The KrisFlyer Advantage Stopover Trick Still Matters Post November 2025 Devaluation
The dust has finally settled on the November 2025 KrisFlyer devaluation. While we can all breathe a sigh of relief that it wasn't the apocalypse scenario many feared, the reality is undeniable: your hard-earned miles are worth less today than they were just a month ago. For years, the mantra at The Shutterwhale has been simple: Redeem Saver, ignore the rest. Even though this still holds in most circumstances, there might be a time when you will have to lock in an Advantage award because of various reasons (for example, preference over a certain flight timing or flying on a non-negotiable day).
Photo Credit: Singapore Airlines
Saver awards have historically offered the best value per mile, and for the most part, that remains true. However, there is a compelling case to be made for Advantage awards - specifically for travellers looking to squeeze a "free" holiday out of a single redemption. This article is really just a reminder that you can still use the Advantage Stopover trick to travel smarter, not harder.
We all know the drill with Saver awards. They are the cheapest way to fly, but they come with strict limitations. Crucially, Saver awards do not allow for a free stopover on one-way tickets. If you redeem a one-way Saver award from Tokyo to Singapore, you can only transit in Singapore (less than 24 hours). If you want to leave the airport and stay for a few days (or months), you would traditionally have to book two separate tickets: Tokyo to Singapore, and then Singapore to your next destination. Both of these would incur full redemption costs, hurting your miles balance.
Photo Credit: Singapore Airlines
Even though Advantage awards do cost more, they do include a complimentary stopover, even on one-way redemptions. This is a great way to maximuse your miles for Singapore-based travellers. Now I am not saying that you should pick an Advantage over a Saver award but in the event that you have to, you can potentially get another flight for free.
Let’s say you are planning a trip to Japan in January, but you also fancy a beach getaway to Bali later in the year. Instead of booking a return trip to Tokyo and a completely separate trip to Bali, you can book a one-way Advantage award from Tokyo (NRT/HND) to Denpasar (DPS) with a stopover in Singapore (SIN). Because Singapore Airlines prices awards based on zones, flying Tokyo-Singapore-Bali often costs the same (or marginally more) as flying just Tokyo-Singapore. By adding the stopover, you effectively get the Singapore-Bali leg for "free".
The catch? Your stopover cannot be longer than 30 days, but this also means that your stopover in Singapore does not have to be a couple of hours. You could fly back from Tokyo in January, stopover in Singapore (go back to work, live your life), and then take the "connecting" flight to Bali in February if you really wanted. You have essentially locked in a future holiday flight for zero additional miles (even though you might have to pay a bit more in taxes).
Once you understand the mechanics, you can chain these redemptions to ensure you always have a future trip in the pipeline.
Trip 1: Fly back from London to Singapore on an Advantage Award, with a "stopover" in Singapore.
The "Free" Leg: The final destination of that ticket is actually Bangkok.
Trip 2: 30 days later, you fly the Singapore to Bangkok leg (which you already paid for).
Rise and Repeat: For your return from Bangkok, you book another Advantage award: Bangkok to Singapore (Stopover) to Sydney, setting up your third trip for later in the year.
By paying the slightly higher "Advantage" rate, you are effectively buying an open-dated ticket to your next holiday destination (so long as it is within 30 days).
We also need to address the elephant in the room: the newly introduced Access awards. Rolled out alongside the November 2025 devaluation, Access awards are Singapore Airlines' answer to "dynamic pricing". Technically, they offer the best availability - if there is a commercial seat for sale, you can likely book it with Access. However, the pricing is detached from reality. Access awards are pegged to commercial fare buckets and can cost 2x to 3x the price of a Saver award. Andrew over at Mainly Miles wrote a great article on KrisFlyer Access awards, which examines the true cost of the newly introduced redemption option. Unless you have an expiring stash of millions of miles and a medical emergency requiring travel on a specific sold-out flight, you should pretend this tier does not exist. It represents the worst possible value for your KrisFlyer miles (you are probably better off paying the cash rate for these flights).
| Feature | Saver | Advantage | Access (New) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles Cost | Lowest | Higher | Highest (Variable) |
| Waitlist | Common | Less Common | No Waitlist (Guaranteed) |
| Stopovers (One-Way) | No | Yes (1 Free within 30 days) | Yes (1 Free within 30 days) |
| Ticket Validity | 1 Year | 1 Year | 1 Year |
| Value Verdict | Gold Standard | Strategic Use Only | Avoid |
The devaluation stings, but the game isn't over. While Access awards are a trap for the unwary (and the unbothered), Advantage awards can still offer value and a legitimate strategy for the savvy and organised traveller. If you can plan two trips within 30 days, paying the extra miles for an Advantage ticket (especially when Saver isn’t available) to lock in a second flight for "free" is a mathematical win.
Even if you hold top-tier status with a major hotel chain, booking a Luxury Travel Advisor rate can unlock significant additional value. From guaranteed US$100 property credits and "Stay 3 Pay 2" offers to freeing up your welcome amenity choice, here is why you should consider using a luxury travel advisor for your next booking to "stack" your benefits.