SIA Announces Krisflyer Programme Changes (Eff. 1 Nov 2025)

[yflyer]

SIA has announced changes to the Krisflyer frequent flyer programme, with increases in redemption rates for many destinations, such as 5% saver increases required for Europe and USA awards in all classes, although there are also some limited reduction in mileage required for economy saver redemptions in Asia.

Also interesting to read that it may now be possible to earn status miles using Kris+, which would be a double-edged sword, where it would be easier to top up miles in case one is short of miles to achieve elite status, but also opens up elite status to many more non-flyers, based on non-flight spend.

SQ Link: https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/s...KFupdates2025/

Straits Times Link: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapo...-us-from-nov-1

MileLion Link: https://milelion.com/2025/08/25/sing...november-2025/

[yflyer]

In informal discussions with fellow SQTalkers, sentiment so far has been that devaluations were expected, but not as bad as it could have been. I personally agree. While business and first awards to many destinations now require more points, it's not as huge an increase as some had feared.

Also, lot of speculation about the mileage required for Access redemptions. Sounds good on paper to have this option, as long as the mileage required is not stratospheric.

It's also nice to have the option of using Kris+ count towards status, and the cap in number miles that can be used for status will also help ensure that status is mainly earned through flights, and not other spend. If I was short of a few miles to attain status, I would definitely consider using Kris+ to top up the difference.

[SQ777]

I would generally agree that these changes seem fine.

My only question remains around the Access redemptions:

I wonder what the maths was in determining how many KF members would avail themselves of this type of redemption.

As I see it, Access redemptions are an implicit nod to local, ie SG-based members (or at least those with ready access to huge KF balances). If you are sitting on a few million KF miles (and can easily replenish your account), your demand and willingness to pay over the top is fairly inelastic.

In other words, this could disadvantage revenue customers who get all their miles through flying who live in jurisdictions with fewer opportunities to amass KF miles or those who are used to paying revenue (as they care about the what when how of their trip and are less flexible) rather than faffing about redemptions (thinking solitaires who are used to paying whenever they fly).

I am off to a PPS event in Switzerland in a fortnight, so will ask the PPS team on their views on this.

[yflyer]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, SQ777! Yes I am also keen to find out what the mileage levels are for Access redemptions, and what the premium is over Advantage. Yes, there are probably many in Singapore who are sitting on millions of miles with no idea how/when to use them, and if SQ were to protect their revenue, they would probably set Access redemption levels very very high.

I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing, as long as it does not cause SQ to reduce number of seats in Saver/Advantage buckets. Ie, those Access seats were never available for redemption anyway, so if there are additional seats available for redemption via Access, it might help some folks fulfill their dream trip where regular redemptions are not available.

Regardless of points for Access redemption, I would love to see SQ allocate more seats in Saver/Advantage buckets so that it is easier to redeem miles for those seats.

[SQ777]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, SQ777! Yes I am also keen to find out what the mileage levels are for Access redemptions, and what the premium is over Advantage. Yes, there are probably many in Singapore who are sitting on millions of miles with no idea how/when to use them, and if SQ were to protect their revenue, they would probably set Access redemption levels very very high.

I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing, as long as it does not cause SQ to reduce number of seats in Saver/Advantage buckets. Ie, those Access seats were never available for redemption anyway, so if there are additional seats available for redemption via Access, it might help some folks fulfill their dream trip where regular redemptions are not available.

Regardless of points for Access redemption, I would love to see SQ allocate more seats in Saver/Advantage buckets so that it is easier to redeem miles for those seats.

Perhaps, as you say it is in the detail on how they calculate the access redemptions. I would add US folks with huge CC points balances which they can readily transfer this KF as customers who might benefit. It wouldn’t be hard for them to avail themselves of Access space, no matter how much SQ charges (I am assuming that SQ won’t go over 500k miles for suites return redemption).

My issue is, given the relatively small footprint of SQ F, it may reduce my ability to buy revenue on the dates I may like (a niche concern perhaps, I don’t know). Let’s see…

[yflyer]

I believe many here already follow MileLion, but here's a really good analysis of the recent Krisflyer changes and devaluations:

https://milelion.com/2025/09/09/my-o...r-devaluation/

[yflyer]

A very insightful opinion piece in CNA, on the introduction of dynamic pricing of awards, by MileLion…

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/comm...ricing-5384061