Singapore Krisflyer Partners with Chase Ultimate Rewards – First Class Suite Here I come!

Yesterday I was greeted with some fantastic news that Singapore Krisflyer just joined Chase Ultimate Rewards as the newest member of their program. Now you can transfer points into your Krisflyer account at a 1:1 ratio along with United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, British Airways Avios, Korean Air Skypass, and Virgin Atlantic. Chase Ultimate Rewards was already considered one of the most valuable reward currencies, and with the addition of Singapore Krisflyer, it continues to carry weight against the other heavy hitters of American Express Membership Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest points (or Starpoints). You can now transfer points to Krisflyer from any of the 3 major reward programs of UR, MR, and SPG. If you don’t already have a Krisflyer rewards account, click here to sign up now.

Singapore Airlines Premium Cabin:

Singapore Airlines in known throughout the industry as having one of the best premium cabins of any airline. They are also known for their fantastic in-flight service providing a wide variety of luxurious amenities to make your flight feel like heaven. I have always coveted the first class suites on their A380-800 product that includes complete privacy and an amazing bed that would probably be more comfortable than sleeping in your own bed at home. Originally, it was very difficult to book Singapore Airlines’ business and first class award tickets through their Star Alliance partners and much easier to book directly through the Singapore Krisflyer website. Thus, the new addition to Chase UR makes it a lot easier to find premium cabin bookings with an account directly on their website. Keep in mind that Singapore has a fuel surcharge that sits at around 250 euros each way. I’m most likely planning on using their business or first class on a one way as part of an itinerary to Asia or Europe. Booking online also saves 15% of the points originally outlined on their award chart.

Availability:

Singapore’s website has some pretty solid availability for business class flights. Their first class 777-300 airplanes carry decent first class availability and their A380-800 first class suites carry very little saver award first class availability. Singapore gives you the option of booking a saver ticket in their first class cabins on a wait list and will confirm your seat if there’s availability soon after or closer to the flight. If necessary, you can cancel your ticket and receive a full refund minus 3,000 points to your account.

The only direct flights on Singapore from North America are:

• Los Angeles-Tokyo Narita
• San Francisco-Seoul Incheon
• San Francisco-Hong Kong
• Houston-Moscow
• New York JFK-Frankfurt

There are numerous flights out of and into Singapore from Europe, Asia, Australia, South Africa and the Middle East as shown below:

Singapore can serve as your gateway into South Africa, Australia, Asia, or the Middle East. Award tickets are based on the distance you fly. For example a first class suite flight from JFK-Frankfurt will cost you 57,375 miles…

or 48,875 in business.

Feel free to play around with the different flight options to find out how many miles a flight in business or first might cost you. A first class ticket from San Francisco-Seoul will cost 74,375 miles (with solid first class availability on their 777-300 product) and 65,875 miles in business each way. Personally, I’d shell out the extra 8,500 miles to experience first class over business but Singapore’s business class is nothing to cough at. Many consider their business class product to be superior to many other airlines’ first class product! San Francisco-Hong Kong will run you 70,125 miles in first and 63,750 in business. Don’t forget about the fuel surcharges! But when you consider that some of these flights run up to $10,000 each way, a $300 surcharge is nothing in comparison!

How to Earn Ultimate Rewards Points:

To earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, make sure you have either the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Ink Bold or Plus card, or both! The Chase Ink cards currently have an increased sign up bonus of 60,000 points when you spend $5,000 in 3 months. But hurry because this offer only lasts until June 1st. Read about how I just earned the easiest 85,000 points of my life (all Ultimate Reward points) and start earning valuable UR points to score yourself a free flight on one of Singapore Airlines’ awesome business or first class cabins. I know I will!