“I’m always collecting points for my next workation trips. With this in mind, I recently discovered the KrisFlyer frequent flyer program, which offers many combination options. Unfortunately, I’ve become a bit disillusioned with the Hilton Honors hotel program.“ Ulf-Gunnar Switalski
I just flew from Bali to Dubai with Singapore Airlines and was reminded once again why this airline was named ”Best Cabin Crew” in the world at the 2025 Skytrax Awards. The flight attendants are simply top-notch and the business class is like first class on other airlines. Service, cabin – everything on board is just right. But the KrisFlyer frequent flyer program also offers some good advantages, especially for travellers who like to combine flights.
The connection to the Marriott Bonvoy hotel program is particularly exciting. Anyone with Platinum, Titanium or Ambassador status there can activate KrisFlyer Elite Silver directly. And now for the real trick: if you then complete four paid flights with Singapore Airlines, you are able to easily upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Gold – including Star Alliance Gold, lounge access, additional baggage allowance, and priority services. For many, this is a lot easier to achieve than the Lufthansa Senator status. A tip for beginners: Singapore Airlines flies regularly between Milan and Barcelona, commonly offering return flights for less than 150 euros. The route counts as a regular Singapore flight, so you earn miles and status points – and with just two flights, you’ll reach Star Alliance Gold status.
You can earn miles with Singapore Airlines, Scoot, and all Star Alliance airlines, as well as with hotel and car rental partners, of course. Even if you don’t fly much, you can still get award tickets. Keyword: points transfer for American Express customers: Membership Rewards can be converted at a ratio of 3:2 – so 90,000 Amex points equal 60,000 KrisFlyer miles.
These can be redeemed, for example, for the monthly KrisFlyer deal called Spontaneous Escapes, which offers up to 30% off the mileage price on certain routes. Particularly attractive: the Frankfurt–New York route in Business Class is regularly available for only 56,700 miles one way – an excellent deal on a long-haul flight. And even though KrisFlyer miles are officially valid for 36 months, this period can be extended once – by up to six to twelve months, depending on your status. The extension costs a small fee or a few miles, but is ideal if you can’t or don’t want to use your points immediately.
Hilton Honors: Partially disillusioned
I was a Hilton Honors fan for a long time. The brand, the simple point-collection system, the transparent status benefits – a lot of things were appealing to me. I found features such as the legendary double dipping, which allowed you to collect points and airline miles at the same time, particularly engaging. Hilton Honors was straightforward and rewarding – not always a given with bonus programs. In the meantime, the program has changed noticeably. Not everything has gotten worse, but a lot of things are less attractive today. When making bookings, I now opt for other programs more often.
Hilton operates around 8,800 hotels worldwide with almost 1.3 million rooms in 139 countries – from iconic Waldorf Astoria hotels to solid Hampton Inns. The bonus program is clearly structured: ten points per US dollar spent, different status levels with theoretically attractive benefits and bonus nights. The Gold status in particular, which many consider the ideal middle ground, comes with free breakfast and usually upgraded room categories.
Those who don’t want to achieve this status through nights spent in hotels can take a shortcut: the Hilton Honors credit card for Germany, issued by Advanzia Bank. For 6 euros per month (72 euros per year), you not only get Gold status immediately, but also an insurance package and avoid foreign currency fees. An interesting package – but not a game changer. The downsides cannot be overlooked: Hilton recently quietly increased the point values for many hotels – in some cases by up to 50%. At the same time, there is no transparent award chart. Those who book with points in mind now have to contend with dynamic pricing and a lack of transparency.
Popular hotels such as the resorts in the Maldives can hardly be booked with points anymore. And even with Diamond status, frustration is often not far away. Hilton generously distributes its highest status via status matches and challenges, often without offering anything in return. In many hotels, dozens of Diamond guests check in at the same time – and genuine upgrades are simply not available due to a lack of availability at the hotels themselves. What sounds like a VIP treatment ends up being a reality check in a standard room.
Hilton Honors works – but it no longer works for everyone. Those looking for reliability, tangible status benefits, and attractive point redemption options will often find these implemented more consistently elsewhere.
Ulf-Gunnar Switalski …
… is a book author, editor of “Upgrade Guru“, founder of the German Bonus Awards
and constantly travels the world himself. He has been involved with bonus programs
for customer retention and loyalty for more than 30 years. www.upgradeguru.de
Fotos: adobe firefly, Singapore Airlines, Hilton Hotels
