AA award redemption SIN-KUL extremely expensive?
Apr 10, 2021, 10:32 pm
#1
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AA award redemption SIN-KUL extremely expensive?
I was just checking around to see which airline miles would offer the lowest price in this route. I have a healthy balance of both AA and BA miles. AA is asking for 17.5k per direction or 35k round-trip. BA is asking for 6k per direction or 12k round-trip. That's a massive difference! What's with the massive disparity in pricing? Anything cheaper than redeeming Avios then?
Apr 10, 2021, 10:51 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,550
BA awards are distance-based, so with such a short hop, it prices out very inexpensively. There's not necessarily any rhyme or reason behind AA's pricing, but I'm sure that if you looked at a USA transcon, it would be extremely likely that AA would be cheaper.
Apr 10, 2021, 11:51 pm
#3
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Location: MEL CHC
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AA award redemption SIN-KUL extremely expensive?
I was just checking around to see which airline miles would offer the lowest price in this route. I have a healthy balance of both AA and BA miles. AA is asking for 17.5k per direction or 35k round-trip. BA is asking for 6k per direction or 12k round-trip. That's a massive difference! What's with the massive disparity in pricing? Anything cheaper than redeeming Avios then?
BA awards are distance based.
1 AA ff mile does not equal 1 BA avios. Earning rate can be different, but credit cards can transfer at the same rate.
For such a short trip (184miles) better to use cash. Or even take the trains if they are running. Or bus [5:15h]
https://howdoigo.asia/singapore-to-k...ght-bus-train/
A map from Great Circle Mapper - Great Circle Mapper
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Apr 11, 2021 at 12:04 am
Apr 11, 2021, 1:50 am
#4
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
As mentioned before, that is a joy of a zone based award system - sometimes good value, sometimes not
Given that fares on Jetstar are from SGD23.50 (USD17.50) plus tax each way ( tax SIN-KUL SGD41.5 and SGD14.35 KUL-SIN ) , it would seem that the best value option would be just to buy a ticket and save miles/avios/points
Even 6000 avios would seem to be able to be better used than to save USD17.50 (taxes would still need to be paid on an award ticket)
Given that fares on Jetstar are from SGD23.50 (USD17.50) plus tax each way ( tax SIN-KUL SGD41.5 and SGD14.35 KUL-SIN ) , it would seem that the best value option would be just to buy a ticket and save miles/avios/points
Even 6000 avios would seem to be able to be better used than to save USD17.50 (taxes would still need to be paid on an award ticket)
Apr 11, 2021, 1:54 am
#5
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As mentioned before, that is a joy of a zone based award system - sometimes good value, sometimes not
Given that fares on Jetstar are from SGD23.50 (USD17.50) plus tax each way ( tax SIN-KUL SGD41.5 and SGD14.35 KUL-SIN ) , it would seem that the best value option would be just to buy a ticket and save miles/avios/points
Even 6000 avios would seem to be able to be better used than to save USD17.50 (taxes would still need to be paid on an award ticket)
Given that fares on Jetstar are from SGD23.50 (USD17.50) plus tax each way ( tax SIN-KUL SGD41.5 and SGD14.35 KUL-SIN ) , it would seem that the best value option would be just to buy a ticket and save miles/avios/points
Even 6000 avios would seem to be able to be better used than to save USD17.50 (taxes would still need to be paid on an award ticket)
Apr 11, 2021, 3:07 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,665
Depends how much luggage you have I guess. In that case, depending on date, I see MI for $110 round trip, SQ for around $150 and MH for around $160. For those prices I certainly wouldn't spend 12k Avios. Each of those give you 30kg without considering any status you may have.
Apr 11, 2021, 3:16 am
#7
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Depends how much luggage you have I guess. In that case, depending on date, I see MI for $110 round trip, SQ for around $150 and MH for around $160. For those prices I certainly wouldn't spend 12k Avios. Each of those give you 30kg without considering any status you may have.
Apr 11, 2021, 3:23 am
#8
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I was just checking around to see which airline miles would offer the lowest price in this route. I have a healthy balance of both AA and BA miles. AA is asking for 17.5k per direction or 35k round-trip. BA is asking for 6k per direction or 12k round-trip. That's a massive difference! What's with the massive disparity in pricing? Anything cheaper than redeeming Avios then?
Apr 11, 2021, 4:20 am
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
Even if the avios booking on MH provides a baggage allowance ( not sure if it does ) , then the 6000 avios is saving SGD45.5 , which seems a dismal value to me
Apr 11, 2021, 6:55 am
#11
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Loyalty programs have different features. While $1 = $1, the same cannot be said for a comparison of avios to AA miles, What did it take to earn the mile in question? How does the program work?
Redemptions can be great or terrible value depending on the routing and timing. But, they are not like cash.
Redemptions can be great or terrible value depending on the routing and timing. But, they are not like cash.
Apr 11, 2021, 7:41 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MSP/BUF/BNA/LFT
Programs: AA Plat, Priority Club Gold, Choice Privileges Gold
Posts: 1,225
I agree that this is a terrible use of points. The last time I flew SIN-KUL I paid $60 USD in C on a Malindo promotion.
Apr 11, 2021, 8:40 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,665
Forget now, but random dates in May and September I think. They were very similar. There's so much LCC pressure in SE Asia that those prices should be relatively stable on non-holidays. In the end, you're probably a bit ahead doing an LCC and paying for the baggage, but if you have OneWorld or Star Alliance status and want the lounge and other elite benefits, then it shouldn't be too difficult.