How Much Are Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles Worth?

Updated: March 21, 2024

Updated: March 21, 2024

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When you use your Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles to book an economy-class ticket, you may receive a value of around 1.1 cents to 1.3 cents per mile. You usually get better value when booking business class tickets, where one mile could be worth more than 2 cents. If you redeem your miles for non-flight rewards, the value drops to less than 1 cent per mile.

You earn miles when you fly with Singapore Airlines or any of the program's airline partners. You can also earn miles when you shop at KrisShop.com and by spending with the program's partner merchants.

You can redeem your miles to fly with Singapore Airlines and the program's partners. Other ways to use your miles include shopping at KrisShop, donating them to charity and paying for car rentals and hotel stays. Using a combination of miles and cash to book flights is possible.

MoneyGeek’s Takeaways

Using your miles to book an Economy Class ticket offers a value of around 1.1 cents to 1.3 cents per mile.

Redeeming your miles for a First Class ticket may come with a value of 2 cents or more per mile.

The miles you earn when you fly depend on the flight distance, class and fare type.

How Much Are Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles Worth?

How much Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles are worth depends on how you redeem them. For example, if you use them to book a First Class ticket, you may get a value of 2 cents or more per mile. However, the value drops to 1.1 cents to 1.3 cents per mile for Economy Class award flights. If you use your miles to shop, you can expect a value of around 0.6 cents per point.

KrisFlyer members can use the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer redemption chart to know how many miles they may need for an award flight across different routes and classes.

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HOW TO COMPUTE SINGAPORE AIRLINES KRISFLYER MILES VALUE

You can calculate the value of one Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer mile by dividing the number of miles you need for an award flight by the actual cost of the ticket. For example, if you need 15,000 miles to pay for a ticket that costs $260, you get a value of around 1.73 cents per mile (260/15,000 = $0.0173)

Ticket Cost / Equivalent Miles = Miles Value

How Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles Compare to Other Airlines

Most popular frequent flyer programs offer better monetary value for their miles/points than the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program. However, members enjoy various perks, depending on their membership level, which is also worth considering when deciding whether to participate in the program.

Singapore Airlines vs. Other Frequent Flyer Programs
Airlines
Value per Mile

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

1.1 cents to 1.3 cents per mile

1.2 cents to 1.8 cents per mile

Air Canada Aeroplan

1.5 cents to 1.9 cents per point

Air France / KLM Flying Blue

1.2 cents to 1.4 cents per mile

1.5 cents to 1.7 cents per mile

How to Earn and Maximize Miles From Singapore Airlines

You may earn KrisFlyer miles by flying with Singapore Airlines and its partner airlines and spending with the program's partner merchants from categories such as hotels, car rentals and retail.

While there is no co-branded Singapore Airlines credit card for United States residents, you can transfer points/miles from various credit card rewards programs to the KrisFlyer program.

Earning Miles Using Singapore Airlines Co-Branded Credit Cards

Singapore Airlines provides co-branded credit cards for residents of Singapore, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, but none for residents of the U.S. However, converting points/miles you earn through different credit card rewards programs to this program is possible.

The credit card rewards programs that let you transfer your points/miles to the KrisFlyer program include American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One Miles and Brex Rewards. As a result, consider using an eligible travel rewards credit card offered by any of these issuers and then transferring your points/miles to your KrisFlyer account.

Sign Up for Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

The KrisFlyer rewards program lets you earn and redeem miles through Singapore Airlines, Star Alliance members, its airline partners and many other partner merchants. Joining this program is simple, and you may do so online. You need to provide your name, date of birth, email address and mailing address.

Joining this rewards program does not involve paying any fees. You can enjoy various Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Elite benefits as you move from one membership level to the next. You also stand to benefit through various Milestone Rewards based on the number of Elite miles you earn each year. You earn Elite miles by flying with Singapore Airlines and Scoot.

Buying Airline Tickets From Singapore Airlines and Affiliates

You may earn KrisFlyer miles by flying with Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Star Alliance members and the program's other partner airlines. The distance your flight covers directly affects the miles you earn, as does the class and fare type.

For example, booking a B, E or Y Economy Class ticket earns 100% KrisFlyer miles on the miles your flight covers. On the other hand, an H, M or W Economy Class ticket earns 75% KrisFlyer miles. So, if you book an M Economy Class ticket on a flight that covers 700 miles, you'll earn 525 KrisFlyer miles.

The KrisFlyer mileage accrual chart can show how the percentages vary based on different classes and fare types.

With the miles calculator, you can better understand how many miles you can earn across different routes, classes and fare types. For example, as of this writing, an Economy Flexi Y, B or E-ticket from New York to Singapore earns 9,533 miles, whereas you earn 4,767 miles on an Economy Lite V or K fare. If you get a First/Suites F or A ticket on the same flight, you earn 19,066 miles.

