Strategies for redeeming KF miles on other airlines

[albatross710]

SQ off a very easy to use and reasonable availability for miles using their online booking engine. Just be sure to be logged into your Krisflyer account and use the Redeem Miles link.

Without penalty or booking with the online booking engine you can run all of the way through the process before putting your credit card details in.

But, what happens when you want to spread your wings beyond the SQ network?

Redemptions can be made on other StarAlliance (*A) airlines but with limited availability. Limitations depend upon the seats being made available to SQ. There is always some dispute here as SQ don't always make redemption seats available to other *A airlines. For instance, other airline schemes cannot redeem a J seat on an SQ A380 or 777w.

*A redemptions using Krisflyer miles also have to be made by fax/phone. This can get very tedious although the call centre staff that I have had have always been very polite and knowledgeable.

Before getting on the phone though I always spend some time researching possible flights and availability using the "ANA Tool". The ANA tool is the online reward redemption engine of the AirNipon Airways. ANA allow online searching of *A redemption seats. Krisflyers can't actually book using this tool but we can see possible availability. KFer need to note down their suggested itinerary and available redemption seats and then ring through to the Krisflyer call centre.

I've used the ANATool to search out flights from BNE-ZQN, BNE-ZRH to try TG instead of SQ service and am currently trying to sync my family for a trip BNE-AKL-RAR.

A good guide to using the ANA tool can be found here : bmi FAQ No.4: Redemptions - Finding Award seats : the ANA online tool masterclass - FlyerTalk Forums

Or just go here http:\\q‹óŒ” —\–ñE‹óÈƉïE‰^’ÀˆÄ“àE‘“àübANA and register for the ANA Milage Club.

With the Award Reservation search, you need to do a ANA search first each session ie NRT-SIN before the tool will allow you to enter other destinations. An annoying and ineffective attempt to limit people using it!

I'd love to hear about the ANA Tool experience of others.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

While the tool is easy to use.....I have found that SQ can have more availability than it shows.
.
ie For my Xmas trip to coughet looked at ANA and it showed 2 J seats per flight on Thai (not KF as booked out for Savers as I was only booking a month prior). Thai have lots of flights and so for my family of 5 I was looking to book 3 consecutive flights.

Rang SQ...and got all 5 on the one set of flights.

So moral of the story is use ANA as a guide, but still ask on calling SQ if your requirements are not ideally met as there may be scope to get what you actually want.

 

[albatross710]

That's a good point lovetravellingoz.

I had a similar but opposite situation. ANA Tool showed availability on a Swissair flight but SQ agent could not see the availability. I ended up taking the sector with SQ which I assume they give preference to their own aircraft when they have availability.

 

[cove]

Ok with almost 30 members in Star Alliance has anyone used a US based member to go from LAX-LHR or another European location using Kris points and a premium cabin.
So far I have been lucky using QF/AA/BA to do the job on points and having another option is what I am looking for.
Are the points used at a reasonable rate on these other carriers?
It is wonderful having points with 2 different carriers multiplied by 2 people as it gets you almost 4 times the chances of travelling as you wish.

 

[albatross710]

First port of call is the Star Alliance Redemption chart to determine the required points.

Origin : North America
Destination: Europe

Shows a return trip is 55,000, 95,000, 135,000 KF miles for Y, J & F respectively. Halve the miles for one way redemption. 27,500. 47,500, 67,500 respectively.

Does ANA Tool show any availability on any airline? (The tool is currently down for me.)

Another consideration might be a "Round the world" *A redemption.

Alby

 

[moa999]

Also for those with Amex Ascent points, a far better way to get Virgin Atlantic flights via SQ compared to Velocity.
(albeit both need return fares)

 

[cove]

Alby,those points numbers are pretty good as I have been burning 50,000 for J and 75,000 in First on AA for one way LAX-NYC(QF points). It is double that for return.