KrisFlyer miles can now be redeemed for Malaysia Airlines flights

Back in June 2019, Singapore Airlines signed an MOU with Malaysia Airlines to significantly step up cooperation, expand their codeshare flights, and enhance frequent flyer programme collaboration. 

We’re now seeing the fruits of this partnership, with Singapore Airlines frequent flyers now able to redeem miles on Malaysia Airlines for the first time since Passages dissolved in 1999. 

Redeem KrisFlyer miles on Malaysia Airlines

Effective 29 February 2024, KrisFlyer members can redeem miles for Malaysia Airlines on the following routes:

• Singapore to/from Kuala Lumpur
• Kuala Lumpur to/from London

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to redeem a single Singapore – Kuala Lumpur – London award, so you’ll need to pay for two separate awards, or else position yourself to Kuala Lumpur to start.

There are no sweet spots here per se, given that the mileage requirements here are identical to that required for a Saver award on Singapore Airlines (with the exception of Economy from KL to London, where KrisFlyer is cheaper at 42,000 miles). However, if there’s no Saver space available on Singapore Airlines (a phenomenon that’s becoming more and more common!) ,then it’s useful to have this as a backup option. 

Awards can be booked via the Singapore Airlines website or mobile app. You’ll need to select “Other Partner Airlines” on the results page to display Malaysia Airlines awards.

Malaysia Airlines does impose fuel surcharges (known as YQ), but thankfully they’re on the mild side. The highest you’ll pay is GBP 131 from London to Kuala Lumpur, with the surcharges a modest MYR 70 in the opposite direction!

Malaysia also charges a higher departure levy to Business Class passengers, which accounts for some of the difference. 

Now, here’s one important quirk you may have noticed. When you try to make a booking for KUL to/from LHR in Business Class (103,500 miles), the miles and surcharges shown reflect Economy Class pricing (49,500 miles)!

Before you get too excited, you should know that upon booking, the ticket reflects as Economy Class (thanks @mlmatt for testing). This means it’s just a bug on the Singapore Airlines website that will get resolved in due course. Annoyingly, it also means you’re temporarily unable to book Business Class awards on this route.

What Business Class product can you expect?

Malaysia Airlines operates its Airbus A350-900 aircraft between Kuala Lumpur and London. These aircraft are equipped with full flat seats in a staggered configuration, but the layout means that some passengers don’t get direct aisle access. 

I’ve reviewed this product before, albeit on the Airbus A330-300. It’s comfortable enough but not particularly private, nor to the standard of a current-gen Business Class seat. 

Review: Malaysia Airlines A330 Business Class Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo Narita

The good news is that Malaysia Airlines has announced a new long-haul Business Class seat scheduled for introduction on its new Airbus A330-900neos in late 2024. 

These Collins Aerospace Elevation seats offer more personal space and privacy (including doors), and are similar to the model used by British Airways for its Club Suite Business Class, and Etihad Airways for its Business Studio Suite. 

There are plans to refit the Airbus A350-900s with this seat too, so eventually you’ll have a chance to redeem KrisFlyer miles for this product.

Do a oneworld lounge safari

While redeeming Business Class to Kuala Lumpur may seem like a silly idea, on account of how short the flight is, there’s still a good reason to do it with Malaysia Airlines: a oneworld lounge safari.

oneworld operates four Business Class lounges in Singapore, and a Malaysia Airlines Business Class ticket gives you access to all four. You’ll need to shuffle between terminals, as Malaysia Airlines operates out of Terminal 2, but believe me, it’s well worth it.

My personal favourite is the Qatar Premium Lounge which offers a la carte dining and lovely shower suites, but all four are worth a visit.

Moreover, Malaysia Airlines offers early check-in from 8 a.m onwards at the Changi Jewel Early Check-in facility, giving you plenty of time to explore all four. You could potentially take the 9.15 p.m flight to Kuala Lumpur, check-in at 8 a.m and have a whole day of feasting and drinking, for just 21,000 miles.

That said, you could redeem the same flight for fewer miles with Asia Miles or Avios, so if those programmes are available to you then they’re better choices:

• SIN-KUL (Asia Miles): 20,000 Asia Miles
• SIN-KUL (British Airways Avios): 12,500 Avios

Conclusion

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer members can now redeem miles for Malaysia Airlines flights on the Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Lumpur to London routes.

The award prices are largely comparable to KrisFlyer, and the fuel surcharges are modest, so if nothing else it can be a backup option if Saver awards aren’t available on Singapore Airlines. The main annoyance is that you can’t redeem a single Singapore – Kuala Lumpur – London award, so you either need to pay for two separate awards, or else position yourself to Kuala Lumpur at your own expense.

Malaysia Airlines doesn’t have the most impressive cabin products, but you can visit some impressive lounges in Singapore by virtue of its oneworld membership.