Singapore Airlines, award ticket costs half as much (but without flexibility)
Covid, we have written many times, is pushing airlines to find alternative ways to generate fresh revenue [...]
Singapore Airlines
Star Alliance
SIN
Covid, we have written many times, is pushing airlines to find alternative ways to generate fresh revenue in their coffers. This new initiative by Singapore Airlines should be read in that direction and, for once, is positive news for us Italians as well.
In this article:
The three types of Krisflyer award tickets
Historically, Singapore has always offered two types of prize tickets: the saver cheaper, but with fewer places available, and the advantage more expensive and full of flexibility. For the past few days, however, a third one has appeared on the site: the promo.
This new type is very, very, rigid. In exchange for a halved ticket cost, the passenger gives up all flexibility, so it will not be possible to request mileage refunds or change dates, let alone stopovers will be allowed.
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In contrast, the saver fare allows the passenger to: cancel the ticket with a penalty of 75$, recover all used Krisflyer points, and make a stopover thus splitting the trip in two by including, for example, a mini-vacation to Singapore.
The promo fare is also active for the most exclusive cabins, i.e., first class; again, flexibility is given up in exchange for substantial point savings.
It is good to remember that you can transform your own Membership Rewards points into Krisflyer points.
How to book award tickets with Singapore Airlines
After registering on the program, simply go to the site and perform a search by selecting the "redeem flights" mode, you will then be able to check the availability of award seats.
To see the different types of tickets, however, one must click on "appear award types." This will take you to the explanatory tab.
When to find award promo tickets
In past years, that is, before the pandemic, Singapore Airlines-as well as other airlines-used to put last-minute seats on sale with "Spontaneus escapes." Offers aimed at making unsold seats available on flights departing within 30 days.
Currently, promo tickets are not yet available on all routes, but it is likely only a matter of days to see availability appear on the system. As for the validity period of these offers, it should be similar to that of spontaneous escapes.
Why this strategy
Due to the very strict anti-covid regulations imposed by the city-state government, Singapore Airlines was heavily affected by the pandemic. While Qatar, Emirates and many other carriers were still able to carry passengers around the world, the closure of Singapore and all South Asian countries effectively brought the airline's operations to a halt. Now that a tentative restart is being felt, Singapore Airlines seeks-through this strategy-to allow its frequent flyers to use Krisflyer points.
