As you know, I like playing around with programs that aren’t as popular as the main few. Like Singapore, Korean, etc…
Well, Virgin Elevate produced a great find, and I’m not sure if it’s a mistake. So I didn’t want to publicize it at first, but heck, I already have tickets to Europe and I want to make sure my readers do to. Book while it lasts.
Let me get a couple things straight.
1) Virgin America’s “Elevate” program is very different than Virgin Altantic. The prices are so freaking cheap, like 15,000 miles (points) roundtrip to Europe but $500+ in fuel surcharges! Although, Virgin Atlantic isn’t much better with fuel surcharges but they have worse award prices.
2) Virgin Elevate is a transfer from American Express Membership Rewards 2:1. Yes, it’s 2:1 but this year we’ve seen 30%, 40% and 50% bonuses.
Alternative earnings: You get 500 miles when you create an account and can transfer accounts for $10 per 500 miles… if you’re into buying miles. Also, you get 7,500 after your first flight.
Okay, so here’s the deal:
Virgin Elevate is not charging fuel surcharges on Singapore Airlines.
And Singapore has a route from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA), so I priced it out. One way is 10,000 miles and $5.60.
Roundtrips are a better deal than oneways. JFK – FRA:
- Oneway Economy = 12,000
- Roundtrip Economy = 20,000
- Oneway Business = 35,000
- Roundtrip Business = 59,000
- Oneway First Class = 54,000
- Roundtrip First Class = 90,000
These are extremely great prices.
Although to be realistic, double the price to get the Amex MR price. But during a 50% bonus, you’d only add 50%. And 27,000 roundtrip to Europe is still a great deal.
Also, you can take a Virgin America flight to New York to connect. It will add a few miles, but not too much. Or you can use Avios or something.
20,000 points roundtrip to Europe = 27,000 – 40,000 American Express MR points, or = $400 with my risky buy trick.
Two Sweet Things
So the website’s calculator will tell you that a oneway is $75 and a roundtrip is $147. Somehow they seem to be taking the FRA airport tax and adding it twice, as well as the JFK tax. No idea, but ignore and trust the agent.
But it’s already very odd in the first place, because Singapore’s Star Alliance partners charge fuel surcharges, and according to ITA, the fuel surcharges on this ticket should be over $358 alone, before the other taxes that aren’t getting added in.
It’s hard to believe any of it is intentional. Although they have calculated an exact fare for their calculator and not only is it too low, the actual booking part is even lower. So it’s hard say which price is the intended price; the actual ticket’s “YQ” surcharge, the calculator price without YQ, or the bookable price without YQ and departure tax.
The other thing is that the First Class flight that is 90k roundtrip is on an AirBus 380. Which means…
Yes. Singapore’s First Class Suites. Suites aren’t what gets me up in the morning but I know some of you are a little different.
Anyways…
Conclusion?
Really the only good use if you’re transferring from Amex is Economy. Economy would be 27k-40k roundtrip (depending on if there’s a bonus) + basic airport taxes. And if you already have Elevate Points, this is the best deal. Although, if you’re into premium cabin, it’s nice not to have fuel surcharges!
Hopefully I’ll have a full post on Virgin Elevate soonish. There are a few really good redemptions. It’s hard to beat 20,000 miles to Hawaii… but then again, this post did that, as Europe for 20k is a steal.
Anyone think that despite the 2:1 from Amex, this is a great deal? If there’s another 50% bonus, this is a no brainer as long as they don’t start adding fuel charges on Singapore. Any other tips on earning?
SQ F is bad deal. Only costs 114k RT using SQ miles. So 114k SQ/MR vs. 90k/180k VX/MR. If you figure 50% bonus, it’s still 120k MR, if I’m doing math right. (I think you’re doing math wrong. During 50% bonus, you multiply VX requirement by 4/3 to get MR requirement. Normal ratio is 2/1, so multiply VX by 2/1 to get MR. During 50% bonus ratio is 2/1.5, which is equal to 4/3.) Plus, SQ doesn’t generally release any suites class to partners and releases reduced C and Y. However, Y at 40k (normal) to 26.6k (50% bonus) MR is still a very good deal.
Correction to above, SQ releases Suites class to India to partners and releases (IIRC) a reduced number of Suites to select partners like LH M&M (or back in day, accidentally to AV LM; this is controlled by POS.). I don’t know if VX is included among select partners, but I’d be surprised.
I complete agree. If transfer from Amex, premium on SQ isn’t a deal, because you could transfer elsewhere.
But because of fuel surcharges elsewhere, if you already have Elevate points, this is the best premium cabin deal.
And yes, economy is still a good deal.
Thanks Hans, it’s 26.66, or you’d need 27,000… Or actually you’d need 26,800, but I’ll round.
doesn’t SQ charge FQ on their own flights? I think the transfer to Virgin w/ no FQ (if space is avail) is the better deal.
i actually knew about this when i got a quote from an elevate phone agent a few months ago.. cant check award price on-line.
problem is earning the points. even with the barclays credit card bonus… buying the additional miles needed, positioning flight.. dulls the value.
i guess this amex transfer bonus helps
Yea, I wouldn’t buy points as it’s pretty expensive.
Maybe I’m wrong, but according to the VX site, IAH-DME is 20000 as well, and LAX-NRT is 40000. It appears this applies to all SQ flights.
yeah man. its cheap if that the exact route you need. but adding the position flight & weak transfer ratio negates the cheap award price IMO
Curious if AMEX Plat $200 airline rebate can be used on fuel surcharges for award redemptions. I’m guessing yes but never used it before.
how many VE points do you need to book one way econ from SIN to PVG? The ticket price is about $500. Do you think it is worth it to transfer AMEX MR to VE for this? Thanks!
ops. forgot to mention flying Singapore Airlines
I can’t font on virgin americas website how i check points and availability on singapore airlines?
I see NYC to FRA via Singapore Airline 50K RT Econ
http://travelisfree.com/2014/10/16/cheapest-miles-to-get-to-europe/#more-11650www.virgin-atlantic.com/eu/en/flying-club/flying-club-partners/airlines/singapore-airlines.html
Yea. I’d agree with previous commenters, that it’s far from slick deal. First you need to get enough miles, which are hard or expensive to get, as Amex MR only transfer to half of its number because of 2:1 ration, secondly you have to position yourself to NYC, which is while simple to some, can be expensive for others, and thirdly you’d only get to FRA, and from there you’d have to fly elsewhere, that would all add up the price and that’s all in addition to already “modest” $150 or even more fuel surcharge. In my opinion AA miles during long off-peak period of 7 months from any US airport (West or East US Coast) to any European airport (Western or Eastern Europe), or 30-35K US Airway off-peak from any US airport to many Western EU airports where US Airway flies is a much better deal!
I don’t think you can redeem First/Business Class between North America and Europe. The availability for Virgin America is the exact same for Star Alliance Partners rather than the availability for KrisFlyer members.
If interested in the economy deal, one way to get the points is buying amex gift cards via the Elevate portal. Haven’t done the math, but I am sure if you have a cash back credit card it could be worth while. Not sure if you had to pay the fees if it would still make sense. Considering it for the 25k rt econ flight from HNL-PPT.
Interesting… May have to join Elevate as IAH-DME for 20,000 RT without surcharges would be pretty sweet. As it stands right now, redeeming SQ KF for Y isn’t a great deal due to YQ. Much better to go for J or F.