Westpac Singapore KrisFlyer Credit Card

[kamchatsky]

The only bad bit is the HUGE tax and surcharges imposed on SQ flights. This is the only bit I am annoyed with SQ. In fact, that's why if possible redeem in Business Saver instead of Economy Saver. Much more value that way as you get Business seats/services, more luggage space, all the lounge visits (SilverKris lounge in Singapore T3 is excellent).

 

[Atom]

Alexplat, unless I've misunderstood,I don't think you get double the miles you fly, rather double the miles you normally earn by spending on the card for the SQ ticket.

 

[albatross710]

= 38 092 miles for the flight (9523 miles each way x2)

Would have to agree with Atom on this. You may have been thinking of accruing both accumulation of KF points to the same KF account. This doesn't work. Also, KF doesn't do points transfers.

It still looks pretty good to me as you can fly J instead of Y on QF. You will however have to find some additional expenditure on the Krisflyer card to get you over the line. A few BAS payments might do it.

 

[SQ1]

Alexplat, unless I've misunderstood,I don't think you get double the miles you fly, rather double the miles you normally earn by spending on the card for the SQ ticket.

I'll second that!!

Almost fell into that trap!!! Reading fine print is an artform!! :mrgreen::mrgreen:

Cheers

 

[joeymelb]

Alexplat, unless I've misunderstood,I don't think you get double the miles you fly, rather double the miles you normally earn by spending on the card for the SQ ticket.

+1 Atom is correct. Here is what appeared on my SQ Westpac Statement:

My spending on SIA (2 x Discounted J ticket) paying using AMEX

171209   SIA INTERNET SALES SYD SYDNEY AU         4177.81
171209   SIA INTERNET SALES SYD SYDNEY AU         4177.81

And the Bonus Points:

Miles earned this period:
   Standard miles                      22,659
   [B]Bonus miles                         12,533[/B]
   Promotional miles                       0

:mrgreen:

 

[cove]

I have not redeemed yet but it looks very good on availability.
Now that QFF has something like 7 million frequent flyers it was a delight to go to a site where availability was not vanishing every few seconds.
QFF have been really good in the past for booking 355 days out to get what you want in a great set of seats but SKF looks like a breath of fresh air.
The charges are higher but getting to London in J or better has been my aim on a more regular basis using points.

 

[albatross710]

The charges are higher but getting to London in J or better has been my aim on a more regular basis using points.

Agree that KF does appear to have more award availability and in my experience I have also had luck getting waitlists confirmed. Be aware that that SQ restrict redemption on SIN-LHR (77W & A380) to Standard & Full awards and don't usually release Saver awards on these aircraft type.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

. Be aware that that SQ restrict redemption on SIN-LHR (77W & A380) to Standard & Full awards and don't usually release Saver awards on these aircraft type.

And unfortunately Manchester Airport no longer has the Saver J option either. So there are no Saver J to England. Not sure what *A Partner wards for 150K may be available though...


Though luckily for me I already had my June flights booked prior to plan change being announced.

 

[albatross710]

And unfortunately Manchester Airport no longer has the Saver J option either. So there are no Saver J to England. Not sure what *A Partner wards for 150K may be available though...

I'm thinking TG to LHR or SQ via AMS.

 

[JohnK]

Using the above with a gold card we have a cost of 80750 - 15 000 = 67 750 points,
and I've already got 45k points from the flight you paid for in full and the signup bonus. So I'd only be 20k pts short of a return flight in peak time.

With a platinum card it's 80750 - 25 000 = 55 750. and you'll already have 50k points from the flight and signing up for the card. So after putting through less than $5k on the credit card in the next 12 months you'll claim a return flight to Athens for ~$600 in taxes and surcharges.


Have I completely miscalculated? It seems like a much more generous program than QFF (almost too generous).

You may have miscalculated slightly. I don't think SQ KrisFlyer is that much more generous than QFF. There is also no guarantee the taxes and surcharges on SQ are going to stay the same. I am about to book a return award flight and the taxes and surcharges quote is the same as yours.

