Mostly Negative Changes Coming to Singapore Airlines’ Award Program
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Mostly bad news for folks who like to redeem Singapore Airlines miles.
Via Point Me to the Plane, Singapore Airlines is increasing the price of certain award tickets and removing the current 15% discount for booking online. These changes go into effect March 23, 2017.
That stinks, but the good news is they’ll no longer charge fuel surcharges on award tickets.
I’ll explain what this news mean for you.
Singapore Airlines Frequent Flyer Program Changes
Link: Singapore Airlines Award Ticket Changes
Link: Current Singapore Airlines Award Chart
Link: New Singapore Airlines Award Chart (Effective March 23, 2017)
Starting March 23, 2017, there are significant changes coming to Singapore Airlines’ award program. The changes affect award flights on Singapore Airlines and Silk Air, NOT their partner airlines, like United Airlines.
Here’s what’s happening:
- No 15% discount for booking Singapore Airlines flights online
- Higher award ticket prices for certain coach, Business, and First Class tickets
- Increase in fees for changes made to award tickets online, from $12 to $20
Most of these changes are negative. But they will no longer charge fuel surcharges on award tickets. And that could save you several hundred dollars per ticket.
That said, if you’re planning a trip, it’s worth booking your tickets before these changes happen (March 23, 2017). Because with the removal of the 15% online booking discount, you’ll automatically pay 15% more on all tickets after this date.
Here’s What This Means for You
Say you want to buy a First Class ticket from New York to Frankfurt on Singapore Airlines. With the current award chart AND the 15% online booking discount, this ticket will cost 57,375 Singapore Airlines miles one-way.
With the new chart (and WITHOUT a 15% online booking discount!) the same ticket will cost 76,000 Singapore Airlines miles one-way.
That’s an increase of 18,625 Singapore Airlines miles each way! But after March 23, 2017, you’ll save ~$180 in fuel surcharges. So it could be worth it for some folks to pay more miles but save cash.
And don’t forget, these changes do NOT affect the prices for award tickets on Star Alliance partners like United Airlines. So, for example, it will still be cheaper to use Singapore Airlines miles for United Airlines flights to Hawaii.
Earn Singapore Airlines Miles
Singapore Airlines miles are easy to earn, because you can move points from all 4 transferable points programs to Singapore Airlines at a 1:1 ratio:
Remember when you transfer 20,000 Starwood points to any eligible airline, you’ll get a 5,000 mile bonus!
And you can also earn Singapore Airlines miles when you take JetBlue flights!
Bottom Line
Starting March 23, 2017, the Singapore Airlines frequent flyer program is changing.
The changes are mostly negative, including higher award ticket prices and no more 15% online booking discount.
But the good news is, they’re eliminating fuel surcharges (that can save you hundreds of dollars!). And the changes do NOT affect award tickets on their Star Alliance partners like United Airlines.
What do you think about this news? Let me know in the comments!
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