How to Search for and Redeem Star Alliance Award Flights with Krisflyer Miles

Hey everyone,

In this blog post, I’m going to share with you, my fellow travel enthusiasts, how you can search for and redeem award flights on Star Alliance carriers using KrisFlyer Miles. As part of the Star Alliance Network, Singapore Airlines opens up a world of possibilities for you to travel farther and wider.

I’ll walk you through the process step-by-step highlighting the ease and benefits while making the most out of your KrisFlyer miles. Do check out my video linked down below for a more visual guide.

Searching and Redeeming Award Flights:
Once you’re logged into the Singapore Airlines’ website, begin by selecting the “Redeem Flights” option and inputting your departure and arrival cities and the date of travel. You may then choose your preferred cabin class and the number of passengers who’ll be flying in this booking.

Example 1: Singapore to Auckland
After clicking the search button, the system will initially display Singapore Airlines’ flights which is set by default. However, you could click the words just beside “Singapore Airlines”. In muted colours, it says “Star Alliance.” The search engine will then churn out results which flights are available to be booked on the alliance, which in this case the alternative would only be Air New Zealand.

Example 2: Melbourne to Christchurch
You need not depart from or arrive in Singapore to use this option. You may search for availability anywhere a Star Alliance carrier flies. For instance, you may choose to depart from Melbourne to Christchurch just by customising your search parameters. Then, even if it shows that flights are not available, you may just go further down the dates until you find an available flight. When you’re ready to proceed with the booking, just click the date and choose the fare type that suits your needs.

Example 3: Frankfurt to Geneva
Here’s a tip, options are usually aplenty when you book to or from or through a Star Alliance Carrier Hub such as in Frankfurt. I’ve personally booked and flown from Frankfurt to Geneva using this exact method. When you’re travelling in Europe, carriers such as Turkish Airlines, Aegean, Swiss and Scandinavian Airline System (SAS) and TAP Portugal are pretty popular as well.

Example 4: Exploring North America
For those who wish to travel the United States or Canada, you may use your KrisFlyer miles to redeem flights. One of the most exciting things about holding on to KrisFlyer miles as a currency is there will be some routings that offers incredible value. Take for instance a flight from Newark to San Francisco. This route would only set you back KF14,000 and pay USD5.60. That’s a six-hour flight between two of the busiest cities in the world!

However, in my experience, Air Canada doesn’t release many award seats in KrisFlyer. In United’s case, at times their system may show there’s an available flight but you can’t book it online. It’s highly likely that the flight you’re looking at is operated by a contract (usually a smaller jet) airline and typically, can’t be booked using KrisFlyer miles.

Bonus Pro-tip #1: You may be faced with a situation whereby you can find an available flight on business class and fly economy on a lay-over flight to maximise your journey. Simply call the Singapore Airlines Krisflyer hotline and could usually help you out with this arrangement.

Bonus Pro-tip #2: Sometimes it’s not worth redeeming KrisFlyer miles for shorter journeys as these routes tend to be affordable to be paid for in cash such as flying from Newark to Toronto. Do calculate the opportunity cost between spending cash or miles for the route you’re eyeing.

Bonus Pro-tip#3: The search engine will not indicate black out dates. In this case, what you see is what you’ll likely get so act fast!

IN CONCLUSION, exploring and redeeming award flights on Star Alliance carriers using KrisFlyer Miles is a rewarding experience that adds a layer of excitement to your travel plans. The process is pretty straightforward, allowing you to customise your journey. In no time you’ll be able to discover incredible destinations while maximising the value of your miles.

Do follow me on YouTube or sign up to my newsletter to learn new things so we could all, thrive in life! Let me know in the video’s comments section if there’s anything I could perhaps help you out!

Peace,
Gio