Singapore Airlines has long offered a relatively clear path for using KrisFlyer miles through two familiar redemption categories: Saver and Advantage. Saver awards are the most sought after, offering the best value in terms of miles needed, but they’re notoriously limited in availability. Advantage awards, on the other hand, cost more but provide greater flexibility and seat availability—especially valuable during peak seasons or when booking closer to departure. Both systems, while not perfect, offered a sense of structure and predictability. That predictability is now being disrupted.
In November 2025, KrisFlyer will introduce a third tier called Access. Unlike Saver and Advantage, which operate on fixed award charts, Access will follow a dynamic pricing model. This means that award prices will fluctuate based on demand, just like cash fares. The Access category promises increased availability, particularly when Saver and Advantage awards are unavailable. However, this added access often comes at a high price—sometimes significantly higher than even the already expensive Advantage rates.
To understand the impact of these changes, it helps to look at concrete examples. A one-way Business Class Saver seat from Singapore to Sydney currently costs around 62,000 miles. The Advantage award on the same route typically costs about 92,000 miles. Under the new Access system, the price for that same seat could rise to 100,000 miles or more during peak demand, with some instances likely to exceed even 110,000 miles depending on timing and availability. That means you’re potentially paying 60–70% more than Saver for the same seat—and even more than Advantage, which at least comes with fixed benefits like free stopovers.
Now, Access changes that equation. A Business Class seat that might cost 53,000 miles one-way under the Saver rate could rise to 65,000 or even 90,000 miles under Access, depending on demand. And unlike Advantage awards, which also offer broad availability but at a known price—say, 92,000 miles for a Business Class flight to Sydney—the Access price could be even higher, potentially exceeding 100,000 miles for that same seat during peak travel periods. In short, Access may offer more seats, but it often won’t offer better value.
The same trend can be seen on long-haul routes. For example, a Business Saver ticket from San Francisco to Singapore costs 107,000 miles one-way. The Advantage version is 128,500 miles. Under the Access model, that seat could end up costing well above 140,000 miles during high-demand periods. In some cases, the Access price could approach the equivalent of paying full cash fare using miles, reducing the overall redemption value dramatically.
Even for short-haul routes, the differences between the three categories can be significant. A one-way Economy Saver ticket from Singapore to Bangkok might cost 12,500 miles, while Advantage will require around 25,000. Access, however, could price that same ticket somewhere in between or even above Advantage, particularly if you’re booking close to departure during a busy travel season. While Access might offer an option when Saver is sold out, it doesn’t always translate into a smart use of miles.
For many travellers, this change represents a shift in the philosophy behind loyalty programs. Saver and Advantage, despite their quirks, allowed members to plan and optimize their redemptions with some degree of predictability. You could save up miles for a dream trip and know roughly how many miles you’d need. Access undermines that predictability with prices that can swing dramatically, even within a single day.
On the positive side, Access does solve one problem: empty-handed redemption attempts. In the past, travellers who couldn’t find Saver or Advantage space often had no choice but to pay cash or burn their miles on poor-value options like merchandise or economy flights with minimal savings. Access fills that gap by providing availability when all else fails—but it does so by asking you to pay, sometimes dearly, for the privilege.
Ultimately, the three tiers now represent a spectrum of value and flexibility. Saver still offers the best value, especially for those who can book early and are flexible with dates. Advantage provides a reliable middle ground—more expensive, but with perks like stopovers and increased seat inventory. Access is positioned as a last resort: high availability, but often at high cost.
In short, while the introduction of Access increases availability, it chips away at the predictability and value that many KrisFlyer members have come to rely on. For those who have long used their miles for aspirational redemptions in Business and First Class, this shift feels less like a loyalty enhancement and more like a quiet recalibration of expectations. The dream is still there—but it’s going to cost you more to reach it.
TLDR:
KrisFlyer Miles Redemption: Before and After November 2025
| Route | Cabin Class | Before November 2025 | After November 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saver (Miles) | Advantage (Miles) | ||
| Singapore to Sydney | Business | 62,000 | 92,000 |
| San Francisco to Singapore | Business | 107,000 | 128,500 |
| Singapore to Bangkok | Economy | 12,500 | 25,000 |
Notes:
- Before November 2025: KrisFlyer offers Saver (lowest miles, limited availability) and Advantage (higher miles, more seats and perks like stopovers).
- After November 2025: The new Access tier introduces dynamic pricing, with mile costs varying by demand, often exceeding Advantage rates.
- Access Pricing: Estimated mile costs for Access reflect dynamic pricing during high-demand periods, potentially nearing cash fare equivalents.
- Saver and Advantage mile requirements remain unchanged post-November 2025, per available information.
- Access ensures greater availability but at a higher cost, reducing predictability for strategic redemptions.
