Redeeming miles SIN-USM
 

I'm running into high fares getting to USM from SIN and wondering what the different redemption possibilities might be. Flights are in 2020 and lots of availability - just high fares whether on SilkAir or Bangkok Airways. ($250-ish for this 1-hour flight) I realize that "wide open" doesn't necessarily mean "awards available", but I can't even find search results on awards from any of my usual alliance sources or AwardNexus.

So far I've found one thing: I opened a new Krisflyer account just to search SilkAir using SQ miles. They have plenty of award seats for 12.5k + $40. That's about at the breakeven point at which I'd do a Marriott transfer, but I'm wondering if there's a better way in through a Bangkok Airways award. Maybe JL or Etihad? I haven't found a way to search for these directly.

I just need one-way (SIN-USM). Flying onward to BKK where paid fares are more reasonable (~$100 on Bangkok Airways).

I know lots of FTers go to Samui, and I'm beginning to wonder if I just picked a bad entry route...I know most people probably go to/from BKK.

Silkair is not in star alliance, can only be redeemed with Krisflyer.

cheaper way is to SIN-BKK-USM. BKK-USM redeemed through Etihad. SIN-USM directly, very high surcharge with Etihad.

Thank you for the reply. I'll probably just end up buying the seats on the nonstop flight.

Ultimately, the fare isn't *so* high that I want to spend a 1/2 day on connecting through BKK. Nor high enough that I want to sacrifice a lot of Marriott points to get basically a 1.5 cpm mileage award. I like the Bangkok Airways flight times (evening) better than Silk Air (morning), so I'll probably go with that. Was just hoping that somewhere in PG's short and eclectic list of partners there was a 5k or 7.5k per seat mileage partner with no or minimal taxes/fees.

I've not tried but I did also hear that the SIN-USM route is quite tricky to get Bangkok Airways reward seats on using partner miles

Silkair via Krisflyer is pretty easy but as you say, not a great redemption