By The Escape desk · Last verified 11 October 2026
KrisFlyer award flights come in two main prices: Saver, the cheapest but limited, and Advantage, which costs far more miles but is easier to find. As an example, Singapore to Tokyo Narita in economy is listed at 25,500 miles Saver or 49,500 miles Advantage, one way, as of October 2026. The award is not free: you pay airport and government taxes in cash, although Singapore Airlines has long not added fuel surcharges to awards on its own flights. If Saver seats are gone, you can waitlist Singapore Airlines flights without miles being deducted, but waitlists close about two weeks before departure. Miles expire after three years, so plan your redemptions.
Miles feel like free money until you try to spend them. This guide explains where the value is, and the small print that decides whether you get it.
Quick facts
- Award types: Saver (fewest miles, limited seats) and Advantage (more miles, more seats).
- Example: Singapore-Tokyo economy, 25,500 Saver or 49,500 Advantage one way; business 54,500 or 80,500.
- Taxes: paid in cash on award tickets.
- Fuel surcharges: not levied on awards on Singapore Airlines’ own flights; some partner airlines add them.
- Waitlist: Singapore Airlines flights only; request at least three weeks out; closes about 14 days before departure.
- Expiry: three years; a one-time paid extension is available.
How many miles do you need?
| Singapore to Tokyo Narita, one way | Saver | Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 25,500 | 49,500 |
| Premium Economy | 39,500 | Not listed |
| Business | 54,500 | 80,500 |
| First/Suites | 81,000 | 138,000 |
Figures are as listed by an award-search site verified in October 2026; check KrisFlyer’s own calculator for your route and date. KrisFlyer last revised its award prices from 1 November 2025, when Advantage awards in particular rose; on Sydney-Singapore, for example, Business Advantage went from 90,000 to 103,500 miles, about 15% more.
The taxes you still pay
Every award ticket carries airport and government charges, paid in cash when you book. Departing Changi, these include the airport’s passenger charges and levies, which have risen in recent years; arriving in some countries, such as Australia and the United States, adds more. Partner awards can also carry carrier surcharges: KrisFlyer guides have long flagged airlines such as Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian for significant surcharges, while others add little or none.
| Award flown on | Fuel or carrier surcharge | Taxes and airport charges |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore Airlines | None added on KrisFlyer awards | Payable in cash |
| Star Alliance or other partners | Depends on the airline: significant, low or none | Payable in cash |
| Cash + Miles on SIA or Scoot | As per the cash fare | Can be paid with miles |
To see the exact amount, start a booking on singaporeair.com and open the tax breakdown before paying.
How the waitlist works, step by step
- Make sure you hold enough miles for the award; nothing is deducted to waitlist.
- At least three weeks before departure, waitlist a Saver or Advantage award on a Singapore Airlines flight (partners and some flights cannot be waitlisted).
- You can waitlist several flights, as long as your balance covers the most expensive one.
- If a seat clears, you get an email and have 72 hours to confirm; then the miles are deducted.
- If nothing clears by about 14 days before departure, it will not. Have a back-up plan.
Elite members get priority, and economy, premium economy and business clear more often than first class and Suites, according to a January 2026 guide.
A worked example: Saver or Advantage to Tokyo
A return economy trip to Tokyo on Saver awards is 25,500 × 2 = 51,000 miles, plus taxes in cash. On Advantage both ways it is 49,500 × 2 = 99,000 miles, nearly double, for the same seat. Business Saver return is 54,500 × 2 = 109,000 miles, only 10,000 miles more than economy Advantage. That is why the Saver hunt, and the waitlist, matter so much.
Do not let miles expire
KrisFlyer miles expire three years after they are earned, at the end of that month. PPS Club members’ miles do not expire while they keep status. A one-time extension is available for a fee, reported at 1,200 miles or US$12 per 10,000 miles, and extended miles cannot be extended again. Changes and cancellations to award tickets can carry fees, so read the conditions when you book.
The WahLiao Verdict
Aim for Saver awards on Singapore Airlines’ own flights, book as early as your plans allow, and waitlist your preferred flight while holding a confirmed back-up. Treat Advantage as a fallback, not a habit; the miles cost is often close to double. Always check the cash taxes before you click pay, and set a calendar reminder for when your oldest miles expire.
Questions people ask
Are KrisFlyer award flights free?
No. You pay miles for the fare and cash for airport and government taxes, plus any partner surcharges.
Are miles deducted when I waitlist?
No. Miles are deducted only if a seat clears and you confirm within 72 hours, but you must hold the full balance.
Can I waitlist partner airline flights?
No. Waitlisting works only on Singapore Airlines flights.
Can I use miles on Scoot?
Yes. Scoot awards are reported to start from 1,500 miles plus taxes and surcharges, and Cash + Miles lets you part-pay SIA and Scoot fares.
Sources: Award Travel Finder, KrisFlyer miles Singapore-Tokyo (verified October 2026); Australian Frequent Flyer, KrisFlyer award changes from 1 November 2025; One Mile at a Time, KrisFlyer waitlist rules, January 2026; The Milelion, miles expiry and extensions; Mainly Miles, taxes and partner surcharges. The Escape explains; it does not advise.
Read next: What’s in a Singapore Air Fare: Airport Charges and the New Green Fuel Levy · Airport Lounges at Changi: Priority Pass, Paid Lounges and Who Gets In · Back to The Escape
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
Leave a Reply