If you’re an AMEX HighFlyer Cardholder, chances are you’ve probably built up a good number of HighFlyer points over the years (especially during the GrabPay era!).
HighFlyer points can be converted into KrisFlyer miles or used to pay for Singapore Airlines tickets, but new options have been steadily added over the past few months, including a few unusual ones!
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at all the options you have for redeeming HighFlyer points.
| Apply |
| ✈️ HighFlyer redemption options |
|
Conversion to KrisFlyer miles
 Conversion to KrisFlyer | ||
| HighFlyer Points | ➤ | KrisFlyer Miles |
| 1,000 | 1,000 | |
HighFlyer points can be converted instantly into KrisFlyer miles at a 1:1 ratio, in blocks of 1,000 points with no conversion fees.
At the start of July 2024, the previous restrictions on conversions were eased considerably:
- Each KrisFlyer account can now receive a maximum of 100,000 miles from HighFlyer points per calendar year, up from the previous limit of 30,000 miles
- There is no longer any limit to the number of nominee accounts that can be paired with a HighFlyer account (although if you want to link more than 15, you’ll need to write in to customer service)
- There is no longer any limit to the number of KrisFlyer miles you can convert from a HighFlyer account per calendar year
This is still by far the best choice for cashing out your HighFlyer points, and I wouldn’t even consider any of the other options here unless this avenue were completely exhausted.
How to do it
To convert HighFlyer points to KrisFlyer miles, login to your Corporate Travel Manager account and click on Travellers > Add New Traveller.
Once you’ve added the details, click on Points > Use Points > Convert into KrisFlyer miles.
Select the traveller you want to convert points for, as well as the number of points you wish to convert. You’ll be able to see how many more points each corporate traveller’s KrisFlyer account is eligible to receive for the rest of the year.
All conversions will be processed instantly.
Pay for Singapore Airlines tickets
| Pay for SIA flights | ||
| HighFlyer Points | ➤ | Value |
| 1,050 | S$10 | |
HighFlyer points can be used to pay for Singapore Airlines flights and ancillary expenses such as extra luggage or advance seat selection at a rate of 1,050 HighFlyer points = S$10 (0.95 cents/point).
It’s conceptually the same as using KrisFlyer miles to pay for commercial tickets. However, it’s not the same as using KrisFlyer miles to redeem an award ticket. The differences are summarised below.
| Spend HighFlyer Points | Redeem with KrisFlyer miles | |
| Availability | Any seat available for sale | Award inventory only |
| Miles Required | Depends on cost of ticket | Fixed (based on award chart) |
| Taxes & Surcharges | Can be paid with miles | Must be paid in cash |
| Accrue Miles & Status Credits | Yes (on cash portion) | No |
| Value | 0.95 cents per point | Variable |
How to do it
To use HighFlyer Points to offset Singapore Airlines expenses, simply make a booking as per normal when logged in to your Corporate Travel Manager account.
At check-out, you’ll see see a box labelled “mix points with cash”. Click the box and a familiar sliding bar (similar to Cash + Miles) will appear, allowing you to choose how many points you wish to redeem.
Any remaining balance can then be paid with your credit card.
Redeem Scoot vouchers
| Scoot Vouchers | ||
| HighFlyer Points | ➤ | Value |
| 1,050 | S$10 voucher | |
HighFlyer points can be redeemed for Scoot e-vouchers, in denominations of:
- S$10 (1,050 points)
- S$50 (5,250 points)
- S$100 (10,500 points)
- S$500 (52,500 points)
Regardless of what denomination you redeem, the rate you get will be 1,050 HighFlyer Points= S$10 (0.95 cents/point), the same as if you were paying for Singapore Airlines tickets.
e-Vouchers are valid for 180 days after issuance, and can only be used at flyscoot.com. Vouchers may not be used for e-visa, travel insurance, Scoot Protect, infant fares, and card processing fees.
How to do it
To redeem Scoot vouchers, login to your Corporate Travel Manager account, click on Points > Use Points >Airline-evouchers.
You’ll then see the different denomination options and points required.
A maximum of 10 vouchers can be issued in the same transaction, and all redemptions are processed instantly.
Redeem lounge passes
| Lounge Passes | ||
| HighFlyer Points | ➤ | Value |
| 8,000 | 1x Lounge Pass | |
Previously, HighFlyer members could redeem 5,000 HighFlyer points for a 3-hour lounge pass to the SATS Premier Lounge at Terminals 1 or 3 at Changi Airport.
The cost has now been increased by a hefty 60% to 8,000 HighFlyer points, but for what it’s worth, lounge passes are now by LoungeKey and can be redeemed at more than 1,500 airport lounges worldwide.
While it’s great to have additional choice, there’s still very little reason to choose this redemption. Assuming a baseline value of 0.95 cents per HighFlyer point (what you’d get when paying for SIA tickets), S$76 is way too much to pay for a lounge pass. You might as well pay the US$32 guest fee that Priority Pass charges.
