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In January I wrote about wide open Singapore Airlines business class award space between Houston and Manchester, U.K. for two passengers. And in February I wrote about wide open Singapore Airlines first class award space for two passengers between Los Angeles and Tokyo.
These are the two routes where Singapore premium cabin award space to and from the U.S. tends to be the best.
To remind you cannot generally book Singapore Airlines business and first class awards using miles from partner frequent flyer programs like United MileagePlus and Air Canada’s Aeroplan. However space is far, far better when you use miles from Singapore’s own KrisFlyer program.
And it’s easy to get Singapore Airlines miles because Singapore is a transfer partner of Chase, American Express, and Citibank. So points can be transferred from cards such as:
- Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card has an 80,000 point signup bonus after $5000 spend within 3 months. It earns 3 points per dollar on travel — that’s airlines, hotels, rental cars, tolls, even Uber — and 3 points per dollar on shipping and advertising on social media and search engines, so great for anyone who advertises on Facebook or Twitter, or who spends money advertising with Google.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card lets you earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. With a $0 annual fee the first year, then $95, I suggest that as the number on card to get started with in miles and points. The card earns two points on travel and dining at restaurants and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases worldwide.
- Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN offers 50,000 Membership Rewards points after $5,000 spend on purchases with the card within your first 3 months of cardmembership. (Offer expired)
- Citi ThankYou® Premier Card is offering a 50,000 point signup bonus after $4000 in purchases on the card within your first 3 months of account opening. It has a $0 annual fee the first year, $95 thereafter. And it’s a stronger points-earning card than the $450 annual fee Citi Prestige Card since it doesn’t just earn triple points on air and hotel (Prestige) but on all travel (such as gas). [offer expired]
Houston – Europe in Business Class
From August through end of schedule there’s good award availability in business class at a cost of 65,000 Krisflyer miles one way on the Houston – Manchester route. This flight is operated by a new Airbus A350.
Singapore Airlines A350 in Houston
You get book the cook in business class, and seats are fully flat with direct aisle access. The bulkhead seats are by far the most spacious.
Singapore Airlines A350 Business Class
Availability exists at least half the days in each of the identified months.
Los Angeles – Tokyo Narita in First Class
Singapore Airlines flies to two destinations from Los Angeles — Seoul and Tokyo Narita (with continuing service to Singapore). Both flights are operated with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, not with Airbus A380s, so first class is still a bed with great food and service but isn’t their suites class product.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER
Singapore charges 95,000 miles per person each way for Los Angeles – Tokyo Narita first class.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER First Class
Availability exists at least half the days in each of the identified months.
Can you use United saver space for a positioning flight?
@Charlie
yes you can add a Star positioning flight, though that then makes it an Alliance award which will cost a few thousand more miles
I am blown away by how POOR Singapore’s availability is from the US now in Business or First Class. I spent a couple hours last night looking for award seats from the US in the November-January timeframe without much to show for it. Maybe these two route anomalies may be exceptions. In the past, I always found Singapore very generous with KrisFlyer awards, but no longer. I am planning on emptying my account as soon as I find something bookable.
I find the statement “you cannot generally book Singapore Airlines business and first class awards using miles from partner frequent flyer programs like United MileagePlus and Air Canada’s Aeroplan. However space is far, far better when you use miles from Singapore’s own KrisFlyer program.” strange.
I would sure hope availability is better with Singapore’s program if the others is zero. lol
How many miles would a star award cost, say SFO-LAX-NRT in Singapore points?
Gary, is NRT-SIN not available? You only mention LAX-NRT but not LAX-NRT-SIN.
Also, what about SIN-FRA?
@Erich.. Thanks, that makes sense. I ask because I am booked IAH > MAN with Krisflyer miles, and I want to change my origin Airport. I wonder if I can do that now that the award is already booked. I called once and they were confused… no surprise
Charlie I booked IAH-MAN for labor day a couple months ago. Space finally opened up for MCI-IAH (only economy) and I just called up Singapore. One guy was terrible and didn’t really know what I was asking to do. Called a couple days later and got a nice girl who added MCI-IAH for only a little extra cash, no extra miles.
@Kyle Thank you for the DP…The space I need is there in economy. I will try them tomorrow.
@Beachfan I’ve done JFK-FRA. I have tried to get that second segment FRA-SIN in both directions many times and the waitlists have never cleared. I’m currently going through it again and yet again the waitlists are not clearing. The points expire after 3 years and partner awards have fuel surcharges so I’m likely not to invest further in this program
“Availability exists at least half the days in each of the identified months.”
And which of those months are identified in this article? I see none.