Important Changes to Flight Redemption

Important Changes to Flight Redemption

Following a recent review, we will be making the following changes that will be effective for redemption and redemption upgrade bookings, ticketed on/after 23 March 2017.

  • Revisions to Saver Award levels in the Singapore Airlines Award Chart have been made to ensure that flight rewards remain sustainable yet competitive. We last made adjustments to award levels in various zones in 2012.
  • The 15% discount for redemption and redemption upgrade bookings made through singaporeair.com and the SingaporeAir app will be discontinued, and the same redemption fare will be applied across all channels. 
  • Fuel and insurance surcharges from all redemption award tickets on Singapore Airlines operated flights will be removed.
     

Importantly, with this change, while there will be an increase in the number of miles required to redeem for flights in certain zones, you can also expect to enjoy savings in the amount of cash you would need to pay for your redemption ticket due to the removal of fuel and insurance surcharges. This is further illustrated in the examples below.

Example 1: Singapore-Shanghai (one-way)

Current Saver Award Chart
Tickets issued before 23 March 2017

Revised Saver Award Chart
Tickets issued on / after 23 March 2017

Miles required
(After online discount)
+
Cash (SGD)*

Miles required
across all channels
+
Cash (SGD)

Business Class

35,000 miles
( 29,750 miles )
+
$172 Fuel & insurance surcharges
+
Airport taxes / fees

35,000 miles
+
Airport taxes / fees

Economy Class

20,000 miles
( 17,000 miles )
+
$153 Fuel & insurance surcharges
+
Airport taxes / fees

20,000 miles
+
Airport taxes / fees

*Approximate cost of fuel & insurance surcharges based on USD to SGD exchange rate, as of 21 February 2017

Example 2: Singapore-Sydney (one-way)

Current Saver Award Chart
Tickets issued before 23 March 2017

Revised Saver Award Chart
Tickets issued on / after 23 March 2017

Miles required
(After online discount)
+
Cash (SGD)*

Miles required
across all channels
+
Cash (SGD)

Business Class

55,000 miles
( 46,750 miles )
+
$172 Fuel & insurance surcharges
+
Airport taxes / fees

58,000 miles
+
Airport taxes / fees

Economy Class

25,000 miles
( 21,250 miles )
+
$153 Fuel & insurance surcharges
+
Airport taxes / fees

28,000 miles
+
Airport taxes / fees

*Approximate cost of fuel & insurance surcharges based on USD to SGD exchange rate, as of 21 February 2017

Example 3: Singapore-San Francisco (one-way)

Current Saver Award Chart
Tickets issued before 23 March 2017

Revised Saver Award Chart
Tickets issued on / after 23 March 2017

Miles required
(After online discount)
+
Cash (SGD)*

Miles required
across all channels
+
Cash (SGD)

Business Class

80,000 miles
( 68,000 miles )
+
$327 Fuel & insurance surcharges
+
Airport taxes / fees

88,000 miles
+
Airport taxes / fees

Economy Class

35,000 miles
( 29,750 miles )
+
$312 Fuel & insurance surcharges
+
Airport taxes / fees

38,000 miles
+
Airport taxes / fees

*Approximate cost of fuel & insurance surcharges based on USD to SGD exchange rate, as of 21 February 2017

The redemption ticket-related charges resulting from any change of route, cabin class or award type for tickets issued for flights on Singapore Airlines has been revised to USD 20 for both online and offline channels. Any changes to travel dates for tickets issued before 23 March will also incur a reissuance fee of USD 20.

FAQS

Q1: What are the changes to Redemption Awards that are booked and ticketed on Singapore Airlines operated flights on/after 23 March 2017?

The following 3 changes will be effective for all bookings and tickets issued on/after 23 March 2017, for travel on/after 23 March 2017: 

  1. Fuel and insurance surcharges will be removed for all Redemption Awards on all Singapore Airlines operated flights. Applicable airport taxes and fees will continue to apply for redemption awards.
  2. The 15% online discount currently applicable for redemption/redemption upgrade bookings made through singaporeair.com and on the SingaporeAir mobile app will be discontinued.
  3. Mileage levels will be revised for Saver Awards for Zone 7, 9, 11, 12, 13 for First, Business and Economy cabin classes.
     

