Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program is a firm favourite here at Point Hacks. It’s easy to earn miles, and you can get excellent value out of award flights on Singapore Airlines. One of the best ways to maximise a KrisFlyer award redemption is to add stopovers.
Imagine taking a break at an intermediate destination before continuing on to your final destination – without paying anything more for the flight. That usually requires two separate awards. But with a KrisFlyer stopover, you only pay for one award and enjoy a stopover for free, or for a nominal fee.
You’d normally expect to stopover in Singapore, given that’s the carrier’s home city. But thanks to a little-known quirk called ‘fifth freedom flights’, you could stopover in Asia, Europe or North America instead! (These are flights operated by Singapore Airlines between two foreign countries outside of Singapore).
With some savvy planning, you could fly to New York via Frankfurt and back from Los Angeles via Tokyo, enjoying stopovers in all those cities along the way. And it won’t cost you any more miles than it would if you were just transiting through those cities. What a bargain!
Where can I stopover using KrisFlyer miles?
| Last updated: 22 Feb 2022 |
Apart from Singapore, other cities you can stopover in with KrisFlyer miles include:
In Asia
- Tokyo on the way to/from Los Angeles
In Europe
- Frankfurt on the way to/from New York
- Manchester on the way to/from Houston
- Copenhagen on the way to/from Rome
- Milan on the way to/from Barcelona
Singapore Airlines does fly between Vancouver-Seattle and also previously between Hong Kong-San Francisco, but those routes aren’t currently available for stopovers.
How do KrisFlyer award stopovers work?
When you redeem your KrisFlyer miles for a Singapore Airlines award, you can get zero, one or two stopovers included for free. That depends on what type of award you book. On top of that, you can add additional stopovers at US$100 each (up to two extra stopovers).
With a stopover, you can break up your journey and spend some time (more than 24 hours) at the connecting city in your itinerary. It’s a great trick to get two holidays for the price of one.
| Award type | Free stopovers | Additional stopovers for US$100 each |
|---|---|---|
| One-way Saver | 0 | Up to 2 |
| One-way Advantage | 1 | Up to 2 |
| Roundtrip Saver | 1 | Up to 2 |
| Roundtrip Advantage | 2 | Up to 2 |
Singapore Airlines gives you one complimentary stopover on a roundtrip Saver Award. For example, you can fly return from Australia to New York and stopover in Singapore on the way there for free. If you wanted to stop in Frankfurt on the way back, that would cost an extra US$100 per person.
Advantage awards are more expensive, but include one free stopover each way (two for a return journey). Ideally, you’ll still want to book your ticket as a Saver Award because it is far cheaper than an Advantage Award. The downside is there is less Saver availability overall, and you only get one free stopover.
When you use a stopover in a KrisFlyer award booking, the number of miles needed won’t change. You won’t have to pay for the two flights separately, which will save you lots of miles.
How can I save with KrisFlyer stopovers?
Here’s the mileage needed for Australian KrisFlyer members to redeem a Saver award to popular destinations:
| Route | Destination | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perth/Darwin | Europe | 43,000 | 70,000 | 106,000 | 142,500 |
| US West Coast | 51,000 | 90,000 | 113,000 | 160,000 | |
| US East Coast | 55,000 | 95,000 | 101,000 | 160,000 | |
| Rest of Australia | Europe | 53,000 | 91,500 | 116,000 | 163,000 |
| US West Coast | 55,000 | 95,000 | 121,000 | 167,000 | |
| US East Coast | 60,000 | 99,000 | 129,000 | 167,000 |
From that table, let’s use Sydney-New York (US East Coast) for 129,000 miles in Business Class as an example. That’s the cost if you flew Sydney-Singapore-Frankfurt-New York straight through.
But what if you wanted to stop in Frankfurt and enjoy a European sojourn? That’s possible with a stopover – either free on a return Saver award or for US$100 extra. You can fly Sydney-Singapore-Frankfurt, spend some time in Europe, and continue on Frankfurt-New York. The price is still 129,000 miles in Business Class.
If you were to book this routing with separate flights in Business Class, then it would cost:
- 116,000 miles from Sydney to Frankfurt via Singapore.
