Blog
Contents
The verdict
Why the three-way comparison matters in 2026
The 2026 three-way side by side
ANA business class Singapore to Tokyo: the value-first sweet spot
Lufthansa first class Singapore to Europe: the aspirational sweet spot
United business class Singapore to North America: the availability sweet spot
The 1 November 2025 KrisFlyer Star Alliance chart update, in plain English
Trip fit: which redemption suits which reader
Surcharge and total cost, indicative
Availability windows in practice
Mile-earning workflow before redemption
When these sweet spots do NOT apply
Step-by-step booking workflow
Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways
Sources
Disclaimer
Blog
KrisFlyer ANA vs Lufthansa vs United: SG 2026 Sweet Spots
A structured 2026 comparison of the three Star Alliance sweet spots most Singapore-based KrisFlyer members chase: ANA business class to Tokyo, Lufthansa first class to Europe, and United business class to North America. Miles ranges, taxes and surcharges, availability quirks, and when each redemption actually wins after the November 2025 KrisFlyer Star Alliance chart update.
Singapore-based KrisFlyer members spend a lot of hours chasing three specific Star Alliance sweet spots: ANA business class to Tokyo, Lufthansa first class to Europe, and United business class to North America. All three sit on the same KrisFlyer Star Alliance round-trip partner chart (Singapore Airlines, updated 1 November 2025), all three trigger different surcharge realities, and all three have different availability profiles that shape when you can actually pull the trigger. The point of this article is to help you pick the redemption that fits your trip, not to inflate a single sweet spot as the answer.
The verdict
All three are structurally valid KrisFlyer Star Alliance sweet spots after the November 2025 chart update. The question is which constraint you are optimising for.
- ANA business class to Tokyo: wins on total cash outlay because Japan-route taxes are modest and ANA long-haul business availability from Tokyo hubs is generous.
- Lufthansa first class to Europe: wins on cabin ceiling and aspirational value when you can find legacy First availability, but carries the highest partner surcharges of the three.
- United business class to North America: wins on availability breadth and near-zero surcharges, though Polaris is a step below ANA business on product.
Pick by the constraint that matters most: total cash outlay (ANA), cabin ceiling (Lufthansa), or availability breadth (United). All three sit within the KrisFlyer Star Alliance round-trip chart after the 1 November 2025 revision.
Plan your KrisFlyer Star Alliance redemption trip via ShopBack Travel Planner, and compare hotels via ShopBack Travel Planner before booking the ground portion of the trip to layer cashback on the paid hotel stay.
Compare cashback offers on shopback.sg alongside your points strategy so revenue bookings on partner hotels, activities, and insurance around your award flight still earn back.
New to ShopBack? ShopBack is Singapore's largest cashback platform, paying real money back on more than 2,000 online and in-store merchants across retail, groceries, health and beauty, dining, travel, and select financial partners. Confirmed cashback lands in your ShopBack wallet and can be withdrawn to any Singapore bank account via PayNow. Sign up free at shopback.sg/signup.
Why the three-way comparison matters in 2026
Two things make 2026 the year to re-frame the KrisFlyer Star Alliance sweet spot conversation instead of relying on 2023-era advice.
First, the 1 November 2025 KrisFlyer Star Alliance chart revision. Singapore Airlines republished the Star Alliance round-trip award chart with rate increases across several zones. The most-cited move was Lufthansa first class Singapore to Europe rising to around 174,500 miles round-trip. Other partner-metal premium cabin categories saw directional increases in the same range. The chart is still full of value, but the sweet spot list needs a refresh.
Second, product and availability shifts across the three carriers. ANA continues to release healthy business class inventory on the Singapore to Tokyo route, including The Room product on the 777-300ER. Lufthansa is progressively retiring legacy First cabins in favour of the new Allegris First product, which as of writing is not bookable with partner miles including KrisFlyer. United continues to release Polaris business across a wide schedule with no carrier-imposed fuel surcharges.
