If you have over 100,000 KrisFlyer miles or credit card points that can be transferred to KrisFlyer, then you’ve got lots of award seat options up your sleeve. Here are some of the best-value redemptions using KrisFlyer miles.
Remember, you can transfer your Velocity Points over to KrisFlyer if you wish, but note that they will lose some of their value in the process.
1. Singapore Airlines Business Class from Perth/Darwin to Southeast Asia for only 40,500 miles one-way
Singapore’s proximity to Perth and Darwin offers these often-forgotten cities a rare benefit over the rest of Australia – sharply-priced Business Class awards to South East Asia. You’ll pay just 40,500 KrisFlyer miles one-way, whether that’s solely Darwin to Singapore or Perth to Taipei via Singapore. Because of this region-based pricing, it makes sense to fly beyond Singapore for no extra miles, if possible. That second flight is very close to being ‘free’.
From Perth, you’ll enjoy the Boeing 787 or Airbus A350 ‘medium haul’ Business Class seats. These might be a bit narrower than what you’re used to, but they’re still absolutely fine for these 5.5-hour flights. From Darwin, you’ll be on the Boeing 737 MAX-8, which still offers lie-flat seats in Business despite being a single-aisle plane.
Regions covered by the 40,500-mile cap are Zones 1-4, including:
- Singapore
- Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei
- Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos
- South China, Hong Kong, China and Taiwan
Read more: our guide to redeeming points on Singapore Airlines’ 787/A350 aircraft
2. Singapore Airlines Business Class from the rest of Australia to Southeast Asia from 68,500 miles one-way
Flying from anywhere else in Australia or New Zealand? Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns and Auckland all fall under a different zone, so you’ll part with 68,500 KrisFlyer miles to fly Business Class to Singapore and beyond to those same destinations as above in South East Asia.
While the pricing is higher to account for the several hours of additional flying, you also get to experience a range of different products. Catching the Airbus A380 from Sydney or Melbourne? You’ll fly Singapore Airlines’ latest Business Class seat. Most other flights on the Airbus A350 or Boeing 777 feature the carrier’s second-generation long-haul seats, which are still quite comfortable.
The Boeing 787s or Airbus A350s also operate certain flights with medium-haul seating.
3. Get a free stopover on selected fares
One of our favourite things about KrisFlyer is that you can get a free stopover on roundtrip Saver awards, or on one-way Advantage awards. Select the ‘stopover’ option while making the redemption online, and you’ll be prompted to choose a new date for the flight after the stopover. Just note that all dates still require award seat availability for the stopover to work.
You may stopover on Singapore Airlines flights transiting through Singapore or on selected ‘fifth freedom’ routes outside Singapore. Your stopover options currently include:
- Asia: Singapore, Tokyo
- Europe: Frankfurt, Manchester and Milan
Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to add US$100 stopovers on one-way Saver awards.
Read more: how to maximise KrisFlyer redemptions by using free or additional stopovers
4. Try out Singapore Airlines Suites to Hong Kong or Mumbai for under 98,000 miles
Singapore Airlines Suites Class is one of the best First Class products in the world. It’s available on routes serviced by the Airbus A380. The good news is that you can try it out for under 100,000 KrisFlyer miles – technically, that includes Sydney and Melbourne to Singapore on a Saver ticket for 93,500 miles + fees and taxes.
Unfortunately, we’ve found there is pretty much no Saver availability in Suites on any routes right now. Instead, you can pay for Advantage availability between Singapore and Hong Kong or Mumbai. This isn’t the best use of your miles, but it is one to consider if you really want to try it out.
- 73,000 miles for Singapore-Hong Kong
- 98,000 miles for Singapore-Mumbai
Your journey starts (or finishes) in the delights of The Private Room in Singapore. Onboard, you’ll enjoy excellent customer service, delicious food and a wide beverage selection, including Dom Pérignon and Krug. The lie-flat bed turn-down service is with Givenchy linens… swoon.
Read more: our guide to how to use points to book Singapore Airlines Suites Class
5. Singapore Airlines Business Class from Australia to South Africa, Dubai or Turkey from 81,500 miles one-way
If you aren’t flying nonstop to South Africa with Qantas, you might as well do it in comfort via Singapore. And for the rest of Australia not living in Sydney, Singapore Airlines might be the more convenient option anyway.
For 81,500 miles from Perth/Darwin or 99,000 from the rest of Australia, you can fly Business Class to Singapore, and then onto Johannesburg or Cape Town on the modern A350. It’s also the same price to fly to Dubai or Istanbul.
Read more: how to use your points to get to South Africa
6. Premium Economy from Singapore to Europe or the US from 71,000 miles one-way
Singapore Airlines Premium Economy offers comfortable seats and good food options, making it a viable choice for long-haul travel. Plus, there are no fuel surcharges applied to redemptions on Singapore Airlines flights through KrisFlyer.
With a Premium Economy ticket, you’ll get a wider seat, priority check-in and boarding. You’ll also get the opportunity to Book The Cook. All of this without the price tag of a Business Class flight.
Note that you will not get lounge access as a Premium Economy passenger. However, if you have a Priority Pass membership with one of these credit cards, then you’re sorted.
Premium Economy is featured on Airbus A380s, long-haul Airbus A350s and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. These are the ones that fly to Singapore Airlines’ most far-flung destinations.
Given the configuration is 2-4-2, the seats to aim for are the two closest to the windows on either side of the aircraft. If you are flying on the ultra-long-haul version of the A350 to Los Angeles or New York, try to grab one of the solo seats in the last three rows.
