Singapore Airlines has added a new section to its website highlighting special privileges for students, and enabling them to verify their identity and book tickets online. My guess is they’re trying to cut out the travel agency middlemen by selling student fares directly (or perhaps the demise of STA Travel has forced their hand).
None of these are new benefits per se, in the sense that they were always available to those booking student fares. Nonetheless, it’s still useful for students to take note of.
Singapore Airlines student privileges
Singapore Airlines student privileges
Those booked on student fares with Singapore Airlines will enjoy the following benefits:
- 10% off round-trip Lite or Standard fares in Economy/Premium Economy Class
- One-way fares at 45% off regular round-trip prices
- Additional 40kg of baggage (or a total of 3 pieces if traveling to/from USA)
- One complimentary booking change, regardless of fare class
- 500 bonus miles for joining KrisFlyer
This program is open to students studying in educational institutions located in the following countries:
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If Singapore is anything to go by, then SIA is casting a very wide net when it comes to eligible institutions- all universities, polytechnics and ITEs are listed, as are private institutions like MDIS, Kaplan and Curtin. So long as it’s a recognised tertiary institution, it should be here.
Verification is done through a third-party service called SheerID, and should be done within 48 hours. I’m obviously not able to register myself, but based on the current fares, a student flying to London would save up to S$154.30 on a round-trip Economy Class flight to London. (remember, the discount is on the fare, not the airport taxes).
The one free booking change is nice to have, but note that Singapore Airlines is currently offering unlimited free changes to all tickets booked by 30 June 2021. This covers changes to travel dates, cabin class and destination, and will probably be further extended depending on the prevailing COVID-19 situation at the time.
| Date of Change | Remarks |
| On/before 30 June 2021 | Unlimited free changes |
| From 1 July 2021 | One free change |
Although student fares can be booked and managed online (e.g seat and meal selection), it’s not currently possible to make changes to student fares online. You’ll need to contact the local Singapore Airlines office to do so- this is presumably an IT restriction related to how the fares are coded.
Students should remember that while change fees are waived, they’ll still be on the hook for any fare differences. To illustrate, suppose I originally booked a SIN-LAX itinerary for travel in March 2021.
Subsequently, I wish to change it to travel in July 2021. While I won’t pay any change fee, I’ll need to top up S$812 in fare and S$13.30 in taxes (the USA International Arrival Tax is based on a percentage of the fare, hence it changes as well).
Conclusion
While COVID-19 has led to a mass student exodus, certain countries like Australia are looking for ways to allow them to re-enter. It’s possible that students from Singapore will be able to return to Australia under a proposed travel bubble, but nothing concrete has been announced yet.
In any case, keep these student fares at the back of your mind for the future, should you or your kids need to travel for studies.
(HT: Loyalty Lobby)
You can use your old NUS student passes ;).
Infact, i’m 30 and grad long ago, but still carry my student pass around for benefits sometimes lol
You must be so proud of your youthful looks but I’m pretty sure the Milelion doesn’t do fraud
you know, the verification system does require the documents to state an expiry date…
If previously already frequent flyer, is the miles still can be used when join the student previlige, and buy using new student privilige, because we want to use the miles earns before.