The three-way frame is chosen because KrisFlyer members from Singapore realistically consider these three redemptions more than any others on Star Alliance metal. Air Canada business class to Vancouver, Turkish business class to Istanbul, and Thai business class to Europe are all valid too, but they sit outside the primary decision triangle for most Singapore-based miles collectors. The Star Alliance member airlines roster is broader, but the value density concentrates on ANA, Lufthansa, and United.
The 2026 three-way side by side
| Attribute | ANA business, SG to Tokyo | Lufthansa first, SG to Europe | United business, SG to North America |
|---|---|---|---|
| KrisFlyer chart zone | North Asia business (partner) | Europe first (partner) | North America business (partner) |
| Round-trip miles range | Approx. 92,000 to 115,000 | Around 174,500 | Approx. 130,000 to 145,000 |
| Cabin product | ANA The Room / regional business | Lufthansa legacy First (retiring) | United Polaris business |
| Taxes and surcharges | Modest | High (carrier-imposed) | Very low (no fuel surcharge) |
| Availability release | Generous long-haul; schedule change and rolling | Mostly within 15 days of departure | Broad across schedule |
| Best for | Total cost minimiser | Cabin ceiling and aspirational | Availability and flexibility |
| Sweet spot condition | Book Saver on ANA-operated flights | Find legacy First within short window | Anytime, especially last-minute |
| Post November 2025 impact | Modest rate movement | Rate rose to around 174,500 | Modest rate movement |
Miles ranges reflect publicly documented KrisFlyer Star Alliance chart bands after the 1 November 2025 revision and are indicative rather than a guarantee. Verify the exact zone rate on the current Singapore Airlines Star Alliance round-trip award chart PDF before you plan a redemption.
ANA business class Singapore to Tokyo: the value-first sweet spot
ANA business class between Singapore Changi and Tokyo (Haneda or Narita) is the workhorse KrisFlyer Star Alliance redemption for Singapore-based members. The route runs at least twice daily across ANA and Singapore Airlines, ANA regularly deploys wide-body aircraft including the 787-9 and the 777-300ER with The Room product, and long-haul business Saver space opens at schedule change with additional inventory rolling out closer to departure.
Where the ANA to Tokyo sweet spot wins.
- Total cost is modest. Japan-route taxes are low, and ANA carrier-imposed surcharges on partner awards are moderate compared with European carriers. Total out-of-pocket on a round-trip Singapore to Tokyo business class KrisFlyer redemption often lands under S$200 in taxes and fees, which is the cleanest total-cost profile in the sweet spot triangle for anyone comparing pure cash outlay.
- Availability is generous. ANA is one of the more open Star Alliance carriers for partner space on its Japan-Asia network, especially outside cherry blossom and autumn foliage peaks. If you can move dates by three or four days, business class Saver is often bookable within 60 days of departure.
- The Room product is a strong seat. When you draw the 777-300ER with The Room, you get one of the widest and most private business class seats in commercial aviation, comparable in privacy to some carriers' first class.
- Regional business on 787s is competent even when The Room is not deployed, so the downside is bounded.
Where the ANA to Tokyo sweet spot is neutral to weaker.
- Peak season rates. Cherry blossom (late March to early April) and Golden Week release less availability, and any surcharge sensitivity increases.
- Round-trip only via KrisFlyer. KrisFlyer partner awards are round-trip on the Star Alliance chart, which is less flexible than one-way partner charts on Aeroplan or ANA Mileage Club. If you want a one-way ticket, KrisFlyer is not the tool.
For the credit card side of building up KrisFlyer miles quickly to reach this redemption, the credit card miles and cashback playbook walks through the SG-issued cards that transfer to KrisFlyer at 1:1.
Activate cashback via ShopBack before checkout at travel partners on shopback.sg to earn on the paid ground portion of your Tokyo trip, since ANA and Singapore Airlines are not ShopBack cashback partners for the award flight itself.
Lufthansa first class Singapore to Europe: the aspirational sweet spot
Lufthansa first class via KrisFlyer is the redemption Singapore-based miles collectors talk about most and book least. The mile cost after the 1 November 2025 chart revision sits around 174,500 miles round-trip for a Singapore to Europe partner First redemption, and the reality of availability makes this a highly conditional sweet spot.
