SIA devalues Alaska Airlines, Virgin Australia, Vistara and other partner awards

Following devaluations to the Singapore Airlines and Star Alliance award charts, KrisFlyer has now unveiled its revised award charts for other partner airlines, which come into effect from 1 August 2022. 

The price increases for partner awards range from 8-18%, which is more or less in line with increases elsewhere in the KrisFlyer programme. In absolute terms, increases can be as mild as 1,000 more miles each way, so I wouldn’t call this a gutting by any means.  

Who are Singapore Airlines’ other partner airlines?

In addition to its 25 Star Alliance partners, Singapore Airlines offers award redemptions on the following carriers:

Partner awards follow similar rules to Star Alliance awards, namely:

• US$50 fee for change of date, route, flight or carrier
• US$75 fee for cancellations
• Fuel surcharges are passed on where applicable
• Partially-used tickets cannot be changed

Do take note of the last point in particular. If you redeem a round-trip Alaska Airlines award, for example, you cannot make any changes to the return leg once the outbound leg has been flown!

Since partially-used partner award tickets cannot be changed, it’s almost always a better idea to redeem 2x one-way awards as opposed to a single round-trip. 

In theory, all partner awards are bookable online, under the “other partner airlines” tab. 

In practice, only Virgin Australia and Vistara awards can be searched and booked online. For all the others, you’ll need to call up KrisFlyer membership services for assistance.

Partner award changes

Alaska Airlines (Until 31 July 2022)

Alaska Airlines (From 1 August 2022)

Zone definitions

Analysis

For Alaska Air:

• One-way Economy Class awards are increasing by 11-13%, or 1,000-1,500 miles in absolute terms
• One-way First Class awards are increasing by 13-15%, or 2,500-6,000 miles in absolute terms

With one-way Economy Class awards ranging from 8,500 to 13,500 miles, Alaska Airlines awards are still superior to redeeming United Airlines awards via the Star Alliance chart (a flat 14,000 miles within North America, excluding Hawaii).

Do note that Alaska Air is not part of Star Alliance, so KrisFlyer Elite Gold and PPS Club members will not enjoy a free checked bag or lounge access on Alaska Air flights. Therefore, depending on the route, it may sometimes be worth coughing up an extra 500 miles to fly United.

Juneyao Airlines (Until 31 July 2022)

Juneyao Airlines (From 1 August 2022)

Zone definitions

Analysis

For Juneyao Air:

• One-way Economy Class awards are increasing by 8-16%, or 1,000-5,000 miles in absolute terms
• One-way Business Class awards are increasing by 12-16%, or 3,000-14,000 miles in absolute terms

What’s curious is that awards between North Asia 1 and North Asia 2 (13,500 miles) are now cheaper than an intra-North Asia 1 (14,500 miles) award. Assuming this isn’t a typo, it means that an Osaka to Macau itinerary (which transits in Shanghai) would be cheaper than a Osaka to Shanghai itinerary! 

Award costs on Juneyao Air for travel within China are roughly on par with Air China, so it’d boil down to whichever has more availability and lower surcharges. 

Virgin Atlantic (Until 31 July 2022)

Virgin Atlantic (From 1 August 2022)

Zone definitions

Analysis

There’s not much point in discussing Virgin Atlantic, because I’ve yet to hear of someone successfully redeeming a Virgin Atlantic award through KrisFlyer before. While award space may appear on partners like Delta, KrisFlyer agents simply cannot see or book it. 

This makes the entire exercise academic, other than to note that KrisFlyer has eliminated the companion awards chart for Virgin Atlantic. 

Virgin Australia (Until 31 July 2022)

Virgin Australia (From 1 August 2022)

Zone definitions

Analysis

For Virgin Australia:

• One-way Economy Class awards are increasing by 8-10%, or 1,000-8,000 miles in absolute terms
• One-way Premium Economy Class awards are increasing by 9-12%, or 2,500-11,500 miles in absolute terms
• One-way Business Class awards are increasing by 10-13%, or 2,500-22,500 miles in absolute terms

Virgin Australia Economy Class awards for travel within Australia will range from 12,000 to 21,500 miles each way, only marginally more expensive than the current 11,000 to 20,000 miles.

It’s still a good option for domestic Australia travel, especially since Star Alliance doesn’t have a partner within Australia at the moment. However, if you have British Airways Avios, then you could redeem award tickets on Qantas for far fewer miles.

Similarly, if you’re looking to travel between Australia and New Zealand, Virgin Australia would charge 19,500 to 30,500 miles each way for Economy Class, so you’d be better looking for a Star Alliance award on Air New Zealand which would price at a flat 13,500 miles. 

Vistara (Until 31 July 2022)

Vistara (From 1 August 2022)

Zone definitions

Analysis

For Vistara:

• One-way Economy Class awards are increasing by 9-13%, or 1,000 miles in absolute terms
• One-way Premium Economy Class awards are increasing by 8-10%, or 1,000-1,500 miles in absolute terms
• One-way Business Class awards are increasing by 10-11%, or 2,000-3,500 miles in absolute terms

Vistara Economy Class awards for travel within India will range from 8,500 to 12,000 miles each way, only 1,000 more than the current 7,500 to 11,000 miles. 

This makes it cheaper than flying with Air India, which costs 13,500 miles each way via the Star Alliance award chart. 

Having experienced Air India, I cannot urge you enough to pick Vistara instead, both for the sake of your miles balance and mental wellbeing. 

While Vistara now offers international flights to London and Dubai, the award chart does not cover such options. 

Conclusion

Singapore Airlines will hike the costs of redemptions on non-Star Alliance partner airlines from 1 August 2022.

These increases are in line with those we’ve seen elsewhere in the KrisFlyer programme, and can be as mild as 1,000 more miles each way. It’s a very reasonable adjustment, though the bigger question is whether partner award charts have much value to begin with. I’d argue that Alaska and Vistara’s certainly do, but you’d be better off relying on British Airways Executive Club for redemptions within Australia. 

Oh, and if you ever find Virgin Atlantic award space through KrisFlyer, do yourself a favour and buy a 4D ticket the same day.