New fare types on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir flights

[daft009]

Just received the below...

We will be introducing three new fare types for Singapore Airlines and SilkAir tickets issued on and after 20 January 2018 - Lite, Standard and Flexi.

These three distinct fare types come with different tiers of privileges including KrisFlyer miles accrual levels, baggage allowance and advance seat selection, as well as different degrees of ticket flexibility such as cancellation, change and no-show fees.

This will allow you to select the fare type which best suits your needs.

Tickets issued before 20 January 2018 will not be affected by the changes.

> Find out more about the new fare types

Your exclusive advance seat selection privilege

As a KrisFlyer Elite Silver member, you will enjoy complimentary advance seat selection for Standard Seats when travelling on Economy Class, on all Singapore Airlines and SilkAir flights.

> Find out more about advance seat selection

Redeeming your KrisFlyer miles

You’ll also have new options for flight redemptions and upgrades with the introduction of new fare types.

Renaming of Award types
There are currently two award types for redemption bookings and flight upgrades – Saver and Standard. From 20 January 2018, Standard awards will be renamed Advantage awards.

Award tickets
The number of miles required for an award ticket will be the same, but conditions for advance seat selection and check-in baggage allowance will depend on the award type and class of travel.

Flight upgrades
In addition to Economy Class Flexi fares, you will also be able to redeem upgrades from Economy Class Standard fares. Upgrades are also allowed for Premium Economy Flexi fares, as well as Business Standard and Flexi fares.

Redemption fees
From 1 March 2018, fees for changes and cancellations to award tickets and upgrades will be revised, and vary for Saver and Advantage types.

> Find out more about using your KrisFlyer miles
> Find out more about redemption fees

Thank you for choosing to fly with Singapore Airlines. We hope these revisions will give you clearer choices when selecting the fare type, benefits and conditions that best suit your travel needs.

 

[jmphoto]

Looks like it only affects Y. Unless I'm not reading correctly.

Just received the below...

We will be introducing three new fare types for Singapore Airlines and SilkAir tickets issued on and after 20 January 2018 - Lite, Standard and Flexi.

These three distinct fare types come with different tiers of privileges including KrisFlyer miles accrual levels, baggage allowance and advance seat selection, as well as different degrees of ticket flexibility such as cancellation, change and no-show fees.

This will allow you to select the fare type which best suits your needs.

Tickets issued before 20 January 2018 will not be affected by the changes.

> Find out more about the new fare types

Your exclusive advance seat selection privilege

As a KrisFlyer Elite Silver member, you will enjoy complimentary advance seat selection for Standard Seats when travelling on Economy Class, on all Singapore Airlines and SilkAir flights.

> Find out more about advance seat selection

Redeeming your KrisFlyer miles

You’ll also have new options for flight redemptions and upgrades with the introduction of new fare types.

Renaming of Award types
There are currently two award types for redemption bookings and flight upgrades – Saver and Standard. From 20 January 2018, Standard awards will be renamed Advantage awards.

Award tickets
The number of miles required for an award ticket will be the same, but conditions for advance seat selection and check-in baggage allowance will depend on the award type and class of travel.

Flight upgrades
In addition to Economy Class Flexi fares, you will also be able to redeem upgrades from Economy Class Standard fares. Upgrades are also allowed for Premium Economy Flexi fares, as well as Business Standard and Flexi fares.

Redemption fees
From 1 March 2018, fees for changes and cancellations to award tickets and upgrades will be revised, and vary for Saver and Advantage types.

> Find out more about using your KrisFlyer miles
> Find out more about redemption fees

Thank you for choosing to fly with Singapore Airlines. We hope these revisions will give you clearer choices when selecting the fare type, benefits and conditions that best suit your travel needs.

 

[Mattg]

Hmm, the fee for cancelling an award booking appears to be increasing from USD30 to USD75.

 

[daft009]

Perhaps some differences between saver and standard redemption in higher classes as well if I'm reading correctly?

 

[whughes3]

One thing I have noticed: no more F upgrades from the lowest J fares. Given that the points required for such upgrades now are frankly exorbitant, this is pretty insulting!

 

[Pleb Status]

These changes are mostly negative unfortunately. Particularly at current Flexi Saver (W) level.

The Flexi Saver fares were/are very good value, earning 100% points and full Y SC on VFF. They will now only earn 75% points and unknown VFF SC.

Now SQ are wanting to charge for advance seat selection on the Lite fare, l hope VFF can do a deal to allow free seat selection for VA WP and SG to match the KF benefit.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

From FAQ's re New award classes:-

What are award types?

"There are two award types for award tickets on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir. Saver awards require fewer miles but have limited availability and come with more restrictive fare conditions; Advantage awards require more miles as there are more seats available and have less restrictive fare conditions."

I am particularly amused by the last sentence "...........more miles as there are more seats.........

Am I right in thinking that this is the 3rd
Enhancement for our flying pleasure in
the last 12 months ? - and it looks like
May next year will be another. I suppose the only thing for me will be to
get my pocket money increased or get
another paper round so I can spend more on my Amex card !

Merry Xmas to all and happy travells in
the new year.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

From FAQ's re New award classes:-

What are award types?

"There are two award types for award tickets on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir. Saver awards require fewer miles but have limited availability and come with more restrictive fare conditions; Advantage awards require more miles as there are more seats available and have less restrictive fare conditions."

I am particularly amused by the last sentence "...........more miles as there are more seats.........

Am I right in thinking that this is the 3rd
Enhancement

Advantage is probably just the new "Standard" Awards Seats that were always available after Savers ran out, but at a higher cost. ie more miles for more seats...

