" o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

[LittleFokker]

Read it and weep

HT ABT

 

[kamchatsky]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Hmmm .... More points, no online discount, in exchange of high fuel surcharges ......

 

[BacchusMarsh]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

This is decidedly suboptimal:

The 15% online discount currently applicable for redemption/redemption upgrade bookings made through singaporeair.com and on the SingaporeAir mobile app will be discontinued.

Awesome use of "streamlined":

Q14: Will Singapore Airlines be revising its redemption related service fees?
Currently, the following service fees apply for “Change of route, cabin class or award type for tickets issued for flights on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir”:

• Online: USD 12
• Offline: USD 20

Effective 23 March 2017, the “Change of route, cabin class or award type for tickets issued for flights on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir” will be streamlined to USD 20 for both online and offline servicing.

 

[purpleparrot]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

All the more reason to fly CX.

 

[LadyC]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Oh no. Better get some flights booked STAT!

 

[kamchatsky]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

All the more reason to fly CX.

Not sure about that. You never know, CX may do next round of devaluation soon. CX has done a lot of cost cutting and the food in J is very average.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

All the more reason to fly CX.

Absolutely - everybody over to CX quick smart - we'll show those SQ jerks!

 

[yohy?!]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Mar 22 is the deadline to ticket under current rules I believe

 

[trippin_the_rift]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

All the more reason to fly CX.

The only reason CX looks more appealing is that Hong Kong Gov does not allow flights in/out of HKG to have YQ.

This SQ devaluation is real on say a SIN-HKG ticket which currently has ~$40 airport/insurance taxes but the new points are 15% higher.

 

[LadyC]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Bookings flights as I continue to peruse this thread. Whilst more expensive points wise, at least SQ has more availability that QF does. I like their points options (saver and standard).

 

[kamchatsky]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

I have just done a comparison for my ticketed award flights this year (all one-way, including current 15% discount for booking online):


SQ J MEL-SIN-HND
Before 27 March: 65875 KF miles + taxes + AUD$207 Airline Fuel and Insurance Surcharge
After 27 March: 83000 KF miles + taxes


So difference is 17125 KF miles vs AUD$207.


SQ J HKG-SIN-SYD
Before 27 March: 46750 KF miles + taxes + HKD$940 Airline Fuel and Insurance Surcharge
After 27 March: 58000 KF miles + taxes


So difference is 11250 KF miles vs HKD$940 or AUD$158.


SQ R/F HKG-SIN-SYD
Before 27 March: 63750 KF miles + taxes + HKD$1056 Airline Fuel and Insurance Surcharge
After 27 March: 80000 KF miles + taxes


So difference is 16250 KF miles vs HKD$1056 or AUD$177.50.


I think I prefer the current system, thanks.

 

[robtemt]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Is this really that bad? I know what we consider our per point value, and base my math on this.....

For a return J ticket SYD - SIN, it was 55,000 - 15% = 46750 KF Miles, +457.00 SGD/$423AUD for fuel surcharge (YQ). It is now 58,000 or a total of 11,250 each way, or 22,500 extra miles per return J trip.

If miles cost 0.01 each (a typical figure I often see people use as an acceptable cost per point), that is $225 (or a savings of $198.00AUD) vs paying the fuel surcharge.

If we somehow, we had a method of manufactured spending on Amex which we earned nearly 60,000 Amex Rewards points this year by "spending" for travel services at 3 points per dollar spent, the fees we paid associated with the process only ended up costing us $0.005 per point or $112.50 for the now extra 22,500 points needed), actually meaning the ticket now costs us $310.50AUD less if we make up the extra points now needed through alternative/creative spending/earning methods.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Seems to be an echo in the house tonight!

 

[kamchatsky]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

The question is, with the increase in KF miles required, does it mean after 27 March, it would be BETTER to redeem SQ flights via VA directly? Not to mention it is much easier to pick up VA points?

 

[Dannyism]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Farkin hell. I was looking at making my first SQ R redemption MEL-SIN-LHR//ZRH-SIN-MEL in June or July...

Wahhhh. FML.

Originally we needed

132500 x 4 x 0.85 = 450,500

148,000 x 4 x 1 = 592,000

That is a pretty huge difference !!!

 

[LittleFokker]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

112,500 KF points to Europe Suites +$450 always was a ridiculous bargain compared to, say, Qantas (192K $600). The increase isn't outrageous in the scheme of things.

i'm sorted for July and Xmas F/R to the Uk. I just wish I could have booked for Easter '18.

 

[coolkid101]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

my heart sank when i first read the post - however not horrible when doing the math

for our R SYD - JFK - we paid 116875 miles+ about $530 YQ
now it's 152000 miles
difference of 35125 miles for $530 - approx 1.5cpm, could've been worse?

 

[Dannyism]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

If anyone finds any availability in F/R to EU from MEL or SYD can you pm me please ?

 

[potm]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Not as bad as I thought upon first reading it.
Depends on if you value the points or cash more which depends on each person.

 

[LittleFokker]

re: " o noes! " - Singapore enhances redemption rates

Not as bad as I thought upon first reading it.
Depends on if you value the points or cash more which depends on each person.

that's my take as well. In my case I can always rustle up $450 for taxes, but finding another 36K KF can be hard work.