Mileage levels for the following remains unchanged:

  1. Saver Awards for Premium Economy Class
  2. Advantage Awards for all sectors / cabin classes
  3. Saver/Advantage Redemption Upgrade Awards for all sectors / cabin classes
  4. Star Alliance Award Chart
     

Q2: How does Singapore Airlines determine the increase in Saver Award mileage levels?

Award levels are a function of supply and demand and are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are kept relevant and updated with market changes.
 

Q3: How will the changes affect redemption upgrades?

There is no change to the award levels required for redemption upgrades. However, the 15% discount for redemption upgrades performed online via singaporeair.com and the SingaporeAir mobile app will be discontinued for bookings and tickets issued on/after 23 March 2017.
 

Q4: What if I do not have sufficient miles for my desired redemption or redemption upgrade after 23 March 2017?

You can choose to transfer miles from any of KrisFlyer’s many non-air partners. Alternatively, you may also choose to top-up the requisite miles through Purchase of Miles (POM), as applicable.
 

Q5: Are surcharges, taxes and fees removed for all redemptions on Singapore Airlines operated flights for bookings and tickets issued on/after 23 March 2017?

Fuel and insurance surcharges will no longer apply for all redemptions on Singapore Airlines operated flights that are booked and ticketed on/after 23 March 2017. Airport taxes and fees, as applicable, will continue to be levied for redemptions, and are payable in cash.
 

Q6: Why am I still being charged for fuel and insurance surcharges for some Star Alliance redemption awards?

Fuel and insurance surcharges may still be applicable on redemption award tickets for flights operated by other carriers, if the carrier continues to levy such charges.
 

Q7: If I have a partial Star Alliance redemption itinerary, will I be charged fuel and insurance surcharges?

For sector(s) operated by Singapore Airlines, you will not be charged fuel and insurance surcharges for tickets issued on/ after 23 March 2017. However, for sector(s) operated by other carriers, the relevant fuel and insurance surcharges will apply if applicable.
 

Q8: When is the last date that I am able to perform a redemption or redemption upgrade via singaporeair.com or the SingaporeAir mobile app with the 15% discount per the current Saver Award mileage levels?

The 15% online discount and current Saver Award levels will remain for redemption or redemption upgrades that are booked and ticketed up till and including 22 March 2017.

Q9: If I have ticketed a round-trip Saver Award for Zone 7, 9, 11, 12 and 13, where the outbound date is before 23 March 2017 and the return flight is after 23 March 2017, which mileage level / fuel and insurance surcharges will be applicable?

If you have issued your tickets before 23 March 2017, the current redemption award levels, fuel and insurance surcharges and 15% discount on online redemptions will apply, if applicable.The following changes to flight redemptions on Singapore Airlines operated flights will be applicable for all bookings and tickets issued on or after 23 March 2017.

  1. revised redemption award levels,
  2. removal of fuel and insurance surcharges and
  3. discontinuation of 15% discount on online redemption or redemption upgrade

 

Q10: I have made a redemption booking on Singapore Airlines before 23 March 2017, but I am waitlisted on the flight. Can I ticket my booking with the current award levels and 15% online discount.

If your waitlist is confirmed, simply ticket your booking before 23 March 2017 to make use of current mileage levels, and 15% online redemption discount, if applicable. However, do take note that relevant fuel and insurance surcharges will apply.

Q11: I have booked and ticketed my redemption on Singapore Airlines before 23 March 2017, can I get a refund on the fuel and insurance surcharges amount paid?

We are unable to provide you with a refund on the fuel and insurance surcharges portion alone. However, you may opt to refund your existing ticket, with the applicable service fees.