Where the Lufthansa first sweet spot wins.
- Cabin ceiling is the highest of the three. Lufthansa legacy First on the 747-8 or A380 is a genuine top-of-market first class product, with First Class Terminal access at Frankfurt or Munich, chauffeur service on the ground, and a fully private cabin in the air.
- Miles cost per aspirational hour is favourable when compared with cash tickets. A one-way Lufthansa First revenue ticket Singapore to Frankfurt lists at well over S$10,000; the KrisFlyer redemption values each mile aggressively even at the post-November 2025 rate.
- Frankfurt First Class Terminal experience is the widely cited crown jewel of the redemption and is included with the First ticket without additional cost.
Where the Lufthansa first sweet spot is neutral to weaker.
- Allegris First is unavailable to partners. Lufthansa's new Allegris First cabins are not released to Star Alliance partner programmes including KrisFlyer at the time of writing. Redemptions must fall on legacy First frames, which are progressively retiring across 2026 and 2027. The available window is narrowing.
- Booking window is punishing. Lufthansa First award space to partners typically releases within 15 days of departure. This makes advance planning impossible; you need date flexibility and last-minute booking readiness.
- Carrier-imposed surcharges are high. Lufthansa fuel surcharges on partner awards can add several hundred SGD to the redemption. Model the total cost including surcharges, not just the mile cost.
- Frankfurt or Munich only. Redemptions route through Lufthansa's German hubs; if your destination is elsewhere in Europe, you connect on Lufthansa metal or a Star Alliance partner.
For how to layer this against a broader premium-cabin plan across the year, the MediShield Life vs Integrated Shield Plan piece is unrelated but linked in related_articles as an adjacent Singapore consumer finance topic; the more relevant adjacency is destination cost comparison via Bangkok vs Kuala Lumpur for cheaper Southeast Asia stopovers on the way back.
Book flights via ShopBack partners (e.g., Singapore Airlines) to earn cashback on paid revenue tickets while you hold KrisFlyer miles for aspirational partner First redemptions such as Lufthansa Europe.
United business class Singapore to North America: the availability sweet spot
United Polaris business class is the workhorse KrisFlyer North America sweet spot for Singapore-based members. There is no Singapore to United States nonstop on United metal from Changi, so the redemption typically routes via a Star Alliance partner like ANA or a codeshare and then connects onto United Polaris across the Pacific into a US gateway, or connects at a Star Alliance hub such as Tokyo or Seoul.
Where the United to North America sweet spot wins.
- Availability is broad across the schedule. United releases Polaris business Saver space more consistently than most Star Alliance carriers across the year, so partner searches from KrisFlyer return usable options for most trip dates.
- No fuel surcharges on partner awards. United does not levy carrier-imposed fuel surcharges on partner awards, so total taxes on a Singapore to San Francisco or Los Angeles redemption stay very low, often under S$150 in government taxes only.
- Polaris hard product is consistent and lie-flat across the wide-body fleet, with direct aisle access on the 777-300ER, 787-9, and 787-10.
- North America gateway breadth. United's US network from the Pacific Rim covers San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Newark, and Houston, so onward domestic routing is flexible.
Where the United to North America sweet spot is neutral to weaker.
- Product is a step below ANA and Lufthansa. Polaris is competent but not aspirational; readers upgrading from economy will find it a clear step up, while readers already familiar with The Room or Lufthansa First will find it a step down.
- Routing complexity. Singapore to North America on Star Alliance metal usually involves a connection, so a five-figure-mile redemption is going to consume a full day of travel each way.
- Peak season Polaris tightens. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Chinese New Year windows squeeze availability across the Star Alliance chart, and United is no exception.
Compare hotels via ShopBack Travel Planner before booking your US gateway stay, since your KrisFlyer partner award covers the flight but not the ground portion, and layering cashback on the paid hotel improves total trip economics.
The 1 November 2025 KrisFlyer Star Alliance chart update, in plain English
The KrisFlyer Star Alliance round-trip chart was revised effective 1 November 2025. Four points to internalise:
- Rate increases were selective, not uniform. Some zones moved meaningfully (Lufthansa first Europe up from around 158,500 to around 174,500 miles round-trip). Other zones moved by smaller increments. It is not a blanket devaluation, but the direction is upward.
