Transfer 250K Bank Points, Earn Star Alliance Gold

There’s an opportunity right now to earn Star Alliance Gold status through Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer by transferring 250,000 points to the program. This is potentially an incredible deal.

Singapore Airlines’ status without flying promo

With Singapore’s borders more or less closed, Singapore Airlines has launched a creative promotion that makes it easy to earn status without flying. Between April 7, 2021, and February 28, 2022, you can accrue activity towards Singapore KrisFlyer status for shopping, converting rewards points, and more.

Let’s assume you currently have no status with Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program. In that case you’re eligible to upgrade your status to either KrisFlyer Elite Silver or KrisFlyer Elite Gold.

For context:

• KrisFlyer Elite Silver status requires 25,000 elite qualifying miles per year
• KrisFlyer Elite Gold status requires 50,000 elite qualifying miles per year

Here’s a rundown of the different ways you can use this promotion to earn status:

The option to convert bank points to KrisFlyer miles should be most interesting here:

• You’ll earn one elite mile for every five miles transferred, with no maximum on how many elite miles you can earn
• Singapore KrisFlyer is transfer partners with Amex Membership Rewards, Brex, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One, and Citi ThankYou
• Since KrisFlyer Elite Gold status requires 50,000 elite miles, transferring 250,000 points would be enough to get you the status
• Note that you need to transfer the equivalent of at least 10,000 miles to take advantage of this offer, it will take seven days for elite miles to post, and these elite miles don’t count towards KrisFlyer Milestone Rewards

Singapore Airlines is offering an easy path to Star Alliance Gold status

What are the benefits of Star Alliance Gold status?

Realistically the biggest benefit of KrisFlyer Elite Gold status is that it earns you Star Alliance Gold status, which comes with valuable perks when traveling on any Star Alliance airline. Star Alliance Gold perks include the following when flying on a Star Alliance airline:

• Access to Star Alliance Gold lounges, even if you’re traveling domestically on United
• Priority check-in
• Priority baggage handling
• Priority boarding
• Extra baggage allowance

This certainly comes in handy when traveling on a Star Alliance airline. And for those who may be frequent United flyers, getting United Club access on domestic itineraries is potentially quite valuable.

Access United Clubs with Star Alliance Gold status

Benefits for travel on Singapore Airlines are limited. That’s because there’s the separate PPS Club for the most loyal Singapore Airlines flyers, and that comes with a significant revenue requirement. So don’t expect that this status will get you much in the way of special treatment when flying Singapore Airlines.

Is this promotion worth it?

I’ve gotta say, I’m really tempted by this promotion, even though I’m not usually someone who goes for Star Alliance status. A few general thoughts:

• Generally speaking I highly recommend against speculative points transfers, since you lose flexibility when you convert transferable points into specific airline miles
• At the same time, this is a significant incentive, and having KrisFlyer miles is useful, since Singapore blocks most premium cabin award space for members of its own frequent flyer program
• While I’m not a huge Star Alliance flyer, I do think there’s value in having Star Alliance Gold status, which is why I’m really tempted by this
• My one thought is that I might wait to take advantage of this — the offer is valid through February 2022, and best I can tell, KrisFlyer Elite Gold status is valid for 12 months, so you might as well time this offer based on your travel patterns
• A few months back Singapore KrisFlyer offered a 15% bonus on points transfers for the first time, so I suppose one should consider a minimum opportunity cost of 37,500 KrisFlyer miles here…