Earn Miles Through Singapore Airlines Partner Merchants

  • Hotels and Lodging. Travelers looking to earn KrisFlyer Miles have a variety of options when it comes to hotel and lodging reservations. By choosing from an array of hotels and resorts, such as 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts, Agoda.com, Anantara, AVANI, Tivoli, and Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, members can accumulate miles for each qualifying stay. This program includes various properties, from luxurious brands like Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and InterContinental Hotels Group to unique offerings like Grand Mayfull Hotel Taipei and Luxury Escapes. Additionally, partnerships with platforms like Kaligo, Rocketmiles, and Trip.com offer the opportunity to earn miles on online bookings. The program extends to other renowned hotel groups such as Marriott Bonvoy, Meliá Hotels International, and YTL Hotels, further broadening the choices for members. Each hotel or resort has terms for mile accrual, ensuring a range of options to suit different travel needs and preferences.

  • Shopping. Earning KrisFlyer miles is easy and rewarding when shopping with KrisShop. Members earn 1.5 miles for every dollar spent on KrisShop.com and in-flight purchases. By linking a KrisFlyer account with KrisShopper, the earning potential increases, offering up to 4 miles per dollar. Additionally, shopping with various retail partners, including luxury collections, jewelers, beverage suppliers, and L’Effet Luxury Rewards program participants, further enhances mile accumulation opportunities, catering to a wide range of shopping preferences.

  • Car Rentals. Booking car rentals is a convenient way to earn KrisFlyer miles. When renting a car with partners such as Avis, Budget, Europcar, and Hertz, you can accumulate miles for each qualifying rental. Avis offers a bonus on your first rental, and Hertz includes additional miles for chauffeur-drive services. SIXT extends the benefit to its rides services, rewarding miles for each euro spent. Furthermore, QEEQ.COM provides an opportunity to earn miles on qualifying rentals, adding another option for members to boost their miles while fulfilling their travel needs.

  • Others. KrisFlyer miles can also be earned through a variety of other partner merchants, catering to different interests and needs. This includes travel experience platforms like KKday, Klook, and Viator, offering unique tours and activities. Forbes Asia and Travelling Connect provide options for those interested in media and connectivity services, respectively. Wine Journey is part of the program for wine enthusiasts, while VisaCentral offers a way to earn miles through visa and passport services. This diverse range of partners allows KrisFlyer members to accumulate miles in various aspects of travel and lifestyle.

Additionally, several prominent hotel loyalty programs offer the flexibility to transfer points to the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program. These include Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, Radisson Rewards, World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards, Accor Live Limitless, and AYANA Rewards. This feature enhances the value of these programs for frequent travelers who prefer Singapore Airlines for their journeys.

In the financial sector, KrisFlyer collaborates with a range of transfer partners. Key players include American Express, Chase, Capital One, Brex, Citi, and Diners Club. Additionally, prominent banks like HSBC, DBS, ANZ, Westpac, and National Australia Bank offer the option to convert credit card points or rewards into KrisFlyer miles. This broad network of financial institutions provides various avenues for members to accumulate KrisFlyer miles through their regular spending and banking activities.

Buying Miles From Singapore Airlines

You can buy KrisFlyer miles only if you’re falling short of miles to redeem an award ticket. In such cases, you need to have at least 50% of the required miles before you may purchase the balance.

If you opt to go this route, the price is $40 for every 1,000 miles, which equates to 4 cents per mile — significantly more than the value you can expect to receive when using them for Economy Class tickets.

Make sure you do the math before purchasing KrisFlyer miles because using a combination of miles and cash to pay for your ticket might be more affordable.

How to Redeem Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles

How to use Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles depends on the redemption method you select. For example, if you wish to redeem your miles for a Singapore Airlines award flight, you must log in to your KrisFlyer account first. While this is also the case if you wish to book flights with Star Alliance members and the program's other partner airlines, you might need to make your booking through KrisFlyer Membership Services or by filling out a reservation form in some instances.

When you use your KrisFlyer miles to book Economy Class tickets, you can expect to get an average value of around 1.1 cents to 1.3 cents per mile. When you redeem your miles for a First Class or Suites ticket with Singapore Airlines or a comparable class with Star Alliance members or the program's other partner airlines, you may get a value of 2 cents or more per mile.

    hotel icon

    Hotel accommodations

    You need to log in to krisflyervrooms.com using your KrisFlyer account credentials to redeem your miles for hotel stays. Once you choose the desired property and get to the payment page, you may pay for the booking with your miles. You need to use at least 1,500 miles per redemption through this method. If you fall short of miles to make a booking, you may pay the balance with a debit or credit card. The value you receive through this method may vary from 0.2 cents to 0.7 cents per mile.

