30% Bonus with point transfers to Virgin Atlantic

[JohnK]

About Two to Three Days I did a transfer on Thursday last week and they showed up today including the bonus

Hope this is helpful

Thanks. I was being too optimistic expecting it to happen sooner.

Trying to book a business class flight HKG-SYD in July and worried about availability disappearing.

 

[k3nnis]

How about SYD-HKG?

I find that usually Award UC is quote easy to get on SYD-HKG-SYD

Thanks. I was being too optimistic expecting it to happen sooner.

Trying to book a business class flight HKG-SYD in July and worried about availability disappearing.

 

[k3nnis]

I transferred all my MR points today to VS. Will probably use some of it to transfer to Hilton Honors.

 

[Pumbaa]

I transferred all my MR points today to VS. Will probably use some of it to transfer to Hilton Honors.

Hi K3nnis,

I'm very curious to see what value you get out of your MR points when transferring them to Hilton Honors.
I have a good stash of points in my account at the moment, and even after all the changes to the redemption offers, I still find Krisflyer hard to beat in terms of redemptions.

For example:

Perth - Hong Kong Return in J: 55 250 - $4880
Perth - Frankfurt Return in J: 161 500 - $11 026
Perth - Los Angeles Return in J: 161 500 - $12 315

That is after the 15% online discount. I know the taxes are quite hefty, but even after you take that into account, the value per point is huge.
I never have problems finding flights with Singapore Airlines, so its my preferred redemption partner when it comes to Amex MR points.

Does anyone else know of any better way to burn MR points, as IMO Singapore Airlines offers the best value now that they've opened up the A380 and 300-ER inventory.

 

[knasty]

Thanks. I was being too optimistic expecting it to happen sooner.

Trying to book a business class flight HKG-SYD in July and worried about availability disappearing.

JohnK I've booked Upper Class redemption to/from HKG either side of Rugby Sevens weekend 2 years in a row and had no issue with availability 1-2 months out. Hopefully you'll have the same experience.

 

[kamchatsky]

Transferred just over 56K MR points to VS. After 30% bonus and my existing small balance it will get to 80001 miles which I will be looking at HKG-SYD one-way J for 2 or SYD-HKG J return in the future. I will keep the rest of my MR points for flexibility purposes.

 

[k3nnis]

Hi Pumba,

I'm pretty sure the redemption rates for J on SQ via SYD-SIN will be higher than your perth ones. Also VS don't fly out from PER only SYD. I find that 80000 return SYD-HKG in J on VS is a great deal comparing to others like QF.

VS to Hilton will be 1 VS mile = 2 Hilton Honors Points.

SYD-SIN-SYD on SQ J will be 93500 Krisflyer Miles after the 15% discount.

Cheers,
K.

Hi K3nnis,

I'm very curious to see what value you get out of your MR points when transferring them to Hilton Honors.
I have a good stash of points in my account at the moment, and even after all the changes to the redemption offers, I still find Krisflyer hard to beat in terms of redemptions.

For example:

Perth - Hong Kong Return in J: 55 250 - $4880
Perth - Frankfurt Return in J: 161 500 - $11 026
Perth - Los Angeles Return in J: 161 500 - $12 315

That is after the 15% online discount. I know the taxes are quite hefty, but even after you take that into account, the value per point is huge.
I never have problems finding flights with Singapore Airlines, so its my preferred redemption partner when it comes to Amex MR points.

Does anyone else know of any better way to burn MR points, as IMO Singapore Airlines offers the best value now that they've opened up the A380 and 300-ER inventory.

 

[kamchatsky]

Hi Pumba,

I'm pretty sure the redemption rates for J on SQ via SYD-SIN will be higher than your perth ones. Also VS don't fly out from PER only SYD. I find that 80000 return SYD-HKG in J on VS is a great deal comparing to others like QF.

VS to Hilton will be 1 VS mile = 2 Hilton Honors Points.

SYD-SIN-SYD on SQ J will be 93500 Krisflyer Miles after the 15% discount.

Cheers,
K.

I agree, at the moment SYD-HKG J on VS (80K) is "value for money" compare with SQ (93.5K), QF (120K), CX (120K MR points on 4:3 normal conversion ratio). But then I would say SQ has more choices of flights and their J is definitely better than VS. I do feel that VS J offering is a bit dated but their value more than makes up for it. Also it is direct flight rather than transitting SIN. Forget about QF.

I would sometimes do SQ J one-way and VS J on another for flexibility purposes.

Ironically I just redeemed SQ J SYD-SIN-HKG on old rate of 38500 one-way for flight on 31 March (just before the new rate kicks in).

 

[k3nnis]

Hi Edison,

Quick question, with SQ J for 93500 miles for SYD-HKG return, can we have a stopover in SIN both ways? If not what is the extra cost in miles?

Also I notice for SYD-SIN most flights on the A380 are on waitlist using points. Do these clear easily even with no status?

