Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Dear Annabelle,

I am intrigued by these points programs that are affiliated with multiple credit cards because it seems like you would be able to get enough of them to actually go somewhere.  KrisFlyer is partnered with Citi ThankYou, Chase Ultimate Rewards, AMEX Membership Rewards, AND SPG!

Everyone seems to agree that KrisFlyer is one of the best transfer partners of the Citi ThankYou Points program.  Especially because for high flyers there is a special double bed first class that they want to book and can only book with KrisFlyer points - not really what I am looking for at the moment though.

One Mile At A Time describes where Singapore Airlines flies in the USA (all continuing on to Singapore):

• "Houston to Moscow
• Los Angeles to Tokyo Narita
• New York JFK to Frankfurt
• San Francisco to Hong Kong
• San Francisco to Seoul Incheon"

They do charge a fuel surcharge but they give a 15% point discount if you book online for the Singapore airlines flights.  

Travel is Free summarizes the best uses of KrisFlyer points here.  It takes more points if you don't actually fly Singapore Airlines but at the moment I don't think we would use the flights above.  So in the partner options these were the best in their reward chart (from the Travel is Free article):

• "Business & First within the USA (for 20k/30k)
• Economy, Business & First to Hawaii (for 17.5k/30k/40k)
• Economy to Europe (for 27.5k)
• Economy, Business & First to the Middle East (for 37.5k/57.5k/75k)
• Business to Central/South Africa (for 72.5k)"

I like seeing the Economy to Europe there at 55K roundtrip.  Although he emphasizes in the post that there really isn't a good option for going to Europe where you aren't going to pay fuel surcharges.  That said you are allowed "one stopover on international roundtrips. Open-jaw is allowed on origin or destination" so that is beneficial.

This post has lots of details on the KrisFlyer program, including some more details regarding fuel surcharges.  This post indicates that "Singapore Airlines Krisflyer never charges fuel surcharges on United? Even over the Atlantic – any flight you want – no fuel surcharge is being charged." I am not sure if this is correct, but if it is this could be a very useful option.

Although it may be out of date, it looks like the change and cancellation fees might be much lower with KrisFlyer than other airlines like United.

Hugs,
Jen