Hoping someone can help me with an airline points/upgrade question!

[Guest]

We are headed to Thailand next month! Flying Singapore Air from Denver-LAX-Singapore-Bangkok. We purchased economy tickets (even paid more for the upgrade-able ones) and saved enough Amex points that have been transferred to Kris Flyer (Singapore Air) points in order to upgrade to Business. I called to ensure this was possible prior to booking and they confirmed, yes.

I have called Singapore Air now numerous times to upgrade, in which they tell me “redemption upgrade is unavailable.” I’ve tried online and through their chat function as well. The business class seats are still available for purchase, so I’d assume they are waiting to see if someone purchases these before they release them for upgrades?

We’re about a month out and the panic has set in that we won’t be able to do this after saving points for 2+ years for this trip. How do we go about upgrading? Is their a secret I’m missing? When do they release these upgrades for point redemption?

[Susan]

Keep trying, and best of luck. I return in May (I am there twice a year for a few months). I am on different airline and am able to have them waitlist the upgrade requests. One way has cleared already but I don’t expect the other to do so until closer to the date. There are far fewer options for getting there right now than is typically the case but I see flights being added almost every time I check. So perhaps it will happen.

I’ve not gotten an upgrade to business once, and then I was able to get premium economy at least.

One leg of my flight is usually not covered by my upgrades so when I can check in with that airline directly (at service counter at connection on the way there and to start with on the way back to the US) I always ask if there are any upgrades available for purchase and they almost always give me at least premium Econ for free. (This is the shorter leg of my flight so it’s okay.)

It’s not an ideal flight to spend in economy from the US or Europe but if it comes down to having to fly economy you’ll be okay, though I fully feel the disappointment. It will all be worth it once you get there though!

Best of luck and enjoy your trip! Thailand is wonderful. My first trip there years ago was so good I started a company in the country. Just so I can regularly return and have my fill of mango sticky rice

[Melanie]

Only a certain number of business seats per flight are allocated for award flights (booked with points), so you may unfortunately be SOL. We had a hard time finding business seats to Singapore on Singapore air several months in advance. They are a hot commodity. Its extremely unlikely that any would remain 1 month before

[Liza]

Correct, they are waiting for someone to purchase those biz seats. Or they are being held for their elite members to upgrade. You're not missing anything. You just need to wait if and when it comes available. I'd say it can be as close to one week since a traditional business customer book last minute flights all the time.

[Sarah]

They don’t always release all seats for mileage upgrades. Example: on my recent United flight I could upgrade with cash but not miles even just a couple hours before departure.