Singapore: KrisFlyer Announces Sweeping Changes

Singapore: KrisFlyer Announces Sweeping Changes

In response to customer research performed at the end of 2003, Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program is making some dramatic changes.

The new benefits in the KrisFlyer program include:

  • One-way award redemptions: KrisFlyer members will be able to use one-way awards to any destination — a nice move. The downside? A one-way trip will run a full 70 percent of the miles required for a roundtrip.
  • New First and Raffles (Business) Class categories: A new category of unrestricted awards for First and Raffles Class travel will offer more choices, extended validity and two free stopovers per roundtrip. They will also cost twice the miles. Existing First and Business Class awards will be renamed First Saver and Business Saver, respectively.
  • Reduced rates for additional stopovers: Additional stopovers can now be redeemed for just 10,000 miles per stopover — irrespective of class of travel — instead of the usual 15,000, 25,000 and 40,000 miles required for Economy, Raffles (business) and First Class.
  • Revamped award redemption charts: New award charts will include more flight zones to ensure that each region is more accurately represented. For example, with the revamped chart, a Singapore-Adelaide return economy Saver redemption will now cost 20 percent less, at 40,000 miles, compared to the existing 50,000 miles. The revamped charts will have 23 flight zones, compared to the existing 12.
  • Purchase of “top-up” miles: Members can now top-up their accounts by purchasing up to 30 percent of the miles required for an award with cash. Each block of 1,000 miles costs US$40.
  • Reduced miles needed to change redemption group nominees online: Members who wish to change their redemption group nominees can now do so online, at http://www.krisflyer.com or http://www.singaporeair.com at a reduced cost of 60 percent of the miles currently required.
  • Extension on miles validity for KrisFlyer Elite and PPS Club members: KrisFlyer Elite and PPS members can extend the validity period of their miles accrued for up to one year as compared to the existing six months. The service fee for extending the validity period will still apply.