Singapore Airlines is revising its award structure and moving to a three-tiered system. The lowest level restricted Saver Award will remain the same and the unrestricted award is going to be renamed the “Standard Award”. Standard Awards will have fewer restrictions and offer more availability than Saver Awards and members can include two stopovers per roundtrip in their award itinerary. The new third tier will be called “Full Award” and will include seats on popular flights during peak periods. The increased availability, however, will come at a hefty price and can cost you over a million miles for an international roundtrip first class flight. A roundtrip Full Award in first class between Singapore and New York City requires 1,176,000 miles and that’s not even the most expensive route. Choose to fly in first between Singapore and destinations in Australia and you’re looking at 1,762,000 miles–more than most people earn in a lifetime.

The good news about the changes is that the mileage requirements and seats available for Saver and Standard awards will not change and the cost of one-way awards is being reduced to 50 percent of the miles required for a roundtrip (from 70 percent). Members can mix and match award types and classes of travel, allowing for greater flexibility when redeeming for awards. The three award types are only available on Singapore Airlines flights and awards on SilkAir flights can only be made at the Saver Award level. For more information about the changes, go to http://insideflyerus.wpengine.com/link/?1233