Great business class award space for Europe and Asia on Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines often makes plenty of award seats available near the end of its booking calendar. If you’re looking 9 or more months in advance, you have a good chance of finding plenty of options, although there’s also good availability up close right now.
Thrifty Traveler’s premium airline ticket deal alert service has sent a Business Class seat alert from Houston – Manchester in the US, recording availability for two or more passengers from February to April and from July to December. The flight is not everyday, but when it is done the inventory is good.
However, I want to point out a few additional things.
- It’s not the only Singapore Airlines route where availability is currently very good
- If you’re willing to pay ~8% to 16% more miles, the availability gets even better
During most of the year, the Houston-Manchester flight is only three days a week. Looking at November for the two business class awards, I see:
That’s 81,000 Singapore Airlines miles one way. You get a few more flights available at 87,500 miles each way.
There is a bigger difference in availability with the award price if you look Los Angeles – Tokyo Narita. I claimed two business class award seats in November and the availability is pretty good at 103,500 miles one way, but it roughly doubles if I’m looking at space for 123,000 miles one way or less. In fact, including rewards at that price means it’s available each single day.
Much has been written about how Alaska Airlines miles can be used for long-haul Singapore Airlines premium cabin flights, and now Air Canada Aeroplan miles can too. Singapore used to not issue any premium cabin space to partners (and still doesn’t to most partners). However, in this case we are dealing with space that is mostly only available to Singaporean KrisFlyer members.
Of course, most of you have access to Singapore Airlines miles since the Krisflyer program is a transfer partner for all the major bank transferable currencies – Chase, Amex, Citi, Capital One and Brex. (Amex transfers are usually instant.)
Since Singapore is a member of Star Alliance, it is possible to include United Airlines domestic award seats for arrivals and departures on these flights in the US using a Star Alliance award ticket. It is also possible to book onward connections in Europe and Asia.
You can use United’s Polaris lounges if they are available at Singapore gateways in the US. The product includes lie-flat seats, generally great service, and “Book a Chef” where you choose in advance what the airline will have to eat on the plane if you want.