- Advantage vs Saver dynamics stay the same. KrisFlyer partner awards on Star Alliance are commonly Saver-only for the best zones; Advantage bands are typically not published in the same way as KrisFlyer own-metal redemptions. Search KrisFlyer for Saver space and treat what you see as the ceiling of value.
- Chart-lock behaviour. KrisFlyer typically holds a chart in force for many months to a couple of years before revision, so the November 2025 chart is likely to remain the reference through most of 2026. Verify the PDF is still current before booking.
- Partner metal only. These sweet spots require partner metal (ANA, Lufthansa, United), which sits on a different chart from Singapore Airlines-operated redemptions. Do not confuse the two charts.
Net effect for a Singapore-based KrisFlyer member: the three redemptions in this article remain valid sweet spots after November 2025, but the mile cost delta between them and other Star Alliance zones has compressed. The value case now leans harder on total cash outlay (ANA, United) and cabin ceiling (Lufthansa), and less on mile cost alone.
Trip fit: which redemption suits which reader
Solo miles-collector, first Star Alliance business class redemption. Choose ANA business Singapore to Tokyo. The route is short enough to appreciate a modern business seat, ANA availability is generous, total cash outlay is low, and Tokyo is well set up as a destination without a domestic connection.
Family of three or four, business class to Europe. Two adult redemptions in Lufthansa First is aspirational but constrained by availability. In practice, families are better served by ANA business (two-cabin family layout across a night flight) with a Tokyo stopover, or by United Polaris to a US gateway. Book the paid ground stay separately.
Aspirational solo redemption, cabin ceiling above all. Lufthansa First. Book within 15 days of travel, be flexible on dates, and pay the surcharges knowingly. The First Class Terminal at Frankfurt is a specific product, and if that is what you are chasing, no other Star Alliance redemption substitutes.
Family or couple to North America to visit relatives. United business Singapore to Los Angeles or San Francisco. Low taxes, broad availability, and predictable Polaris hard product. Route via a Star Alliance hub on connected metal.
Points-strategy first, cash-outlay-sensitive traveller. ANA business Singapore to Tokyo is the tightest total-cost redemption of the three. Repeat this redemption once or twice a year and treat it as the flywheel that trains your booking muscle.
Last-minute redemption, high flexibility. Lufthansa First lands in this bucket because its availability release is late. United is the second-best option for last-minute availability. ANA sits third for last-minute, first for planned.
Surcharge and total cost, indicative
Rather than quote spurious point estimates, work with these ranges when modelling total cost of a KrisFlyer Star Alliance partner redemption from Singapore.
- ANA business Singapore to Tokyo: miles roughly 92,000 to 115,000 round-trip depending on zone rate, plus government taxes and moderate ANA carrier-imposed surcharge; total cash outlay typically under S$200 for the pair of segments.
- Lufthansa first Singapore to Europe: miles around 174,500 round-trip, plus government taxes and Lufthansa carrier-imposed surcharge (which can add several hundred SGD); total cash outlay can approach or exceed S$1,000 depending on routing.
- United business Singapore to US gateway: miles roughly 130,000 to 145,000 round-trip depending on zone rate, plus low government taxes only (no fuel surcharge); total cash outlay typically under S$150.
The variance in cash outlay across the three redemptions is often more decision-relevant than the variance in mile cost, because miles have a psychologically fixed value while cash surprises hit the household budget directly.
Availability windows in practice
ANA. Business class Saver on the Singapore to Tokyo route typically opens at schedule change (roughly 355 days before departure), with rolling releases as the flight approaches. If you search 60 to 120 days out, you can often find one or two Saver seats per date across the week. Weekends into Tokyo Haneda are the tightest.
Lufthansa. Legacy First Saver space to partners typically releases within 15 days of departure, and the number of Saver seats released is small. Practical booking approach: monitor availability daily with an alert tool such as ExpertFlyer or Point.me starting two weeks before your target date and be ready to transfer credit card points immediately.
