SQ Redemption Devaluation

[elnewbie]

For zone 11-13, the increase is not 10k each way, it's 20k.

Sin-SFO is 68k currently (incl 15%) vs 88k later this mth.

Received the following email from SQ this evening:

Summary:

1. Miles required for a number of regions increased

2. 15% online discount is no longer offered

3. Award tickets no longer has YQ (fuel surcharge)


Overall I'd say it's a devaluation, since the 15% online discount could be quite significant sometimes. However, by removing YQ from their award tickets, SQ is moving in the positive direction and being more aligned with other Star Alliance carriers (UA,NH etc). For certain routes that are YQ heavy, the 15% *could* possibly break even against the original YQ.

Thoughts?

Edit: I had a read at the latest redemption chart, and some changes are highlighted below:

Affected regions are Zone 7 (Japan & S.Korea), zone 9 (Australia excl. Perth & Darwin & NZ) and zones 11-13 (EU&USA)

Miles for all cabins are increased, with the most significant being zones 11-13 F, they have increased by as much as 10k per way.

 

[dahnoob]

For zone 11-13, the increase is not 10k each way, it's 20k.

Sin-SFO is 68k currently (incl 15%) vs 88k later this mth.

It's 10k each way as per redemption chart. I did not include the 15% discount as I was doing a direct chart comparison at the point of posting. The magic number today is 53k, which is the biggest increase in cost (SIN-JFK F return).

 

[elnewbie]

Not possible. Every redemption ticket is only valid for one year. If you issue the ticket today, the last travel date will be early next year.

Like I've posted elsewhere, going to TPE, might not be that bad of a change.

YQ is like S$326, or S$242 if booked as 2x oneway. The requirement is only less the 15% discount, or 8250 miles, works out to $0.03 per mile (for 2x oneway) or $0.04 per mile (for roundtrip) for these extra 8250 miles. Does work out better for those who "earn" the miles at $0.02 each (ie Citbank PM annual fee, $192 for 10k miles).



I believe it should be possible. Date changes are supposed to be free, whether they check on the mileage paid or not, is another matter. And as dahnoob has mentioned, waitlisting might be an issue. What you can do is to ticket first, then when your preferred dates open up, waitlist for them. When the preferred dates waitlist clears, call and ask for a date change. You will need the required number of miles to waitlist though.

 

[vince123123]

Thanks for helping to confirm as well as the rest with your views. So there goes one idea.

Cannot.. i just got off the phone with Krisflyer hotline.. the ticket date can only be changed within 1 year of issue. For example date of issue is today.. u can only change the ticket date as far back as 28 feb 2018

 

[hwmook]

This change will basically make economy ticket more worth redeeming, business/first less attractive. It should help to modulate the demand now.

 

[chopra]

For the change of flight for round trip

One yr from issue date...we jus assume is the first leg hor? Then argue our way thru...

 

[Suleyman]

This change will basically make economy ticket more worth redeeming, business/first less attractive. It should help to modulate the demand now.

Perhaps, but economy class tickets are affordable for people in the miles game. However, $10k for a business class ticket to New York... Hmmmm 100k miles otoh, sounds much more palatable.

 

[fone]

Not possible. Every redemption ticket is only valid for one year. If you issue the ticket today, the last travel date will be early next year.

Lol, I stand corrected. Read wrongly sia, but definitely possible if your travel date within 1 year of 22 March 2017, ticket first, then change when waitlist clears... if it clears before the ticketed date.

 

[rVn_mUfC]

Can one redeem using the star Alliance award chart on SQ metals only? In that way, will it be 0 yq as well?

 

[final1]

The changes definitely make Krisflyer miles less valuable. No question about it.

YQ being waived off is not that great a change as fuel surcharges have become much cheaper in recent times.

 

[Vitacimin]

Can one redeem using the star Alliance award chart on SQ metals only? In that way, will it be 0 yq as well?

What talking you?

 

[rVn_mUfC]

What talking you?

Sq has a separate chart for star Alliance redemption. Can one use it to redeem with just SQ flights or it must be a mix carrier.

 

[dahnoob]

For the change of flight for round trip

One yr from issue date...we jus assume is the first leg hor? Then argue our way thru...

No need to assume, it has been the case that the outbound has to be completed within 1 year of ticket issuance date. You can issue a ticket today for June departure, and subsequently change it to 1 Mar 2018 departure and 1 Apr 2018 return, it is fine.

Lol, I stand corrected. Read wrongly sia, but definitely possible if your travel date within 1 year of 22 March 2017, ticket first, then change when waitlist clears... if it clears before the ticketed date.

Yes, and if the waitlist doesn't clear you can still refund your miles. Just note that miles that are expiring won't be extended.

Can one redeem using the star Alliance award chart on SQ metals only? In that way, will it be 0 yq as well?