- 72,000 miles from Frankfurt to New York.
- Total: 182,000 miles when booked separately. You save 53,000 KrisFlyer miles with a stopover.
How do I book a KrisFlyer stopover?
If you’re booking a free stopover (i.e. with a return Saver award or one-way/return Advantage award), you can do it easily online.
- Go to the KrisFlyer flight search tool (or simply go to the Singapore Airlines homepage).
- Select ‘Redeem flights’ and login to your KrisFlyer account when prompted.
- Enter your flight search using your origin and final destination.
- If your itinerary is eligible for stopovers, you’ll be prompted to enter your new dates on the next screen.
- Follow the prompts to add the stopover to your trip, then proceed to payment.
If you want to add stopovers at US$100 per person (i.e. booking a one-way Saver award), you’ll need to call KrisFlyer.
Summing up
KrisFlyer is a great program for award redemptions on Singapore Airlines flights. Miles are readily available through a wide range of Australian credit card programs. In 2022, we also expect that the Velocity-KrisFlyer transfer will return, giving Aussie travellers another way to use their hard-earned points.
Using stopovers to literally travel further with your miles is a great way to push the boundaries of your KrisFlyer balance. You can stopover in Singapore and a number of appealing mid-point cities, including Tokyo, Milan, Frankfurt and Manchester.
Of course, you could go one step further and fly around the world in Business from 240,000 KrisFlyer miles! Go on, take a peek. We know you want to…
This article was originally written by Nelson Yap and Matt Moffitt.
When booking online, the system alerts you that a ‘stopover’ is available on the route. However once you select the stopover location (say Frankfurt) and date, there’s another alert that says ‘if you select stopover then Saver Award is not applicable, Advantage Award will apply’.
On confirming stopover selection, the page refreshes and only Advantage Awards are offered for flight selection.
So adding a stopover for US$100 is possible only if using Advantage Award, and not applicable for Saver Award.
You may want to check and update your article.
I was looking at Singapore rewards flights (velocity member who transferred half her points for safekeeping last year)
I am wanting to stopover in Singapore on my way to lax next year (hopefully if it’s open) but with the stopover – if I booked one of the flight options that already has a layover (one has closed to 40 hours) would I be able to leave the airport and book a hotel ? I just wasn’t sure if that’s not allowed and I had to “book” the stopover option ?
Does anyone know where to find on the Singapore Airlines website the rules about the USD100 stopover? I ask because I called Singapore Airlines and tried to get them to add a USD100 stopover in Singapore for me (on a HKG-PER one-way saver fare), but they denied this is possible (despite my protests to the contrary).
Thank you in advance for any help!
I am currently based in Perth, Australia and planning a trip to Tokyo and Bangkok on my way back.
Is it possible to use one of the stopover tricks free or otherwise for the vacation. If so how can this be achieved? Obviously I will be flying Singapore Airlines utilising my Krisflyer miles.
I look forward to your reply.
Are open jawstickets possible on award flights? Do you need a return ticket?
That is can I go syd-SIN-LHR and then Frankfurt to JFK on the same award with making my own way from LHR to Frankfurt?
Thanks,
Dale.
I just got off the phone with SQ trying to book the $100 stopover in MAN. My route is PER-SIN-MAN-IAH. The miles cost for Saver is 110k which is consistent with the online booking tool. But the agent presented me with a total of SGD 611 fee to pay, which already include the stopover fee. Doesnt look right to me because if booked online the taxes will only cost AUD173.60 (without a stopover)
Does this look about right? How much cash did you end up paying when you booked you stopover trip?
looking to do a few first class suites on preferbly the a380 to europe and USA (not at the same trip) Been reading this guide
Enough Points : YES
Stop Over Possible: YES
No limit for Stop Over: YES
First Class availabel: YES
Free stop over: YESS
so say I wanted to Melb to Singapore (3 days to JFK)
or
Melb to Singapore to EU
in first class suites, the points are about 300k return Plus surcharges,
is the best way to call and book, or waitlist multiple flights and hope for the best?
My question shortened is it seems first class is hard to come by on saver redemption.
