Ideas to Use KrisFlyer Singapore Air Points by Oct.New Zealand / South Pacific?

tunzafun001 on 24/10/2023 - 11:42

Have just over 50k KrisFlyer points to use up this month. Was originally looking at a 50k return airfare to New zealand south Island (CHC/ ZQN)..then covid hit.

Not sure if NZ is even an option any more?

Flying from Adelaide.. (Could do a domestic to Eastern states or Perth first I guess). There are two award charts (which I dont understand why)? But looks like Adelaide is in the "not Perth/ Darwin" category. But sure id find nothing from Adelaide (would need to look from syd/melb/perth id assume)..

Destination preferences would be NZ, South Pacific, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Bali.

Could top up with AMEX transfer for more points as I cant see any 50k return flights any more (is a transfer from Amex instant)?

Is using United search engine still the way to go (then call to book a United spotted flight)? KF search didnt show much at all last time I used it..United had heaps

Any tips?

Cheers

Travel Frequent Flyer KrisFlyer Miles Reward Points

Comments

  • Benoffie on 24/10/2023 - 11:56

    Singapore is upping its seats in the next few weeks out of ADL. You may find better options to SIN coming once the scheduling is confirmed.

    Is there any benefit/loss moving KF to Velocity and taking advantage of the new tiered rewards system?

    Someone with more experience doing this may be able to answer and provide a comparison.

  • carwashhair on 24/10/2023 - 12:01
    +1

    Haven't had to look for Partner airline award for a while so can't say regarding availability to NZ. One option is Spontaneous escapes up to Singapore or within Asia https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/plan-travel/promotions… and potentially get a Scoot flight on the other leg.

    Otherwise yeah the Pacific; you might get decent value from points if you could find a flight to Cook Islands or Tahiti (hen's teeth and all that…) https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/ppsclub_krisflyer/cha…

    sorry I haven't got any more tips, like you i'm a bit rusty on my points game these days

    • tunzafun001 on 24/10/2023 - 13:25

      Cheers,
      So the second link is total for return? ie NZ/ South pacific is 27/ 69 / 94… if you can find a seat.

      &

      Tahiti Nui the code share for Tahiti? Would need to link with a cruise (cheaper than one night of accom).

      • carwashhair on 24/10/2023 - 13:48

        yeah, second link is return points - historically been very good value with Sth Pacific, but availability the problem. Not sure on Tahiti Nui as alliance partner with Singapore, but thought NZ still flew there (haven't checked that).

        Down below you just mentioned Singapore as a stopover destination - you might be able to find a thru flight to a neighbouring country for the same Krisflyer points as Singapore itself. https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/ppsclub_krisflyer/cha…

        I could stay a week in Singapore and not get tired of things to do, but yeah that is a personal thing.

        • tunzafun001 on 24/10/2023 - 20:29

          If I'm looking for where they fly (on Google Flights), then I would filter by Star Alliance yeah? Qantas comes up… I'm clearly out of the loop.

  • blonky on 24/10/2023 - 12:18
    +1

    Two award charts because they run 2 categories of point tickets - Saver and Advantage
    Saver are more rare and only allow 1 stopover
    And yes they stopped running flights between NZ and Aus since covid

    From Adelaide to Singapore the difference is 30.5k points for Saver vs 55k points in Advantage one way in econ

    Also be aware if you book by 31st Oct for travel within Nov 2023 they are running 30% off points needed - this could make a return trip to Singapore/Malaysia only 42.7k points (30.5k * 2 * 70%) + ~$190 taxes (subject to Saver availability)

    • tunzafun001 on 24/10/2023 - 13:38

      Cheers for the clarification.
      30% makes it more appealing. But next month…wowser! That all destinations? (not just singapore)?

      • blonky on 24/10/2023 - 14:56

        Seems to be all destinations. But you need to depart and arrive within November

    • tunzafun001 on 30/10/2023 - 23:14

      Any idea how to search the entire month for availability (like Qantas that shows a calendar with a little red icon for all available redemptions)?
      I can only see set dates in KF? Points expire tomorrow. Can't find a single flight :(

      Call centre couldn't find me a flight either!

      Down to Fiji (I know Fiji Airways- Star Alliance- fly direct out of Adelaide), but without a full month calendar…impossible to find anything. The KF map shows codeshare flights to NZ, but I can't find any. Basically anywhere in the South Pacific, or Bali (but not via Singapore). Found a ADL to Nadi (Fiji)… but its 22hrs via Singapore.. not going to go well with a 3yr old.

      Just wrote to KF for an extension as they clearly still haven't opened many flights (especially being based in Adelaide).

  • richrichie on 24/10/2023 - 13:29

    You are late by a couple of days. There was a 25% discount KF redemption promotion that was running until 22nd Oct for next year flights.

    But otherwise, from a quick search, there are some saver seats to Singapore from Adelaide in January (24/01/2023), returning in Feb (07/02/2023).
    One way is 30.5K (return 61K) so you'd need to top up about 11K pts.

    Perth - SG has availabilities on a similar date and cost less points (21.5K one way). But I think domestic flight ADL - Perth is not cheap these days?

    • tunzafun001 on 24/10/2023 - 13:37

      Firstly…bum!

      Could add an ADL - Perth via a redemption (Qantas / Jetstar used to be the go). But also have velocity points.

      Should be less than 20k points for the domestic leg, or Darwin. Maybe Singapore it is (but always think as Singapore as stopover on the way to Europe, not a destination in itself…

      • richrichie on 24/10/2023 - 13:40
        +1

        Miles required for SQ redemption is usually based on a distance range (and not per sector), so some destination actually cost the same amount of miles even though they are further away. SQ flights will usually fly via Singapore and if you do a Round Trip Saver Awards, I think you will get 1 free stopover.

