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Singapore has announced a devaluation to its Star Alliance partner award chart. The change will come into effect starting December 7, 2017. On the plus side of the changes, Singapore has also introduced the option of booking Star Alliance partner awards online. The new chart is as follows:
With a quick glance it is quite a devaluation from its previous Star Alliance award chart below:
Key Changes From The US
The good news is that there is no change on awards from the Continental US to Hawaii, which can be booked on United metal. Round trip award tickets to Hawaii will still set you back the following:
- 35,000 miles in Economy
- 60,000 miles in Business
- 80,000 miles in First
This still holds great value and is cheaper than booking an award on United using your United Mileage miles. Per the United award chart, the cheapest roundtrip flights will set you back:
- 45,000 miles in Economy
- 80,000 miles in Business
- 100,000 miles in First
The rest of the routes from the United States have been hit hard, with significant price hikes across the board. The only routes that have not changed are to/from two regions:
- Southeast Asia 1: No change to Economy and Business awards, First class increased by 22,500 miles
- Southeast Asia 2: No change to Economy and Business awards, First class increased by 22,500 miles
The addition of online booking is good news since it will greatly simplify the process, which previously required you to make a phone call. One drawback is that while you can still make a phone booking, there is a $25 fee unless the award you are booking is unavailable online.
Our Take
Although no one ever likes a devaluation, there is still some value to be had with the new chart, especially on flights to Hawaii with United. In addition, Singapore has not devalued its own award chart, which still has some excellent sweet spots. Furthermore, there is no change to its award chart for Alaska flights, which also has some value on flights to Hawaii. Overall despite being a devaluation, it might not work out as bad as it first seems.
Source: Straight To The Points
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Damn devaluations…
Its like death, taxes, and devaluations.
Inflation sucks but it’s part of the game. Earn and burn.
Absolutely. And in general, the changes are relatively modest. Certainly not enough to keep me from looking to SQ for awards in future.
I guess you need to compare airline miles like a car , do not invest longterm on them becausethey will lose value like a car.If you are saving your miles to get to 10 million . the actual value it has now will not be the same in 5 years .
Time to move to another alliance?
Based on the changes of one award chart? Sounds like a bad knee-jerk reaction if you were to do that.
Only three things certain in life, death, taxes, and award devaluations!
Only devaluations?
When there will be some improving changes.
Always going down.
When the industry has excess capacity.
and they will cancel flights to remove capacity before improving changes
Being able to book online certainly helpful. Devaluations are a part of life in this game so earn and burn is the best philosophy.
another day, another domino falls. earn and burn is the way to go (thx Howie!).
Howie – When I first read this article my feeling was one of Marc’s comment “too many devaluations constantly coming from the airlines.” But then I read your comment about going with it with the “earn and burn” strategy. Psychologically, I guess that is a great way to deal with great, and in many cases free, earnings which will be frequently but partially reduced by the airlines, but, they are still free.
It is the market adjusting. That is all this is.
Inflation! If miles of course.
Well that’s not too bad.
too many devaluations constantly coming from the airlines. for those of us who keep some miles for an emergency, ( like the recent aeroplan cancellations) we are constantly getting hit on all sides
SIgh, another miles devaluation.
Soon miles will be completely worthless
The sky is falling!!! No, it really isn’t. But in all honesty, programs change and we need to subscribe to the strategy of earn and burn.
The main value of Krisflyer is access those premium seats that Singapore won’t let its Star Alliance partners have, so this change isn’t a huge deal.
However being able to book partners online is always a big plus!