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Best ways to redeem KrisFlyer miles in 2025

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is undoubtedly the most popular Frequent Flyer Program (FFP) for Singapore-based travellers, but not all routes offer good value for your miles. Let’s have a look at the best ways to redeem KrisFlyer miles for maximum value.

At a Glance: Best ways to redeem KrisFlyer miles in 2025

KrisFlyer beats many other Frequent Flyer Programs with great award rates to these regions. For even bigger savings, look out for these routes in the latest KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes promo.

  • Europe Gateway Sweet Spot:
    Fly to Istanbul in Business Class with just 56,500 miles.
  • Down-Under Sweet Spot:
    Fly to New Zealand and Australian cities like Sydney and Melbourne in Business Class with just 68,500 miles.
  • South Asia Sweet Spot:
    Fly to India, Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka in Business Class for 43,000 miles and First Class for 58,500 miles.
  • North China Sweet Spot:
    Fly to Shanghai and Beijing in Business Class for 43,000 miles and First Class for 58,500 miles.
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How to accumulate KrisFlyer miles?

Let’s start by looking at the best ways to accumulate KrisFlyer miles.

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1) Credit card spending

All miles/rewards credit cards in Singapore have KrisFlyer as a transfer partner. This makes KrisFlyer miles really easy to earn, if you are based in the country.

Note: While HSBC has KrisFlyer as a transfer partner, it comes with a poor transfer ratio.

2) Credit paid flights to KrisFlyer

Members can credit their paid flights on Singapore Airlines or partner airlines to KrisFlyer at these accrual rates.

Every KrisFlyer elite member (Silver, Gold, PPS, Solitaire PPS) receive a flat 25% bonus miles on paid flights.

3) Kris+

Members can make purchases at selected merchants through Kris+ to earn additional KrisFlyer miles, on top of credit card miles.

Sign up for Kris+ through my affiliate link to get 750 KrisPay miles (worth $5).

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4) Buy KrisFlyer miles through UOB Payment Facility

UOB cardholders can buy an unlimited amount of KrisFlyer miles through UOB Payment Facility. No actual bill is required to use this service and cardholders can even pay themselves.

Check the latest promo for UOB Payment Facility here.

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Pros and Cons of KrisFlyer

Here’s a quick run down of the best and worst benefits/features of Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.

Pros:

  1. Miles transferrable from all miles/rewards credit cards in Singapore
  2. Singapore Airlines offer direct flights between Singapore and 70+ popular destinations
  3. Good onboard service and seats on Singapore Airlines
  4. Free WiFi for all Singapore Airlines passengers
  5. Pre-select Book the Cook meals when flying in premium classes
  6. Monthly Spontaneous Escapes deals on selected routes (usually a 30% award discount)
  7. One of few FFPs that still uses zone-based award charts

Cons:

  1. Fixed 3 years miles validity (can pay for one-time extension of 6/12 months)
  2. Long haul Business Class seats are mostly old (2013 edition)
  3. Poor award rates to/from popular destinations (i.e. Japan, S. Korea, Europe)
  4. Poor value Star Alliance award chart means that KrisFlyer miles are generally only good for SQ flights
  5. Fuel surcharges are applicable (except on airlines with no fuel surcharges like Singapore Airlines, United, Air India, Ethiopian, Avianca, Alaska and Malaysia Airlines)
  6. Only 25% bonus mileage accrual for all Elite members
  7. Unfair waitlisting feature
  8. Miles do not go on sale, unlike some FFPs

Related: Singapore Airlines & KrisFlyer Tips, Tricks & Secrets, to stay ahead of the game

Singapore Airlines Business Class seats (2013 edition) found on most long haul flights (Photo: The Points Guy)

KrisFlyer Award Redemption Charts

There are 3 main award redemption charts to look at, when redeeming KrisFlyer miles:

  1. Saver
  2. Advantage
  3. Star Alliance

In this article, I am only looking at the Saver and Star Alliance award charts, because this is a travel-hacking blog, and there is nothing travel-hacky about booking “Advantage” rates. 😝

Note: View award charts for non-alliance partner airlines here (e.g. Malaysia Airlines, Garuda, Alaska etc.).