In any case, don’t forget that the AMEX HighFlyer Card comes with two annual complimentary lounge visits, courtesy of Priority Pass.
Lounge passes are valid for 360 days from the date of issuance.
How to do it
To redeem lounge passes, login to your Corporate Travel Manager account, click on Points > Use Points >Redeem Collinson’s LoungeKey passes
KrisFlyer Elite Gold status
| KrisFlyer Elite Gold Status | ||
| HighFlyer Points | ➤ | Value |
| 125,000 | 12-month membership | |
Companies with HighFlyer Silver, Gold or Platinum status have the option of redeeming HighFlyer Points for a 12-month KrisFlyer Elite Gold membership for any corporate traveller.
| Tier | Min. Spend |
 HighFlyer | None |
 HighFlyer Silver | US$25,000 |
 HighFlyer Gold | US$200,000 |
 HighFlyer Platinum | By invitation |
This previously cost 150,000 HighFlyer points, but has now been reduced by 17% to 125,000 HighFlyer points.
KrisFlyer Gold is nice and all, but I highly doubt it’s worth spending 125,000 HighFlyer Points (S$1,189 at 0.95 cents per point). Moreover, if your company is spending that much on travel in the first place, odds are the employees are flying frequently enough to earn it in their own right.
Complete Guide: KrisFlyer Elite Gold benefits
It’d be another thing entirely if you were able to redeem HighFlyer Points for PPS status, but I highly doubt we’ll ever see that.
Do note that Singapore Airlines only issues 1,000 KrisFlyer Elite Gold memberships via the HighFlyer programme per calendar year, so the option may not even be available should you apply later in the year.
Upgrades will be processed within seven working days.
How to do it
To redeem KrisFlyer Elite Gold upgrades, login to your Corporate Travel Manager account, click on Points > Use Points >KrisFlyer Elite Gold membership status redemption
You can then nominate any of your corporate travellers to be upgraded.
Lufthansa Group flights
| Lufthansa Group Flights | ||
| HighFlyer Points | ➤ | Receive |
| Per award chart | Lufthansa, SWISS or Austrian Airlines tickets | |
HighFlyer points can be used to redeem award flights with Lufthansa Group carriers, defined as Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines only.
Now, this is a bit of a strange one. The award chart used here is identical to the Star Alliance award chart for KrisFlyer redemptions. Since HighFlyer points can be converted into KrisFlyer miles at a 1:1 ratio anyway, what’s the point of this feature?
The only thing I can think of is that there’s a cap on HighFlyer points conversions to KrisFlyer miles of 100,000 miles per year. So hypothetically, if you’ve maxed out that limit, or if you’re hoping to redeem an award that costs more than 100,000 miles, then this would allow you to make the booking nonetheless.
How to do it
To redeem Lufthansa Group flights, login to your Corporate Travel Manager account, click on Points > Use Points >Redeem Lufthansa Group flights
Be warned that the interface for making redemptions is extremely clunky. You can’t view award space via the HighFlyer portal (though I guess you could check for Lufthansa Group award space on the United Airlines or Aeroplan website).
Instead, you have to fill out a form and engage in back-and-forth with customer service over email or the phone, until you find a redemption you can live with.
SIA Academy
| SIA Academy | ||
| HighFlyer Points | ➤ | Value |
| ? | ? | |
The SIA Academy, for the uninitiated, was started during the COVID period as a way for the airline to generate some additional revenue without actually flying planes.
The idea is that the airline would tap on its expertise in fields like “service excellence, operational excellence, organisational innovation and digital transformation” to offer short courses for business executives. You know, the kind where you spend half the time zoning out and playing with your phone, and the other half wondering what you’ll have for lunch.
HighFlyer points can be redeemed for SIA Academy courses, though it’s not clear at what rate.
How to do it
To redeem SIA Academy courses, login to your Corporate Travel Manager account, click on Points > Use Points >SIA Academy
You’ll need to fill out a form and select which course you’re interested in, featuring options such as Professional Image, Effective Communication, Team Resource Management and Excellence in Corporate Jargon(I may or may not be making some of those up).
Someone from the SIA Academy team will be in touch with the redemption process.
Carbon offsets
| Carbon Offsets | ||
| HighFlyer Points | ➤ | Value |
| 150 points | S$1 carbon offset + An overwhelming sense of self-righteousness | |
Did you know that when you exhale, you release carbon dioxide? It’s shocking but true.
In order to atone for your existence, you can purchase carbon offsets with HighFlyer points at a rate of 150 points = S$1. Ironically, that’s even worse value than paying for a flight with HighFlyer points (105 points= S$1).
If that’s not a sign, I don’t know what is.
How to do it
Hold your breath.
Keep holding your breath.
Are you still holding your breath? Good.
Conclusion
| Apply |
In my opinion, the best use of HighFlyer points remains conversions to KrisFlyer miles. Now that you can cash out 100,000 miles each year per corporate traveller, there’s even less reason to go for any of the alternatives.
But if you feel like spending your points on a riveting corporate learning journey or on carbon credits, it’s always good to know you can.
