Starting in early September, and running through end of schedule, it’s possible to get business class award seats on the longest flight in the world – the Singapore Airlines Newark – Singapore flight – and you do not even need to use Singapore’s own miles to do it.
It’s incredibly rare when Singapore Airlines makes long haul business class award space to partner airlines. In fact I don’t think I’ve seen things this open since a glitch back in July 2012.
Of course Singapore’s miles have become easy to get since their KrisFlyer miles program is a transfer partner of all the big bank currencies – American Express, Chase, Citibank, Capital One – however right now you can use your choice of miles whether it’s Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles or other Star Alliance program.
Aeroplan does not add fuel surcharges to Singapore Airlines redemptions, and the space shows up on their website. The cost is 77,500 miles each way, and points transfer from American Express Membership Rewards.
I believe that United’s website is program not to show Singapore Airlines long haul business class space so if you want to find out if United is able to see this award space, you’ll need to ring up MileagePlus.
For instance here’s the results of one month-long search that I did with Aeroplan.
February, 2 passengers in business class:
- Newark – Singapore: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23
Singapore – Newark: 3, 8, 15, 17
Currently short-term visitors are banned from entering Singapore (and from transiting Changi airport). While we don’t know what travel conditions will be in place in the future, it seems reasonable to expect travel will be more possible next winter than it is today. And I have to admit, what I’m really hungry for most right now is Singaporean and Malaysian food.
(HT: flyermiles_dot_ca)
Also if someone were to transfer at least 50,000 points to Aeroplan for this award they would also earn status with the current promotion.
Obviously a “fair price” for these tickets, but is a fair price good enough in an uncertain world? It’s a lot of money/points to commit. I think you have to be a business class enthusiast/hobbiest to take this risk at this price point right now.
You are right, it is wide open. I have always wanted to fly the EWR-SIN Route. I have never forgotten flying Singapore Airlines first class, during the glitch. Amazing.
As usual, Lifemiles plays their own (no mui bueno) game.
I plugged now (Apr/27,15:00CST) the dates Gary found availability EWR->SIN, and no direct flights came back on the Lifemiles engine. There is some availability through London, with Business until LHR, then coach. Better than nothing, I guess, but not quite what we were looking for.
I was supposed to be on this flight April 1st but…now waiting for my refund from SQ. Maybe I’ll use some Aeroplan mikes to try for April 1st 2021! Better luck on my second try? (And yes did luck out on that SQ Suites award glitch…even earned miles in my MP account.)
Thanks for the heads up!
I snagged YYZ-IST-SIN-PER-SIN-EWR-YYZ all in business class and F on UA EWR-YYZ!
Total taxes paid $197.04 CAD
As @FF said, no longer available with LifeMiles. Although the connection he mentions is interesting. EWR-LHR-SIN with EWR-LHR on UA in J and LHR-SIN in SQ in Y. Because the second leg is in Y, the total mileage is only 42,380. So if you get off at LHR, you get UA Polaris Business Class Neward to London for 42,380 plus $38. Without checked luggage of course ;-). I doubt United, Singapore and Avianca will connect the dots on hidden city ticketing.