The effect of this change will be to increase the cost of redemptions to Rome, Amsterdam and Copenhagen, bringing them into line with the rest of Europe.
Removal of Full Awards
From 24 May 2016, Krisflyer will be removing Full Awards, leaving 2 categories of awards – Saver and Standard.