        For example, you can redeem ADL - SG - Taipei; and Taipei - SG - ADL, and it will still cost you 61K miles.
        Add a free stopover in Singapore, you get to explore both cities with the same amount of miles.
        Taipei is also very close to Japan and there are many cheap flights options, so that's another idea to push it even further. :)

        Edit: There are some economy saver seats ADL - Taipei in Jan too (20/01/2023 or 28/01/2023); returning on the 7th Feb.

        • tunzafun001 on 24/10/2023 - 13:45

          Wow..Taipei is a long way away from Singapore!! Was planning Japan in the late snow season (and normally take my own board). Might make it tricky with connections But good intel.

          Guessing this means ADL - SG - Thailand is doable then (the same as Taipei example), or is it a radius thing?

          • richrichie on 24/10/2023 - 13:49
            +1

            @tunzafun001: Yeah, I'm pretty sure Bangkok is also 30.5K miles one way from Adelaide.

            I'm not sure how they calculate it though, but it doesn't sound like radius. Maybe total distance flown?
            For example, ADL - Bali is 39K miles one way, even though radius wise it should be closer than singapore / bangkok / taipei?

            • blonky on 24/10/2023 - 15:01

              @richrichie: It's not distance based - they use banding Zones

              Example: ZONE 8: Australia (Perth & Darwin) to ZONE 3: Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia & Laos is 30.5k points
              But, ZONE 9: Australia (excl. Perth & Darwin) & New Zealand to ZONE 3: Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia & Laos is 21.5k points

              • tunzafun001 on 24/10/2023 - 16:07

                @blonky: Guessing that means Bali/Indonesia is on the cusp of a larger northern zone (being more points than Singapore).

              • richrichie on 24/10/2023 - 16:17

                @blonky: That makes sense, I remember seeing that table before. Thought the zone was based on distance, didn't realise it was country / region.

                Although I still couldn't figure out how they calculate when different cities are involved.
                Example: ADL - Jakarta (Indonesia) is 30.5K, while ADL - Bali (also Indonesia) is 39K -> which is 30.5K for the ADL - SG leg (Zone 9 to Zone 1) + 8.5K for the SG - Indonesia leg (Zone 1 to Zone 2).
                Do you know what's the pattern for this? I'd think Bali should be 30.5K if the miles calculation is based on zone (Zone 9 to Zone 2).

                — edit: Actually, in the small fine prints it does laid out the mileage related clause.

                • Travel must be via a published route of the airline. The fares shown on this chart are not applicable to
                itineraries with backtracking routes and routes exceeding the maximum permitted mileage between
                two zones.

                Zonal combination includes certain backtracking routes and routes exceeding the maximum
                permitted mileage between two zones, to which the reference fare will not apply. To confirm the
                exact mileage required, contact KrisFlyer Membership Services.

                • tunzafun001 on 24/10/2023 - 19:32

                  @richrichie: That all makes sense.. .but the Taipei example above brings it all unstuck!!!

                  I chucked both Taipei and Bali into Google flights. Both have listings for a Singapore metal flight (both with a transit through Singapore). Just the SIN-> Taipei option is a longer flight (by aprox 1000 km)

          • carwashhair on 24/10/2023 - 13:50

            @tunzafun001: Ha, I think richrichie and I have been hinting at the same thing. It's not strictly a radius thing but not far off - the saver award chart will give you the best indicator of zones https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/ppsclub_krisflyer/cha…

  • MELso on 24/10/2023 - 13:52

    Could always transfer the points (noting there's a 1.55:1 conversion hit) to Virgin Australia, then use them at your leisure.

    • tunzafun001 on 24/10/2023 - 16:09

      Yeah, but that's brutal! Ie going from AMEX - Kris- Velocity…ouch. But cheers. Always good to know all options.

      I think there is a 'x' amount of points to extend the due date option as well.

  • tunzafun001 on 30/10/2023 - 23:18

    Krisflyer search engine is horrible (can't find anyway to search redemption availability for the month). Also, can't find any link maps of where they fly (only a list of possible destinations, but no idea where/ how they link up)? Ie. What depature airports fly into Nadi, Christchurch, Auckland, Papette etc

    • MELso on 31/10/2023 - 08:50

      Try seats.aero - it doesn't have SQ directly, but you can use *A and VA to get a rough idea of what's available.

      • tunzafun001 on 31/10/2023 - 13:22

        Cheers, what's *A?

        I just also did a Google flights search from Adelaide (all destinations via Star Alliance). Lots of options, but not finding any actual availability through SQ.

        • MELso on 02/11/2023 - 13:57

          *A = Star Alliance

  • tunzafun001 on 31/10/2023 - 20:46

    Well, the KF booking page is utter rubbish. No monthly calendar view, you need to search business/ economy / PE are seperate searches. Singapore Air is a seperate search from Star Alliance and Virgin is a seperate search again.

    9 different searches.. for only one single date….Absolute Rubbish!

    Can't find a ADL/MEL or SYD to AKL..but can see an Air NZ flight (SYD or MEL to PPT at 13 500 miles…via AKL), then you chose it..and it disappears, but another appears two days later..click on that ,and then that disappears… Eventually snared one that 'stuck' (I assume it's a status bug, ie I'm a pleb and shouldn't be able to see them).

    Anyone know if I could book the PPT one way flight with a AKL stop over… and just call up and cancel the AKL to PPT leg when I'm there? Not a return, so nothing else to forfeit.

    Used the United Airlines Page..found heaps. But then call KF, they can't see them.

    Asked for an extension as neither I, nor they can find a single flight in a 12 month window. Only way for an extension is if I pay $72 or 7200pts. Is there an Ombudsman for an Int Airline? Never realised how much easier Virgin and Qantas redemptions are to book.

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