Deal: Book discounted Singapore Airlines awards with KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes
Editor's Note
While Singapore Airlines has a reputation for offering a solid product, booking its premium cabin, long-haul award flights isn't easy. You'll find sporadic award availability using the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan or Air Canada Aeroplan, but you'll usually find better availability through Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
KrisFlyer generally charges more miles than other loyalty programs, even on saver dates. But each month, the program offers discounts on select award flights through its KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes promotion.
This month, you can book select award flights with a 30% discount if you reserve by March 31 and travel between April 1 and 30. Here's how you can maximize this iteration of Singapore KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes.
The deal
Airline: Singapore Airlines.
Route: Varies.
Cost: Varies.
Dates: April 1-30.
Book by: March 31.
Pay taxes/fees with: The Platinum Card® from American Express (5 points per dollar spent on airfare booked directly with the airline, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), the Chase Sapphire Reserve (3 points per dollar spent on travel) or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2 points per dollar spent on travel) for travel protections on your award flight.
Sample itineraries
The example one-way awards I show below have at least four available seats. Although there are some blackout dates noted on the Spontaneous Escapes homepage, there's currently award space on other dates in April, too.
The taxes and fees are $5.60 per person on all the following flights.
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) for 36,400 miles in premium economy and 56,700 in business class
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT) for 26,950 miles in economy and 51,100 miles in premium economy
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) for 29,400 in economy and 52,500 miles in premium economy
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to SIN for 56,350 miles in premium economy
There are many other routes available as well, so check the Spontaneous Escapes homepage for all the details.
Earning miles to book this award
As a 1:1 transfer partner with American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, Singapore Airlines makes it relatively easy to earn miles. In our tests, transfers from Capital One to KrisFlyer are generally instantaneous, while transfers from Amex, Citi and Chase may take up to 24 hours.
If you're transferring points from the latter three credit card programs, consider calling KrisFlyer to hold award seats while your credit card points transfer. This will lock in your award seats, so you won't worry about disappearing inventory. KrisFlyer generally charges 25 Singapore dollars (about $20) or 2,500 miles to hold award seats.
Related: How (and why) you should earn transferable points
Bottom line
With one-way economy class award flights between the U.S. and Asia starting at less than 30,000 KrisFlyer miles, it's no question that Singapore Airlines' Spontaneous Escapes sale can offer great value (and potentially be the perfect fit for a last-minute spring break trip).
Premium economy award flights start at 36,400 miles on the fifth-freedom flight from New York to Frankfurt, while business class costs 56,700 miles. You'll only need to pay $5.60 in taxes and fees on U.S. departures.
Additional reporting by Ehsan Haque, JT Genter, Victoria Walker and Benji Stawski.
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Rewards
| 5X | Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. |
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Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip.Pros
- The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. TPG values it at $1,600.
- This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. (Enrollment required for select benefits.)
- The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway.
Cons
- The high annual fee is only worth it if you’re taking full advantage of the card’s benefits. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost.
- Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories.
- The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards.
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
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- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax.
- American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
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Rewards Rate
| 5X | Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. |
| 5X | Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. |
Intro Offer
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.Earn 80,000 PointsAnnual Fee
$695Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip.Pros
- The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. TPG values it at $1,600.
- This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. (Enrollment required for select benefits.)
- The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway.
Cons
- The high annual fee is only worth it if you’re taking full advantage of the card’s benefits. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost.
- Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories.
- The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards.
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, The New York Times, and other participating providers. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax.
- American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back each year on an Equinox+ subscription, or any Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment required. Learn more.
- $189 CLEAR® Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR® Plus at 45+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per year on your membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees