A Singapore Airlines Business Class seat can cost over $5,000 in cash. KrisFlyer miles let you book the same cabin for a fraction of that price — sometimes less than 10 cents on the dollar. This guide covers everything you need, from earning your first miles to redeeming them for a premium flight.
Quick Answer
KrisFlyer is Singapore Airlines’ frequent flyer program. You earn miles by flying or through credit card, hotel, and lifestyle partners, then redeem them for flights or upgrades via Saver, Advantage, or Access awards. Saver awards cost the fewest miles but have limited seats. Book as early as 355 days before departure to find the best availability.
Key Takeaways
- Earning Miles: Earn from flights and non-flight partners. Purchases through KrisShop, Kris+, and Pelago can also count toward status limits.[2]
- Transferring Points: American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, and Capital One Miles all transfer to KrisFlyer. Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 points. Hilton Honors transfers offer poor value.[10], [11], [12]
- Award Types: Saver awards cost fewer miles but have limited seats. Advantage awards cost more miles but offer better seat access and free stopovers. Spontaneous Escapes offer monthly discounts. Access awards use dynamic pricing.[1], [15], [2]
- Stopovers: One-way Saver awards include no free stopovers. Round-trip Saver awards include one free stopover of up to 30 days. One-way Advantage awards include one free stopover. Round-trip Advantage awards include two. Singapore Airlines discontinued paid stopovers for tickets issued on or after August 1, 2022.[4], [24]
- Miles Expiry: Miles expire three years after the month you earn them. You can pay a fee to extend them once. Miles transferred from KrisPay expire three years from the transfer date.[8], [9]
- Waitlist: You can join a waitlist up to three weeks before departure. The system cancels unconfirmed waitlists two weeks before the flight.[5]
- Fees: Booking or changing awards over the phone costs $25 or 2,500 miles. Singapore Airlines waives this fee if you can’t complete the action online.[6]
- Partner Updates: Air India absorbed Vistara routes. The Virgin Atlantic partnership ended in April 2025.[16]
What’s in This Article
- Before You Begin
- KrisFlyer Elite Status Levels
- Earning Miles with Singapore Airlines
- Transferring Points to Singapore Airlines
- Finding Award Availability
- Calculating Miles Needed for a Singapore Airlines Flight
- Booking a Singapore Airlines Flight Online
- Booking a Singapore Airlines Flight Over the Phone
- Upgrading a Singapore Airlines Flight with Miles
- Managing Your Singapore Airlines Booking
- Maximizing Value with Singapore Airlines Miles
- Tips and Tricks for Booking Singapore Airlines with Miles
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References
Before You Begin
Estimated time: 10–30 minutes for online booking once you have miles in your account.
Before you search for award seats, make sure you have these in place:
- A KrisFlyer account: Sign up for free at singaporeair.com. You need a membership number to search award space and book flights.
- Miles or transferable points: Know how many KrisFlyer miles you have, or which credit card or hotel points you plan to transfer. Confirm the transfer ratio and processing time before you begin.
- Your route and travel dates: Award seats are limited. Have a primary date and at least one backup date ready before you search.
- A credit card for taxes and fees: All award bookings require you to pay taxes and fees in cash. Have a card ready at checkout.
KrisFlyer Elite Status Levels
KrisFlyer offers two main elite tiers: Elite Silver and Elite Gold. You reach these by earning Elite miles from flights with Singapore Airlines, Scoot, and Star Alliance partners. Elite Silver requires 25,000 Elite miles in a year and gives you a tier bonus on miles earned. Elite Gold requires 50,000 Elite miles and unlocks Star Alliance Gold status.
Star Alliance Gold grants priority check-in, extra baggage allowance, and access to airport lounges worldwide. For flyers who spend heavily on premium cabins, the separate PPS Club offers exclusive benefits and greater award availability.
Earning Miles with Singapore Airlines
Earning Miles through Flight
You earn KrisFlyer miles when you fly with Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Star Alliance airlines, and select partners. The number of miles depends on your fare class and the flight distance or zone. Premium cabins and higher fare classes earn more miles. Always check the accrual charts for your specific booking class.[19]
Earning Miles through Partnerships
You can earn miles without flying. Earn through hotel partners, car rentals, and retail and dining purchases via Kris+. You can transfer KrisPay miles earned in the Kris+ app to KrisFlyer — transfer these within seven days. They expire three years from the transfer date.[9]
Earning Miles through Credit Card and Bank Partnerships
Many banks let you convert credit card points into KrisFlyer miles. Major partners include Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, and Capital One Miles. Transfer ratios and processing times vary by bank — some process transfers instantly while others take several business days. Factor in that transfer time before you lock in a booking.[10], [13], [21]
Transferring Points to Singapore Airlines
Transferring points from credit cards and hotels can quickly build your KrisFlyer balance. Marriott Bonvoy transfers to KrisFlyer at a 3:1 ratio. You get a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points you transfer in one go.[11], [20] You can also transfer KrisFlyer miles to Marriott at a 2:1 ratio, though this offers poor value.
