How to Book Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Awards

Singapore Airlines has a reputation for having comfortable planes and excellent service. It’s the flag carrier of Singapore, operating out of its hub in Changi Airport. Singapore Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, and it flies to 63 destinations in 35 countries worldwide. In the U.S., it flies to Houston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.

Singapore Airlines’ frequent flyer program, KrisFlyer, can be a bit overwhelming. It has seven different zones in Asia, and two in the U.S. They also have separate charts for Star Alliance members and other partners.

Members based in the U.S. can collect extra KrisFlyer miles by transferring points from four programs: American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou, Starwood Preferred Guest and Diners Club.

When Should You Use KrisFlyer Awards?

Singapore Airlines offers excellent service and comfortable seats in all cabins. It beats every domestic and most international carriers, hands-down. If you’re debating whether to fly on Singapore Airlines or a domestic airline, it’s a no-brainer, even if you have to pay a few extra miles.

Singapore Airlines doesn’t just fly to Singapore. It has four international flights between the U.S. and other countries:

New York to Frankfurt
Houston to Moscow
Los Angeles to Tokyo
San Francisco to Seoul

A round-trip flight between New York and Frankfurt costs only 40,000 miles in economy. That’s 20,000 miles fewer than other major domestic carriers charge. Plus, you’ll get to fly on one of the most comfortable airlines in the world.

Singapore also offers a 15 percent discount for booking online. Instead of 40,000 miles, the flight to Frankfurt would only cost 34,000 miles. That’s an unbeatable value for a flight between the U.S. and Europe.

The downside is that Singapore Airlines adds fuel surcharges to their own flights and most of their partners. They are considerably less than the charges added by most European airlines, though. On the New York to Frankfurt flight, you’ll pay a fuel surcharge of $312.

Singapore Airlines' first class suite — Singapore Airlines’ first class suite

Singapore’s first class suites on the A380 aircraft are legendary. They feature the only double bed in the sky and incredible food and service. If you want to experience this ultimate luxury, a one-way award ticket between the U.S. and Singapore will cost you up to 110,000 miles, or 93,500 miles if booked online.

The KrisFlyer Star Alliance award chart has some sweet spots, too:

Round-trip flights from the U.S. to Hawaii cost 35,000 miles in economy and 60,000 in business
Round-trip flights from the U.S. to the Middle East cost 75,000 miles in economy and 115,000 in business

Partners Bookable Online

Silk Air

When to Book by Phone:

For most partner airlines
To book complex itineraries
When making changes to an existing itinerary

See below for our phone booking tips.

How to Search for KrisFlyer Award Seats Online:

Go to the KrisFlyer homepage, and log in.

Click “book a flight” under the “flying with us” tab.

Check “redeem award flight,” then enter your flight information. Click “search and book.”

If you can’t find the flights you want, change the dates and try again. Once you’ve decided on your flight, click “continue.”

How to Confirm and Book KrisFlyer Flights Online:

Review your itinerary. If you have enough miles and you’re ready to book, click “continue.”

You’ll then be prompted to pay the taxes and fees on your ticket and finalize your booking.

Phone Booking Tips

KrisFlyer’s U.S. booking number: 1-213-404-0301

The phone line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The airline has four offices in the U.S. They are in Houston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. If you run into issues with the phone agents, you can try emailing at contact@krisflyer-singaporeair.com.sg.

Important Award Booking Considerations:

One-way redemptions available
Free stopover and open jaw on round-trip flights
Cash-plus-miles awards available
Low change and cancellation fees
Fuel surcharges on most partners
15 percent discount for booking award flights online