KrisFlyer Elite Golds now enjoy booking flexibility waiver on Scoot

Back in January 2022, Scoot added new benefits for KrisFlyer Elite Silver and Elite Gold members, including priority check-in, complimentary standard seat selection, and a 25% tier bonus on actual miles flown. Such perks were previously limited only to Solitaire PPS and PPS Club members.

However, there was still one major point of distinction: only Solitaire PPS and PPS Club members enjoyed a booking flexibility waiver. On a low cost carrier like Scoot where changes are expensive and refunds anathema, this could be a lifesaver.

Fortunately, I’ve recently learned that KrisFlyer Elite Gold members now enjoy this benefit too. This change was apparently made a while ago, but was so low-key that parts of Scoot’s website still don’t reflect it.

Booking flexibility waiver for KrisFlyer Elite Golds

KrisFlyer Elite Gold members now enjoy a booking flexibility waiver that allows them to make a one-time change to the:

• date of travel
• time of travel (i.e. selecting a different flight number on the same route)

Do note that changes cannot be made to the destination. If you can’t fly to that particular destination anymore, you forfeit your booking, simple as that.

This benefit only applies to bookings where the KrisFlyer Elite Gold member is one of the travelling passengers, and any changes must be made online at least four hours before departure. Bookings featuring a connection with a partner airlines are not eligible, nor are group bookings with 10 or more passengers. 

While the change fee is waived, you will need to top-up the fare difference, if any. Be advised that this can be substantial, especially if you’re making a last-minute switch. If the new flight’s fare is lower than the fare originally paid, there will be no refund. 

With this change, here’s how Scoot privileges for Singapore Airlines elite flyers vary by tier. 

✈️ Scoot Privileges for SQ Elites
	KrisFlyer Elite Gold/Silver	Solitaire PPS/PPS Club
Priority Check-in and Boarding	✅	✅
Extra 5kg Luggage Allowance^ (with min. purchase of 20 kg allowance)	✅	✅
Free Standard Seat Selection*	✅	✅
One-time Booking Flexibility Waiver	✅ KF Elite Gold only	✅
SilverKris Lounge Access	❌	✅ Solitaire PPS Club only
^Only applies to the elite member, and not travelling companions *Only applies to bookings made directly on the flyscoot.com website

These benefits will be added to your booking within 24 hours after the booking is confirmed. You’ll receive an email notification when that happens. 

This means that if you make your booking within 24 hours of departure, you will not be able to enjoy any elite benefits.

If you were not a Solitaire PPS, PPS Club, KrisFlyer Elite Gold or Elite Silver at the time you created the booking, but are subsequently upgraded to such a tier, you will enjoy the benefits provided the upgrade takes place at least 24 hours before departure. The benefits will be automatically applied, with no action required from your side. However, you will not be refunded for any previously paid ancillaries that overlap with your new benefits. 

KrisFlyer UOB card is losing its booking flexibility waiver

This buff to KrisFlyer Elite Gold is all the more important because the KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card will be losing its booking flexibility waiver at some point. 

This was initially set to take place on 19 March 2024, before getting pushed to 23 April 2024. Now the latest news is that the changes are delayed “till further notice”.

KrisFlyer UOB indefinitely postpones revised Scoot privileges

That doesn’t mean it’s not happening though. There will come a day when the booking flexibility waiver benefit is axed, at which point having Solitaire PPS, PPS Club or KrisFlyer Elite Gold will be the only way to enjoy a free change without having to purchase Scoot’s MultiFlex package (which costs S$20 to S$40 depending on route).

Conclusion

KrisFlyer Elite Gold members can now enjoy a booking flexibility waiver when they fly with Scoot, which allows for a one-time change to the date or timing of their flight.

With the KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card set to lose this perk in the not-too-distant future, it’s welcome news, at least for those who manage to qualify for Elite Gold.