The smart traveller’s guide to using KrisFlyer miles

Frequent flyer miles aren’t just for flight redemptions and upgrades.

From dining and shopping to travel perks and everyday rewards, KrisFlyer miles can be used in more ways than many realise.

Here’s how travellers are making the most of them, both in the air and on the ground.

The instinct to save miles for a big redemption makes sense in theory.

A smarter move is to keep them in circulation – converting between airline miles and hotel points depending on where you’re travelling to next. Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio – from overwater villas in the Maldives and beachfront retreats in Phuket to jungle hideaways in Bali’s Ubud – is the kind of inventory worth knowing how to access.

Since April 2026, converting KrisFlyer miles into Marriott Bonvoy points gives you 50 per cent more value than before, shifting the calculus on when a conversion makes sense. 

Those points can go towards free nights and room upgrades at places you would otherwise be paying full rate for. At the same time, qualifying stays can earn up to 2 KrisFlyer miles per US$1 spent, making it possible to accumulate miles seamlessly while travelling on the ground.

The real flexibility, though, lies in how the system flows both ways: Convert Marriott Bonvoy points into KrisFlyer miles and your hotel stays feed directly into flights, car rentals, shopping, dining and experiences across Singapore Airlines Group entities – including Kris+, KrisShop, Pelago, Scoot and Singapore Airlines.

Not all hotel partnerships are created equal. With Shangri-La, KrisFlyer members can earn on two tracks at once, with a rare kind of parallel earning – gaining both Shangri-La Circle Points and KrisFlyer miles on the same eligible stay.

Points convert to KrisFlyer miles at 1.25 miles per Shangri-La Circle Point, handy when you’re a few thousand short of a redemption you’ve been sitting on. And if you’ve got miles to spare, you can move those across to Shangri-La Circle too – 12 miles to 1 Shangri-La Circle Point – keeping your hotel balance ticking over between stays.

The less obvious play lies in status acceleration. Both Shangri-La and Marriott Bonvoy offer reciprocal fast-track benefits with KrisFlyer, and the thresholds are lower than many travellers realise.

For example, KrisFlyer Elite Gold members can qualify for Shangri-La Circle Jade with just a single qualifying night’s stay. That unlocks perks such as priority check-ins, room upgrades and added flexibility that can make a trip feel noticeably smoother.

It works the other way too. ShangriLa Circle Polaris, Diamond and Jade members can fast-track to KrisFlyer Elite Gold with eligible Singapore Airlines flights within four months – a worthwhile shortcut for travellers already moving regularly between the two ecosystems. 

Marriott Bonvoy offers similarly attractive accelerated pathways and reciprocal recognition benefits, giving frequent travellers more ways to unlock elite privileges across hotel stays and flights without starting from scratch. PPS Club and KrisFlyer Elite Gold members can qualify for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite tier with 10 qualifying nights’ stay at participating properties in Marriott Bonvoy within six months from the date of registration.

Meanwhile, KrisFlyer Elite Silver members can qualify for Marriott Silver Elite tier with three qualifying nights’ stay at participating g properties in Marriott Bonvoy within six months from the date of registration.

Marriott Bonvoy’s partnership with KrisFlyer adds another layer of flexibility through reciprocal status matches and accelerated rewards. PPS Club and KrisFlyer Elite Gold members can receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.

Meanwhile, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador Elite members receive KrisFlyer Elite Silver status, with a fast-track to KrisFlyer Elite Gold after just four qualifying Singapore Airlines flights.