NEW KF Elite Silver Benefits

[ell3]

I’m quite surprised that SQ has ‘upgraded’ the benefits of its elite silver members…
it sort of corroborates a certain suspicion that their loyalty members are dwindling in numbers to the extent they need to enhance the benefits of its silver category presumably to attract more loyalty.

- The KF gold lounge has been looking emptier in recent months.

- Forward cabin seats on quite a number of my flights have been totally unoccupied until the 96hrs pre departure assignment (implying no other Gold/PPS pax selecting those seats as they are entitled to foc)

And generally quite a number in my business circle who used to be PPS/gold pre-covid now no longer even hold a status - owing to changing travel patterns and preferences.

remember post-Covid there were apparently a surplus of KFEG members because of the free and easy-to-obtain statuses during covid. That seems to have completely changed.

anyone shares the same observations or has any data?

[yflyer]

Interesting points raised, ell3. I used to travel a lot more for business too. However since Covid, I travel a lot less, mainly because it is now acceptable to do meetings with senior execs via video (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet etc), whereas in the past, you would usually need to travel. It is of course still necessary to travel, because to build a business relationship, you really need to meet and engage with people face to face, but the need to travel has been much reduced, because you can now do a combination of in-person and video calls.

So the net result is that, in the past, I flew enough to maintain Gold with both Krisflyer/Star and the equivalent Gold with Qantas/Oneworld (Sapphire). Now this year, I have had to make a decision to go with either Star Alliance or Oneworld, and so have retained just Krisflyer Gold this year. QF gave me a soft landing to Silver although I just missed the Silver requirement.

Although I am based in Singapore, the decision to stick to KF / Star Alliance was by no means automatic. What I have found is that for most of the travel that I do, there are good Oneworld options (even though some might involve an extra transit stop), and it would have been feasible for me to go with Oneworld as my primary FF program. The prices for Oneworld flights were usually cheaper than SQ as well (Though Star alliance partners did offer good fares too).

I also found that, in general, the Oneworld lounges (especially CX, QF, JAL) were better than SQ and Star Alliance lounges. Also, I was upgraded far more when I was Oneworld Emerald / QF Platinum than I ever was with SQ KF Gold (I will never be PPS as I don't travel J much).

I decided to stick with Star and SQ because SQ's schedule/frequency and on-time performance were still unbeatable, and it was easier for me to get redemption bookings with my KF Points. I also have a soft spot for SQ cabin crew, who are superb.

All that said, I am starting to think that all this airline "loyalty" is quite pointless and at some point in future I might just stop planning travel based on FF affiliation and status, and just go with the best fare / schedule for any given trip. I will miss the priority boarding and free drinks in the lounge, but not much else.

[scooby5]

Interesting points raised, ell3. I used to travel a lot more for business too. However since Covid, I travel a lot less, mainly because it is now acceptable to do meetings with senior execs via video (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet etc), whereas in the past, you would usually need to travel. It is of course still necessary to travel, because to build a business relationship, you really need to meet and engage with people face to face, but the need to travel has been much reduced, because you can now do a combination of in-person and video calls.

So the net result is that, in the past, I flew enough to maintain Gold with both Krisflyer/Star and the equivalent Gold with Qantas/Oneworld (Sapphire). Now this year, I have had to make a decision to go with either Star Alliance or Oneworld, and so have retained just Krisflyer Gold this year. QF gave me a soft landing to Silver although I just missed the Silver requirement.

Although I am based in Singapore, the decision to stick to KF / Star Alliance was by no means automatic. What I have found is that for most of the travel that I do, there are good Oneworld options (even though some might involve an extra transit stop), and it would have been feasible for me to go with Oneworld as my primary FF program. The prices for Oneworld flights were usually cheaper than SQ as well (Though Star alliance partners did offer good fares too).

I also found that, in general, the Oneworld lounges (especially CX, QF, JAL) were better than SQ and Star Alliance lounges. Also, I was upgraded far more when I was Oneworld Emerald / QF Platinum than I ever was with SQ KF Gold (I will never be PPS as I don't travel J much).

I decided to stick with Star and SQ because SQ's schedule/frequency and on-time performance were still unbeatable, and it was easier for me to get redemption bookings with my KF Points. I also have a soft spot for SQ cabin crew, who are superb.

All that said, I am starting to think that all this airline "loyalty" is quite pointless and at some point in future I might just stop planning travel based on FF affiliation and status, and just go with the best fare / schedule for any given trip. I will miss the priority boarding and free drinks in the lounge, but not much else.

Your thought process has pretty much being the same as mine.......

I take SQ when there are no economic or scheduling advantages with other *A members given SQ is usually the more expensive. Up to 6-7hrs I am in Y for daylight flights, overnight in J, and this year I barely scrapped by retaining KFG.

I looked at KFS enhancements a few weeks ago as I knew I would drop a level, but in the end didn't. The only thing I would miss is priority boarding...... yes, I know it's there but after First/Business, *AG, then PE, and occasionally when I need to take space in the overhead, it's already a bit late. Standard seat reservation is good, priority luggage, also. Lounge access doesn't bother me as LoungeKey is more useful and, as you say, most likely has access to better lounges.

With CX years ago, as Gold and more often Silver, I was upgraded around half my flights and even long haul. I've had a single upgrade with SQ in 15yrs, from Y to PE on a full A380 from HKG around Christmas. Even 20yrs ago with CX Silver, lounge access was/is allowed but only CX own lounges, which are good, with Priority Luggage and Boarding as well.

I have decided, for the shorter term, to stick with KF before another likely relocation that would sent me back to OW, but at some point, membership will become useless as retirement takes over.