New Singapore Airlines flight upgrades for KrisFlyer Gold members
By Chris C., October 9 2018
Gold-grade members of the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program now have new benefits to aim for in return for their continued loyalty, with new ‘Elite Gold Rewards’ available from October 9, including complimentary flight upgrades and additional bonus miles.
While not available to all KrisFlyer Gold cardholders, these bonus perks come as an extra reward for travellers who fly most regularly with Singapore Airlines and SilkAir, and notch up significant numbers of ‘Elite miles’ on these airlines: the KrisFlyer equivalent of status credits.
It’s a particularly good win for travellers who may not regularly fly in business class or first class – the only way to qualify for Singapore Airlines’ higher-level PPS Club and Solitaire PPS Club – because under the previous system, once you reached KrisFlyer Gold, there wasn’t otherwise anything higher to aim for.
Here are three new benefits now available for eligible KrisFlyer Gold members.
1. Double KrisFlyer Miles Reward
KrisFlyer members who earn 60,000 Elite miles on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir flights in a single year (excluding Elite miles earned on other flights, such as on Star Alliance partners) will qualify for one Double KrisFlyer Miles Reward: a voucher that can be traded in to earn twice the usual number of KrisFlyer miles on a single flight segment of your choosing.
Naturally, this provides the most value when applied to a long-range flight booked on a flexible fare or in premium economy, business class or first class, so choose which flight you use this on carefully.
Double miles applies to both the base earning rate and any applicable cabin bonus for flying in a higher-than-economy cabin, although doesn’t also double the tier bonus provided for being a Gold member.
For example, on a one-way Singapore-London flight in business class booked on a Business Lite or Business Standard fare, KrisFlyer Gold members would normally earn 8,452 miles, plus a tier bonus of 2,113 miles in recognition of their Gold membership.
Apply the Double KrisFlyer Miles Reward to that flight and the base earn rate doubles from 8,452 to 16,904 miles, plus the usual tier bonus of 2,113 miles, for an all-out earn of 19,017 miles on a one-way flight.
2. Short-haul Advance Upgrade
Notch up 75,000 Elite miles on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir flights every year and you’ll also qualify for one yearly ‘Short-haul Advance Upgrade’, providing a one-class cabin upgrade on a flight of your choosing, subject to availability.
This benefit is available on the following routes, based on the regional Zones used by KrisFlyer:
- Flights between Zones 1 & 2, covering journeys between Singapore and Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.
- Flights between Zones 1 & 3: that’s Singapore to Thailand, Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, or vice versa.
- Flights exclusively in Zone 9, being those within Australia and New Zealand, such as Melbourne-Wellington, and also Sydney-Canberra when booked as an individual sector as part of a broader international airfare.
- Flights exclusively within Zone 11 (Europe) – namely, Singapore Airlines’ fifth freedom flights between Moscow and Stockholm.
To be eligible for an upgrade, you’ll need to be booked in business class on a Z, C, J or U fare (for a first class upgrade, where available); in premium economy on an S, T or P airfare (for a business class upgrade); or in economy on a Y, B, E, M, H or W fare (for a premium economy upgrade).
3. Premium Economy Advance Upgrade
Amass 100,000 Elite miles with Singapore Airlines and SilkAir in a single year and one Premium Economy Advance Upgrade is also yours to use on any Singapore Airlines flight of your choosing, including long flights between Australia and Singapore or Singapore and Europe.
Where availability permits, this upgrade can be secured from the time of booking when travelling on an economy Y, B, E, M, H or W airfare, being the more flexible (and therefore, expensive) tickets as opposed to sale fares and other reduced-priced seats.
Again, qualifying for these new Elite Gold Rewards is only possible using Elite miles earned by flying with Singapore Airlines and SilkAir.
Elite miles earned on all other flights, such as with Star Alliance partners like Air Canada, Thai Airways, United and others, don’t count towards this tally.
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
21 Apr 2017
Total posts 51
This is interesting. One of the reasons I moved all of my travel from SQ to CX was because of how poorly SQ treats its KF GOs and the difficulty of maintaining PPS if you fly a combination of classes throughout the year and take J mostly on short-mid haul routes only. Based on what I see here there isn't enough to tempt me back given I can comfortably qualify for CX DM however this seems to be a step in the right direction.
British Airways - Executive Club
06 Apr 2018
Total posts 13
This seems extremely underwhelming vs what other programs offer their top frequent flyers who 'over achieve'. e.g., . BA offering a return upgrade voucher for 2 at 2500 TPs and 2 return upgrade vouchers for 1 at 3500 TPs. The US programs also have pretty compelling upgrade incentives... and the key difference here is that only flights on SQ metal seem to count.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
14 Jun 2017
Total posts 52
Yet another dud to us SQ gold fliers. I basically only keep it for the star alliance lounge benefit and domestic VA lounge access.
25 Nov 2016
Total posts 43
Please elaborate what is the “sad excuse for a lounge in Singapore”. I didn’t quite understand (I mean literally, used to QF’s status and find SQ’s rewards program quite confusing).
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Oct 2013
Total posts 699
At Changi there are 4 Singapore Airlines lounges
25 Nov 2016
Total posts 43
Thank you for your detailed reply. Now I understand ;)
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
17 Feb 2016
Total posts 44
Like everything Sing Air does it is overly complecated.
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
14 Nov 2013
Total posts 40
i was just saying that to my colleague, everything they do is over complicated, too much thought goes into it and the execution is terrible.
American Airlines - AAdvantage
15 Feb 2013
Total posts 44
Don't worry - even the F lounge in Singapore is nothing to write home about. Sometimes I go to the J lounge as there seems to be better food offerings. Lounges are something that SQ just can't seem to get right.
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
14 Nov 2013
Total posts 40
unfortunatley there is no university degree in common sense.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
14 Jun 2017
Total posts 52
Even the KF Gold Welcome package is basically just an A4 sheet of paper with a cardboard sleeve holding the card and bag tag.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Aug 2013
Total posts 3
To hit 100,000 elite miles on only SQ/SA flights would require some serious travel - most likely in business/first.
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
14 Nov 2013
Total posts 40
The issue that SQ has is that the people making these decisions are detached from the real world, they were never frequent travellers, didn't have to pay for their own flights, hotels etc. If they would just consult a group of people that have travelled for work for a good part of their working life they would understand the needs and wants of todays traveller.
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