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    Car rentals

    You must use the KrisFlyer vRooms platform to redeem Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles for car rentals. Redemptions start at 1,500 miles. Once you find the desired rental, you may pay for it using just miles or a combination of miles and cash. Using your miles for car rentals comes with a value of around 0.4 cents per mile, although it can go as high as 1 cent per mile for long-term rentals in big cities.

    airplane icon

    Flight upgrades

    You may upgrade using your miles once you book a flight ticket with Singapore Airlines. You can select from Saver and Advantage awards, and upgrade to Premium Economy Class, Business Class, First Class or Suites. How many miles you need to upgrade depends on the route you’re flying and the desired class. For example, upgrading from Premium Economy Standard to Business Class on a New York to Singapore flight would need 67,000 miles for Saver and 94,500 miles for Advantage. You may also use your miles for flight upgrades with Star Alliance members.

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    Others

    Using your miles to shop on KrisShop.com is an option. In this case, you may get a value of around 0.8 cents per mile. It is possible to convert your KrisFlyer miles to Fliggy points, Shangri-La Circle points, Velocity points, Smiles points, Linkpoints and CapitaLand STAR$. Using your miles to pay for travel experiences through Pelago is possible. Other ways include using your miles to contribute to the SIA Group Carbon Offset Programme or donating them to Make-A-Wish Singapore.

When Best to Redeem Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles

Whether you have flexibility in your travel plans can impact the value you receive for your miles. For example, Saver award tickets require fewer miles but come with limited availability, so you need to plan well in advance or remain flexible with the date and time you wish to fly. While Advantage award tickets require more miles than Saver, they come with more availability. Besides, they also offer two complimentary stopovers on every round-trip ticket.

Since the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program uses a static redemption chart that is not time-based, the value you stand to receive remains fairly consistent all year around. All you need to worry about is availability.

When using your miles with Star Alliance members or other airline partners, remember that some provide better value than others. For example, using your KrisFlyer miles to book a domestic premium ticket on a United Airlines flight may provide better value than using United miles for the same flight. Using your KrisFlyer miles with Alaska Airlines may also provide good value in some instances, like flying from the West Coast to Hawaii in Economy.

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EXPERT TIP:

You can quickly earn enough miles to book a First Class flight on Singapore Airlines by combining points/miles from multiple flexible credit card programs. American Express, Capital One, Chase and Citi all transfer to KrisFlyer on a 1:1 basis.
Lee Huffman, contributing expert for MoneyGeek

How to Get the Singapore Airlines Elite Status

The Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program has three membership tiers: the base tier, Elite Silver and Elite Gold. Each tier unlocks more perks. To reach the two higher tiers, you must earn Elite miles, which you can do by booking a flight with Singapore Airlines, Scoot and selecting Star Alliance Connecting Partner airlines and other airline partners. Earning Elite miles also gives you access to milestone-specific rewards.

1
KrisFlyer

All members start at this level. They get access to members-only promotions, offers and deals, as well as personalized in-flight entertainment. Flight add-ons come with discounts. You may also benefit through complimentary two-hour Wi-Fi chat sessions when you fly with Singapore Airlines (other than on Boeing 737-800NG flights).

2
KrisFlyer Elite Silver

You need to earn 25,000 Elite miles in 12 consecutive months to reach this level. Members at this level get 25% more miles when they fly with Singapore Airlines and Scoot. Economy Class standard seat selection on Singapore Airlines and Scoot flights is free. When you fly with Scoot, you may benefit through an added 5-kilogram limit with every baggage allowance purchase and priority check-in and boarding through BoardMeFirst. You also get access to all KrisFlyer member privileges.

3
KrisFlyer Elite Gold

You must earn 50,000 Elite miles in 12 consecutive months to get to this level. In addition to those you receive as a Silver level member, perks include access to airport lounges worldwide (including Star Alliance lounges), priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling and free Economy Class Forward Zone Seat selection on Singapore Airlines flights.

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HOW WE DETERMINED THE VALUE OF SINGAPORE AIRLINES KRISFLYER MILES

MoneyGeek experts have taken a close look at how the value of Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles changes based on different redemption methods. They have also carried out in-depth market research to determine the worth of your miles.

FAQs

Take a look at answers to other commonly asked questions about the Singapore Airlines membership program and how the value of your KrisFlyer miles might vary based on different redemption methods to determine which option might work best for you.

Can I use my Singapore Airlines miles for someone else?
Can I use my Singapore Airlines miles to buy something else?
Can I convert my Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles to cash?
Are there any additional fees for booking flights with KrisFlyer miles?
When do my Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles expire?
Can I transfer my Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles?

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


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