Also note in economy you are only going to earn ~19,000 KrisFlyer miles each in separate KrisFlyer accounts.

According to the terms and conditions of the KrisFlyer credit card "Offer is subject to seat availability and cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions" which to me would suggest no 15% discount for booking online but I cannot be certain.

So with the gold card bonus a return award flight to Greece is going to be 95,000 - 15,000 = 80,000. Almost the same as the 15% online booking discount. You can beat the system slightly and do 2 one-way bookings and then the calculation becomes 47,500 - 15,000 = 32,500 and for the return it will be 47,500 - 7,125 = 40,375 so overall 72,875 instead of 80,000 but the taxes may also be slightly different.

And with the platinum card bonus a return award flight to Greece is going to be 95,000 - 25,000 = 70,000. Almost the same as the 15% online booking discount. You can beat the system slightly and do 2 one-way bookings and then the calculation becomes 47,500 - 23,750 = 23,750 and for the return it will be 47,500 - 7,125 = 40,375 so overall 64,125 instead of 70,000 but the taxes may also be slightly different.

It would be great if you could use both the bonus miles from the credit card and the 15% online booking discount. In the end SQ may even have to pay us to book the award flights.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

And with the platinum card bonus a return award flight to Greece is going to be 95,000 - 25,000 = 70,000. Almost the same as the 15% online booking discount. You can beat the system slightly and do 2 one-way bookings and then the calculation becomes 47,500 - 25,000 = 22,500 and for the return it will be 47,500 - 7,125 = 40,375 so overall 62,875 instead of 70,000 but the taxes may also be slightly different.

....

Discount is 50% to a max of 25K.
Therefore 47.5 - 23.75 = 23.75K

Add 40.375K = 64125

though is still a good tip as it still saves points.

 

[JohnK]

Quite right. I got carried away with my one-way redemptions and forgot to factor the 50% bonus.

 

[Sarge1]

Has anyone been able to negotiate the annual fee to be waived yet? I have put above 100K through so far and am wondering if that is a good enough reason to have it waived?

 

[albatross710]

Has anyone been able to negotiate the annual fee to be waived yet? I have put above 100K through so far and am wondering if that is a good enough reason to have it waived?

Excellent idea as we are all coming up to our anniversary date.

Is there are competing product to which we can be threatening of moving our spend to? Would help our negotiating position.

 

[Foreigner]

Has anyone been able to negotiate the annual fee to be waived yet? I have put above 100K through so far and am wondering if that is a good enough reason to have it waived?

Having earned 450k miles since last July, I think my WBC relationship manager will be, in my case, better able to waive the renewal fee. Good reminder from you.

 

[cove]

Yes I had it refunded but only due to the huge foreign use fees. This card is no good on international use as their pricing is very high.

 

[albatross710]

Yes I had it refunded but only due to the huge foreign use fees. This card is no good on international use as their pricing is very high.

I did a few transactions recently in the US. They were at the same time as I had current cash exchanges. My calculations which included the Forex fee were about on par with what I would have achieved by paying with cash. I think the visibility of the forex fee makes it look worse. The actual wholesale exchange rate seems to make up for it.

I had a net exchange of about 0.88 inc all charges and transaction fees. Cross rate cash exchange through SIN at the AUD-USD (via SGD) was 0.88. On offer at exchange booths in USA, cash was about 0.83.

Just my experience.

 

[Sarge1]

Citi Platinum can transfer to KF at the same annual cost as Westpac Krisflyer cards. Only 1:1 though. Same with Amex too I think. I don't want to leave but will give it a go.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Citi Platinum can transfer to KF at the same annual cost as Westpac Krisflyer cards. Only 1:1 though. Same with Amex too I think. I don't want to leave but will give it a go.

I thought Citibank had a transfer rate of less than 1? It is for Citibank Gold. Is it higher fora Platinum card?

 

[Sarge1]

Citi Rewards

Complimentary Rewards Program1
1 Reward point per $1 spent