Velocity vs KrisFlyer: Which Is Better for Singapore Airlines Business Class?

If you're based in Australia and want to fly Singapore Airlines using points, there are two popular ways to approach it.

You can redeem Velocity Points through Virgin Australia, or you can use Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles.

I recently compared both options for a Singapore Airlines Business Class trip from Sydney to Southeast Asia. At first, one option looked obviously better. But once I included the points conversion rate and cash charges, the difference became much less straightforward.

The number of points shown on the booking screen is only part of the story. You also need to consider:

• transfer rates
• taxes
• carrier charges
• reward-seat availability
• and what the points you're spending are worth to you

Here's how I approached it.

The redemption I compared

When I originally searched for my trip, I found approximately:

These were the actual results I saw when researching my trip. They are an example only. Award pricing, taxes and availability change depending on the destination, date and itinerary, so always check your own booking before transferring points.

At first glance, KrisFlyer looked like the obvious winner. The mileage requirement appeared similar, while the cash payment was much lower. But that comparison misses one important detail: a Velocity Point and a KrisFlyer mile are not the same currency.

The transfer rate changes everything

Velocity and KrisFlyer allow members to link their accounts and transfer points between the two programs. The current conversion from Velocity to KrisFlyer is 1.55 Velocity Points = 1 KrisFlyer mile.

So if you needed 77,500 KrisFlyer miles and your points were sitting entirely in Velocity, the calculation would be 77,500 × 1.55 = 120,125 Velocity Points.

That means my original comparison was really closer to:

• Book through Velocity — 79,500 Velocity Points plus approximately A$459.92
• Transfer Velocity to KrisFlyer — approximately 120,125 Velocity Points plus approximately US$81

That's a very different comparison. The KrisFlyer option would save cash, but it would require approximately 40,625 additional Velocity Points.

Why the cash charges can be so different

Velocity applies carrier charges to Singapore Airlines Reward Seats. For Business Class, the published carrier charge currently depends on the distance of each flight segment:

• US$120 per segment for flights up to 4,200 miles
• US$200 per segment for flights above 4,200 miles

Other taxes and fees also apply. This helps explain why a Singapore Airlines redemption booked through Velocity can sometimes have a substantial cash component. KrisFlyer awards use Singapore Airlines' own pricing and fee structure, so the amount paid in cash can be very different. The exact amount should always be checked at the time of booking.

Option 1 — Booking through Velocity

Using my original search: 79,500 Velocity Points + approximately A$459.92.

Why I might choose Velocity

The biggest advantage is preserving points. Compared with converting enough Velocity Points into KrisFlyer miles for my example, I would keep approximately 40,625 Velocity Points — points that could potentially be used towards another flight later.

Velocity can therefore make sense if:

• you already have a large Velocity balance
• you want to preserve points
• you don't mind paying more cash
• the reward seat you need is available through Velocity

The downside

The cash payment can be noticeably higher. Paying several hundred dollars on top of a points redemption may not appeal to everyone.

Option 2 — Booking through KrisFlyer

In my original comparison: 77,500 KrisFlyer miles + approximately US$81. If I already had those KrisFlyer miles, that could be a very attractive redemption. But if I were starting with Velocity Points, I'd need approximately 120,125 Velocity Points to create 77,500 KrisFlyer miles at the current 1.55:1 conversion rate.

Why I might choose KrisFlyer

The biggest attraction is the lower cash component I found in my search. That can be valuable if:

• I already have KrisFlyer miles
• I have a large points balance
• reducing my out-of-pocket cost matters more to me
• a Saver reward is available

The downside

If I'm transferring from Velocity, I'm using considerably more points. And once Velocity Points are transferred to KrisFlyer, the transfer cannot be reversed.

Don't compare 79,500 points with 77,500 miles directly

This was the part I found most interesting. Looking only at 79,500 Velocity Points versus 77,500 KrisFlyer miles makes KrisFlyer appear slightly cheaper. But if your starting balance is Velocity, that's not the correct comparison.

The more useful comparison is 79,500 Velocity Points versus 120,125 Velocity Points converted into KrisFlyer miles. Suddenly the trade-off becomes obvious: you're deciding whether the lower cash payment is worth giving up around another 40,000 Velocity Points.

What if you already have KrisFlyer miles?

This changes the calculation significantly. If I already had 77,500 KrisFlyer miles, I wouldn't need to convert approximately 120,000 Velocity Points. In that situation, KrisFlyer could be much more attractive.

That's why I think the first question should always be: where are your points currently sitting? A redemption strategy that makes sense for someone with a large KrisFlyer balance might make much less sense for someone whose points are entirely in Velocity.

KrisFlyer pricing varies by destination

Singapore Airlines does not have one single Business Class redemption price for all of Southeast Asia. KrisFlyer uses geographic award zones, so different destinations can require different amounts of miles. There are also different redemption levels:

• Saver — requires fewer KrisFlyer miles but has more limited reward-seat availability
• Advantage — requires more miles but generally offers greater availability

Because of this, don't assume that the mileage requirement in my example will apply to every Southeast Asian destination. Always search the actual route you want to book.

