New Amex redemption rates for SQ/EK; adding transfers to QR/HA

[djtech]

Slightly OT, but still related as it's an Asia based FF devaluing:
CX Devalues AM from Oct 2023
So maybe CX saw AmEx AU doing this and joined the bandwagon, or have their own rising costs leading to this... It's anyone's guess.

Probably unrelated to AMEX AU changes. I think devaluation for AMEX is just because SQ is selling miles at higher price to AMEX/inflation/AUD exchange rate lowered against SGD etc etc.
But definitely CX wants to clean up the balance sheet, and increase margins. Capacity still tight around China and surrounds so opportunity cost for redemption especially in premium cabins definitely has gone up. A lot has changed since 2018, so this is just a normal inflationary adjustment + squeezing out a few extra dollars post-covid.

 

[neeyuese]

That SIA may update the points redemption chat again later this year , got this info from my friend who working in SIA yesterday.

 

[lovestotravel]

That SIA may update the points redemption chat again later this year , got this info from my friend who working in SIA yesterday.

If that happens SQ points are becoming pointless

 

[neeyuese]

If that happens SQ points are becoming pointless

hold your MR points until last minute , sadly I did transfer all my Amplify points to SIA last week.

 

[spud60]

What's you reason fir holding MR points.

 

[Poojou]

That SIA may update the points redemption chat again later this year , got this info from my friend who working in SIA yesterday.

Here we go again!

 

[MathNerd]

What's you reason fir holding MR points.

No expiry (and flexible transfer partners)

 

[spud60]

I'll be transferring my Amex MR and St George Amplify to SIA or I will lose around 320000 Kris flyer miles.

 

[spud60]

1900000÷2 = 950000
1900000÷3 = 633000

 

[sydney slug]

Points required ? I have been searching almost daily without much luck atm, thinking of waiting till 2025 the way its going

121k per person. Booked within a day or so of release.

 

[points]

Will all Amex MR Australia cards be eligible to transfer to a Avios from October then or only select cards?

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Will all Amex MR Australia cards be eligible to transfer to a Avios from October then or only select cards?

It seems quite broad.

"To transfer Membership Rewards points you must be enrolled in Membership Rewards Ascent, Business Ascent, Gateway, David Jones, New Corporate Ascent or Ascent Premium and be a member of Qatar Airways Privilege Club."

The transfers actually quietly went live this week, and QR is now an option in the MR portal. They're supposed to be processed instantly, too. Hawaiian isn't online there yet.

 

[spud60]

As a user of SIA kris flyer only for the last 8 or 9 years without ever having a problem with availability with some Saver and mostly Advantage awards in J class how hard is it to redeem with Qatar Airlines compared to Singapore Airlines. I have roughly 1,900,000 MR and Amplify points (950,000 Kris flyer) and if I don't convert them before the devaluations I stand to lose around 320,000 Kris flyer points which equates to a return trip to Europe in Business Class with Advantage redemption.I should be able to redeem my points before expiry or at least extend around 33% to the fourth year with SIA.

 

[Human]

how hard is it to redeem with Qatar Airlines compared to Singapore Airlines

It's definitely harder to redeem with Qatar compared with Singapore (assuming you're asking about flights into and out of Australia, which is always the bottleneck).

The problem is that under the current agreement, Qatar has fewer flights into and out of Australia than Singapore does. Take Sydney, for example, where Qatar flies out once per day and Singapore flies out 3 (?) times per day. So you would expect more availability on Singapore. Personally I'm hoping for a new agreement (which Qantas will oppose) where Qatar can increase its flights to Australia.

Qatar does make business class awards available fairly consistently. What I've told people in the past is that the best way to book them using Velocity is to be awake at 12am AEST, 330 days before the flights, which is when they're released to Velocity. I've had great success using this method (I've always been able to book the flights I wanted on the days I wanted).

However, now that QPC Avios will be much easier to come by, those with Avios will be able to book 361 days ahead, when the seats become available to Privilege Club members. I would expect that as a result, there will be less availability to Velocity.

 

[spud60]

My flights have all departed from Brisbane which I have booked with minimal layover times..I think SIA flys out of Brisbane 4 times a day so some form of redemption should be available.

 

[albyd]

I’ve found that particularly at short notice (a few months out), it helps to be flexible. Booked F out of MEL to SIN on SQ 777 (good to hear A380 is back on the MEL-SIN route). There was no availability out of SYD which is where I’m from. Ended up taking a domestic flight to MEL. Not as nice a port to depart on SQ than SYD but was ok with that. I felt that was a fluke but glad I thought laterally & was able to get myself to MEL.

 

[MathNerd]

I’ve found that particularly at short notice (a few months out), it helps to be flexible. Booked F out of MEL to SIN on SQ 777 (good to hear A380 is back on the MEL-SIN route). There was no availability out of SYD which is where I’m from.
Ended up taking a domestic flight to MEL.

For these arrangements, how much of a buffer do you tend to leave between the ETA of the domestic flight and the ETD of the international flight? Personally I would be comfortable with a 5 hour or more buffer, given the propensity of domestic flights to depart and or/arrive late. Wouldn't want to risk missing a long-haul due to a 1 hr domestic flight being delayed!

Not as nice a port to depart on SQ than SYD but was ok with that.

What's your reason for this? Is it to do (in part at least) with the quality of the BPs handed out at MEL (actually, calling them BPs is insulting to BPs). I've heard that SYD gives proper carded, coloured BPs which is what it should be (at least for any flight not in Y).

 

[albyd]

My work has an office in MEL so I worked out if MEL for the day (quite enjoyed it actually) then headed to the airport in the afternoon. I would otherwise have left a couple of hours leeway if not working in MEL for the day.

SQ has a nicer F lounge in SYD. I found the MEL F lounge a bit meh. No offence to MEL. Most people wouldn’t get to see the F lounge ever so not complaining. It is what it is.

 

[lilkid28]

My work has an office in MEL so I worked out if MEL for the day (quite enjoyed it actually) then headed to the airport in the afternoon. I would otherwise have left a couple of hours leeway if not working in MEL for the day.

SQ has a nicer F lounge in SYD. I found the MEL F lounge a bit meh. No offence to MEL. Most people wouldn’t get to see the F lounge ever so not complaining. It is what it is.

Agreed, the F lounge is pretty sad in MEL, a 30-45 min stop for some laksa is good enough.

 

[Doctore1003]

Just got a 20% bonus offer for transfers from Amex to Qatar.
"The Campaign commences 12:01am, (AEST) on 19 July 2023 and closes at 11:59pm (AEST) 18 August 2023 (unless extended at Qatar Airways’ discretion) ("Campaign Period").

This Campaign is open to all current Privilege Club members who are also Card Members of American Express Limited (“Participating Partner”) in Australia (“Eligible Participants”). The Primary Card Member must be enrolled in Membership Rewards Ascent, Premium Ascent, Business Ascent, Gateway, Corporate Ascent, or David Jones Membership Rewards program."