Hi all,
I currently have 60 000 Citi Signature Rewards points. Their value in terms of conversion to Kris flyer etc are about to be halved as of March 16.
What's the best bang for buck option?
*Looking to fly to Scottland some time this year (happy with cattle class), but also happy to convert to gift cards if it has more value.
Cheers
At what point level would converting to FF start to be more economical than gift card?
When you decide you want FF points and not gift cards
Convert them to FF points and from now on make sure the points go directly into your FF account of choice.
Gift cards are terrible value when redeeming points.
I don't know how Kris Flyer works but I do know 60,000 QFF points is enough for one way to LHR so I imagine it will be equivalently very nearly enough to get you to Scotland.
Hmmm, just chucked some flight dates into Kayak. The price flying Qatar Air ($1573.36) is within a few cents of the price of the Emirates flight ($1574) via Citibank, except Citibank will take the 60000 points as well. However, their listed full price $1958 checks out in Kayak for the same Emirates flight. So in summary 60000 points will yield $420 in flight value if I was keen on Emirates, or $0 in value if I go with Qatar.
You could also look at using the Citi points with Krisflyer to get you return business class flights to Singapore, and jump on a cheap business class flight to Scotland from there. When on sale business class flights on lesser-known (to us) airlines such as Finnair or SriLankan airlines can be had return to Europe from Asia for similar prices as return economy flights from Australia.
Cheers. So just the Singapore leg? Then srilankan for Sin to euro and back. Would be 2 stops each way as I assume they would stop in Colombo?
Yep, 60,000 Citi points may just scrape you through for one return Aus-Singapore Business class redemption via Krisflyer depending on your origin city (and their 15% online redemption discount). Your KF points will last three years from when you transfer them from Citi.
From Singapore to Europe on Sri Lankan you'll stop through Colombo, Air India will stop in Delhi, Qatar in Doha and Finnair will stop in Helsinki. You'll need to do your own research on which of those (or other) airlines will get you to Scotland, and I recommend you sign up to their emailing list (telling them you're based in Asia) to keep informed on sales.
Best to wait for the Asia-Europe sale fares first then check Singapore Airlines to see if their award availability will align before you book anything.
It's a bit of farting around but if the stars align it's like winning lotto.
Ok, I just tried to look up the points required on SIN Air (ADL - SIN. I was looking late Sep out, mid oct return - whatever day is the cheapest), but need to be a registered KK flyer just to check. Is there still taxes and charges that need to me made with the booking?
Also, KK flyer point conversions drop by around 50% in 3 weeks, so I need to do it now.
If KK is the best option for Euro, then I will lock it in.
Cheers
If you want to go to Europe, have you looked into Virgin? Does Citi allow you to convert to Velocity? How many points would that give you?
If you are flexible with your dates (ie school term time) then perhaps wait until May, when it's highly possible Virgin will offer a 10% or 15% coversion 'bonus'.
Gift cards I find are the best bang for your point.