Not enough KrisFlyer miles for an award

[JohnK]

My mother has a KrisFlyer account and she does not look like flying again anytime soon. I would like to use the miles for a BKK-SIN return award but there are not enough miles. She has ~19,050 miles and I need 25,000 miles for the award.

Does KrisFlyer provide the 15% online booking discount for awards that originate outside of Singapore? I have a vague recollection reading the terms and conditions or someone mentioning that the discount only applies for bookings originating in Singapore.

Assuming that we get the 15% discount that would reduce the miles required to 21,250. What is the cheapest way to get ~2,200 in the KrisFlyer account without leaving any miles dormant. Example I do not want to purchase 3,000 mile for USD$120 as that would leave 750 miles and they are likely to expire.

The other option is to get miles in to KrisFlyer via Starwood. Does this require a minimum transfer?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kpc]

My mother has a KrisFlyer account and she does not look like flying again anytime soon. I would like to use the miles for a BKK-SIN return award but there are not enough miles. She has ~19,050 miles and I need 25,000 miles for the award.

You need to be a nominee on your mum's account to issue a ticket in your name. This can easily be added online

Does KrisFlyer provide the 15% online booking discount for awards that originate outside of Singapore? I have a vague recollection reading the terms and conditions or someone mentioning that the discount only applies for bookings originating in Singapore.

It doesn't matter where the flights originate from to get the discount.

Assuming that we get the 15% discount that would reduce the miles required to 21,250. What is the cheapest way to get ~2,200 in the KrisFlyer account without leaving any miles dormant.

Your options are AMEX to Krisflyer at 1: 1 ratio I think but it will go into your (not your mother's) account. There is no way you can transfer Krisflyer points between accounts.

You can transfer SPG points (from AMEX at 3:1 so not good ratio) to Krisflyer at 2:1. When the points are in your SPG account, you can then transfer them to your mum's SPG account (need to have same address on both accounts), and then she can transfer to Krisflyer. There is no minimum Starpoint transfer requirement for Platinum members. Gold members have a minimum transfer requirement of 1,500 Starpoints, and Preferred members have a minimum transfer requirement of 2,500 Starpoints....you will need ~4400 SPG points to get ~2200 Krisflyer points. http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/account/starpoints/transfer/airline_partner_list.html .....a bit of a hassle really!! so buying the points for your mother's Krisflyer account might be the least painful of all the options

 

[auriga]

Note that the 15% online discount will not be available if you need to purchase miles from SQ, according to the T&C on the miles purchase form on sq.com.

 

[JohnK]

You need to be a nominee on your mum's account to issue a ticket in your name. This can easily be added online

Yes this would not be an issue to add me as a nominee. I manage her account anyway.

Your options are AMEX to Krisflyer at 1: 1 ratio I think but it will go into your (not your mother's) account. There is no way you can transfer Krisflyer points between accounts.

Does Amex check the full name when making transfers? Would the surname and address be sufficient to complete a transfer? I guess there would not be many people that have tried to transfer Amex MR points to a FF account of another family member.

you will need ~4400 SPG points to get ~2200 Krisflyer points. .....a bit of a hassle really!! so buying the points for your mother's Krisflyer account might be the least painful of all the options

So it is either US$120 to buy 3,000 miles or 13,333 Amex MR points flushed via Starwood.

I know it sounds stingy but I do not like leaving dormant miles. I recently lost ~750 KrisFlyer miles and I am about to lose ~2,000 Royal Orchid Plus miles.

 

[kpc]

Does Amex check the full name when making transfers? Would the surname and address be sufficient to complete a transfer? I guess there would not be many people that have tried to transfer Amex MR points to a FF account of another family member.

Don't know about AMEX but SQ have always been very strict on these matters

So it is either US$120 to buy 3,000 miles or 13,333 Amex MR points flushed via Starwood.

I know it sounds stingy but I do not like leaving dormant miles. I recently lost ~750 KrisFlyer miles and I am about to lose ~2,000 Royal Orchid Plus miles.

....but you will have to deal with the fact that if you were transferring 13,333 Amex points into your own Krisflyer account, you will end up with 13,333 Kris Flyer points

 

[JohnK]

....but you will have to deal with the fact that if you were transferring 13,333 Amex points into your own Krisflyer account, you will end up with 13,333 Kris Flyer points

Good point. I may have to send mum off to Greece again and then she will have 38,000 KrisFlyer miles and for US$360 + taxes I can get an award BKK-SYD return via SIN.

Seriously though I have been looking at the SPG website and I could not find anywhere about transferring SPG points to other SPG accounts. I could only find mention of purchasing SPG points. Is it possible to transfer SPG points between SPG accounts? If so, can someone please post the link to the SPG website.

 

[dajop]

So what you really need is one of those credit card promo's that seem to come and go (or used to) which get a good lick of points for signing up and is linked to a Krisflyer. I'm not sure if that would be acceptable or possible for her anyway ... and chances are probably unlikely of managing to find such a credit card offer when you actually need it.

