If you’re a frequent flyer with Singapore Airlines, you’re probably aware of the KrisFlyer program and the Elite miles that come with it. However, you might not know the difference between the two, or which one is more valuable for you. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between KrisFlyer and Elite miles, how to earn them, and the benefits and privileges that come with each.
KrisFlyer miles are the currency of the Singapore Airlines loyalty program. You can earn them by flying with Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, and their partner airlines, as well as by spending with co-branded credit cards and other partners. KrisFlyer miles can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other rewards, and the more you earn, the higher your membership tier and the better the benefits you receive.
Elite miles, on the other hand, are a measure of your status within the KrisFlyer program. You earn them by flying with Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, and Scoot, and they determine your membership tier, which ranges from Elite Silver to Elite Gold. The higher your membership tier, the more benefits and privileges you receive, such as lounge access, priority boarding, and bonus miles.
Understanding KrisFlyer and Elite Miles
KrisFlyer Programme Overview
If you’re a frequent flyer with Singapore Airlines, you’ll want to make the most of the KrisFlyer programme. This loyalty program rewards members with KrisFlyer miles, which can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related benefits.
KrisFlyer miles are earned by flying with Singapore Airlines and its partner airlines, as well as by using co-branded credit cards and shopping through the KrisFlyer Spree online shopping platform. The more you fly and spend, the more KrisFlyer miles you’ll earn.
Elite Miles: The Path to Elite Status
In addition to KrisFlyer miles, Singapore Airlines offers an elite status program based on elite miles. Elite miles are earned by flying on Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, and other Star Alliance airlines.
There are three tiers of elite status: KrisFlyer Elite Silver, KrisFlyer Elite Gold, and Solitaire PPS Club. Each tier offers its own set of benefits, such as priority check-in, lounge access, and bonus KrisFlyer miles.
To achieve KrisFlyer Elite Silver, you must earn 25,000 elite miles within a 12-month period. For KrisFlyer Elite Gold, you’ll need to earn 50,000 elite miles. Solitaire PPS Club status is reserved for the airline’s most frequent and loyal flyers, who earn 100,000 elite miles in a year.
Keep in mind that elite miles are different from KrisFlyer miles. While KrisFlyer miles can be redeemed for flights and other benefits, elite miles are only used to determine your elite status within the KrisFlyer program.
By understanding the difference between KrisFlyer and elite miles, you can make the most of the Singapore Airlines loyalty program and achieve the elite status that best suits your travel needs.
Earning Miles: KrisFlyer vs Elite
If you’re looking to earn miles with Singapore Airlines, you have two options: KrisFlyer miles and Elite miles. Here’s what you need to know about both.
Accumulating KrisFlyer Miles
KrisFlyer miles are earned by flying with Singapore Airlines or any of its partner airlines. The number of miles you earn depends on the fare class of your ticket and the distance you fly. For example, a round-trip economy class ticket from London to Singapore earns you around 11,000 KrisFlyer miles.
In addition to flying, you can also earn KrisFlyer miles by using credit cards that offer rewards points transfer programs. Popular options include American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One, and Chase Ultimate Rewards. Marriott Bonvoy also offers a transfer program.
Gaining Elite Miles
Elite miles are earned by flying with Singapore Airlines or SilkAir. The number of elite miles you earn depends on the fare class of your ticket and the distance you fly. Elite miles are used to determine your elite status with KrisFlyer. There are three elite tiers: Elite Silver, Elite Gold, and PPS Club.
To achieve Elite Silver status, you need to earn 25,000 elite miles or fly 25 qualifying sectors in a year. To achieve Elite Gold status, you need to earn 50,000 elite miles or fly 50 qualifying sectors in a year. PPS Club status is earned based on how much you spend for seats in premium cabins.
Credit Card Points Transfers
As mentioned earlier, you can also earn KrisFlyer miles by using credit cards that offer rewards points transfer programs. The transfer rate varies depending on the credit card and the transfer program. For example, American Express Membership Rewards transfers at a 1:1 ratio, while Capital One transfers at a 2:1.5 ratio.
Overall, earning KrisFlyer miles and Elite miles is a great way to get more out of your Singapore Airlines flights. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or just looking to earn some extra miles, there are plenty of options available to you.
Benefits and Privileges
As a KrisFlyer member, you are entitled to a range of exclusive perks and benefits that make your travel experience more enjoyable and convenient. Additionally, you can earn Elite Miles to upgrade your status and unlock even more rewards and services.
Exclusive KrisFlyer Mile Perks
With KrisFlyer Miles, you can enjoy a range of benefits such as lounge access, priority check-in, priority baggage, priority boarding, extra baggage allowance and more. As a KrisFlyer member, you can also earn KrisFlyer Milestone Rewards, which offer exclusive privileges such as KrisPay miles, cabin class advance upgrades, discount vouchers, KrisShop promo codes and more.
If you are a Star Alliance Gold or Star Alliance Silver status member, you can enjoy even more benefits such as priority check-in, priority boarding, lounge access and extra baggage allowance when you fly with any Star Alliance member airline.
Elite Miles Rewards and Services
By earning Elite Miles, you can unlock a range of rewards and services that are designed to make your travel experience more comfortable and convenient. As an Elite Silver member, you can enjoy benefits such as priority check-in, priority boarding, extra baggage allowance and more. You can also earn 2.5 Elite miles for every KrisFlyer mile earned when you fly on Scoot.
If you are an Elite Gold member, you can enjoy even more benefits such as lounge access, short-haul advance upgrades, priority baggage and more. You can also earn up to 100% bonus KrisFlyer miles when you fly with Singapore Airlines or SilkAir.
