Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer has been one of my favorite frequent flyer programs for awhile. You can transfer points from Citi, Chase, and American Express. They offer decent award space in premium cabins on their own flights when using KrisFlyer miles. And there are some good redemption values.
Sure miles do expire after 3 years (not 3 years of inactivity) and they add fuel surcharges to many partner awards, but it’s a very useful program.
And one of its unique features is that ever since United went revenue-based, awarding miles based on the cost of ticket rather than distance-flown, you could still earn 1 mile per mile flown by crediting most United fares to a Singapore KrisFlyer account.
Unfortunately that’s changed without any notice, Singapore’s partner earning chart (.pdf) has new rates for United tickets:
The cheapest fares now only earn 25% of miles flown when credited to Singapore, and only the more expensive United fare buckets earn full mileage.
Many Star Alliance partner programs award 50% of flown miles for the cheapest United tickets, meaning that Singapore just went from the best place to credit those discount United flights to among the worst.
Of course Singapore has a new dance partner in the States these days — Alaska Airlines — and has never seemed to get on well with United in any case.
(HT: Jeremy C.)
Arghh. 4,900 miles to gold status and now this. Hmmm. What can I do to get those last 4,900 miles now, without spending an arm and a leg?
Me too. United flight already booked to clinch gold. This is some bs. Last year I have anything to do with Singapore.
If I fly Alaska Airlines and credit to Singapore Airlines, will those miles count toward Star Alliance status or just add to my Singapore Air miles?
The reason I ask is because I once credited my Etihad miles to Asiana, only to discover that Asiana was not crediting those miles toward status, but just banking them in my account.
Just looking at alternative ways to get myself up to status after the change.
From first to worst! Can’t really blame them as United never really liked Singapore as a partner.
If you fly a lot in business class, then maybe credit to Lufthansa or Avianca.
So which *A program, other than MileagePlus is best for crediting cheap UA fares?
I find http://www.wheretocredit.com a useful site to use to work out which program to credit your points to.
Gary-
thanks for sharing. As a Singapore Kris Flyer Gold (crediting from United) I am shocked and disappointed that there was no advance notice or warning. Can you verify: Is that just AWARD miles or is that PREMIER QUALIFYING miles as well? United has the separation of variable award miles but PQM is based on the route distance? Will they follow the same accrual method or does the % reduction on fare class affects both?
I have 2 trips already booked to retain my Gold with them (including 2 low cost routes) but if it affects PQM, then I am done. Thanks.
I just flew UA: YVR–iah–CHS on Sep. 12 on an “L” fare of base US$101++ = $172. In UA Mileage Plus I would have earned a paltry 505 miles. On AC I would have earned 50% which = 1497 Aeropesos to add to my balance, so I became a brand-new SQ member to earn the full 2894 miles 🙂 ! Wow, I got in under the wire!
In any case, UA’s Q, V, & W fares will still earn 75% SQ miles. Also, they’re upgradable! And I have 16K Chase UR points now because my Fairmont Visa has become a Sapphire Preferred.
Still, I find this change without notice shady.
what are the cons of moving credits from Singapore to say Turkish or another *A carrier like Asiana or ANA? I don’t see myself flying into/out of Istanbul from the West Coast so wouldn’t be flying their metal but rather other *A carriers. I’m looking for another one to maintain Gold that offers the best earning possibilities on economy fares. thanks
Whelp, that settles it, I’m doing a status challenge to another alliance now. Thanks for nothing United (and to Singapore for no notice).