Amex UK Removes Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer as Transfer Partner Temporarily

In a surprising move, American Express UK has quietly removed Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer from their list of airline transfer partners. This unexpected change significantly impacts the flexibility of Membership Rewards points for UK cardholders, particularly those who regularly redeem for premium cabin travel to Asia and Australia. There’s been no announcement about this and I haven’t been able to work out if this is permanent or not (I’m hoping not!). It’s currently not possible to transfer Amex points to Krisflyer via the website or live chat.

Having personally used KrisFlyer miles for several bookings to Asia, this removal is would be particularly disappointing. Singapore Airlines offers one of the world's best business class products, and their extensive route network throughout Asia-Pacific made them a valuable transfer partner for UK-based travellers.

What This Means For You

The possible removal of KrisFlyer leaves UK Membership Rewards collectors with fewer premium cabin options to Asia. The change means that you now cannot transfer points to any Star Alliance airlines via American Express. A huge loss.

For those planning trips to Asia or Australia, you still have several solid alternatives:

• Transfer to British Airways, Finnair or Cathay Pacific for flights with oneworld partners like Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines

• Transfer to Qatar Airways to book their new routes to Australia (read more here)

• Use Virgin Points for ANA flights to Japan (one of the best-value redemptions available to UK collectors but very difficult)

• Consider alternative programmes like Emirates Skywards for routes via Dubai

Alternative Transfer Partners Worth Considering

If you've been saving Membership Rewards points specifically for Singapore Airlines transfers, you might want to explore these alternative uses:

1. British Airways (1:1) - Still offering excellent value, especially for short-haul redemptions

2. Qatar Airways (1:1) - The most premium of all in my opinion

3. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1) - Particularly valuable for ANA redemptions

4. Emirates Skywards (1:1) - Good for premium cabin travel to Asia via Dubai

My Thoughts

As someone who regularly helps readers plan their points strategies, this change is concerning. It continues a trend we've seen of devaluations and removals of transfer partners in the UK market. While American Express still offers solid value through its remaining partners, the possible loss of KrisFlyer reduces the overall flexibility of the Membership Rewards programme.

For UK points collectors, this reinforces the importance of diversifying your points strategy. If you're planning future travel to Asia, you might want to consider adding a card that earns Avios to your wallet. Our guide to the best Avios-earning credit cards can help you choose the right option.

I'll be keeping a close eye on any other changes to the American Express Membership Rewards programme. As always, it's worth remembering that points are a type of currency - their value can change, and it's often better to earn and burn rather than stockpile for too long.

Have you been affected by this change? Did you have any planned KrisFlyer redemptions? Let us know your thoughts over on our Instagram.