Krisflyer Star Allaince Award Routing Rules

[Flight777]

I tried to book the following itinerary in F. MEL-SIN-PEK-INC-JFK

The itinerary uses both Singapore airlines and Asiana, the award should be 255,000 points return according to star alliance chart. The phone agent said that this routing was not possible, however the agent couldnt tell me the rules or routing options from south pacific to N. America.

Does anyone have experience with booking a a star alliance redemption?

 

[jetpack]

I tried to book the following itinerary in F. MEL-SIN-PEK-INC-JFK

The itinerary uses both Singapore airlines and Asiana, the award should be 255,000 points return according to star alliance chart. The phone agent said that this routing was not possible, however the agent couldnt tell me the rules or routing options from south pacific to N. America.

Does anyone have experience with booking a a star alliance redemption?

My guess on why it was rejected is that there is obvious backtracking in your itinerary which is against the rules.

n. Backtracking is not permitted. Travel must be made via the most direct route.

 

[dajop]

My guess on why it was rejected is that there is obvious backtracking in your itinerary which is against the rules.

n. Backtracking is not permitted. Travel must be made via the most direct route.

Yes, this is probably the case. Whilst a solely SQ award would be allowed that went MEL-SIN-ICN-SFO, there is no SQ option without backtracking. For star alliance awards there probably is some restriction on this as there are more direct options. Too book this routing you would need to have two awards (MEL-SIN & SIN-PEK-ICN-JFK or MEL-SIN-PEK & PEK-ICN-JFK)

 

[Flight777]

My guess on why it was rejected is that there is obvious backtracking in your itinerary which is against the rules.

n. Backtracking is not permitted. Travel must be made via the most direct route.

yes, i agree that this is not the most direct route. However SIA offer the following on SQ metal

MEL-SIN-FRA-JFK - 13970 Miles

As opposed to Star alliance award:

MEL-SIN-PEK-ICN-JFK - 13978 Miles

So its virtually the same distance as SQ offer.

 

[jetpack]

According to the T&Cs there appears to be more interpretation allowed for SQ only awards as opposed to Star Alliance awards.

F. Singapore Airlines and SilkAir redemption and upgrade awards
22. Award Redemption - Award Calculation Rules
a. Travel must be via a published route. Backtracking is not permitted except as required by route restrictions. Backtracking occurs when a journey does not continue in the same direction in which it began. An itinerary containing a backtracking sector not required by route restrictions may require separate tickets.

G. Star Alliance Awards and Star Alliance Upgrade Awards
2. Additional conditions for Star Alliance Awards
n. Backtracking is not permitted. Travel must be made via the most direct route.

 

[Flight777]

Update.

After speaking to a supervisor I were able to book the itinery ( MEL-SIN-PEK-ICN-JFK ) for 255k points return in F. very happy with outcome