YQ is carrier dependent. If you redeem a SA flight and the carrier does not charge YA (eg UA and NH), then there will be no YQ.

 

[dahnoob]

Sq has a separate chart for star Alliance redemption. Can one use it to redeem with just SQ flights or it must be a mix carrier.

SA chart is for SA flights. Use the SQ chart for flights operated by SQ. For a mix of SQ and SA flights, use different charts for individual segments.

 

[swordspirit]

No need to assume, it has been the case that the outbound has to be completed within 1 year of ticket issuance date. You can issue a ticket today for June departure, and subsequently change it to 1 Mar 2018 departure and 1 Apr 2018 return, it is fine.



Yes, and if the waitlist doesn't clear you can still refund your miles. Just note that miles that are expiring won't be extended.



YQ is carrier dependent. If you redeem a SA flight and the carrier does not charge YA (eg UA and NH), then there will be no YQ.

Think better to clarify on change of dates after 23 as the miles required is no longer the same. The last time they change Europe zone 1, any changes made to existing booking after the effective date need to top up the miles.

 

[dilphinus]

For the change of flight for round trip

One yr from issue date...we jus assume is the first leg hor? Then argue our way thru...

no need to argue thru. rules are rules and these are rules that have been implemented a long long time ago. and not only sq has to abide by these rules, all the other airlines too. no exceptions given.

ticket validity and trip validity is different.

all tickets (regardless of airlines) have a one year validity period. after this one year period, tickets are not valid, meaning they can't be used for travel nor can the tickets be sent for refund. this is industry standard. ticket validity is based on the date of issuance.

trip validity, different airlines, different promos have different validity periods. some tickets are valid for max stay 7 days, some 1 month, some 6 months, some 1 year. say if your ticket is for a max stay of 1 month, your ticket is issued 5 march, for travel 10 april, your trip validity is till 9 may. If you reschedule the trip, say to 20 March, your trip validity is till 18 April. You have the option of rescheduling the first leg to 2 march the year after (1 year ticket validity) and your return has to be within a month from 2 march (the year after).

 

[dahnoob]

Think better to clarify on change of dates after 23 as the miles required is no longer the same. The last time they change Europe zone 1, any changes made to existing booking after the effective date need to top up the miles.

I have already called KF last night to clarify. Information I obtained is available few pages back if you read it.

no need to argue thru. rules are rules and these are rules that have been implemented a long long time ago. and not only sq has to abide by these rules, all the other airlines too. no exceptions given.

ticket validity and trip validity is different.

all tickets (regardless of airlines) have a one year validity period. after this one year period, tickets are not valid, meaning they can't be used for travel nor can the tickets be sent for refund. this is industry standard. ticket validity is based on the date of issuance.

trip validity, different airlines, different promos have different validity periods. some tickets are valid for max stay 7 days, some 1 month, some 6 months, some 1 year. say if your ticket is for a max stay of 1 month, your ticket is issued 5 march, for travel 10 april, your trip validity is till 9 may. If you reschedule the trip, say to 20 March, your trip validity is till 18 April. You have the option of rescheduling the first leg to 2 march the year after (1 year ticket validity) and your return has to be within a month from 2 march (the year after).

This is correct. However it is possible to refund before 1 year is up, and rebook if your travel plans had a last minute change. This is then subjected to the validity of the miles used in your booking. If these miles have not expired, they can be redeposited back into your account. If these miles have expired during the 1 year period, they will not be refunded.

 

[chopra]

Tks to both Ds.

Ok time to take e risk n book on 22nd march.

 

[swordspirit]

I have already called KF last night to clarify. Information I obtained is available few pages back if you read it.



This is correct. However it is possible to refund before 1 year is up, and rebook if your travel plans had a last minute change. This is then subjected to the validity of the miles used in your booking. If these miles have not expired, they can be redeposited back into your account. If these miles have expired during the 1 year period, they will not be refunded.

on the other note, the rule of the 1 year period. I have experience before the 1 year period is taken from the date of booking and not from the date of the departure date. So assuming 1 book ticketed on 22 March 2016 for the furthest flight (10 March 2017), the new date of departure cannot be beyond 22 March 2017.

That was my experience with a CSO back in 2015.

 

[dahnoob]

on the other note, the rule of the 1 year period. I have experience before the 1 year period is taken from the date of booking and not from the date of the departure date. So assuming 1 book ticketed on 22 March 2016 for the furthest flight (10 March 2017), the new date of departure cannot be beyond 22 March 2017.

That was my experience with a CSO back in 2015.

Which is exactly what I said. 1 year validity from issuance date (ticket validity). Outbound must be completed within 1 year from date off issuance. If you issue a ticket today, the furthest date you can change to will be 1 Mar. This is useful because you can only book a ticket 355 days out, so 1 Mar is not available for booking yet. You need to read other posts in this thread before making a judgement...