I will give CX J a go for SYD-HKG-SYD if in future the 1:1 ratio stays with MR and Asiamiles

Thanks,
K.

I agree, at the moment SYD-HKG J on VS (80K) is "value for money" compare with SQ (93.5K), QF (120K), CX (120K MR points on 4:3 normal conversion ratio). But then I would say SQ has more choices of flights and their J is definitely better than VS. I do feel that VS J offering is a bit dated but their value more than makes up for it. Also it is direct flight rather than transitting SIN. Forget about QF.

I would sometimes do SQ J one-way and VS J on another for flexibility purposes.

Ironically I just redeemed SQ J SYD-SIN-HKG on old rate of 38500 one-way for flight on 31 March (just before the new rate kicks in).

 

[kamchatsky]

Hi Edison,

Quick question, with SQ J for 93500 miles for SYD-HKG return, can we have a stopover in SIN both ways? If not what is the extra cost in miles?

Also I notice for SYD-SIN most flights on the A380 are on waitlist using points. Do these clear easily even with no status?

Thanks,
K.

If you are booking SYD-SIN-HKG return you are allowed 1 stopover at SIN for free for Saver Awards (which is what we all go for). You can get 2 stopovers on Standard Award (twice the miles as Saver!!!). What you can do is to do a 23 hour transit at SIN. It is only considered as stopover if you stay at SIN for more than 24 hours. or you can book the two legs separately but it costs a lot more I think.

For 1 way Saver booking you don't get free stopover.

I haven't tried booking A380 online past April yet so I don't know about how easily waitlist will clear. It is new for all of us. But it doesn't hurt to try.

Hope this helps.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks edison.

I've never doen a redemption in SQ before. On the old system, where on saver you can only go for non 77W and non A380 planes, what was the waitlist system like? If they clear or don't clear when does SQ actually let us know? Hopefully not last minute!

If you are booking SYD-SIN-HKG return you are allowed 1 stopover at SIN for free for Saver Awards (which is what we all go for). You can get 2 stopovers on Standard Award (twice the miles as Saver!!!). What you can do is to do a 23 hour transit at SIN. It is only considered as stopover if you stay at SIN for more than 24 hours. or you can book the two legs separately but it costs a lot more I think.

For 1 way Saver booking you don't get free stopover.

I haven't tried booking A380 online past April yet so I don't know about how easily waitlist will clear. It is new for all of us. But it doesn't hurt to try.

Hope this helps.

 

[turtlemichael]

Edison, you're da man! Do you have an idea what availability is like on Saver awards for a non-status member (1)around Asia (say BKK -SIN) and (2) from Asia to Europe or North America?

 

[tinkybelle]

Spending miles:

using Virgin-Atlantic miles for J SQ
Please note that with immediate effect redemptions on Singapore Airlines in Business and First Class are on hold until further notice. We apologies for any inconvenience.

One stopover and one turnaround open jaw is permitted per round trip journey within the same zone.

 

[Hubbins]

If that's off the website it is incorrect they withdrew that last year
i will email them about updating the website

 

[k3nnis]

You mean you can now book J/J awards using VS miles on SQ?????

If that's off the website it is incorrect they withdrew that last year
i will email them about updating the website

 

[Hubbins]

Yes, That is my understanding

 

[kamchatsky]

Thanks edison.

I've never doen a redemption in SQ before. On the old system, where on saver you can only go for non 77W and non A380 planes, what was the waitlist system like? If they clear or don't clear when does SQ actually let us know? Hopefully not last minute!

For me I found that most likely the waitlist will clear about 1-2 weeks before flight time. What I did was book Y first (which is OK for me for day flight to HKG), then waitlist J and if it does clear then I will just confirm it and pay the small change fee ($12/$20 US for online/offline changes). But then I don't redeem SQ that often so you may have different experiences, especially now that A380/77W is wide open and everyone will try to book them.

I would say that New Medium Haul C on 77A and A330 for SYD-SIN route are quite good already, especially on day flights (I actually prefer that than A380 on day flights). If you can, just book them first then waitlist for A380/77W if needed. If necessary, you can try F Award

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/flying-with-us/business-listing/

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/ppsclub-krisflyer/RedeemMiles_SQMI/

 

[kamchatsky]

Edison, you're da man! Do you have an idea what availability is like on Saver awards for a non-status member (1)around Asia (say BKK -SIN) and (2) from Asia to Europe or North America?

1) Should be easily to get.
2) Much harder but possible. Book early is key. I would say someone like cove who is a very regular long-haul SQ J Saver customer would be able to provide much more info on this.

 

[kamchatsky]

You mean you can now book J/J awards using VS miles on SQ?????

Yes but given the inventory allowances it would be better to book SQ awards using SQ KF miles.

 

[k3nnis]

Guys, just want to let you know I transferred my MR points to VS this morning and I just checked my VS account and they posted! Same day! That is a record for me
edison: Thanks. Do I need enough miles for both Y and J to book Y and waitlist J on points???