Why I would look for Saver awards first

When I'm searching with KrisFlyer, Saver is what I would look for first. Saver requires fewer miles. The trade-off is that availability can be limited. If Saver isn't available and only an Advantage reward is, I would redo the comparison before transferring anything — a redemption that works well at Saver pricing may no longer make sense at Advantage pricing.

Don't transfer points before finding the seat

This is probably the most important lesson from the comparison. I would not transfer Velocity Points into KrisFlyer just because I might want to book Singapore Airlines later. My process would be:

1. 01Search the Singapore Airlines itinerary I want.
2. 02Check whether a KrisFlyer Saver reward is available.
3. 03Note the exact mileage required.
4. 04Check the taxes and charges.
5. 05Search Velocity for the same or comparable itinerary.
6. 06Note the Velocity Points required.
7. 07Note the Velocity taxes and charges.
8. 08Convert the KrisFlyer requirement back into its Velocity equivalent.
9. 09Compare the two.
10. 10Only then transfer points if KrisFlyer makes more sense.

This matters because Velocity-to-KrisFlyer transfers cannot be reversed.

The question I ask myself

Instead of asking which program uses fewer points, I prefer asking: what am I giving up to choose one option over the other?

In my example, KrisFlyer could save me several hundred dollars in cash. But using KrisFlyer through a Velocity transfer could also cost me around another 40,000 Velocity Points. So I would ask myself: would I personally trade around 40,000 Velocity Points to save that amount of cash? Sometimes the answer might be yes. Sometimes it might be no. That's why I don't think there is one universal winner.

When I would lean towards Velocity

• most of my points are already in Velocity
• the Velocity redemption requires considerably fewer points
• I want to preserve my points balance
• I'm comfortable paying a larger cash component
• suitable partner reward availability exists

When I would lean towards KrisFlyer

• I already have KrisFlyer miles
• a Saver reward is available
• the cash charges are substantially lower
• reducing my out-of-pocket cost matters more to me
• I'm comfortable using more points to save cash

So which one is better?

I don't think the answer is simply that Velocity is better, or that KrisFlyer is better. They solve different problems. Velocity can sometimes help preserve more of your points. KrisFlyer can sometimes reduce the cash component and provide access to Singapore Airlines' own Saver award inventory.

The better option depends on:

• where your points are currently held
• the route
• the date
• Saver availability
• the transfer rate
• taxes and carrier charges
• how much you personally value your points

For me, the important lesson was that the lowest number shown on the booking screen isn't necessarily the cheapest redemption. You need to compare everything in the same currency first.

My takeaway

Airline points are much easier to understand once you stop treating every point as equal. A KrisFlyer award showing 77,500 miles isn't directly comparable with a Velocity award showing 79,500 points. If your starting currency is Velocity, the KrisFlyer option in my example actually represents approximately 120,125 Velocity Points.

Once I looked at it that way, the real decision became much clearer:

• Save points and pay more cash
• Use more points and keep more cash in my pocket

That's the comparison I now make before transferring airline points.

Before you book

Award pricing, taxes, carrier charges, transfer ratios and reward-seat availability can change. The numbers in this article include a real redemption search I made and should be treated as an example rather than a guaranteed current fare. Always check the latest information directly with Velocity Frequent Flyer and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer before transferring points or making a booking.

This article reflects my own research and personal approach to points redemptions. It is not financial advice.

FAQ

Can Velocity Points be transferred to KrisFlyer?

Yes. Velocity and KrisFlyer accounts can be linked, and Velocity Points can currently be converted to KrisFlyer miles at a rate of 1.55 Velocity Points for 1 KrisFlyer mile. Transfers are subject to program terms and cannot be reversed.

Is Velocity or KrisFlyer better for Singapore Airlines?

It depends. Velocity may require fewer points for some partner redemptions but can have higher carrier charges. KrisFlyer may offer lower cash charges and access to Singapore Airlines Saver awards, but converting from Velocity requires more points.

Should I transfer Velocity Points to KrisFlyer before finding a reward seat?

I wouldn't. Reward availability can change and transfers cannot be reversed. Search for the seat first, compare the costs and only transfer if the KrisFlyer option makes sense.

Are KrisFlyer redemption rates the same across Southeast Asia?

No. Singapore Airlines uses geographic award zones, so mileage requirements can vary depending on your destination and itinerary.

Sources & further reading

• Velocity Frequent Flyer — Singapore Airlines / KrisFlyer transfers
• Velocity Frequent Flyer — Reward Seats, points and carrier charges
• Singapore Airlines — KrisFlyer award charts
• Singapore Airlines — KrisFlyer Saver and Advantage awards

Points requirements, taxes, fees, transfer rates and availability can change. Always confirm current details with the airline or loyalty program before transferring points or booking.

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