Saver Award Chart

The Saver award chart states the amount of miles required for one-way redemptions on Singapore Airlines-operated flights only.

singapore airlines krisflyer award chart for singapore airlines flights
Singapore Airlines Saver award chart (pinch to zoom)
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Star Alliance Award Chart

The Star Alliance award chart states the amount of miles required for roundtrip redemptions on Star Alliance airlines-operated flights only (not for non-alliance partners).

singapore airlines krisflyer award chart for flights on star alliance airlines

Singapore Airlines Star Alliance award chart (pinch to zoom)

Star Alliance members
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Best ways to redeem KrisFlyer miles

These sweet spots are chosen based on the following factors:

  • How KrisFlyer award rate compares to other FFPs
  • Typical cash fare for each route, including on other full-service airline (not just SQ)
  • Flight duration

Note: In most cases, flights to/from Southeast Asian cities (Zones 2, 3) cost the same amount of miles as flights to/from Singapore. In other words, flying from Hanoi to Istanbul (via Singapore) costs the same amount of miles as flying from Singapore to Istanbul.

1) Zone 10: Istanbul, Dubai, South Africa

Flight duration: 7.5 to 11.5 hours

Miles required for one-way travel between Southeast Asia and Zone 10 cities:

Zone 10EconomyPremium
Economy
BusinessFirst
Istanbul,
Dubai,
South Africa
29k43k56.5k86.5k
(N/A)
Spontaneous
Escapes

(if any)
20.3k30.1k39.55k
KrisFlyer Zone 10 cities

My favourite KrisFlyer sweet spot is Zone 10. Specifically, Istanbul.

This is because, Istanbul is located right at the “front door” of Europe and requires about 45% fewer miles in Business Class! That’s 56.5k vs 103.5k. From Istanbul, travellers can easily find cheap flights into a European city of choice.

Related: Cheapest ways to fly between Singapore and Europe using Miles

However, because of how popular the Istanbul route has got, travellers may need to book them 355 days in advance.

Additional note: Economy Class flights to Dubai, Johannesburg and Cape Town can be very cheap. Value-wise, redeeming miles for Economy Class to these destinations may not be a good idea.

2) Zone 9: New Zealand, South/East Australia

Flight duration: 7 to 10 hours

Miles required for one-way travel between Southeast Asia and Zone 9 cities:

Zone 9EconomyPremium
Economy
BusinessFirst
Auckland,
Christchurch,
Sydney,
Melbourne,
Brisbane,
Adelaide
30.5k51k68.5k93.5k
(if any)
Spontaneous
Escapes

(if any)
21.35k35.7k47.95k
KrisFlyer Zone 9 cities
Best ways to redeem KrisFlyer miles
Singapore Airlines 2017 Business Class seat found in Airbus A380s (read my review)
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3) Zone 8: Perth, Darwin

Flight duration: 4.5 to 5 hours

Miles required for one-way travel between Southeast Asia and Zone 8 cities:

Zone 8EconomyBusinessFirst
Perth,
Darwin
21.5k40.5k57.5k
(N/A)
Spontaneous
Escapes

(if any)
15.05k28.35k
KrisFlyer Zone 8 cities

4) Zone 6: South Asia

Flight duration: 4 to 6 hours

Miles required for one-way travel between Southeast Asia and Zone 6 cities:

Zone 6 Economy Premium
Economy
Business First
Mumbai,
New Delhi
20k 34.5k 43k 58.5k
Bengaluru,
Chennai,
Kolkata,
Hyderabad,
Ahmedabad,
Kochi,
Kathmandu,
Dhaka,
Colombo,
Male
N/A N/A
Spontaneous
Escapes

(if any)
14k 24.15k 30.1k
KrisFlyer Zone 6 cities

Singapore Airlines flies its Airbus A380 to/from New Delhi and Mumbai regularly (not all the time) and it is easier to find Suites Class availability on these flights.

Flights to this region are also regularly included in Spontaneous Escapes deals, making them even better redemptions.

Meal onboard Singapore Airlines Suites Class (read my review)

5) Zone 5: North China

Flight duration: 4 to 6 hours

Miles required for one-way travel between Southeast Asia and Zone 5 cities:

Zone 8EconomyPremium
Economy
BusinessFirst
Beijing,
Shanghai
21.5k34.5k43k58.5k
Spontaneous
Escapes

(if any)
15.05k24.15k30.1k

Singapore Airlines flies its Airbus A380 to/from Beijing and Shanghai regularly (not all the time) and it is fairly easy to find Suites Class availability.

Flights to this region are also regularly included in Spontaneous Escapes deals, making them even better redemptions.