Hilton Honors transfers to KrisFlyer at a poor ratio. This only makes sense if you need a small top-up for an award ticket.[12]
Warning: Transfers go one way. You can’t reverse them — only move points after you’ve confirmed award seat availability.
Singapore Airlines releases most of its long-haul premium cabin seats to KrisFlyer members. Partner airline programs have limited access to these seats.[13]
Finding Award Availability
| Award Type | Typical Value | Availability & Notes | Best Time to Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saver | Lowest mileage | Limited seats; most competitive[1] | As early as T-355 days; be flexible[14] |
| Advantage | More miles | Better seat access and complimentary stopovers[1], [4] | Good for peak dates and routes |
| Spontaneous Escapes | ~30% off Saver | Monthly promo on select routes and dates[15] | Month-end when promos publish |
| Access | Dynamic miles | Seats confirm if available; miles vary with demand[2] | Anytime seats are open |
Search for flights on the Singapore Airlines website or app. Select the “Redeem flights” option. For popular routes, book as soon as seats open — usually 355 days before departure. For complex trips or partner routes that don’t show online, call Singapore Airlines directly.[14], [1]
You can join a waitlist up to three weeks before your flight. The system cancels unresolved waitlists two weeks before departure. The waitlist can clear at any time before that deadline.[5]
Pro tip: Set a calendar alert for exactly 355 days before your target travel date. Log in right when seats open for the best chance at Saver availability on popular routes.
Products Worth Considering
Portable trip planner and diary will help you plan it all and then record the details once you're there.
Simulation Model:1/400 Scale Model, Precise molds + refined according rigorous details to the original proportion.
MASTER TRAVEL PREP WITH COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PAGES: A must for any travel aficionado, this itinerary planner is an easy-to-use tool that helps to research and plan all essential aspects of your trips, including your travel budget, accommodation, transportation, things to see, packing list, and more.
Calculating Miles Needed for a Singapore Airlines Flight
KrisFlyer uses a zone-based award chart with Saver and Advantage levels. Use the online Miles Calculator and official award charts to price your trip. Singapore Airlines updated its mileage requirements and launched dynamic Access pricing on November 1, 2025.[3], [2]
Products Worth Considering
Made in USA - Proudly produced in Ohio by a Veteran-owned business
60 Pages With 6 Pockets Auto Mileage Log for Accurate Odometer Tracking：Keep detailed auto mileage records for business driving with a clear and structured vehicle mileage log helping you track date odometer start end and total miles for accurate reimbursement and tax documentation
Ample Quantity: this package includes 6 auto mileage log book, each auto mileage logbook contains 32 pages, sufficient quantity, designed for car owners, help you easily track mileage, fuel consumption and cost, make traffic management simpler and more accurate; Whether it is daily commute or long-distance travel, are your ideal assistant
Booking a Singapore Airlines Flight Online
Log into your account and select “Redeem flights.” Enter your travel details and choose your flights. You must pay taxes and fees with a credit card.
If you want to reduce the price of a cash ticket, use the “Pay with KrisFlyer miles” feature. It offsets fares and extra charges at a fixed rate. This feature is separate from booking an award ticket.[7]
Note: “Pay with KrisFlyer miles” only discounts cash tickets. You can’t use it to cover a miles shortfall on an award booking.
Booking a Singapore Airlines Flight Over the Phone
Phone support helps with complex trips or partner flights that don’t appear online. Singapore Airlines charges a $25 or 2,500-mile fee for offline service if you could have completed the task online. The airline waives this fee if online booking is impossible or if you’re a PPS Club member meeting specific criteria.[6]
Upgrading a Singapore Airlines Flight with Miles
You can use miles for a one-class upgrade on eligible paid tickets — for example, from Economy to Premium Economy, or from Premium Economy to Business Class. The miles you need depend on your travel zone and cabin.[25]
Check the latest upgrade charts and your fare class rules before you buy a ticket. Make sure your fare allows upgrades. Upgrades depend on seat availability, and waitlist rules apply.[5]
Managing Your Singapore Airlines Booking
Manage your trips online or through the mobile app. You can review flight details, pick seats, request special meals, and check in. Change and cancellation fees depend on your award type — review the fee schedules for your specific booking before making any changes.[6]
Redepositing miles back into your account counts as a service action and may incur a fee. Always confirm the cost of any change before you proceed.
