Singapore Airlines, known for its high quality and service standards, offers a rewarding loyalty program called KrisFlyer. Although Singapore Airlines does not currently operate a direct flight to any destination in Canada, their various partnerships offer spending and redemption opportunities abroad.
Like Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, KrisFlyer redemption rates are fixed depending on the distance to the destination, with some exceptions. In most cases, this is perfect for pre-planning itineraries when you want to redeem your KrisFlyer miles. As long as there is space onboard, you can redeem for most flights aboard Singapore Airlines and their Star Alliance and non-alliance partners.
Here is everything you need to know about the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program.
Acquiring KrisFlyer Miles
Flying aboard Singapore Airlines and their partners is the primary way to earn KrisFlyer miles. For those who may not be able to fly, Singapore Airlines boasts a whopping 3300 non-airline partners and merchants where you can earn KrisFlyer miles, including hotels, ground transportation, and even retail stores. You can also transfer points from other loyalty programs to KrisFlyer miles as well.
Flying with Singapore Airlines
Earning onboard Singapore Airlines is similar to Air Canada’s Aeroplan program, where the earning rate is dependent on the class and type of fare booked. KrisFlyer members can earn points on Singapore Airlines’s low-cost subsidiary, Scoot, as well, though at a reduced rate. For more information on how you can earn through Scoot, check out our article on earning mainline points on low cost carrier flights!
| Carrier | Suites/First Class | Business Class | Premium Economy | Economy Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Airlines | 200% – A, F | 150% – C, J, Z125% – D, U | 125% S, T100% R, L P | 100% – B, E, Y75% – H, M, W50% – K, N, Q, V, G |
| Scoot | N/A | 25% – C, D, I, J, U, Z | N/A | 20% – A, F, P, R, S, Y15% – B, H, M, W10% – N, O, X |
Singapore Airlines offers different variations of fare classes, indicated by a letter. In this example for a round-trip itinerary between Singapore and Tokyo-Haneda, Economy Lite and Value only earn 50%, Standard earns 75%, and Flexi fares earn 100% of the accrual rate. Flying in Premium Economy, Singapore Airlines Business class, and First Class will guarantee that at least 100% of the flight distance in miles, will be earned in KrisFlyer miles.
Flying with Singapore Airlines’ Partner Airlines
Singapore Airlines is part of Star Alliance, a partnership between other air carriers offering enhanced flight connection services, reciprocal elite status benefits, and even exclusive loyalty points redemption opportunities.
Beyond Star Alliance airlines, Singapore Airlines has partnerships with other airlines who aren’t part of the alliance. These include more regional carriers, like Alaska Airlines and JetBlue, who have the majority of their flights within the Americas. Some of the partnerships will have more restrictions compared to earning on Star Alliance flights.
Co-branded Credit Card
Singapore Airlines does not offer a co-branded credit card to residents in Canada or the United States. However, if you have a partner who lives in Singapore, Australia, Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, The Philippines, or South Korea, they can apply for a Singapore Airlines co-branded credit card.
Transfer from Other Loyalty Programs
Beyond flying with Singapore Airlines, there are a few other channels that can be used to earn KrisFlyer miles. Similar to earning Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles directly, transfer partners include banking and credit card providers, ground transportation, and even hotel loyalty programs.
Transfer from Bank Loyalty Programs
For those with a US credit card, you can convert American Express Membership Rewards (US), Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou points to Singapore KrisFlyer miles. All of these programs transfer to KrisFlyer at a 1:1 ratio.
| Financial Institution Points | Conversion Rate |
|---|---|
| American Express Membership Rewards (US) | 1,000 MR to 1,000 KrisFlyer Miles |
| Capital One Miles (US) | 1,000 Capital One Miles to 1,000 KrisFlyer Miles |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards (US) | 1,000 Ultimate Rewards Points to 1,000 KrisFlyer Miles |
| Citi ThankYou Rewards (US) | 1,000 ThankYou Points to 1,000 KrisFlyer Miles |
Unfortunately for most Canadians, no bank programs, including American Express Membership Rewards in Canada, have access to KrisFlyer via a transfer program.
