Million Mile Secrets reader, Traci, commented:
Thanks for all of the great information! I’m wondering if I can transfer points from a Chase Sapphire Preferred and Citi ThankYou Premier card to Singapore Airlines. Then book a trip on United Airlines from Salt Lake City to San Juan, Puerto Rico?
That will work, Traci!
Singapore Airlines miles are a great way to book United Airlines awards flights!
Singapore Airlines Miles Can Get You to Puerto Rico and the Other Caribbean Islands On United Airlines
I’ll explain how to book these flights and how it may even save you money!
How to Use Singapore Airlines Miles to Book United Airlines Flights to the Caribbean
You can use Singapore Airlines miles to book award flights on Star Alliance partners like United Airlines. And you don’t have to pay fuel surcharges on United Airlines flights!
To book your award seat, start by checking for flights at the United Airlines site.
Note: Make sure you can find flights first! Once you transfer your points to Singapore Airlines you can NOT get them back!
Find Saver Flights That Work for You at the United Airlines Site
You can only book Saver United Airlines flights with Singapore Airlines miles. So look for 1-way segments priced at 17,500 miles each.
Once you find flights that fit with your travel plans, call Singapore Airlines at 312-843-5333 to make your reservation.
Singapore Airlines charges the same amount of miles on United Airlines as you’d pay booking directly. For a round-trip flight, you’ll need:
- 35,000 Singapore Airlines miles in coach
- 60,000 Singapore Airlines miles in Business Class
- 80,000 Singapore Airlines miles in First Class
Using Singapore Airlines Miles Can Save You Money!
If your plans change, getting a refund on canceled award flights you booked with United Airlines miles will cost folks without elite status $200. However, Singapore Airlines only charges $30 to redeposit your miles!
Even if you only want to make changes to your itinerary, you’ll have to pay a fee of $75 (21 or more days before travel) to $100 (less than 21 days before travel) with United Airlines. But if you use your Singapore Airlines miles, making a change to your itinerary costs just $20.
All the Ways to Earn Singapore Airlines Miles
It’s easy to earn lots of Singapore Airlines miles because you can transfer points from all 4 flexible points programs.
1. AMEX Membership Rewards
Link: American Express Platinum (Personal)
Link: American Express Platinum (Small Business)
Link: American Express Everyday Preferred
Link: American Express Premier Rewards Gold
AMEX Membership Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Singapore Airlines in increments of 1,000 points.
| Personal Cards | Business Cards |
|---|---|
| American Express® Premier Rewards Gold | The Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN |
| American Express® Mercedes-Benz Platinum | The Blue for Business® Credit Card from American Express |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN |
| AMEX EveryDaySM Credit Card from American Express
| Business Green Rewards Card from American Express OPEN |
| AMEX EveryDaySM Preferred Credit Card from American Express | |
| American Express® Gold Card | |
| American Express® Green Card | |
| Blue from American Express® Note: These are the ONLY AMEX cards that earn Membership Rewards points that can NOT be transferred to airline & hotel programs. But you can use these points on the Membership Rewards website for other redemptions. Includes personal AND small business versions of the card. | |
And you do NOT have to pay excise fees because it’s not a US airline.
It usually takes ~24 hours for the miles to show up in your Singapore Airlines account.
2. Chase Ultimate Rewards
Link: Chase Freedom
Link: Chase Ink Cash
Link: Chase Ink Plus
Link: Chase Sapphire Preferred
You can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points with these cards:
| Personal Cards | Business Cards |
|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | Chase Ink Plus |
| Chase Freedom | Chase Ink Bold (No Longer Available to New Applicants) |
| Chase Sapphire (No Longer Available to New Applicants) | Chase Ink Cash |
| Note: Points earned from the Chase Freedom, Sapphire, and Ink Cash cards can only be transferred to travel partners if you also have a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Ink Plus, or Ink Bold card. |
But you need the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Ink Bold (no longer available), or Chase Ink Plus to transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points directly to partners like Singapore Airlines at a 1:1 ratio.
Not All Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Transfer Directly to Singapore Airlines and Other Partners
You can transfer in 1,000 point increments and in my experience transfers go through on the same day.
2. Citi ThankYou Points
Link: Citi Prestige
Link: Citi ThankYou Premier
There are lots of ways to earn Citi ThankYou points:
| Cards With Points That Directly Transfer to Travel Partners | Cards With Points That Transfer ONLY If You Have a Card From 1st Column |
|---|---|
| Citi ThankYou Premier | Citi ThankYou Preferred |
| Citi Prestige | Citi ThankYou Preferred for College Students |
| Citi Chairman | CitiBusiness ThankYou (No Longer Available) |
| Citi AT&T Access More |
And as long as you have the Citi Presitge, Citi ThankYou Premier, or Citi Chairman card (no longer available), you can transfer your Citi ThankYou points to Singapore Airlines at a 1:1 ratio.
You have to transfer in 1,000 point increments and it will typically take ~2 days for the miles to post to your Singapore Airlines account.
3. Starwood Points
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest American Express (Personal)
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest American Express (Small Business)
You can also transfer Starwood points you earn with the AMEX Starwood personal and small business cards to Singapore Airlines. Plus, when you transfer in increments of 20,000 points, you’ll get a 5,000 point bonus!
Bottom Line
You can use Singapore Airlines miles to book flights from the US to the Caribbean on United Airlines. You’ll pay the same amount of miles for your flight and you can transfer points to Singapore Airlines from all 4 flexible points programs:
Before you transfer your points, make sure you can find a Saver award flight on the United Airlines site that works for you. When you’re ready to book, give Singapore Airlines a call at 312-843-5333.
I hope that helps, Traci!
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