What is the best way to get them and once wait listed how long or realistic is it to get the m filled
Great guide! Am planning on putting this theory into action for a round-the-world Business Class trip late 2019, for two people: MEL – SIN – FRA – JFK (make own way to) LAX – ICN – SIN – MEL. However, after many, many dummy searches, I’m finding it impossible to track down any Business Class availability from FRA – JFK. Plenty of availability on multiple test dates for all other sectors, though.
Just wondering if anybody has had any success in booking this sector before?
Thanks!
Given my AMEX balance is roughly 125k how would be the best way to boost the points to redeem a business flight. Many thanks.
I agree with Matt, I think your points are best saved a business class redemption, where you could end up getting as much as 4 to 6 cents per point value.
Whereas an economy class redemption, the most value you will get is around 1.7 cents.
Having recently flown Singapore Airlines Syd – Sin – Paris one way in Suites using our pooled points (we made sure we got the middle two suites so we could have the double bed!), I’m already keen to plan the next trip and I’m all over the points!
One question – if I wanted to do Sydney – Sin – Frankfurt – JFK, and use Frankfurt as the European gateway, would I be able to pay $100USD on a saver redemption and stop over there for say 2 months, or is there a time limit? Wanting to keep it open for probably at least 6 – 8 weeks to get some proper euro travel. Any body know? thanks
I see on the map Manchester is a stop/could be a stop on the way over to JFK too, so I wonder if I could do SYD – SIN – FRA (Stop) – MAN (Stop) – JFK? I’d be happy to pay $100 USD for each stop if that means I get my 2 months in EU…
SG to Istanbul (SQ)
Istanbul to Ljubljana (Turkish Air)
Ljubljana to Istanbul (Turkish AIr)
Istanbul to SG (SQ)
I was quoted 140k Krisflyer miles +200usd per pax, where the agent insisted the cost for the SQ legs are 45k each, while the Turkish Air legs are 25k miles each for business saver. Should it not be 100k miles + 200usd per pax for the redemption according to the Star Alliance redemption chart please? Appreciate your help in understanding this please, cheers.
Thank you and yes the free stopover is allowed on a return ticket with Star Alliance, and up to 3 stops at $100 each.
But beware that on the Star alliance award, you will have to pay the fuel surcharge with Singapore Airlines.
Whilst asking qns, I take it no issue with open jaw either? (could be handy as a backup in case availability didn’t work for me on the way back and I wanted to stay in SYD for a bit without paying for extra stopover)
if you book a star alliance award which includes singapore airlines, you will get hit with fuel surcharges.
this is a guide to the star alliance redemption with KF
https://www.pointhacks.com.au/krisflyer-star-alliance-stopovers-guide/
Interesting re surcharges – my reading from another article was that the SQ flights would still be YQ-free?? – http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2017/03/01/singapore-devaluation-loophole-save-miles-booking-first-class-awards-adding-domestic-positioning-flight/
I have spoken to Krisflyer about this and flights on Singapore Airlines booked under Star Alliance award will attract a fuel surcharge.
Not sure if the Onemileatatime website has called to KF to confirm this, usually they do make assumptions without verifying facts.
But you can ring KF to confirm this.
Thank you
Can anyone tell me how far in advance Singapore Airlines make award seats available? Is it exactly 365 months or is it some other number?
Is there some kind of false economy going on here that I don’t understand?
I’ve just looked up a return economy flight PER-LHR. Cost will be 68,000 KF Points (after 15% online discount) plus $993 taxes. I’ve also looked up the cost of the same return flight on skyscanner and the total all-inclusive cost is $1,275. This seems ridiculous. There’s no way 68,000 points are worth only $283. I’d get far more value from these points if I converted them at the required dilution rate and used them for domestic flights in Australia.
Am I missing something here? Are KF points only worth using for international flights if going Business Class???
I don’t like to tell people what to do with their points because it is up to each individual what they do with their points.
Having said that, I find redeeming points for business or first class gives the highest value per point.
Particularly in the case of Singapore Airlines/Krisflyer where fuel surcharges are involved.
Your travel plan is a perfect example, a revenue flight costs $1275 and points booking is 68,000 points and $993.
So you are using 68,000 points to save only $282, giving you a dollar value of $0.0041 per point/mile, not even 1 cent.