Transfer from Hotel Loyalty Programs
KrisFlyer has partnered with a variety of hotels and major hotel chains, giving many options to earn or transfer to KrisFlyer Miles without flying. Though most are based in Asia, they have partnerships with global chains with worldwide footprints including Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott Bonvoy.
| Major Hotel Chain Points | Conversion Rate |
|---|---|
| Accor Limitless | 2000 ALL Rewards points to 1000 KrisFlyer miles |
| Hilton Honors | 10,000 Honors to 1,000 KrisFlyer Miles |
| World of Hyatt | 5000 to 2000 KrisFlyer Miles |
| InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG One Rewards) | 10,000 IHG One Points to 2,000 KrisFlyer Miles (min.10,000) |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 3000 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1000 KrisFlyer miles |
Earn KrisFlyer Miles through Hotel Stays
Beyond transferring from Hotel loyalty programs, KrisFlyer miles can be earned directly from some hotel stays. Typically, earning rates are set at a fixed rate, up to 2,000 KrisFlyer miles per stay for luxurious properties or chains, or at an earning rate per US Dollar. For most hotel programs, you may only be able to choose to either earn hotel points or airline miles.
There are more than 50 hotel partnerships with KrisFlyer. Check here to see which hotel partner may be suitable for you.
| Major Hotel Chain Points | Earning Rate |
|---|---|
| Accor Limitless | Option to automatically convert Accor ALL Reward points to KrisFlyer miles at a 2:1 ratio |
| World of Hyatt | 500 KrisFlyer miles per qualifying stay |
| InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG One Rewards) | Up to 2 KrisFlyer Miles per $1 USD |
| Marriott Bonvoy | Up to 2 KrisFlyer Miles per $1 USD |
Earn KrisFlyer Miles on Car Rentals
KrisFlyer has partnerships with major car rental agencies, where members can earn up to 500 miles per car rental. Companies include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, and SIXT. They also have partnerships with Qeeq and Zuzuche which are Chinese-based rental agencies.
There are also some agency specific earning rates and bonuses. For first time Avis renters, 1,000 KrisFlyer miles will be given as a bonus. Using Hertz chauffeur-drive services will earn users 2 KrisFlyers per $1 USD spent. Similar to Hertz, SIXT chauffeur riders will earn up to 3 KrisFlyer miles per Premium SIXT ride.
Additionally, up to 20% off can be discounted after booking through the Singapore Airlines Avis link. KrisFlyer Elite and PPS Club status members can also receive complimentary preferred memberships.
Booking Other Travel
Beyond hotels and car rentals, Krisflyer has partnerships with other travel vendors, including travel agencies, tour operators, and even fuel stations mostly based in Asia and Oceania. The most notable travel partner is Pelago, which is owned by Singapore Airlines and sells destination based activities.
Travel activities bought through Pelago can earn members 3 KrisFlyer miles per $1 Singapore Dollar spent. There are also some bonus earning opportunities that can appear from time to time, including events and limited-time offers. Just enter or log in with your KrisFlyer number at checkout to earn through Pelago.
KrisShop / Retail Partners
KrisShop is Singapore Airlines’ online shopping service which sells a variety of lifestyle products, from beauty, electronics, and even Singapore Airlines themed merchandise. KrisShop is also the in-flight duty-free portal, which can be accessed prior to your flight. Any purchases for in-flight delivery can be made between 60 days to 24 hours prior to your flight. Flights between Singapore and Malaysia on Singapore Airlines and between Singapore and Jeddah onboard Scoot are not eligible for pre-flight orders
KrisFlyer is partnered with many other retail partners as well, including Changi Rewards and Heathrow Rewards which are rewards programs specific to those airports. You can convert Changi and Heathrow Rewards points to KrisFlyer at a fixed rate.
The most intriguing transfer partner is Razer, who produces gaming products. Razer Silver points, earned through purchasing computer peripherals, can be converted to KrisFlyer miles.
Buying KrisFlyer Miles
Although you cannot purchase KrisFlyer Miles at a bulk rate like Air Canada Aeroplan, you can submit a form to top up your miles to reach a redemption amount. The remaining miles will cost $0.04 USD per mile. You will need to fill in your personal information, the passengers travelling together, the itinerary, and the credit card that will be used to pay for the remaining points.
Otherwise, there are options to mix cash and miles towards flight redemptions.
Redeeming KrisFlyer Miles for Flights
With KrisFlyer, you can redeem miles towards Singapore Airlines and their partner-operated flights. However, redeeming outside of Singapore Airlines and Scoot may be at a higher redemption rate.