6) Zone 11: Europe (Suites only)

Flight duration: 13 hours

Miles required for one-way travel between Southeast Asia and Zone 11 cities:

Zone 11EconomyPremium
Economy
BusinessSuites
Frankfurt,
London
42k71k103.5k141k
Spontaneous
Escapes

(if any)
29.4k49.7k72.45k
Singapore Airlines Suites (read my review)

Zone 11 probably offers the poorest value in KrisFlyer’s award chart (for Economy, Premium and Business). However, because of how unique Singapore Airlines Suites are, it is definitely a sweet spot!

Singapore Airlines flies its Airbus A380 to/from popular European cities like London, Frankfurt and Paris.

However, it is pretty much impossible to find Saver award availability without waitlisting, other than the super rare opportunity that I shared some time back. If another one comes along, you might want to jump on it quickly.

Additional note: I get asked a lot if I would spend the “Advantage” rate of 225.5k miles for these routes. The answer is NO. While the Suites are beautiful and unique, the beds are really hard and uncomfortable. It is definitely not worth 225.5k miles for a 13-hour flight, to me at least. If you would like to experience it at least once in your life, consider the Zone 6 sweet spot for just 58.5k miles or Zone 9 sweet spot for 93.5k miles

Related: Singapore Airlines Suites Frankfurt to Singapore

7) Fifth Freedom: Frankfurt – New York

Flight duration: 9 hours

Miles required for one-way travel between Frankfurt and New York:

Zones
11 & 13
EconomyPremium
Economy
BusinessFirst
Frankfurt,
New York
25k52k81k97k
Spontaneous
Escapes

(if any)
17.5k36.4k56.7k
KrisFlyer fifth-freedom cities between Zone 11 and 13

Singapore Airlines flies fifth freedom flights between Frankfurt, Germany and New York, USA. Although spending 81k miles for Business Class on this route does not give you good value, the award rates for the other 3 classes are pretty good. This route is also regularly featured in Spontaneous Escapes.

8) Star Alliance: South West Pacific

Flight duration: 1 to 12 hours

Miles required for one-way travel between South West Pacific cities:

South West
Pacific
EconomyBusinessFirst
Tahiti,
Nadi,
Rarotonga,
Niue,
Nouméa,
Auckland,
Sydney,
Perth
and more!
13.5k34.5k47k
(N/A)

The South West Pacific region in Singapore Airlines’ Star Alliance award chart is 7 time zones wide. This gives you the opportunity of redeeming just 13.5k KrisFlyer miles for a total flying time of up to 12 hours (Perth to Tahiti).

There’s a catch, though. Air New Zealand is quite an uncooperative alliance member, when it comes to releasing award seats to partner FFPs, even in Economy Class! Thus, the opportunity to book Air NZ Business Class with KrisFlyer miles is rarer than a unicorn.

Summary

Here’s a quick summary of the sweet spots that I’ve shared above:

Region 1 Region 2 Class Miles
Southeast
Asia
Istanbul,
Dubai,
South Africa
Economy 29k
Premium 43k
Business 56.5k
New Zealand,
South/East
Australia
Economy 30.5k
Premium 51k
Business 68.5k
First 93.5k
Perth,
Darwin
Economy 21.5k
Business 40.5k
South
Asia
Economy 20k
Premium 34.5k
Business 43k
First 58.5k
North
China
Economy 21.5k
Premium 34.5k
Business 43k
First 58.5k
Europe Suites 141k
Frankfurt New York Economy 25k
Premium 52k
First 97k
South West Pacific
(Air New Zealand)
Economy 13.5k
Business 34.5k
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer sweet spots

Bottom line

Japan, South Korea and Europe remain as poor value regions to redeem KrisFlyer miles, especially when other FFPs require 30 to 40% fewer miles for the same routes.

As a Singapore-based traveller, these sweet spots keep me interested in KrisFlyer, in addition to other FFPs.

Related: My Miles & Credit Card Strategy for 2025, as a Singapore-based traveller

Avatar photo

Fai

Founder & Writer at Suitesmile

Suites and miles make me smile :)

16 thoughts on “Best ways to redeem KrisFlyer miles in 2025”

  1. This is so good post.
    I am really trying to find any availability to the pacific islands and find nothing. One year ago was able to find Manila-Pohnpei flight which was best value for money (as it is crazy expensive flight in cash). Now cannot find that or actually anything to the Pacific…

    Reply

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