Is Krisflyer the worst FF ripoff? [When using Points to reduce $$$]

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clementine6

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I just booked flights on SQ Paris-Oz return in business class, and I had nearly 28000 miles which I thought I would use to reduce the fare. That got me less than 150 euros off the ticket. Is this typical? Thinking what that would get me on Qantas (at least 3 Syd-Melb sectors or at least $600 worth of travel) it seems like a really lousy FF deal. I like SQ but I think I'll direct my miles elsewhere on Star Alliance from here on.
 
You used the cash+miles option on SQ. Via this booking channel, the mile is linked to a flat per cent ratio. As you discovered it's not the best use of miles at the rate you're burning the miles for. Not all airline redemption values are at a low static rate like SQ. Qantas and many other airlines have the EXACT SAME FEATURE, although all charging different rates per mile/point.

The standard Krisflyer award chart is in another area of the site (you need to log in to see it). 28K miles won't get you much and certainly not anywhere near oz-sin, let alone Paris.

Fundamentally, you've purchased a revenue ticket and partially funded it using miles.
Standard award tickets or 'marginal fares' are a totally different type of ticket, highly restrictive and generally only released if the airline needs to sell seats.
 
I agree with trippin_the_rift. You could replace SQ with just about any airline in your post and you would still be right.
 
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I just booked flights on SQ Paris-Oz return in business class, and I had nearly 28000 miles which I thought I would use to reduce the fare. That got me less than 150 euros off the ticket. Is this typical? Thinking what that would get me on Qantas (at least 3 Syd-Melb sectors or at least $600 worth of travel) it seems like a really lousy FF deal. I like SQ but I think I'll direct my miles elsewhere on Star Alliance from here on.

As others have said, for the type of redemption you used, not great value. But pretty much all airlines are the same or offer a similar (very poor) conversation rate to cash. You QF SYD-MEL comparison also doesn't include the co-payment you'd need for a classic award - costing you $30 more per leg.

Otherwise krisflyer is one of the most generous programs. Easy availability. Great product. No fuel surcharges. Low award costs.
 
I just booked flights on SQ Paris-Oz return in business class, and I had nearly 28000 miles which I thought I would use to reduce the fare. That got me less than 150 euros off the ticket. Is this typical? Thinking what that would get me on Qantas (at least 3 Syd-Melb sectors or at least $600 worth of travel) it seems like a really lousy FF deal. I like SQ but I think I'll direct my miles elsewhere on Star Alliance from here on.

As others have said, you're not comparing apples with apples. You're comparing points+pay on SQ with classic award redemptions on QF.

If we compared apples with apples and used the Points+Pay feature on Qantas, a $339 BNE-PER flight would cost 46200 QFF points - which means that 28000 points would save you roughly $AU205. That's equivalent to around 135 Euros.

So no, SQ is not the worst FF ripoff - you can definitely find worse, even with the QFF equivalent-style redemption.
 
KrisFlyer is one of the best frequent flyer programs out there, in my opinion. But as others have said, redeeming them for Cash+Miles redemptions is not a good use of those miles.
 
This topic title is just so WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!


Krisflyer is a great program and is for example way in front of QFF on award redemption point cost, fuel surcharges (there now is none!) and ability to actually book seats in premium cabins (availability).


Bottom line for the OP is is you use any program poorly you will gain a poor result.
 
KrisFlyer is one of the best frequent flyer programs out there, in my opinion. But as others have said, redeeming them for Cash+Miles redemptions is not a good use of those miles.
KrisFlyer is one of the best frequent flyer programs out there, in my opinion. But as others have said, redeeming them for Cash+Miles redemptions is not a good use of those miles.
 
Krisflyer is one of the best frequent flyer programs, the only disappointing factor with it is that you cannot share or transfer points at all!
 
Krisflyer is one of the best frequent flyer programs, the only disappointing factor with it is that you cannot share or transfer points at all!

That is indeed annoying. On the plus side, you can add redemption nominees who don't necessarily have to be family members.
 
Krisflyer is one of the best frequent flyer programs, the only disappointing factor with it is that you cannot share or transfer points at all!

You can transfer to Velocity, which may be an option for those running into the three year expiry issues...
 
This topic title is just so WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!


Krisflyer is a great program and is for example way in front of QFF on award redemption point cost, fuel surcharges (there now is none!) and ability to actually book seats in premium cabins (availability).


Bottom line for the OP is is you use any program poorly you will gain a poor result.
This plus 1000.
 
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