Standard Award Chart: Flights Operated by Singapore Airlines and Scoot Only
There is a notable difference between reward types in the KrisFlyer program: Promo, Saver, and Advantage. Promo rewards, which are the cheapest, have the least amount of benefits and features whereas Advantage rewards have the best benefits, including complimentary stopovers, changes, and even forward cabin seat selection on Singapore Airlines flights.
One way Advantage Awards start from 15,000 KrisFlyer miles and from US$24 in taxes, charges and fees. Pricing is fixed, and not dynamic.
You can view the standard award chart for KrisFlyer here, which includes rates for one-way Economy, Business, and Suites/First for each of the three award types.
Partner Award Chart: Flights by Star Alliance or Other Partners
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles can be used towards redemptions on Star Alliance flights as well as Singapore Airlines’ other partner carriers. These can be at a higher redemption rate compared to redeeming directly for flights on Singapore Airlines or Scoot.
For example, a round-trip redemption for a flight from North America to Singapore can start at 121,000 KrisFlyer miles flying with a different Star Alliance carrier versus 84,000 KrisFlyer miles on a Saver award ticket booking through Singapore Airlines. Click here for the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer award chart! Learn more about partner award space in our guide here!
Using Singapore Airlines’ search, queries for non-Star Alliance partner redemptions can also be made, however, it may be more difficult to see any results, even for busy hub-to-hub routes such as Seattle to Los Angeles on Alaska Airlines. Alternatively, you can check out our guide on how to earn and redeem Atmos Rewards points instead!
Other Award Charts
Upgrade Award Chart
KrisFlyer miles can be used to purchase upgrades to a higher fare class. Flight upgrades can be done from Economy to Premium Economy or Business Class, however upgrades to First Class/Suites can only be purchased with an existing Business Class ticket. Check out the KrisFlyer upgrade award chart here!
In some cases, special upgrade prices may be offered within 72 hours of a flight. You can check if there are any exclusive offers through the mySQupgrade website.
KrisFlyer Redemption Sweet Spots
Recently, KrisFlyer was added to Seats.aero, a flight redemption search tool for a variety of other frequent flyer loyalty programs, including Aeroplan. KrisFlyer is currently in beta right now so you might see some outages for any searches. Read our article on how to use Seats.aero to find award space!
New York (JFK) to Singapore
For one of the longest non-stop flights in the world, there is no doubt that using KrisFlyer miles for a redemption will save you money. For 161,100 KrisFlyer miles roundtrip, you can fly in Premium Economy on the longest non-stop flight currently available, compared to paying $2,224 USD, or around $3,075 CAD, at the time of writing.
Redeeming KrisFlyer Miles for Other Travel Experiences
As mentioned earlier, Singapore Airlines’ Pelago travel portal can be used for redemptions as well. Redemptions can be made at a rate of 150 KrisFlyer miles per $1 Singapore Dollar.
KrisFlyer also offers a program similar to Marriott Bonvoy Moments, with redemptions available towards exclusive events and experiences. Called KrisFlyer Experiences, they partner with MasterCard to offer these special opportunities. These events include concerts, exclusive dining, and even travel experiences like wildlife adventures and speedboats.
Singapore Airlines Status Points & Tier Status
Singapore Airlines offers KrisFlyer Elite status, which confer enhanced benefits to those who fly with the airline the most. Some of these benefits are often reciprocated aboard other Star Alliance carriers as well, thanking the most frequent passengers for their loyalty.
Singapore Airlines Tier Status
KrisFlyer Basic
The basic membership allows members to earn KrisFlyer points, with no priority or in-flight exclusive benefits. It does however, unlock complimentary Wi-Fi and in-flight entertainment onboard most of Singapore Airlines’ fleet.
KrisFlyer Elite Silver
At the Silver elite level, basic benefits are provided, as well as additional baggage allowances, complimentary seat selection onboard Singapore Airlines and Scoot, and even priority check-in and boarding. A 25% earning bonus is included when flying on Singapore Airlines and Scoot.
Through the Marriott & KrisFlyer Preferred Partnership program, KrisFlyer Elite Silver members can receive Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status after staying for three nights on a paid qualifying rate. Redemptions using Free Night Awards, are not eligible for this accelerator program. Stays must be completed within 6 months of linking accounts.
