SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[Happy Trails]

This is AMS's version of TPR. :mrgreen:

 

[JessicaTam]

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And TBH I did my best on 802 and 831 to exhaust the Krug supplies but alas all in vain - 'sigh'.
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Thank goodness. I would hate those pesky Krug drinkers to start in on my Dom. Heaven forbid they get a taste for it. [FONT=.SF UI Text]
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[Kangol]

It's quite possible that the slight variances in mixing/taste from year to year have changed your preferences.

I've noticed an obvious difference from this year's "stock" on many carriers compared to last year's. You can go online and look up the vintages included if you note the bottle ID.

 

[hummel]

Contemplating burning SQ for SGN-SIN-MEL and finally try suites next year.

However no availability for 2 pax. There is award space available on the 77er all the way through - Is it worth running the risk and hoping SQ change to A380 over the summer months? Thoughts?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

We live in interesting times do we not? SQ realign their award chart requiring increased pts to redeem flts - albeit at greatly reduced Ts & Cs - and the banks are heading down the path of greatly reduced FF pts earn rates on CC spend - the stars are hardly aligning are they?

For me this means a complete reassessment of my flying pattern. For years I have been totally spoilt with ease of availability and relative cheap cost of SQ R/F Saver rdpts to / from China. The availability won't change but ability to create the annual bank of pts that permit these activities is now my greatest challenge.

As with all endeavours - before a plan can be hatched we need to look closely at the problem that confronts us. In a nutshell listed here is what I have been / will now be confronted with if I desire to continue the same flight pattern to / from China:

• SQ Comm R/F Ticket - May 5 MEL-SIN-PVG / May 14 PEK-SIN-MEL $7,340.59
• R/F Saver Rdpt (Old Rate) – MEL-SIN-PVG 78,625 KF Pts + AUD460.99 / PEK-SIN-MEL 79,625 KF Pts + CNY1,992 = Total 157,250 KF pts + ~AUD845.58
• R/F Saver Rdpt (New Rate) – MEL-SIN-PVG 98,000 KF Pts + AUD86.39 / PEK-SIN-MEL 98,000 KF Pts + CNY229 = Total 196,000 KF Pts + ~AUD130.61

For 8-10 return journeys each year the $ savings look very attractive - but that bank of pts will be my challenge given the changing CC pts earn landscape. We live in interesting times.

Note: The 3 pricing levels I have quoted are for a ret journey I am undertaking MEL-SIN-PVG / PEK-SIN-MEL in R/F May 5 to May 14.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Contemplating burning SQ for SGN-SIN-MEL and finally try suites next year.

However no availability for 2 pax. There is award space available on the 77er all the way through - Is it worth running the risk and hoping SQ change to A380 over the summer months? Thoughts?

Unless you are dead set on the suites as opposed to 'regular' F I'd take what you can find now. I'm more about the service element than an enclosed suite. YMMV.

 

[cove]

I am a lucky survivor of these CC changes and have run up Kris Miles into a warehouse using a US CC. For me it will be an extra few minutes to do the funds transfers and I will need to ask for a bigger card limit by July / August.
With the looming changes I have been using WBC Kris Amex on lots of ATO rather than World for QF points.

 

[tizey]

Interesting times indeed CE... It's a double whack with point requirements going up, and earn rates going down. That said, it's more of a speed hump than stop sign - SQ availability is still IMO one of the best, which is another valuable aspect of such program

 

[diningdecadence]

I am a lucky survivor of these CC changes and have run up Kris Miles into a warehouse using a US CC. For me it will be an extra few minutes to do the funds transfers and I will need to ask for a bigger card limit by July / August.
With the looming changes I have been using WBC Kris Amex on lots of ATO rather than World for QF points.

yep i'm also focused on understanding the USA equation (luckily married to a US citizen). Had to give up the prestige last year upon getting a mortgage but i see citi have taken the razor - only a matter of time before the rest follow suit. oh well, have been able to take some amazing trips on SQ thanks to citi select/ prestige and, OT, USDM!

 

[cove]

DD the Chase Sapphire CC is the one to look at for a US SSN holder.

 

[cove]

What about a Kris Flyer miles option on a Singaporean credit card. I have seen it advertised outside the entry to the T3 lounges (on the right as you head towards the gate keepers).

 

[diningdecadence]

DD the Chase Sapphire CC is the one to look at for a US SSN holder.

yep we've got the 'preferred', but missed the 100k sign on bonus on the 'reserve'. might try our banker next time we are over there although that's looking like a little while away!

how is their FX spread? i.e. does it make ATO payments still attractive?

 

[cove]

Have to wait for a second month to be certain. The first one was pretty good but let me do one later this month when my account is clear to make it worthwhile. Working with $35,000 US limit to start is a bit painful so that bit is a work in progress as well.

 

[albyd]

What about a Kris Flyer miles option on a Singaporean credit card. I have seen it advertised outside the entry to the T3 lounges (on the right as you head towards the gate keepers).

This looks like an interesting option. I couldn't see direct mention of it on the Sg Amex mobile site. Is there a currency conversion fee? If not, especially with the $A being pretty much at parity with $SG, could be worth the ATO 1.45% fee.
Next question will be how so I get one from Australia?
Luckily have my Citi US card with a fair exchange rate thus far. Will need to enquire in person about getting a limit increase to reduce the number of reloads.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I inquired about Sing Amex years ago and was informed for Sing residents only - it may be worth another look again though.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I inquired about Sing Amex years ago and was informed for Sing residents only - it may be worth another look again though.

It may well be worth another look:



Or not:

 

[cove]

If you want more than 3 plus almost 1 year additional Kris Miles you might want to use Westpac Black Amex which runs 0.75 Kris Miles from 1.45% fee. It is a bit more palatable if the ATO chip in a good share of the expense. I think it still works but I haven't done this since they wrecked the earn rate so someone should know.
Prepaying BAS on Kris Flyer Amex would be an option if anyone is running hand to mouth with Kris Miles seeing money is cheap these days.
Anyway these are two possible strategies that should not be too hard to consider for Suites rides into the future.

 

[KitKat]

If you want more than 3 plus almost 1 year additional Kris Miles you might want to use Westpac Black Amex which runs 0.75 Kris Miles from 1.45% fee. It is a bit more palatable if the ATO chip in a good share of the expense. I think it still works but I haven't done this since they wrecked the earn rate so someone should know.
Prepaying BAS on Kris Flyer Amex would be an option if anyone is running hand to mouth with Kris Miles seeing money is cheap these days.
Anyway these are two possible strategies that should not be too hard to consider for Suites rides into the future.

I thought the enhancement recently resulted in 0.6 KF miles per $ ATO 1.45% Westpac Black Amex... a little steep..
Does anyone know if the St George Amplify Signature works for our fiscal responsiblity payments?

 

[cove]

Thanks KitKat I had not noticed the "enhancement" to 0.6 Kris Miles. That is a killer.
My son has St George and I believe it is still running for the moment.
Just start thinking about prepaying if you have that ability seeing the door is closing on ATO for virtually all Australian CCs by June 30th.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Re new 380 Suites - KF staff as yet have not been briefed as to which flts will be slotted - I will update 1 minute after I hear and get my 1st rdpt confirmed.