Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines (SQ) is a Star Alliance member based in Singapore (SIN) and is regularly voted the best airline in the world. Here is the thing you need to know before spending any time searching: Singapore keeps nearly all of its long-haul First and business class space for its own KrisFlyer program. Partners like United and Aeroplan mostly see economy, premium economy, and some regional business class.

Singapore Airlines

Which miles can you use to book Singapore Airlines?

Because Singapore Airlines is in Star Alliance, you can book its award space with partner miles, including:

  • United MileagePlus: no fuel surcharges, and united.com is also the easiest place to search
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • Avianca LifeMiles: often the cheapest, no surcharges
  • Turkish Miles&Smiles

How to search for Singapore Airlines award space:

The easiest place to search is the United Airlines website. United displays Star Alliance partner availability, including Singapore Airlines, and you can search without holding any miles.

Step 1

Log in to your United Airlines account on united.com. If you don’t have an account yet, signing up is free.

Step 2

Select the Book Travel box and fill in your trip details:

  • Select either Round Trip or One Way
  • Enter your departure and arrival city. For Singapore Airlines, think routes touching Singapore (SIN), like SIN-NRT, SIN-HKG, SIN-SYD, or the long hauls to LAX and JFK
  • Enter your dates
  • Select the number of passengers
  • Select Award Travel

Then click Search.

Singapore Airlines First Class

Step 3

Pick the flight option that fits your schedule. Watch the connection times carefully, as some options have very long layovers.

If you would like to search a different day, use the calendar to scan nearby dates. Regional business class within Asia shows up for partners far more often than the long-haul flights do.

Make sure you select the Saver Award, as standard awards cost far more miles and usually can’t be booked with partner programs anyway.

Singapore Airlines

Step 4

Choose your preferred flight and open its details. Write down the following information: flight number, dates, and cabin class.

Step 5

Now book with the program your miles live in. If it’s United miles, book right there on united.com. For other programs (Aeroplan, LifeMiles, Miles&Smiles), check their website first, since most can book Star Alliance partners online now. If the flight doesn’t show, call the program and read the agent the exact flights you found. They should be able to see and book the same space for you.

Tips before you book

  • The screenshots above show an older United site design. Menu names have shifted slightly, but the flow (log in, award search, pick saver space) is unchanged.
  • If you want Suites or long-haul business class, transfer points directly into KrisFlyer. Amex, Chase, Citi, and Capital One all transfer to it, and KrisFlyer sees far more premium space on its own flights than any partner ever will.
  • If united.com shows nothing, cross-check the same route on aeroplan.com. Partner sites occasionally disagree on the last seat or two.