 

[ninja-tim]

Advantage is probably just the new "Standard" Awards Seats that were always available after Savers ran out, but at a higher cost. ie more miles for more seats...

Renaming of Award types
There are currently two award types for redemption bookings and flight upgrades – Saver and Standard. From 20 January 2018, Standard awards will be renamed Advantage awards.

Award tickets
The number of miles required for an award ticket will be the same, but conditions for advance seat selection and check-in baggage allowance will depend on the award type and class of travel.

It looks to me like they are just changing the name but mileage cost remains the same for both Saver and Standard/Advantage. The only thing really affecting us are the changes in fees, which I guess is the "enhancement" in this latest round of changes.

Fees for award tickets and redemption upgrades

 

[Cryptarcadian]

The Flexi Saver fares were/are very good value, earning 100% points and full Y SC on VFF. They will now only earn 75% points and unknown VFF SC.

This is potentially the biggest negative change out for those of us crediting primarily to Velocity instead of KrisFlyer. Hopefully the mapping of M/H/W (the new "Standard") won't change, but either way, I hope there's a clear answer soon!

As for the new award change fees, there's at least this (from the FAQ):

For award tickets issued before 1 March 2018, the old change fees apply the first time that the ticket is changed.

 

[Pleb Status]

This is potentially the biggest negative change out for those of us crediting primarily to Velocity instead of KrisFlyer. Hopefully the mapping of M/H/W (the new "Standard") won't change, but either way, I hope there's a clear answer soon!

As for the new award change fees, there's at least this (from the FAQ):

I would guess that we will only find out what the VFF damage will be on the day (20 January 2018).

I am looking to get my first half of 2018 travel booked under the current rules, particularly now SQ are really the only option PER-SIN moving forward.

 

[mel-world]

After many years a Standard Award is now an Advantage Award to accommodate the new Y class booking levels. Many of the restrictions and fees do not apply to QPPS and TPPS so a further reward to their most loyal revenue customers.

 

[Pleb Status]

Last day to book SQ fares under the old system.

I assume we will find out the accompanying Velocity changes (if any) tomorrow.

 

[Ho Really]

Yes there were some really good discounted prices that ended on 18 Jan. I will miss the old system. Did a quick look and tried a few dummy bookings.

Quick observation: those of us used to booking W class (100% miles) will be the most disappointed. The price you were paying before now only gives you 75% miles.

I hope I'm wrong but my impression is SIA has making it harder for those in the middle. Those who were attaining status by booking Economy Flexi Saver fares. Now they'll have to pay more and move to Economy Flexi (full economy fares). At the same time those spending less (Economy LIte) have gained the 50% mileage accrual. I'm not sure how many of these travellers will actually accumulate enough miles in 12 months to get any status at all. Unless they travel twice as much, of course. It seems to me that SIA is only interested in those in the higher brackets. Fair enough (no pun intended). Those that spend the most should always be rewarded.

It will be interesting to see whether the prices that were available during January will be repeated. Scoring cheap fares with 50% mileage accrual won't be too bad. Only means more time in the air and few dollars more spent.

Hopefully if you have status with other Star Alliance partners mileage accrual won't change including Velocity. Perhaps some will start to give up on SIA. Guys correct me if I'm wrong. Cheers

 

[Mattg]

Well I just checked a random SQ route and the Economy Standard (middle-priced, formerly Flexi Saver) fare appears to book into W class. This still earns at the full economy rate with Velocity.

 

[Ho Really]

[...] This still earns at the full economy rate with Velocity.

That sounds good. Hopefully this translates to most other partners as well. I say hopefully. I did a quick check with Aegean, Asiana and SAS (didn't have enough time to do any other). Aegean still 100% with class W and Y, B, E, M, H, L. Asiana the same 100% with classes Y, B, E, M, H, W, L. However SAS have a new chart from 1 Feb., M, H, W will earn 75% down from 100%. From this news it could be that others will follow suit in time, I'm not sure. Again hope I'm wrong. From a status point of view flying in Economy with a W (M and H as well) class fare was a good option. I think it will be one option less now.

 

[Pleb Status]

The accompanying changes to the website have added significant 'clarity' to the booking process at least.

During busy periods, it was difficult to find the cheapest 'from' pricing where multiple options were available. It is a lot clearer now to find the cheapest fare without need to click on every combination. Multi city options now appear to be better as well, as a number of possible flight combinations appears to have improved.

For PER-SIN and SIN-HKG flights at least, standard Y seating is being priced at AUD12.60, forward Y seating at AUD18.80 and exit rows at AUD75.20. These prices do not change with respect to fare type, so an exit row is the same cost for all ticket types etc.

 

[JohnK]

What happened here? Oh my goodness.

Well I just checked a random SQ route and the Economy Standard (middle-priced, formerly Flexi Saver) fare appears to book into W class. This still earns at the full economy rate with Velocity.

Economy standard appears to book into W class. What was wrong with Flexi Saver?

Some one-way fares I was checking last last week have increased by almost 50%.

Sick and tired of all these "improvements". Website changes look awful.

 

[Ho Really]

Just checked the mileage earn you get booking a W Class fare (also M and H) and crediting miles to Asiana Club (Asiana Airlines). On 1 Feb the earning rate was reduced from 100% to 75%. I don’t know about other programmes and how they have faired but I think a few have seen a reduction. A big thumbs down SIA!

 

[JohnK]

Huge thumbs down.

I'm searching flights next month and it looks like a one-way Economy Standard books into H class. Think this earns full economy with Velocity.

I just cannot get used to new fare engine. I used to see all fares on the search page and easily distinguish flexible/semi flexible. Now you see the lowest fare available only and need to click to see other fares. Horrible.