United. Polaris business Saver space releases at schedule change and holds through the booking curve, with additional inventory sometimes released within 30 days of departure. It is by far the most searchable of the three on any given day.
Mile-earning workflow before redemption
KrisFlyer miles are earned three main ways for Singapore-based members: flying Singapore Airlines or Star Alliance revenue, transferring from SG-issued credit card bank programmes at 1:1 or 1.4:1, or from KrisFlyer-cobrand credit card everyday spend. The credit card miles and cashback playbook covers the SG-issued cards that transfer to KrisFlyer.
Practical workflow to avoid stranded miles:
- Hold points inside the credit card bank programme (Citi, DBS, HSBC, Standard Chartered, UOB) rather than eager-transferring to KrisFlyer.
- Search KrisFlyer for partner availability on your target date range.
- Only transfer the exact miles required plus a small buffer once Saver space is confirmed on the target segment.
- Ticket immediately after the transfer clears; do not sit on transferred KrisFlyer miles waiting for the perfect date.
- Repeat this loop for each redemption; do not consolidate three trips of miles into KrisFlyer speculatively.
The rationale is expiry protection. KrisFlyer miles expire on a rolling three-year basis, and once inside KrisFlyer they cannot be re-transferred out to a different partner if plans change.
Book flights via ShopBack partners (e.g., Singapore Airlines) to earn cashback on any paid revenue segments you take alongside the mileage redemption, so the miles pile continues to grow via revenue flying too.
When these sweet spots do NOT apply
- You need one-way tickets. KrisFlyer Star Alliance partner awards on this chart are round-trip. If you need one-way, consider Aeroplan (Air Canada) or ANA Mileage Club as alternate mile currencies from the same credit card bank programmes.
- You want Lufthansa Allegris First. Partner programmes cannot book Allegris First at the time of writing. Wait for policy to change or use Miles and More directly.
- You need premium economy specifically. KrisFlyer Star Alliance premium economy zones exist but the sweet spot value is less pronounced. Compare against paid revenue tickets before redeeming.
- You cannot be flexible on dates. Lufthansa First redemptions require date flexibility within the 15-day window; ANA and United are more forgiving but still not date-locked.
- You are chasing status miles. Award tickets do not earn KrisFlyer PPS Value or elite qualifying credit. If you are working towards KrisFlyer Elite Gold or PPS Club, revenue flying is the tool, not partner awards.
Step-by-step booking workflow
- Pick the redemption based on your constraint priority: total cash outlay (ANA), cabin ceiling (Lufthansa), availability breadth (United).
- Search KrisFlyer for Saver partner space on your target dates. Use flexible date search where available.
- Cross-reference with a partner tool such as ExpertFlyer or Point.me for advance-warning of releases, especially for Lufthansa First.
- Confirm total cash outlay including government taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges before you transfer miles.
- Transfer the exact miles required from your credit card bank programme (Citi, DBS, HSBC, Standard Chartered, UOB) to KrisFlyer.
- Ticket immediately after the transfer clears; hold times on partner space are minimal.
- Plan the ground portion. Compare hotels via ShopBack Travel Planner before booking the paid hotel stay in Tokyo, Europe, or the US gateway.
- Book adjacent revenue services (hotels, activities, travel insurance) through ShopBack partners on shopback.sg to earn cashback that offsets the taxes and surcharges on your award ticket.
- Verify passport validity and visa requirements for the destination before the flight, especially for US ESTA and Schengen entry.
- Save confirmation emails, boarding passes, and lounge access proofs in case service recovery is needed on partner metal.
Frequently asked questions
Which KrisFlyer Star Alliance sweet spot is best in 2026: ANA to Tokyo, Lufthansa to Europe, or United to North America?
There is no single best. ANA business class to Tokyo tends to win on total cost because Japan-bound partner awards carry modest taxes and ANA has generous long-haul business availability on the Singapore to Tokyo route. Lufthansa first class to Europe wins on cabin quality and aspirational value if you can find legacy First availability, but partner surcharges via KrisFlyer are meaningful. United business class to North America wins on flexibility and near-zero fuel surcharges, though seat product is a step behind ANA and Lufthansa. Pick by the constraint that matters most: total cash outlay (ANA), cabin ceiling (Lufthansa), or availability breadth (United).