Maximizing Value with Singapore Airlines Miles
Target Saver awards to get the most value from your miles. Look for monthly Spontaneous Escapes, which offer discounts on specific routes and dates.[15] Book Advantage awards for peak travel dates or to use the free stopover benefit.
Singapore Airlines doesn’t allow paid stopovers. Free stopovers run up to 30 days.[4] Book long-haul premium cabin flights through KrisFlyer. Partner programs rarely have access to these seats.[13]
Tips and Tricks for Booking Singapore Airlines with Miles
- Book early: Set alerts and search for seats 355 days before departure.[14]
- Be flexible: Check different dates and nearby airports. Mixing cabin classes can sometimes save miles.
- Use promos: Look for Spontaneous Escapes and global redemption sales to reduce mileage costs.[15], [26]
- Know your award type: Pick Saver for value and Advantage for availability and stopovers. Use Access for fixed travel dates.[1], [2]
- Transfer smartly: Move credit card points only after confirming award availability. Check transfer times and ratios first.[10], [11]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Singapore Airlines?
Singapore Airlines is the flag carrier of Singapore. It’s known for its high-quality premium cabins and in-flight service across a global network.
How can I book Singapore Airlines with miles?
Log into your KrisFlyer account and choose “Redeem flights.” You can also use Star Alliance partner miles, but KrisFlyer gives you the best access to Singapore Airlines long-haul premium seats.[13]
Can I transfer points from credit card rewards programs to book Singapore Airlines flights?
Yes. American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, and Capital One Miles all transfer to KrisFlyer. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 points.[10], [11]
Are there any restrictions or blackout dates when booking Singapore Airlines with miles?
KrisFlyer has no strict blackout dates, but award seats are limited. Saver awards can be hard to find on popular routes. Advantage awards have better availability. Access awards use dynamic pricing based on demand.[1], [2]
Can I mix miles and cash for an award?
You must pay taxes and fees in cash on all award flights. To lower the price of a cash ticket, use “Pay with KrisFlyer miles.” This feature can’t top off a miles shortfall on an award booking.[7]
Do KrisFlyer miles expire?
Yes. They expire three years after the month you earn them. You can pay a fee to extend them once. Miles transferred from KrisPay expire three years from the transfer date.[8], [9]
KrisFlyer miles offer some of the best access to Singapore Airlines premium cabins anywhere. Confirm award seat availability first, transfer points only after you’ve found open seats, and book as early as you can. The more flexible your dates, the better your chances of landing a Saver award at the lowest mileage cost.
References
- Redeem KrisFlyer Miles — Singapore Airlines (Saver vs Advantage & stopovers)
- Updates to the KrisFlyer Programme (2025) — Singapore Airlines & Access Redemption FAQ PDF
- Adjustments to Award Rates — Singapore Airlines (effective November 1, 2025)
- Award Chart with Stopover Notes — Singapore Airlines & Stopover Changes 2022
- Waitlist Redemption Bookings — Singapore Airlines
- Service Fees — Singapore Airlines
- Pay with KrisFlyer Miles — Singapore Airlines
- KrisFlyer FAQ: Miles Validity and Extension — Singapore Airlines
- Kris+ Terms of Use — Singapore Airlines
- Financial Services Partners — Singapore Airlines
- Marriott Bonvoy × KrisFlyer Transfer Details — Marriott & Points to Miles
- Hilton Honors Transfer Partners Guide — Upgraded Points & Hilton Help Center
- Singapore KrisFlyer Award Waitlist Guide — One Mile at a Time
- When Does Singapore Airlines Open Awards? — Mainly Miles
- KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes — Singapore Airlines
- Other Airline Partners — Singapore Airlines
- KrisFlyer Accrual Levels Chart — Singapore Airlines
- Chase Transfer Partners Guide — NerdWallet & Capital One Transfer Partners Guide
- KrisFlyer Changes 2022 — Singapore Airlines (paid stopovers discontinued August 1, 2022)
- One-Way Upgrade Award Charts — Singapore Airlines
- Global Redemption Sale — Singapore Airlines