Your guide to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Elite Gold status

KrisFlyer Elite Gold is the highest tier of Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer frequent flyer program. It’s also the equivalent of Star Alliance Gold – a gilded status unlocking entry to more than 1,000 airport lounges around the globe.

More than only of use on international runs, KrisFlyer Elite Gold delivers plenty of perks when flying domestically on Virgin Australia too, making it a handy status to hold when darting around Asia and Australia.

How to earn KrisFlyer Elite Gold status

Where Qantas and Virgin Australia use status credits to determine tiers, Singapore Airlines uses Elite Miles to do the same, which is more closely tied to the actual distance you fly.

Earning 50,000 Elite Miles in a 12-month period is enough to qualify for Elite Gold. However, unlike in some rival programs, there are no reductions for retainment, meaning you’ll need to reel in another 50,000 every year to keep your status. 

The KrisFlyer miles calculator will help you check how much your next trip will earn. Usually, you’ll earn the same amount of KrisFlyer miles (for spending) and Elite Miles (for status) from each flight.

Status-seeking travellers will need to fly at least 33,334 to 40,000 real-life miles in business class to earn KrisFlyer Elite Gold, making it a fairly difficult status level to attain.

Using Sydney to Singapore one-way as an example (actual distance 3,912 miles), you would have to fly the route at least seven times in first class, nine times in business class (11 on Business Standard and Lite fares) or 26 times in Economy Lite to reach KrisFlyer Elite Gold.

Sydney to London via Singapore return clocks in at 21,152 miles, so even if you fly first class both ways (earning 42,304 Elite Miles), you still won't quite make the cut to Elite Gold without a few more trips.

KrisFlyer Elite Gold: lounge access

Elite Gold frequent flyers have access to Singapore Airlines’ network of lounges with one guest in tow, even when flying economy.

In the home port of Singapore, the refreshed KrisFlyer Gold Lounge is offered for Elite Gold members and Star Alliance Gold customers travelling in economy or premium economy, while the swankier SilverKris lounge is for business class and PPS Club guests only.

The KrisFlyer Gold Lounge at Changi Terminal 3.

In all other cities where Singapore Airlines offers a SilverKris business class lounge, such as Sydney and Brisbane, Elite Gold members will have access with one guest.

The Star Alliance network provides access to hundreds more lounges worldwide, including Lufthansa’s ‘better than business class’ Senator Lounges, which are only accessible to Star Alliance Gold members.

In Australia, the doors are opened at all Virgin Australia domestic lounges. You can also bring one guest travelling on a same-day Virgin Australia flight.

KrisFlyer Elite Gold: baggage allowance

An extra 20kg can be checked in when flying Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Star Alliance members and connecting partners. Where the piece concept applies, you’ll get one extra bag instead. Vistara offers an extra 10kg.

On Virgin Australia, Elite Gold members get one extra bag of 23kg in economy, or 32kg for business class and premium economy.

More KrisFlyer Elite Gold benefits

Complimentary economy seat selection is available for Forward Zone and Standard Seats, where the fare would normally charge for seat selection.

Priority airport check-in, boarding and baggage delivery comes as standard when travelling with Singapore Airlines, Star Alliance (members and connecting partners) and Virgin Australia.

Also handy: waivers or reductions for most KrisFlyer service fees such as changing your redemption nominees, which normally attracts a US$30 (AU$46) or 3,000 miles penalty.

All this is in addition to KrisFlyer Elite Silver benefits, including a 25% tier bonus on actual miles flown, and priority reservation waitlist and airport standby.

KrisFlyer Elite Gold status gives you plenty of reasons to smile.

KrisFlyer Elite Gold: Milestone Rewards

As an incentive to keep flying with Singapore Airlines or Scoot rather than partner airlines, Elite Gold Rewards offers extra bonuses, known as Milestone Rewards, when you earn miles solely from those two airlines.

When 60,000 Elite Miles have been earned from these flights during a membership year, you’ll get a Double KrisFlyer Miles Reward which allows you to earn twice the KrisFlyer miles for a single flight segment.

At 75,000 Elite Miles, a Short-haul Advance Upgrade becomes available, allowing a one-class upgrade at the time of booking for short Singapore Airlines flights, including from Singapore to most of south-east Asia.

Finally, at 100,000 Elite Miles, you’ll unlock a Premium Economy Advance Upgrade which is valid at the point of booking for any flight sector with premium economy, including longer legs between Singapore and either Australia or Europe.

Fast track to Shangri-La Circle Jade status

KrisFlyer Elite Gold members enjoy a fast track to Jade status in Shangri-La Circle, the loyalty program encompassing Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Kerry Hotels, Traders Hotels and Hotel Jen worldwide.

All new Circle members receive Gold status (it’s the base tier, after all). But, as an Elite Gold holder, simply linking your account to KrisFlyer and staying one night at any of the above-listed hotels can unlock the benefits of Jade, thanks to a partnership known as Infinite Journeys.

Sunrise breakfast at Shangri-La Sydney, a local option for the Shangri-La Circle program.

On the table at Jade are the likes of daily breakfast, early check-in and late check-out, in addition to complimentary upgrades within the same room category.