Please note that any expired miles will not be redeposited back into your KrisFlyer account, as part of our refund policy.

If you subsequently make a new redemption booking or issue a new redemption ticket on or after 23 March 2017, there will be a revision to Saver award levels for selected zones, the 15% online discount will be discontinued while fuel and insurance surcharges will be removed.

Q12: I have booked and ticketed my redemption upgrade on Singapore Airlines before 23 March 2017, can I refund the fuel and insurance surcharges amount paid?

We do not collect any applicable difference in fuel and insurance surcharges between the lower and higher cabin class for redemption upgrades.

We are unable to provide a refund of the fuel and insurance surcharges payable on the original commercial ticket for the lower cabin class. This is because fuel and insurance surcharges have been folded into the base fare for commercial bookings, and there is no immediate change to the total airfare payable as a direct consequence.

Q13: 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”:

  • 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” will be streamlined to USD 20 for both online and offline servicing.

All other servicing fees will remain as current.

Q14: Aside from changes to redemption flights, it has also been announced that fuel and insurance surcharges will be folded-into the base airfares of commercial tickets on Singapore Airlines flights. What is this about?

Today, tickets involving Singapore Airlines flight sectors include a separate fuel and insurance surcharge component. Together with the base airfares and other applicable taxes, fees and charges, they make up the total price payable by a customer (“all-in fare”).

With the folding in of fuel and insurance surcharges, which will be implemented progressively across the Singapore Airlines network starting from 28 March 2017, you will be presented with a single base airfare when purchasing tickets. This will provide our customers with a more simplified fare structure.

Q15: How does this folding-in affect the ticket prices that I will be paying?

There will be no immediate change to the total airfare payable as a direct consequence from the folding in of fuel and insurance surcharges into a single base airfare when you purchase your tickets with us. Taxes and charges levied by airport/government authorities will continue to be listed separately on your ticket.

Any change to the all-in fares would be due solely to seasonal review in pricing, based on prevailing market supply and demand conditions, and fluctuation in currency exchange rates.

Q16: Will PPS Value be impacted with the folding in of fuel and insurance surcharges into base commercial fares?

PPS Value is currently computed from the base fare and fuel and insurance surcharge component of the ticket. Taxes and fees are excluded from the computation. With this change, progressively starting 28 March 2017 across different markets, PPS Value will be computed on the base fare component of the ticket. Taxes and fees will continue to be excluded from the computation.

Q17: When will the folding-in of fuel and insurance surcharges into base commercial fares take place?

The folding in of fuel and insurance surcharges into the base airfares on Singapore Airlines flights will take place progressively from 28 March 2017.

Q18: Can I ask for a refund of the fuel and insurance surcharges that I have paid?

There is no change in the total airfare payable, as a result of the folding in of fuel and insurance surcharges in the base airfare. We do not refund the base airfare or the fuel surcharges separately from each other. If you would like to refund your entire ticket, it would be subjected to eligibility conditions and applicable fees.

Q19: The ticket I purchased has fuel and insurance surcharges listed as a separate component of the base airfare. If I need to make changes to my itinerary, will I still be charged fuel and insurance surcharges?

If you have not flown on any of the travel sectors on your ticket itinerary and would like to make changes to your itinerary, fuel and insurance surcharges will no longer reflect as a separate component of your air ticket. You will however see a higher base airfare on your new ticket as the surcharges are now folded in.

If you have travelled on at least one travel sector in your ticket itinerary, fuel and insurance surcharges will continue to reflect as a separate component and will not be folded into the base airfares for your new ticket.

Q20: My travel itinerary involves flights on other airlines. Will I still be charged fuel and insurance surcharge?

If your travel itinerary involve other airlines’ flights, fuel and insurance surcharges may still be applicable. The folding in of fuel and insurance surcharges into base airfares apply only for Singapore Airlines operated flights.

Click here for more FAQs on the Fold-In of Fuel and Insurance Surcharges into the Base airfare of Commercial Tickets.