CBR-WLG for 8,500 KrisFlyer miles

[Mattg]

I was just having a look at Singapore Airlines' new award chart and noticed that a redemption from Canberra to Wellington appears to be just 10,000 KrisFlyer miles in Economy. So I did a quick search and sure enough, it's in fact only 8,500 miles once the 15% online booking discount is taken into account. I think that's pretty decent value.

Unfortunately there is one catch - the taxes/fuel surcharges on the CBR-WLG leg are $193. A return flight would cost 17,000 miles and $313 in taxes in economy.

Business isn't such amazing value, but at 21,250 miles one-way it's not bad either. A return business class flight would be 42,500 miles + $355.

Just thought I would post this as I haven't seen it discussed anywhere else on the forum as yet.

 

[burmans]

I was just having a look at Singapore Airlines' new award chart and noticed that a redemption from Canberra to Wellington appears to be just 10,000 KrisFlyer miles in Economy. So I did a quick search and sure enough, it's in fact only 8,500 miles once the 15% online booking discount is taken into account. I think that's pretty decent value.

Unfortunately there is one catch - the taxes/fuel surcharges on the CBR-WLG leg are $193. A return flight would cost 17,000 miles and $313 in taxes in economy.

Business isn't such amazing value, but at 21,250 miles one-way it's not bad either. A return business class flight would be 42,250 miles + $355.

Just thought I would post this as I haven't seen it discussed anywhere else on the forum as yet.

Kind of reminds me of that old joke.

How do I get to xx_xx? Well, first of all I wouldn't start from here!

 

[junbugging]

Kind of reminds me of that old joke.

How do I get to xx_xx? Well, first of all I wouldn't start from here!

Right, unless you maybe worked for federal government or had relatives or friends in or just a reason to travel to WLG or CBR or SIN.

That's just awesome that Sydney is so awesome though, mate. Every day must just be so utterly joyous.

 

[burmans]

Right, unless you maybe worked for federal government or had relatives or friends in or just a reason to travel to WLG or CBR or SIN.

That's just awesome that Sydney is so awesome though, mate. Every day must just be so utterly joyous.

Hmm, a bit touchy about where you live are you then?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Generalising these fees make it pretty poor value to redeem any flight in Y on the SQ network, and not just this route. Better off just shopping for a cheap Y fare.

J/F are normally good redemptions for longer trips.

 

[dajop]

Generalising these fees make it pretty poor value to redeem any flight in Y on the SQ network, and not just this route. Better off just shopping for a cheap Y fare.

J/F are normally good redemptions for longer trips.

Always pays to have the price point where personally you consider Y awards to be worthwhile. Did a Y redemption on SQ last week for flight that didn't have an alternative around the time I wanted (overnight MEL-SIN) and I got a $430 saving for a 21,500 points. Even if I'd taken an evening flight on EK that was too early for me value would have been $380 ...

One good thing with SQ is that saver awards in economy do not always disappear altogether when fares go up. Unlike some other carriers.

 

[travelislife]

What will the equivalent cost booking through VFF will be as they don't levy fuel surcharges?

 

[Mattg]

What will the equivalent cost booking through VFF will be as they don't levy fuel surcharges?

Good question. I just tried to check but SQ flights are currently not showing up on the VA website at all. (The VA rep promised that this would be fixed soon - it hasn't been). Having said that, don't VA pass on the fuel surcharge for SQ award flights anyway? So they would be the same?

In terms of points, it would theoretically be 16,900 Velocity points in economy and 33,800 in business.

 

[travelislife]

Good question. I just tried to check but SQ flights are currently not showing up on the VA website at all. (The VA rep promised that this would be fixed soon - it hasn't been). Having said that, don't VA pass on the fuel surcharge for SQ award flights anyway? So they would be the same?

In terms of points, it would theoretically be 16,900 Velocity points in economy and 33,800 in business.

Thanks. Not as good a value points wise. As far as I am aware they don't pass on fuel surcharges. Taxes only.

 

[Mattg]

Thanks. Not as good a value points wise. As far as I am aware they don't pass on fuel surcharges. Taxes only.

On Virgin-operated flights that is true. However, I thought they did pass on fuel surcharges for Singapore Airlines flights. Happy to be corrected if this is wrong.

 

[dajop]

On Virgin-operated flights that is true. However, I thought they did pass on fuel surcharges for Singapore Airlines flights. Happy to be corrected if this is wrong.

Last November booked SQ BKK-SIN through velocity and no fuel surcharges applied.

 

[Mattg]

Last November booked SQ BKK-SIN through velocity and no fuel surcharges applied.

I stand corrected, then!

 

[dajop]

I stand corrected, then!

Just hope that's still the case ! 6 months can be a long time ...

 

[burmans]

Generalising these fees make it pretty poor value to redeem any flight in Y on the SQ network, and not just this route. Better off just shopping for a cheap Y fare.

J/F are normally good redemptions for longer trips.

I'm a bit surprised the fees are so high. I've used SQ to book SYD to WLG (NZ) before and from memory the fees were less that $100. Of course thats partner rather than SQ but generally YQ not very high on cross Tasman legs.

 

[Mattg]

Well, I just booked an award seat on the WLG-CBR flight. The flight was selling for almost $400, so I'd say 8,500 miles + NZ$114 was pretty good value! Plenty of availability in both classes too, it would seem.

 

[NZflygirl]

Might try SQ to CBR next yr. Hoping to avoid the potential for cancellations as experienced last yr and just transiting SYD although the lounges are better out of AKL and SYD than WLG