Kris+ opens up new ways to earn and redeem miles in Australia

Outside of its home base in Singapore, Australia boasts the largest market of Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer members. So, it comes as no surprise that Australia is the first country outside of Singapore where customers can earn and redeem points via the airline’s lifestyle rewards program, Kris+.

Already widely adopted in Singapore, the Kris+ program has over 1,000 partners in the Lion City. This covers everything from dining and retail to attractions and wellness activities.

Though the list of partners isn’t as exhaustive in Australia just yet, Kris+ is still a lucrative way to earn KrisFlyer miles from everyday transactions. The program’s points currency, KrisPay miles, convert to KrisFlyer miles at a 1:1 rate. This means it’s easy to top up your balance towards your next flight.

Point Hacks chat with Singapore Airlines to find out what’s in store for Aussies as the Kris+ program rolls out in Australia.

How does the Kris+ program work?

Kris+ is entirely app-centric. You’ll need to pay for your purchase at the checkout by scanning the QR code using the Kris+ app. To do this, you must link a credit or debit card to your account in order to make a payment. So, if you’ve got a credit card that earns points, this is the perfect opportunity to double-dip on rewards.

You can download the Kris+ app via the Apple Store or Google Play.

How can I earn and redeem miles with Kris+?

Aside from flying and holding certain credit cards that allow you to convert rewards points to KrisFlyer miles, there are a few ways for Australians to earn KrisFlyer miles. This is in contrast to popular programs like Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity Frequent Flyer, which offer easy ways to earn points through everyday spending with retail, dining and online shopping partners. But the entry of Kris+ into the Australian market opens up a third major frequent flyer program for Aussies to bank miles in.

The program has its own points currency – KrisPay miles, separate from KrisFlyer miles. The rate at which you’ll earn KrisPay miles depends on the merchant. But generally customers can earn between 1-3 KrisPay miles per AUD$1 spent.

KrisPay miles are credited to your account instantly and are available for use there and then. This core benefit of the program aims to mitigate the frustrations experienced by customers with other programs, where points can take days or weeks to credit to their account.

You can save your KrisPay miles for redemptions at a Kris+ program partner. The redemption rate is 150 KrisPay miles per AUD$1, which mirrors the same rate per SGD$1 in Singapore. Payments can also be made in a mix of miles and cash. So you don’t need to worry if you’re short on miles for your purchase.

But one of the most lucrative benefits of earning KrisPay miles is the ability to convert them to KrisFlyer miles at a 1:1 rate. If you spend $28 on the Kris+ app each day and earn a maximum of 3 KrisPay miles per $1, you’ll have enough miles for a one-way Economy flight from Sydney or Melbourne to Singapore in one year. Or, you can earn enough miles for an Economy to Business Class upgrade between Sydney or Melbourne to Singapore by spending $53 each day for a year and earning the maximum rate of 3 KrisPay miles per $1. We don’t blame you for jumping at the opportunity to pay for your colleague’s lunches!

We cover more on earning and redeeming KrisPay miles in-depth in The Ultimate Guide to Kris+.

Where can I use Kris+ in Australia?

Currently, Kris+ is only available in Sydney and Melbourne CBDs and some surrounding suburbs. The program launch sees more than 40 partners and 70 outlets available for customers to earn and redeem KrisPay miles. This is a fraction of the partners that the program has in Singapore. However, Singapore Airlines has confirmed that over 100 partners will join the program in the next 4-6 weeks. The Kris+ program is expected to roll out across other Australian cities in future – particularly those where Singapore Airlines operates direct flights.

Summing up

Singapore Airlines’ Kris+ program is a welcome addition to how Australians can earn KrisFlyer miles in Australia. With a 1:1 conversion rate, it’s a handy way to give your points balance a boost through your everyday spending. And for those that prefer to redeem on the ground, it’s simple to turn rewards into discounts at participating partners.

As the program evolves in Australia, customers can expect greater opportunities to earn and redeem rewards in more cities.

Let us know in the comments below if you will be taking advantage of the Kris+ app in Australia.