by Singapore Airlines has opened the award floodgates for its coveted business class product. At the time of writing, there is a widespread slot for business class awards between July and October 2023. This news was first reported by View from the Wing.
The airline has twice daily departures from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and most days there is a minimum of two seats available for a savings of 107,000 miles.
Singapore Airlines also offers non-stop flights to its Singapore hub from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). . While availability on flights from these airports is more limited, our tests showed scattered Saver award seats (fewer miles) and more widespread Advantage award seats (more miles).
In addition, travelers to Europe can take advantage of the airline’s fifth freedom service, with extensive business class availability from JFK to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and from Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Manchester Airport (MAN).
Here’s what you need to know about this deal.
The deal
Airlines: Singapore Airlines.
Routes: SFO, LAX, JFK, SEA, EEA to/from SIN and JFK-FRA and IAH-MAN.
Costs: From 81,000 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles plus US$5.60 taxes and fees for a single Business Class journey.
Events: July to October 2023.
Pay taxes/duties with: American Express’ Platinum Card® (5 points per dollar on fares booked directly with the airline; up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), Chase Sapphire Reserve (3 points per dollar on travel), or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2 points per travel dollar) for travel protection on the award flight.
sample routes
Here’s a look at the awards section. These flights have a minimum of two seats available.
San Francisco to Singapore in July, August, September and October
JFK to Singapore in July, August and September
LAX to Singapore in July, August, September and October
JFK to Frankfurt in July, August, September and October
Houston to Manchester in July, August, September and October
Related: 7 takeaways from my first business class experience on Singapore Airlines
Earn the miles to book this award
Unfortunately, although Singapore Airlines is a member of Star Alliance, it does not share its award seat in business class on long-haul flights with its Star Alliance partners. This means you cannot use point currencies such as United MileagePlus or Air Canada Aeroplan to book these flights.
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Outside of Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, the only other point currency you may be able to use to book these flights is Alaska Mileage Plan. In general, you will only find award seats in Alaska on flights that Singapore Airlines has designated as savings awards in its own program.
On a specific SFO to SIN flight with KrisFlyer Saver award space, you can choose to use 107,000 Singapore Airlines miles or 100,000 Alaska miles
Luckily, earning Singapore miles is relatively easy. You can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Rewards, Citi ThankYou and Chase Ultimate Rewards to Singapore at a 1:1 ratio.
On the other hand, Alaska miles, which are known to be among the hardest to earn, are not transferrable from credit card programs. For this reason, unless you have a surplus of Alaska Miles to redeem, we recommend that you use Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer for your booking.
Make sure you pay award taxes and fees with a card that earns bonus points on airfare and offers travel protection. Some cards that match the bill are American Express’ The Platinum Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
On the subject: It doesn’t get much better than this: Singapore Airlines’ A380 in Business Class from Frankfurt to New York
bottom line
While Singapore Airlines has an aging business class hard product turning 10 next year, the soft product (ie service, amenities and food) is still one of the best in the sky.
In addition, passengers booking Singapore Airlines business class flights from the United States have access to United’s award-winning Polaris lounges. When booking a flight from SFO, the Polaris lounge is located in the same terminal as Singapore Airlines departures. In Los Angeles and Newark, the Polaris lounges are several terminals away from the Singapore Airlines gates.
