Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced improvements to the redemption rates for its KrisFlyer miles, effective from July 1, 2025. The changes focus on the “Mix KrisFlyer miles and cash” option and various non-flight spending categories such as KrisShop, aiming to provide better and more consistent value for on-ground miles redemptions.
What’s Changing?
From July 2025, redemption rates across Singapore Airlines’ entire on-ground spending network will be standardized to 100 miles per S$1 (equivalent to 1 cent per mile) for the Mix miles-and-cash option. This adjustment simplifies calculations, making it easier for members to understand the value of their miles without complex conversions.
Importantly, the popular and best-value KrisFlyer redemption option for award flights remains unchanged. Saver and Advantage award redemptions will continue at their current rates, unaffected by these updates.
Flight Mix Miles and Cash Option
The rate for using KrisFlyer miles to partially offset SIA and Scoot flight fares will improve slightly from 105 miles per S$1 to 100 miles per S$1, lowering the minimum redemption threshold from 1,050 to 1,000 miles.
However, this “improvement” is actually a step back compared to historical rates. Prior to August 2021, the rate stood at 980 miles per S$10 (approximately 0.98 cents per mile), which was later devalued to 1,050 miles per S$10 (0.95 cents per mile), and now modestly improves to 1,000 miles per S$10 (1 cent per mile). Despite the update, KrisFlyer members still receive less value than they did four years ago through this redemption method.
It’s important to note that this adjustment only applies to partial fare offset options and does not affect full Saver or Advantage award redemptions.
Non-Flight Redemption Standardization and Boosts
The most notable improvements are seen in non-flight redemption categories, where some platforms will offer up to 49% better value:
KrisPay (Kris+ app currency): Conversion of KrisFlyer miles into KrisPay miles will now require only 100 miles to offset S$1 at over 400 retail outlets in Singapore, marking a significant year-round value boost.
KrisShop: The redemption rate improves by 25%, from 0.8 cents to 1 cent per mile. However, shoppers should compare prices, as KrisShop’s markups sometimes make it less cost-effective than other retailers. The flexible redemption scale also allows members to combine miles and cash, helping to optimize usage of expiring miles.
Pelago: This platform, specializing in bookings for activities and experiences worldwide, will also see a 49% value increase in miles redemptions.
Overall Value Compared to Flight Awards
Despite these enhancements and greater consistency, the overall value of non-flight KrisFlyer miles redemption remains significantly lower than redeeming miles for Saver award flights. Business Class Saver awards can deliver 3 to 6 cents per mile, while First Class awards may exceed 8 to 10 cents per mile on long-haul routes. Even the most budget-friendly Business Class options often provide more than double the value of the improved ground-based redemption rate of 1 cent per mile.
When These Options Make Sense
While non-flight redemptions offer less value, they can be practical in specific situations:
- Miles nearing expiry without upcoming travel plans
- Small mile balances insufficient for full award redemptions
- Convenience for immediate flight confirmations with limited award availability
- Using ‘orphan’ miles that will not be replenished
- Redeeming miles on Scoot flights for budget travelers
Promotions Often Outperform New Baseline
It’s worth noting that KrisFlyer’s non-flight redemption platforms often run promotions offering better rates than the upcoming standard. Currently:
- Pelago offers a 35% discount on miles, equivalent to 1.03 cents per mile
- KrisShop provides a 30% discount, translating to 1.14 cents per mile
- Kris+ recently featured a 30% bonus on KrisPay miles transfers
These frequent promotions suggest the July 2025 rate updates may serve more as a baseline reset rather than a true enhancement, with savvy members advised to redeem miles during promotional periods for maximum value.
In summary, while Singapore Airlines’ July 2025 KrisFlyer miles redemption rate updates bring welcome simplification and modest improvements, the fundamental value gap between non-flight and flight award redemptions remains. Members are encouraged to use these options strategically, especially when miles are expiring or during promotional offers.
