After a two-year hiatus, Singapore Airlines brought back its highly-popular Spontaneous Escapes promotion back in March, and we’ve been seeing deals every month since.
Spontaneous Escapes have now been announced for June 2022, with 30% off redemptions for selected Singapore Airlines routes in Business Class, Premium Economy Class and Economy Class.
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| Spontaneous Escapes |
It’s a much smaller list this time round, in light of the school holidays (and the fact that SIA is having no trouble filling seats!), but there’s still the odd bargain to be found.
Spontaneous Escapes: Ground Rules
All Spontaneous Escape awards must be booked and ticketed by 31 May 2022 and are for travel between 1-30 June 2022 (blackout dates may apply).
Singapore Airlines has rejigged its booking interface to show Spontaneous Escapes awards under a special Promo category. This is the one you should select when making your booking.
You might recall that prior to COVID, Spontaneous Escapes were a subset of Saver awards. This created some unique problems, namely that if you wanted to book a regular Saver award (because it came with added flexibility, unlike Spontaneous Escapes awards), you couldn’t actually do it!
Now that Spontaneous Escapes are a separate Promo category unto themselves, you have the freedom to choose to pay the regular Saver prices if you so wish.
Spontaneous Escapes veterans should also know that awards are strictly non-cancellable and non-changeable. How does that translate in a post-COVID world? Singapore Airlines has made the following concession:
For (i) any flights cancelled by SIA, or (ii) if a SQ-operated flight was removed from a Participantโs booking due to Covid-19 and governmental regulatory changes, the miles redeemed in the unused portion of the ticket will be refunded into the relevant Participantโs KrisFlyer account with no additional fees charged.
However, requests to change any booking details, or to retain the ticket for future use will not be granted. Participants may submit their request via the Assistance Request form.
-Spontaneous Escapes T&Cs
I want to make something clear: the above applies to regulatory changes, not conditions as they exist at the time of booking. For example, Japan is currently closed to the world. If you book a speculative Spontaneous Escapes booking for Japan this month and Japan doesn’t open by the time you travel, you have no basis to go to Singapore Airlines asking for a refund.
In contrast, Bali is currently open to visitors. If you book a Spontaneous Escapes booking for Bali, and Bali subsequently closes, then yes, you will have grounds for a refund.
Do note that the complimentary rebooking policy (recently extended to 31 May 2022) does not apply to Spontaneous Escapes awards! Therefore, it’s crucial that you purchase travel insurance that covers miles & points bookings.
Which travel insurance policies covers miles and points bookings?
Here’s the other things you should know about Spontaneous Escapes deals.
| โ Spontaneous Escapes: The Basics |
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What if you have an existing award?
If you’ve already holding on to a confirmed award on a flight that is now under Spontaneous Escapes, you will need to:
- Book the Spontaneous Escapes rate
- Cancel the existing booking and pay the redeposit fee
I strongly recommend doing it in this order, in case the Spontaneous Escapes award space disappears in the meantime. It does mean you’ll need sufficient miles on hand, of course.
On average, miles take up to a week to be re-credited to your account, but you can ask the CSO to put in a request to expedite the process. I’ve had miles returned as soon as immediately after a cancellation, but YMMV.
My picks for this month
June is a popular month for travel, so it’s no surprise to see a thin list. Europe and the USA are completely absent in Business Class, and if you were planning to take a punt on Japan reopening, too bad- it’s absent too.
It’s slim pickings even for Australia, with the only Business Class options being to Cairns (43,400 miles) and Darwin (25,500 miles). If you’re desperate to get to Australia and don’t want to slum it, it might not be the worst idea to fly to one of these and then take a connecting flight. Just note that only Cairns is served by the B737-8 and its excellent new full-flat Business Class seats. Darwin has the older B737-800s, where the Business Class product is…not ideal.
But hey, there’s always the reliable Bangkok for 8,750/15,050 miles for Economy/Business. Thailand has scrapped all COVID-19 testing for fully vaccinated passengers, and whisper it quietly, the Thailand Pass may be gone by the time your travel in June.
Da Nang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are all available too at 8,750/15,050 miles for Economy/Business. Vietnam has also scrapped all COVID-19 testing, and travel there is practically identical to pre-COVID days now.
Cape Town and Johannesburg are also available for a very reasonable 17,500/34,300 miles in Economy/Business. June to August is supposedly the best time of year to visit South Africa for wildlife watching, although the weather can be unpredictable.
Full list of Spontaneous Escapes
Business & Economy Class
South East Asia
West Asia & Africa
Australia
Europe
Premium Economy Class
Premium Economy awards are also available, but honestly, I think you’re better off avoiding these. The comfort gap between Premium Economy and Business Class is wide (a recliner seat, no matter how good it is, will never beat a full flat bed), whereas the comfort gap between Economy and Premium Economy is marginal.
Therefore, I’d rather look for a destination offering 30% off Business Class awards.
West Asia & Africa
USA and Canada
Conclusion
Spontaneous Escapes have been announced for June 2022, and it’s a very small list indeed in light of the school holidays. That said, you might be able to snag a quick getaway within Southeast Asia, or visit one of the smaller Australian destinations like Cairns or Darwin. The prospect of a safari in South Africa exists too!
Do remember to ticket your awards by 31 May 2022 (waitlists don’t count!), and purchase travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage should the worst happen.
What will you be booking for Spontaneous Escapes?