In addition, if you are a Shangri-La Jade member, you can enjoy reciprocal benefits such as lounge access, priority check-in and boarding, and extra baggage allowance when you fly with Singapore Airlines or SilkAir.
Overall, KrisFlyer Miles and Elite Miles offer a range of benefits and privileges that can make your travel experience more enjoyable and convenient. So start earning today and unlock the rewards and services that you deserve!
Redeeming Miles: Maximising Value
If you’re a frequent traveller with Singapore Airlines, you can use your KrisFlyer miles and Elite miles to unlock various benefits and rewards. Here’s how to maximise the value of your miles.
KrisFlyer Miles for Flights and Upgrades
KrisFlyer miles can be redeemed for award flights, upgrades, and other travel-related benefits. To redeem your miles, log in to your KrisFlyer account and browse the redemption options.
For flights, you can use your KrisFlyer miles to book award tickets on Singapore Airlines and its partner airlines. You can also use your miles to upgrade your seat to a higher class. For example, you can use your miles to upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy or from Premium Economy to Business Class.
To maximise the value of your miles, look for flights with lower redemption rates. You can also take advantage of promotions and discounts offered by Singapore Airlines and its partners. For example, you can earn bonus KrisFlyer miles when you book flights through KrisShop or use a shopping portal to make purchases.
Elite Miles for Status and Comfort
Elite miles are earned by flying with Singapore Airlines and its partners and can be used to achieve elite status and unlock various benefits. Elite status comes with perks such as priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling, lounge access, and bonus KrisFlyer miles.
To maximise the value of your Elite miles, aim to earn enough miles to achieve the next elite tier. For example, if you’re a KrisFlyer Elite Silver member, you can earn 25% bonus KrisFlyer miles for a single flight segment by earning 20,000 elite miles. If you earn 60,000 elite miles, you can double your KrisFlyer miles for a single flight segment.
You can also use your Elite miles to enjoy greater comfort during your flights. For example, you can use your Elite miles to advance upgrade to Premium Economy or Business Class on eligible flights. This allows you to enjoy more legroom, better meals, and other perks.
Overall, by using your KrisFlyer and Elite miles wisely, you can unlock various benefits and rewards when flying with Singapore Airlines and its partners. Keep an eye out for promotions and discounts to maximise the value of your miles.
Partnerships and Co-Branded Opportunities
KrisFlyer miles and Elite miles can be earned through various partnerships and co-branded opportunities. Here are some of the most notable ones:
Airline and Hotel Partners
KrisFlyer members can earn miles when flying with Singapore Airlines, Scoot, and Star Alliance partners such as Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Vistara, Juneyao Air, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue. Members can also earn miles when staying at partner hotels such as Accor and Marriott.
Retail and Credit Card Collaborations
KrisFlyer members can earn miles through retail collaborations with brands such as Apple, Bose, and Nike. Additionally, members can earn miles through credit card collaborations with banks such as American Express and Citibank.
One of the most notable co-branded credit cards is the KrisFlyer American Express Credit Card. With this card, you can earn up to 3.1 KrisFlyer miles for every $1 spent on eligible purchases, as well as receive bonus miles when you hit certain spending thresholds.
Overall, there are many ways to earn KrisFlyer miles and Elite miles through partnerships and co-branded opportunities. By taking advantage of these collaborations, you can quickly accumulate miles and work towards achieving elite status.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the perks of accumulating Elite miles with Singapore Airlines?
Accumulating Elite miles with Singapore Airlines comes with a range of benefits. Elite miles are used to determine your membership tier in the KrisFlyer programme and can be used to qualify for higher membership tiers or requalification of your current Elite status. You can also earn rewards when you reach specific milestones, starting from 1,000 Elite miles. Additionally, Elite members enjoy exclusive benefits such as priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling.
How can I redeem my KrisFlyer miles for business class flights?
Redeeming your KrisFlyer miles for business class flights is easy. Simply log in to your KrisFlyer account, select your preferred destination and travel dates, and choose the business class redemption option. The number of KrisFlyer miles required for redemption will depend on the destination and time of travel. You can also use a combination of miles and cash to pay for your redemption.
Is there a way to calculate the number of Elite miles I can earn on my next flight?
Yes, you can calculate the number of Elite miles you can earn on your next flight by using the Elite miles calculator available on the Singapore Airlines website. Simply enter your flight details and travel class, and the calculator will provide you with the number of Elite miles you can earn.
What distinguishes KrisFlyer miles from PPS Club value?
KrisFlyer miles are earned through flights, credit card spend, and other partner transactions and can be used to redeem flights and other rewards. PPS Club value, on the other hand, is earned through flights only and is used to determine your PPS Club membership tier. PPS Club members enjoy exclusive benefits such as access to the Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge, priority check-in, and baggage handling.
Can you explain the benefits of KrisFlyer miles for economy class bookings?
KrisFlyer miles can be used to redeem economy class flights and come with a range of benefits. You can use your miles to upgrade your seat to a higher class or to pay for your entire flight. Additionally, KrisFlyer members enjoy exclusive benefits such as priority check-in and boarding, extra baggage allowance, and lounge access.
How does the KrisFlyer miles redemption chart work for flight upgrades?
The KrisFlyer miles redemption chart for flight upgrades is based on the destination and time of travel. The number of KrisFlyer miles required for an upgrade will depend on the difference in fare between your current class and the class you wish to upgrade to. Simply log in to your KrisFlyer account and select the upgrade option to view the redemption chart.