| ⚠️ Story update: The promotion period has been shifted to 5 March – 4 June 2024 (versus 1 March to 31 May 2024 originally) |
Back in December 2023, I wrote an argument for Singapore Airlines making no-fly status credits a permanent feature of its PPS Club and KrisFlyer programmes.
This was offered during the pandemic when air travel was practically impossible, but now that normality has returned, requalification is through butt-in-seat miles only.
Well, if you shared my sentiments, here’s some good news: as part of KrisFlyer’s 25th anniversary celebrations, Singapore Airlines is bringing back no-fly status credits for a limited time.
We don’t have the full details including the T&Cs just yet, but here’s my summary of what was shared in a press release today.
Earn Status Credits Beyond the Skies
Singapore Airlines’ “Earn Status Credits Beyond the Skies” promo (what a mouthful!) runs from 1 March to 31 May 2024.
During this period, PPS Club and KrisFlyer members will be able to earn PPS Value and Elite miles respectively for spending made at:
- Kris+
- KrisShop
- Pelago
Earn rates for PPS Club and KrisFlyer members are as follows:
 |
 |
|
| PPS Club | KrisFlyer | |
| Earn Rate | 1 PPS Value per S$3 spent | 1 Elite mile per S$1 spent |
| Cap | 2,500 PPS Value | 5,000 Elite miles |
Do note that you will only earn PPS Value or Elite miles for cash spending; if you choose to redeem KrisFlyer miles on the Kris+, KrisShop or Pelago platforms (bad idea!), that dollar value will not be eligible to earn status credits.
The PPS Value earned will count towards members’ PPS Club status renewal or upgrades to Solitaire PPS Club membership. Elite miles earned will count towards KrisFlyer Elite status renewal or upgrades to KrisFlyer Elite Silver or Elite Gold tiers.
However, under this promotion, PPS Value can only be earned by PPS Club members, and Elite miles can only be earned by KrisFlyer members.
In other words, if you’re currently a KrisFlyer Elite Gold member in the midst of racking up PPS Value to upgrade to PPS Club, you won’t be able to earn extra PPS Value via this offer.
How good is this offer?
2,500 PPS Value and 5,000 Elite miles represent 10% of the qualification/requalification thresholds required for PPS Club (25,000 PPS Value) and KrisFlyer Elite Gold (50,000 Elite miles) respectively, and that’s obviously a carefully-calibrated figure.
Unlike the COVID days, this isn’t a way for you to earn elite status without ever setting foot on an airplane. Rather, this is intended to give a small boost to elites who are just shy of the requalification thresholds.
For those curious, here’s what the earning structure looked like back in April 2021, the last time we saw a no-fly status credits offer.
 |
||
| KrisFlyer | PPS Club | |
| Convert KrisFlyer miles (min. 10,000 miles) |
1 Elite mile per 5 KrisFlyer miles | 1 PPS Value per 10 KrisFlyer miles |
| Convert KrisPay miles (min. depends on bank) |
1 Elite mile per 5 KrisPay miles | 1 PPS Value per 10 KrisPay miles |
| Spend on co-brand cards (min. 100 miles earned) |
1 Elite mile per 5 KrisFlyer miles | 1 PPS Value per 10 KrisFlyer miles |
| Spend on KrisShop or Kris+ | 3 Elite miles per S$1 | 1 PPS Value per S$1 |
| Earn with non-air partners (min. 500 miles) |
1 Elite mile per 5 KrisFlyer miles earned | 1 PPS Value per 10 KrisFlyer miles earned |
This time round, the ways to earn status credits have been narrowed considerably. There’s notably no status credits granted for credit card points transfers, or for non-air partners. Also, there’s a cap on the maximum status credits that can be earned, and the earn rates for KrisShop and Kris+ spend have been nerfed, with members having to spend 3X as much to get the same amount of PPS Value or Elite miles.
That said, you really can’t compare the two campaigns directly given the entirely different environments in which they took place- the former when SIA was fighting for survival, the latter with record profitability and loads.
So even though the caps are probably lower than many were hoping for, well, it’s not COVID anymore.
Conclusion
For a 3-month period, Singapore Airlines will allow PPS Club and KrisFlyer members to earn PPS Value and Elite miles respectively without having to fly.
The maximum status credits you can earn are capped at 2,500 PPS Value and 5,000 Elite miles, so this is more of a “get me over the line” initiative than anything else.
Even if you’ve already requalified for the upcoming year, PPS members may find this a useful way of topping up their PPS Reserve, and to the extent you’d be spending on Kris+, KrisShop or Pelago anyway, it’s just the icing on the cake.
Be on the lookout for the full campaign details and T&Cs, which will be published in the coming weeks.
What do you make of this no-fly status credits offer?
It’s nice but I do worry are they devaluing PPS Club and also KrisFlyer Gold. They should keep it for hard earned miles and dollars spent in SQ Business.
given the relatively low cap, i think it’s hard to argue that this counts as a devaluation. they’re not exactly throwing open the floodgates, and besides non pps members cant earn pps value
I feel like this is a trend. The Mariott status match, I see other things where you spend 12.5K to become Gold etc. It will open the floodgates and eventually when they have way too many members, they will need to cut privileges.
It’s capped 🙁
You are right that this works best for those needing a bit more to retain or upgrade their status.
Something better than nothing. The business is doing well although I can see the seats are becoming less full. I did a small Krisshop purchase and got 20 dollars off for a 200 plus purchase for something I really need. The price after the 20 dollars reduction is in line with market and the 4 miles per dollar plus 10 dollar bonus and the 3 miles for CC makes it about 15 miles per dollars. So make it a very decent deal.