On the other hand, KrisFlyer Elite Silver is complimentary to all Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status members and above. Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite members are able to receive KrisFlyer Silver after completing two Singapore Airlines flights. Flights must be flown within 6 months of linking your KrisFlyer to Marriott Bonvoy accounts.
KrisFlyer Elite Gold
As the highest KrisFlyer tier, KrisFlyer Gold is recognized across all Star Alliance airlines as Star Alliance Gold, including lounge access and priority services for flights. This also includes priority baggage handling, and complimentary Forward Zone seat selection on Singapore Airlines. Onboard Scoot, a one-time change fee waiver is included for any changes in flight dates and/or times.
KrisFlyer Elite Gold members and above receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status without any stay requirements. These members are eligible for an Accelerator Challenge to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status after just 10 qualifying nights. Like the accelerator for KrisFlyer Elite Silver members, stays must be done within 6 months of linking accounts.
Reciprocally, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status members and above are given complimentary KrisFlyer Silver Elite status, with the opportunity to accelerate to KrisFlyer Gold Elite status after just four Singapore Airlines flights. Andy was able to take advantage of this offer, only paying $800 for four flights between Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. Similar to the KrisFlyer Elite Silver accelerator, flights must be flown within 6 months of linking your KrisFlyer to Marriott Bonvoy accounts.
PPS Club
PPS Club is a branch off of KrisFlyer, only accessible to frequent flyers of Singapore Airlines’ premium products, such as Suites, First, and Business classes. PPS Club members receive all the benefits that KrisFlyer Elite Gold and below offer.
Additional benefits include access to the SilverKris Business Class lounge, regardless of fare travelling in, no KrisFlyer miles expiration, and enhanced seat selection which includes Extra Legroom, and Forward Zone seat selection on Singapore Airlines. You also have access to concierge services and help dedicated to PPS Club members.
Beyond the in-flight experience, PPS Club members receive a Shangri-La Circle Gold status, with an opportunity to accelerate to Jade status after just one night at a Shangri-La, Kerry, Traders, or Hotel Jen property. Additionally, every annual renewal, PPS Club members will receive a “gift”.
Solitaire PPS Club
The highest and most exclusive status level at Singapore Airlines is Solitare PPS Club, which offers even more benefits, including PPS Club and below. This includes a personal porter right after drop-off in the First Class driveway at Changi, and the ability to check-in at the First Class desks. These members can also receive reimbursement for an APEC Business Travel Card membership, which is similar to Canada’s Verified Traveller Program but for APEC participating countries, including Australia, most of east Asia and Oceania, and even Mexico.
Frequently Asked Questions
Like most other loyalty programs, miles may vary in value depending on the distance travelled or variations in flight pricing. For a good benchmark reference number, a KrisFlyer mile can be considered worth 1.5 cents.
KrisFlyer miles expire 3 years after they are earned for KrisFlyer Basic, Elite Silver, and Elite Gold members. For any miles earned through contests, they expire after one year after earning.
Miles can be extended once for a fee; 6 months for Basic members, and 12 months for Silver and Gold members. Extension requests can be made up to 5 months ahead, though it cannot be used to extend already expired miles. The fee is 1,200 miles, or $12 USD per 10,000 miles.
For PPS Club and Solitare PPS Club members, miles do not expire as long as they continue being PPS Club members.
Yes, you can upgrade using KrisFlyer Miles from Economy Class to Premium Economy and Business Class. However, upgrades to First Class and Suites cabins can only be done from existing Business Class tickets. You can check out the redemption chart here.
Depending on the institution, it can vary to up to 15 days. American Express Membership Rewards (US) seems to have the fastest transfer time, reportedly instant or within a few minutes of the request. In comparison, Chase Ultimate Rewards warns that transfer times may be up to 15 business days, or at least 3 weeks. Ensure that your KrisFlyer account name matches the name of the bank account.
Codeshare flights are not eligible for upgrades using KrisFlyer miles. They can also not be used for taxes, delivery charges, or customs charges on KrisShop purchases.
Posts About Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles
Review: Singapore Airlines Economy Class (787-10), Fukuoka to Singapore & Singapore to Nagoya Flying on the phenomenal Singapore Airlines’ Economy Class is worth it whether you are booking on cash or on points. Click to see our review for more.
Review: Singapore Airlines Business Class (A350-900) Singapore Airlines business class onboard the A350 lives up to its established expectations, with excellent service, soft and hard product.