Lets says the surcharge for business class will be around $1000 + 165217 points (approximately although I think its slightly less) and a revenue fare is around $8000.
So using 165,217 points has saved you $7000, giving you a value of $0.042 per point/mile or 4.2 cents.
Business Class would be 145,000 points after discount, plus ~$1,150 which is a much more favourable dollar-per-point proposition. The only problem is that I don’t have 144,500 points!!
Looks like I’ll be converting my current points to Virgin… and that way instead of saving $282 on the international flight – I can redeem the 68,000 points (even after applying the 1.35 dilution factor) for almost three PER-East flights in the future which is worth around $800.
How many points do you have? Do you have an AMEX credit card that transfers points to KF?
Alternatively you can look at buying KF miles during redemption, but that is last resort because its 4 US cents per point.
Ill report back…
EVERY single flight i checked, and ive checked HUNDREDS, for a business saver ticket, is “wait listed”
Even 11 months out…
Im looking ADL into Europe anywhere…
And i have no firm dates in mind..
What am i doing wrong??
I have over 5 million points, mostly warehoused in Amex MR, i have over 500k points sitting in KF, and i might as well have 0…
Why did i transfer any in again?
Oh thats right, i had to to be able to search comprehensively… bait and switch??
Im unimpressed.
Whats the point in a rewards programme if u cant ever redeem anything?
Mark
Unfortunately Adelaide only has one Singapore Airlines flight a day.
It also depends on how many seats you are after? for 1 or 2 passengers?
I would suggest that you look at departing from Melbourne or Sydney where there are more 5 or 6 daily flights, so there are more award seats available to use.
Also with a points balance of over 5 million membership rewards in AMEX, I’d look at flying F class instead, its only 30-40k points more.
Otherwise you can waitlist for seats and wait for Singapore’s krisflyer team to clear your waitlist.
Will SQ open more slots closer to the date of travel if there are still empty seats left? or they are just completely inflexible about this?
I am not prepared to pay for SYD-SIN (on business) and then SIN-NRT(First) as they will charge many more points for travelling in different classes for each segment. Only half of the points would be needed if I travelled first class all the way to NRT.
I am a little disappointed but is still quietly hoping.
Thank you.
Cheers.
Lets say i book Perth to Frankfurt, use a stopover and then fly to JFK. Can that last leg be a waitlisted flight?
I would like to book JFK-FRA in Business class at the standard award cost of 80,000 KF. Then stay in Frankfurt a few days and book FRA-SIN in Suites at the saver award cost of 107,500 KF.
Is it possible to book this trip and just pay the 107,500 (91,375 after 15% discount)?
Thanks!
I’m not sure if SG have changed things since you wrote this but after spending a long time searching I can’t find a Business fare from Mel – Fra return for less than 161500 miles + $1050AUD. Please let me know if I’m missing something but can’t see the value in this. Thanks in advance.
Josh
From a points POV it’s a decent deal – Qantas would charge 256,000 Qantas Points return with (I expect) similar surcharges, while Asia Miles would be 175,000 miles return, or Velocity at best would be 250k Velocity return with Etihad (unless transferred over to KrisFlyer, which would be 218,000 Velocity points before the transfer).
Keith is right, a return for 161,500 miles is pretty good, considering Virgin Velocity charge 218k and Qantas charge around 256k.
Also Qantas/Emirates fuel surcharge would be around $1270, which is $200 more than SQ.
Unfortunately if you pick London and Frankfurt, the departure taxes are a lot higher than other EU cities.
Did you book the award as one return, or two awards? You mention one-way trips, so I’m just trying to work out if you booked the award as 1 return trip.
Yes airport/departure taxes are normally charged for stopover cities.
If it is only a 1-way award, Singapore charges a $US100 fee.
Whereas if you booked a saver return award, then you get one free stopover.
I recently redeemed MEL-SIN-JFK in First and Suites for two people by finding availability a few days apart for each sector. If you can persuade them to put your itinerary on hold (tough, but possible), you can even build it piece by piece, add waitlist segments, and so on. The trip was amazing, even my wife was impressed.
SQ MEL to JFK in F and Suites would have been heavenly!