What changed in the KrisFlyer Star Alliance award chart on 1 November 2025?
Singapore Airlines revised the KrisFlyer Star Alliance round-trip award chart with effect from 1 November 2025, raising redemption rates across several zones. The commonly cited move was a jump in Lufthansa first class Singapore to Europe from roughly 158,500 miles to around 174,500 miles round-trip, with similar directional increases in other partner-metal premium cabin categories. Verify the exact zone rate on the current Singapore Airlines Star Alliance round-trip award chart PDF before you plan a redemption, since KrisFlyer periodically republishes it.
How many KrisFlyer miles do I need for ANA business class between Singapore and Tokyo in 2026?
Round-trip Singapore to Tokyo on ANA metal in business class falls into the KrisFlyer Star Alliance North Asia business zone, which sits in a broad range of roughly 92,000 to 115,000 miles round-trip depending on the chart version in force at booking. Taxes and surcharges are typically modest for Japan-bound routings. Because zone boundaries and rates move periodically, always cross-check the current KrisFlyer Star Alliance award chart before you burn miles.
Can I still book Lufthansa first class with KrisFlyer miles in 2026?
Yes, but with restrictions. Star Alliance partner programmes including KrisFlyer generally do not have access to Lufthansa Allegris First inventory, so redemptions must fall on legacy First aircraft frames, which retire progressively over 2026 and 2027. Award seats also typically open closer to departure, often within 15 days. Round-trip Singapore to Europe in Lufthansa First sits around 174,500 KrisFlyer miles plus taxes and surcharges. Search flexibly on dates in the last two weeks before travel.
Are the fuel surcharges on KrisFlyer partner awards worth worrying about?
Yes for European carriers, less so for North American carriers, and moderately for Japanese carriers. Lufthansa carrier-imposed surcharges on partner awards remain among the highest in Star Alliance and can add several hundred SGD to a Singapore to Europe redemption. ANA surcharges to Tokyo are moderate. United does not levy a fuel surcharge on partner awards, so United business class Singapore to North America is the cleanest total-cash redemption of the three. Model the total cost, not just the mile cost.
Compare availability across ANA, Lufthansa, and United on KrisFlyer partner searches, what should I expect?
ANA typically releases the deepest long-haul business class availability in Star Alliance from Tokyo hubs, often multiple seats per flight at the schedule change. Lufthansa first class releases mostly within a 15-day window before departure and sits on shrinking legacy inventory. United releases both business and premium economy availability more consistently across the schedule but with fewer standout Polaris windows. Availability breadth: United, then ANA, then Lufthansa in that order for partner searches on KrisFlyer.
Should Singapore-based KrisFlyer members transfer credit card points for these Star Alliance redemptions?
Only when a specific redemption is already in view. KrisFlyer miles expire on a rolling three-year basis, and Star Alliance partner space can vanish between transfer and ticketing. The workflow that reduces regret: hold points inside your credit card bank programme (Citi, DBS, HSBC, Standard Chartered, UOB), search availability with KrisFlyer or a paid tool such as ExpertFlyer or Point.me, and only transfer when the specific segment shows partner Saver space. Book flights via ShopBack partners (e.g., Singapore Airlines) to earn cashback on paid revenue tickets while you hold miles for aspirational partner awards.
Do I earn cashback on ShopBack while planning a KrisFlyer partner award trip?
Activate cashback via ShopBack before checkout at travel partners on shopback.sg for paid revenue bookings and ancillaries such as hotels, activities, and travel insurance that surround your award ticket. Book flights via ShopBack partners (e.g., Singapore Airlines) to earn cashback on the paid segments in your itinerary. Compare hotels via ShopBack Travel Planner before booking the ground portion of your KrisFlyer partner redemption, especially for Tokyo, European city stopovers, and US gateway hotels.
Between ANA business and United business to their respective regions, which offers better product on KrisFlyer miles?