 

[serfty]

... Is it possible to transfer SPG points between SPG accounts? If so, can someone please post the link to the SPG website.

Yes, you need to live at the same address - and you have to call SPG and speak to a human being.

I did this earlier this year moving some 10K from Jenny's to my account. I researched this on the FT SPG forum.:idea:

 

[kpc]

Seriously though I have been looking at the SPG website and I could not find anywhere about transferring SPG points to other SPG accounts. I could only find mention of purchasing SPG points. Is it possible to transfer SPG points between SPG accounts? If so, can someone please post the link to the SPG website.

Additional Benefits To Embrace

• Redeem Starpoints instantly online, over the phone or at the hotel.
• Transfer Starpoints between accounts with members of the same household.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts

As Serfty says, you need to call SPG to do this. Have the account no. and PWs of each account handy, and they do it straight away

 

[JohnK]

So what you really need is one of those credit card promo's that seem to come and go (or used to) which get a good lick of points for signing up and is linked to a Krisflyer. I'm not sure if that would be acceptable or possible for her anyway ...

That would be a good idea but mum would not be able to get a credit card.

As Serfty says, you need to call SPG to do this. Have the account no. and PWs of each account handy, and they do it straight away

Good to know that it is possible to transfer points between accounts.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well SQ now only charge 50% for one way awards (was 70%)...so perhaps oneway with SQ....and the other way a family award from your points.

However for the return redemption...do you stay at any hotels that can earn points with Krisfler?? If so a few stays may get the points you seek.

 

[JohnK]

Well SQ now only charge 50% for one way awards (was 70%)...so perhaps oneway with SQ....and the other way a family award from your points.

50% for one-way awards looks like good value now.

However for the return redemption...do you stay at any hotels that can earn points with Krisfler?? If so a few stays may get the points you seek.

Unfortunately it is my mothers account and she does not travel anywhere other than Greece once every 4-5 years.

Not sure what to do with the KrisFlyer miles unless she goes back to Greece before 2010. I am trying to minimise the number of Amex MR points required trying to get an award. Another option is top up for one way award BKK-SYD for 27,500 miles plus taxes....

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Ok....another possibility, though as I assume your mother is not working it may not be possible.

Get a CC in your mums name that can dump points into Krisflyer, and then put the necessary spend through it.

If possible do it with ced that has a sign on bonus...maybe even that Sigapore Card mentioned recently in another thread???

The trick I guess here would be if you mum is not working is getting a CC issued.

Maybe if you guarantee it??? You could minimise the risk by you keeping it and only doing online transactions on it...ie bills, rates etc.

 

[JohnK]

Ok....another possibility, though as I assume your mother is not working it may not be possible.

Get a CC in your mums name that can dump points into Krisflyer, and then put the necessary spend through it.

She is retired and a pensioner so unfortunately would not qualify for a credit card plus I think she will hit me over the head if I suggested she apply for a credit card.

How about a supplementary credit card holder? If I got a supplementary card in my mothers name on my Gold Amex is she able to access my Amex MR points? This way I could just do a transfer to KF at 1:1. Most likely the answer would be no anyway.

I am really keen on getting a one-way award flight on 3 January as most airfares appear to be very high but KF award availability is on waitlist. The 15% online booking bonus is also applied to one way awards so I would only need 23,375 miles + taxes and surcharges for BKK-SIN-SYD one way with the SIN-SYD leg on the A380 but on waitlist. Looks much better value than 21,250 miles + taxes and surcharges for BKK-SIN return. What are peoples experiences on waitlisted awards clearing?

I may end up putting this in the too hard basket as it requires a lot of my time and it is very difficult getting it done with most of my time spent working in Brisbane.

 

[davem]

I have a similar problem with my Westpac Plat card.

Anyone able to offer any insight for me?

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...r-krisflyer-2-different-15309.html#post203289

 

[atuld71]

Hi,

I checked the Krisflyer website this morning and noticed that Economy Saver redemptions for BNE-SIN, SYD-SIN sectors are N/A ? Has SQ dropped the Saver category ?

The calculator does not show you results for Economy Saver Redemptions.

Anyone else who has seen this ?

Regards,

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Hi,

I checked the Krisflyer website this morning and noticed that Economy Saver redemptions for BNE-SIN, SYD-SIN sectors are N/A ? Has SQ dropped the Saver category ?

The calculator does not show you results for Economy Saver Redemptions.

Anyone else who has seen this ?

Regards,

It may be the plane type. Saver awrds are only available on some plane types (basically the older ones).

 

[auriga]

I am experiencing some issues with the SQ website ( non redemption related) this morning. Maybe it is just technical.

 

[hedge]

It may be the plane type. Saver awrds are only available on some plane types (basically the older ones).

Not entirely correct. I have seen saver awards on A380 from SYD-SIN

 

[auriga]

Not entirely correct. I have seen saver awards on A380 from SYD-SIN

Yes, economy saver should be available on all plane types.