Here are some figures for common long-haul travel destinations for Australia-based travellers (all figures are for one-way travel):
| Origin | Destination | Premium Economy Class | Business Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | Europe | 71,000 | 103,500 |
| US West Coast | 75,000 | 107,000 | |
| US East Coast | 80,500 | 111,500 | |
| Perth/Darwin | Europe | 77,000 | 119,500 |
| US West Coast | 99,000 | 127,500 | |
| US East Coast | 104,500 | 136,500 | |
| Rest of Australia | Europe | 101,000 | 130,500 |
| US West Coast | 104,500 | 136,500 | |
| US East Coast | 109,000 | 145,500 |
Note that Perth and Darwin to Singapore don’t have Premium Economy, so that redemption will be a mixed-class booking. Most flights from the rest of Australia do have Premium Economy.
Read more: top tips to help you secure an award seat to the US
7. Fly Air New Zealand Business Class anywhere in the South Pacific for 69,000 miles return
You can fly anywhere in the ‘South-West Pacific region’ in Business Class on Air New Zealand for 69,000 miles return per person. That includes Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga and Vanuatu. Because they’re region-based, the award costs the same even if you’re starting further away in Perth.
This could take you as far afield as Tahiti. That is a minimum nine-hour flight from the East Coast with a stop in Auckland so that particular redemption represents good value.
Be aware that award space on Air New Zealand flights can be quite difficult to come by, so plan well ahead if possible.
Read more: Air New Zealand 777 Business Class review
8. Fly return across the US in United lie-flat Business Class for 52,000 miles
United operates 10+ flights daily from Los Angeles and San Francisco to New York. It has upgraded its mostly Boeing 757 fleet with flat-bed seats now standard on these routes. If you can, try to get on one of the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft, which have the latest Polaris product.
Under the Star Alliance award chart, you’ll only need to spend 52,000 miles for a return booking in Business Class within North America. Once again, the region-based chart ignores the actual distances between cities.
Read more: United 787 Business Class review
9. Fly lie-flat across the Atlantic for 100,000 miles return
From its hubs at London Gatwick and Heathrow, Virgin Atlantic flies to a surprising number of destinations in North America. Those include US cities New York, Boston, Washington, Florida, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and Caribbean islands such as Cuba, Jamaica and St Lucia.
The price? Just 50,000 KrisFlyer miles, one-way. You’d have enough for a return trip with 100,000 miles.
If you can, aim to fly an Airbus A350. This is the airline’s latest Business Class product and is found on the popular London-New York route.
The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses at Heathrow, Gatwick, JFK, Newark, San Francisco and Los Angeles are all excellent lounges, with modern finishings and à la carte dining.
Read more: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse San Francisco review
Summing up
KrisFlyer miles are some of the most valuable out there, with great-value redemptions on Singapore Airlines a notable highlight. However, using your miles for travel on Star Alliance airlines and other partners such as Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic can also provide outsized value.
If you want to brush up on how to start your search for an award seat, then check out our beginner’s guide to the KrisFlyer program. If you want to boost your KrisFlyer balance, you could sign up for one of these credit cards and then use one of these cards on an ongoing basis.
All images courtesy of Point Hacks and respective airlines. Some prior content originally written by Matt Moffitt.
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I often fly with Virgin having a velocity platinum it is ok to seat row 3 then use KrisFlyer gold abroad business class to Istanbul then it is easy to fly around Europe with amazing fare.
On the way back ? I reckon Qatar Qsuite to home using American miles
This options seems do not available anymore.
Can’t search any result on Singapore Airlines’s redeem ticket portal.
And their representative also told me there is no flight within StarAlliance.
Thanks for your information.
I did search in Star Alliance Partners mode.
It looks like only dates within three months are available to be searched on Singapore Airlines search portal. (e.g. on 18 April 2021, I can only search ticket no later than 16 July 2021).
Do you know where else we can search the tickets more efficient?
Cheers
Using Points plus pay nearly always results in a points value that is less than redeeming for a premium class seat outright or through upgrading. However, there are times where it may be necessary, such as if you short of points for a particular redemption and need to travel immediately.
(I am saving for a SYD-TLV J redemption).
Yes, the price from PER and SYD to TLV is the same, as KrisFlyer’s Star Alliance Chart is based on regions, with all of Australia falling into the ‘Southwest Pacific’ region.
I’m having a bit of trouble pulling up those flights too, so it may be worth phoning KrisFlyer to book.
Polaris Business Class flights are available on certain flights between New York Newark and Los Angeles or San Francisco. As these are Polaris flights, access will be granted, however no guests will be allowed https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/airport/united-club-and-lounges/access.html.
Whenever I search a known AIR NZ route (say, Melbourne to Auckland) with the ‘redeem with points’ option selected on the krisflyer website, I get a ‘this route does not exist’ message, or the search engine completely packs up and re-sets. Am assuming these are phone booking only (and therefore not eligible for 15% online booking saving)?
$400,000 VFF converts to ~296,297 KF miles (400k / 1.35).
See: https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/ppsclub_krisflyer/charts/SQMI_OneWayAwardCharts.pdf
Zone 9 (Sydney) to Zone 11 (Europe) is 132.5k KF miles each way. So that’s 265k KF miles return. But, with 15% online discount applied it’s only ~225k KF miles.
Hope that helps!
Thanks
We leave in two weeks – first leg (PER to SING, 777ER) is business class as there is no first class on PER to SING leg then SUITES on A380 from SING to ZUR.
As mentioned would be same “cost” for London, Paris, Frankfurt
Apologies – still a good option