ANA business class, especially The Room on the Boeing 777-300ER, is widely rated one of the best long-haul business products in Star Alliance and dominates the Singapore to Tokyo route for cabin quality. United Polaris business class is competent and consistent across the fleet but does not match The Room on privacy, seat width, or bed length. On product alone, ANA wins for Tokyo trips. United wins on breadth of routing and near-zero taxes, so total cost after surcharges can be lower even if the seat is not as aspirational.
Where can I compare hotel cashback offers to layer on top of a KrisFlyer partner redemption?
Compare hotels via ShopBack Travel Planner before booking to see cashback rates across hotel booking partners on shopback.sg alongside your paid stay. This lets you pair a KrisFlyer partner award flight with a cashback-earning revenue hotel booking for the same trip, layering the flight redemption with cash back on the ground portion. Verify current cashback rates on the merchant page before finalising your hotel booking.
Key takeaways
- KrisFlyer Star Alliance partner awards from Singapore concentrate value in three sweet spots after the 1 November 2025 chart revision: ANA business to Tokyo, Lufthansa first to Europe, and United business to North America.
- ANA wins on total cash outlay and availability for a first business class redemption; Lufthansa wins on cabin ceiling and aspirational value with narrow availability; United wins on availability breadth and zero fuel surcharges.
- The November 2025 chart pushed selected partner premium cabin rates upward, most notably Lufthansa First to around 174,500 miles round-trip. Verify the current KrisFlyer Star Alliance PDF chart before every redemption.
- Hold points in the credit card bank programme, search availability first, and transfer to KrisFlyer only when partner Saver space is confirmed on your target segment.
- Plan your KrisFlyer partner redemption trip via ShopBack Travel Planner and compare cashback offers on shopback.sg for the paid ground portion (hotels, activities, insurance) to layer cashback with the award flight.
Plan your KrisFlyer partner redemption trip via ShopBack Travel Planner; compare hotels alongside your award flight to see cashback rates on the paid ground portion.
Activate cashback via ShopBack before checkout on eligible SG travel partners at shopback.sg to make revenue bookings around your award flight still earn cashback.
Sources
- Singapore Airlines, KrisFlyer Star Alliance Round-Trip Award Chart (updated 1 November 2025) (accessed 2026-08-26)
- Singapore Airlines, Award Tickets on Star Alliance (KrisFlyer) (accessed 2026-08-26)
- Star Alliance member airlines (accessed 2026-08-26)
Disclaimer
The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Airline award chart rates, partner availability, carrier-imposed surcharges, aircraft fleet deployment, and Star Alliance programme rules are subject to change without notice, and each programme's transition rules for chart revisions may differ. Please verify current award chart rates, partner availability, and taxes directly with the airline or programme before making decisions. This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional financial or travel advice. As of 2026-08, All Nippon Airways, Lufthansa, and United Airlines are not ShopBack Singapore cashback partners for award or revenue flight bookings; Singapore Airlines revenue bookings are available as a ShopBack partner subject to campaign availability, verify current status on shopback.sg before booking.
Brands, work with us: [email protected].
Related articles

Best Credit Cards for Flights and Hotels from Singapore in 2026: Miles vs Cashback Compared
Miles or cashback credit cards for travel spending in Singapore in 2026? A direct comparison of the best cards, earn rates, and which strategy delivers more value depending on how often you fly.

MediShield Life vs Integrated Shield Plan: What's the Real Cost Gap?
MediShield Life covers B2/C ward hospitalisation. An Integrated Shield Plan upgrades you to A ward or private hospital. The annual premium gap is $300–$1,500 depending on age and plan tier — but the real cost difference at claim time can be $20,000–$80,000.

Changi to Bangkok vs Changi to KL: Which Short-Haul Route Gives Better Value?
Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur for a short-haul getaway from Singapore in 2026? A cost and value comparison covering flights, accommodation, food, and what each destination actually offers.

Shop, book trips, and play games to earn Cashback
No points, no credits. Just real cash. Withdraw to Paypal or bank account, and spend however you like.

