Why are Singapore Airlines Award Redemption Taxes/Charges so HIGH?

[lovetravellingoz]

Doing Y redemptions outright on points is very much a lousy way of using Kris points seeing the fuel levies and taxes are so high.

Agree. Reddemed Y on S does not stack up.

But J/F Savers are still great value in the main when compared to QF for equivalent flights when comparing total Points + $ cost.


However I do not value my J redemption on full purchase cost at purchase price, for if I was buying J I would instead purchase a "discount" J ticket that various carriers have from time to time. Also bought tickets have better availability and you can have large groups (3 or more) together, rather than flying on consecutive days.

All in all though redeemed J/F flights on SQ (or *A via SQ) remain very good value, if if the fuel levy grates.

However 4 cents per point is proably not a bad working value, even though purchase price can should upto 10 cents per point for some redemptions.

 

[Duffa]

It's bordering on stupidity for redemptions in Y. It's a bit like, you still pay for your ticket, and you'll give us your points at the same time.

Why is SQ copping it here?
What about Qantas? Here's a screen shot from 5 minutes ago.

Flight Out	From	To	Flight	Departure Terminal	Travel Class	Baggage
Mon 5 Nov 12	16:55	Sydney	21:45	Singapore	Qantas flight QF5	1	Economy	Checked: 1 piece
22:55	Singapore	04:50 (Tue)	London (Heathrow)	British Airways flight BA12	1
Flight Back
Mon 12 Nov 12	21:55	London (Heathrow)	18:45 (Tue)	Singapore	British Airways flight BA15	3	Economy	Checked: 1 piece
19:45 (Tue)	Singapore	06:25 (Wed)	Sydney	Qantas flight QF6	1

Number of seats:	1

	Points & Credit Card
Trip Price for - 1 x Adult:	128,000
Total Trip Price:	128,000
Points required:	128,000
Charges/taxes:	$904.22 (AUD)

Someone please tell me I'm wrong here. I know I can get the occasional JASA for a slightly higher number of points but once you slide the scale back to 149,000 points the "points plus pay" figure gets up to $750. Not a lot better. Most JASAs, if not booked months in advance are closer to 300,000 points return. My point is that SQ are no worse than QF!!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Why is SQ copping it here?

I don't think SQ is...rather redeeming in Y is.

I agree on Qantas..and I think most in this thread do too, which is why mainly of us mainly redeem on SQ now (or through SQ to gain *A).

To get reasonable value in Y on QF you really need a RTW Oneworld Award.

Personally I am saving my QFF points for an eventually RTW Oneworld in J.

• Note: I only put points to QFF that I cannot get to *A ( like Everyday Rewards, QF flights etc...), or where there is a deal deivering an unusually high bonus rate to make te points a better home at QFF than KF.

 

[Duffa]

100,000 points on 1.5:1 amex = $66,667 spend x 0.0125 x 0.525 = $437

100,000 points on 1:1 visa = $100,000 spend x 0.0048 x 0.525 = $252

100,000 points on 1.25:1 visa = $80,000 spend x 0.0048 x 0.525 = $205

You forgot Citi Select at 1.33:1

100,000 points on 1.33:1 Select visa = $75,000 spend x 0.0048 x 0.525 = $189

Of course if you actually spent $75,000 on Amex, i.e.

112,500 points on 1.5:1 Amex = $75,000 spend x 0.0125 x 0.525 = $492

the surrender value of those extra 12,500 points, in J at 4c per point, is $500!

So you pay $303 more, after tax, for $500 worth of points!

I'm not cutting my Amex in half just yet!!!

 

[Awesom Andy]

Have to say... 1.4c per point in terms of redemption rate is actually about on par for Y redemptions of that distance, in this part of the world. Not that this type of redemption is of good value, but doing similar redemptions on say, CX, or QF, would yield similar results.