New KrisFlyer Experience: Chartered “Points Plane” to Langkawi and resort stay

With borders reopened and COVID restrictions lifted, we’re starting to see much more interesting KrisFlyer Experiences, the kind the airline no doubt had in mind when they launched the platform back in that auspicious month of January 2020. 

The latest set of KrisFlyer Experiences features a “points plane” to Langkawi (and before the pedants point out that KrisFlyer uses miles not points, I challenge you to think of a better alliteration than “miles machine”), complete with a hotel stay at either The Ritz-Carlton Langkawi or Westin Langkawi.

Pamper yourself and a loved one with an island getaway on an exclusively chartered flight on Singapore Airlines to Langkawi, and indulge in a 4D3N stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi or Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa from 3 to 6 November 2022

-KrisFlyer Experiences

Experiences start from 140,000 KrisFlyer miles each, and are now live.

❓ What are KrisFlyer Experiences?

KrisFlyer Experiences launched back in January 2020, allowing members to redeem their KrisFlyer miles for money-can’t-buy experiences. Past experiences have included F1 Sky Suites, high-end dining packages, and a KrisFlyer cruise-to-nowhere. KrisFlyer Experiences can be redeemed for the member or his/her friends and family. They are non-refundable once redeemed.

KrisFlyer Experiences: Chartered plane to Langkawi

KrisFlyer Experiences’ trip to Langkawi takes place from 3-6 November 2022, on a specially chartered flight where every seat is available for redemption (but only through KrisFlyer Experiences).

A choice of two hotels is available:

All packages are inclusive of:

• Return air tickets (30kg baggage allowance for Economy, 40kg baggage allowance for Business)
• 3N accommodation
• Welcome dinner on arrival
• Two-way airport transfer
• Daily breakfast (not mentioned explicitly in listing, but alluded to in FAQs)

You will receive a follow-up email to fill in your personal details required to process your flight tickets, dietary requirements, as well as other information needed for fulfilment purposes.

All experiences are non-refundable once redeemed, and members can redeem as many of each item as they wish, subject to availability.

The FAQs for this trip can be found here.

Flights

For this KrisFlyer Experience, Singapore Airlines has chartered one of its B737-8 aircraft to serve as SQ8060 and SQ8063. 

✈ Langkawi Points Plane
SIN-LGK	LGK-SIN
SQ8060 Depart: 1030 Arrive: 1155 3 November 2022	SQ8063 Depart: 1730 Arrive: 1910 6 November 2022

A total of 154 seats are available on this plane. 

Business Class seats has 10 seats in a 2-2, 1-1, 2-2 layout. Seats are up to 21 inches wide, with their own IFE display, in-seat power and reading lights. Seat assignments are on a first-come first-serve basis. I would assume they would seat four couples together in the A/C and H/K seats, while one lucky (unlucky?) couple gets the B/J throne seats. 

Economy Class has 144 seats in a 3-3 layout. Each seat is 18 inches wide with 30 inches of seat pitch, and has its own personal IFE display. Passengers will have the option to request a window-middle or aisle-aisle seat combination, but specific seats or rows cannot be selected.

I’ve flown the B737-8 in both Business and Economy Class, and you can check out the detailed reviews below:

• Review: Singapore Airlines B737-8 Business Class SIN-DAD
• Review: Singapore Airlines B737-8 Economy Class DAD-SIN

Passengers will receive lounge entitlements at Changi Airport based on the prevailing lounge access policy. That means the SilverKris Lounge for Business Class passengers and PPS Club members in Economy Class, and the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge for KrisFlyer Elite Golds and Star Golds in Economy Class. 

Singapore Airlines does not offer a lounge in Langkawi (since it does not operate scheduled flights to this airport), but the Plaza Premium Lounge is accessible to those with a Dragon Pass membership, AMEX Platinum Charge, OCBC VOYAGE or OCBC Premier Visa Infinite. As a reminder, Plaza Premium Lounges are no longer accessible through Priority Pass or LoungeKey.

Interestingly enough, the Westin Langkawi offers its own airport lounge to departing guests who stayed in Suites or Villa rooms, as well as Marriott Bonvoy Silver members and above. That’s right- Silver!

Hotels

Once in Langkawi, passengers will head to either The Ritz-Carlton Langkawi or Westin Langkawi. If you’re thinking about booking family members across two hotels, think again: they’re on opposite ends of the island (unless maybe you’re travelling with the in-laws).

The Ritz-Carlton Langkawi, of course, is the more lux of the two. The resort is set amidst lush tropical rainforests (“10 million years old”, boasts the website), with its own private cove and beach overlooking the Andaman sea. Guests can enjoy the island’s only overwater spa, three resort pools, four dining concepts and private pools in the luxury villas. 

The Westin Langkawi is closer to the 4-Star end of the spectrum, but it’s far from a dive. The resort has an in-house spa, three swimming pools, and a fully-equipped gym. 

A selection of additional paid activities can be added and paid for with a Mastercard:

• Ritz-Carlton Langkawi
• Westin Langkawi

Is it worth it?

For reference, Singapore Airlines does not currently offer scheduled service to Langkawi, which is served by its budget arm Scoot.

If it did, however, a round-trip Economy Class and Business Class ticket would cost 17,000 miles and 42,000 miles per person respectively. 

As for the hotels, a breakfast-included stay from 3-6 November 2022 would cost:

• Westin Premium Ocean View Room: MYR 4,357 (~S$1,356)
• Ritz-Carlton Beach Villa: MYR 14,515 (~S$4,513)

Therefore, the value per point is roughly:

• Westin Premium Ocean View Room: S$1,356/(140,000-34,000)= 1.28 cents
• Ritz-Carlton Beach Villa:  S$4,513/(400,000-84,000)=1.43 cents

That’s before taking into account the value of the welcome dinner and two-way airport transfer, however. And of course, the novelty value of being on a points plane. I wonder what onboard festivities they’ll have!

Conclusion

The latest KrisFlyer Experiences feature a specially-chartered trip to Langkawi, with stays at either the Ritz-Carlton or Westin Langkawi.

It sounds like a fun little getaway, though I’m not sure I’d be willing to spend the 140,000 to 400,000 miles required for bragging rights. 

Who’s boarding the Points Plane?