Most travellers assume you’ll want to fly tens of 1000’s of miles or spend 1000’s of {dollars} to earn Star Alliance Gold.
However what in the event you might get there with only one round-trip paid flight and a little bit assist out of your lodge standing?
Because of a partnership between Marriott Bonvoy and Singapore Airways KrisFlyer, I used to be in a position to fast-track my option to Star Alliance Gold utilizing my Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite standing.
No long-haul flights or enterprise class fares. Only one cleverly deliberate round-trip flight and a Marriott Platinum standing.
On this article, I’ll present you precisely how I did it so you’ll be able to replicate the identical technique and unlock elite advantages with 25 Star Alliance airways around the globe.
Why Star Alliance Gold Is Worthwhile
Star Alliance Gold isn’t only a shiny badge. It’s one of the vital helpful elite statuses you’ll be able to have in the event you fly internationally, even just a few instances a yr.
When you’ve received the standing, the advantages applies to all 25 Star Alliance airways, together with large names like Air Canada, Lufthansa, ANA, and Turkish Airways.
Right here’s what you get with Star Alliance Gold standing:
- Lounge entry for you and a visitor, even on economic system tickets
- Precedence check-in at enterprise class counters
- Precedence safety and boarding
- Additional baggage allowance
- Precedence baggage dealing with
Not like airline-specific statuses that restrict perks to that one provider, Star Alliance Gold provides you entry to a worldwide community of advantages, whether or not you’re hopping round Southeast Asia or heading house through Europe.
And sure, you should utilize your standing with Air Canada in Canada, even in the event you earned it through Singapore Airways.
That features Maple Leaf Lounges on worldwide flights. Not unhealthy for a single round-trip flight, proper?
It All Began with My Marriott Standing
The important thing to this entire technique was already sitting in my pockets: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite standing.
By a partnership between Marriott Bonvoy and Singapore Airways KrisFlyer, members with Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite standing or increased (Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador) can request an on the spot standing match to KrisFlyer Elite Silver.
As soon as matched, you’re eligible for the KrisFlyer Elite Gold Accelerator Problem, which supplies you six months to finish 4 qualifying Singapore Airways flights and unlock KrisFlyer Elite Gold, which additionally grants you Star Alliance Gold.
Right here’s the way it works in follow:
- You could have Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite or above standing
- Go to the Marriott–KrisFlyer standing match portal
- Log in and register utilizing the identical identify and electronic mail on each your Marriott and KrisFlyer accounts
- Upon profitable registration, you’ll be bumped as much as KrisFlyer Elite Silver
- Then, you’ll be invited to finish the Krisflyer Elite Gold Accelerator problem: fly 4 eligible Singapore Airways flights inside 6 months.
It’s value noting that this standing match is a one time profit, so it’s greatest to make use of it strategically.
For those who solely have Marriott Gold standing, you’ll be able to nonetheless register however you gained’t get any on the spot standing. As an alternative, you’ll obtain a separate problem to earn KrisFlyer Elite Silver, which doesn’t include any significant perks.
That’s why the sensible transfer is to attend till you’ve hit Marriott Platinum Elite earlier than initiating the match—so you’ll be able to soar straight into the Elite Gold problem.
The KrisFlyer Elite Gold Problem Defined
After your Marriott standing match is permitted and also you’ve been upgraded to KrisFlyer Elite Silver, you’ll obtain an invite to finish the KrisFlyer Elite Gold Accelerator Problem.
The duty is easy on paper: take 4 eligible flights on Singapore Airways-operated flights inside six months of registration.
However right here’s what you’ll want to know to verify your flights truly qualify:
What Counts as an Eligible Flight?
- Solely flights operated by Singapore Airways depend. Not codeshares or different Star Alliance companions.
- You could guide a income fare (paid money ticket). Award tickets utilizing KrisFlyer miles or different factors don’t qualify.
- Keep away from reserving in Class G, which is often reserved for group or deeply discounted fares, and isn’t eligible for the problem.
A Smarter Strategy to Full the Problem
Whereas taking 4 flights may sound like loads, there’s a intelligent option to full your entire problem with only one round-trip, and that’s precisely what I did.
Right here’s the trick: so long as every section has a separate flight quantity, it counts as a definite flight. So, in the event you guide a round-trip itinerary with a layover on each methods, you’ll rack up 4 eligible segments.
Only a reminder once more, this standing match + problem combo is a one-time supply. For those who provoke it with out having journey plans, fail to finish the flights, or haven’t any use for the standing afterward, you’ve primarily wasted the chance.
So make sure you use it properly.
How I Accomplished the Problem with One Spherical-Journey Flight
As an alternative of making an attempt to piece collectively 4 separate flights or criss-crossing the globe, I stored it easy and inexpensive.
I booked a round-trip ticket from Jakarta (CGK) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) with a layover in Singapore (SIN) on each the outbound and inbound legs.
Since every section had its personal Singapore Airways flight quantity, that gave me:
- Jakarta (CGK) to Singapore (SIN) – SQ 957
- Singapore (SIN) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – SQ 122
- Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Singapore (SIN) – SQ 103
- Singapore (SIN) to Jakarta (CGK) – SQ 958
All 4 segments had been operated by Singapore Airways, booked as a paid fare, and averted ineligible fare courses like Class G.
The entire value? About $230 CAD. Essentially the most inexpensive choice I might discover to finish the problem.
This itinerary labored out completely, not only for the KrisFlyer problem, but additionally for my journey plans. I used to be wrapping up a visit in Bali, so attending to Jakarta was straightforward.
And Kuala Lumpur simply occurs to be among the finest cities in Asia for incomes lodge elite standing on a price range, which I additionally took benefit of whereas I used to be there (extra on that in a future article).
However I didn’t select this routing simply because it was low cost. I additionally wished to benefit from the journey, and every metropolis provided one thing worthwhile:
- Jakarta: I stayed on the Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Pacific Place, a novel Ritz-Carlton property the place each visitor receives lounge entry, not simply elites. The lounge serves 5 meals choices each day with an distinctive meals high quality and repair. Positively a hidden gem for Marriott loyalists.
- Singapore: Even in the event you’re solely in transit, Changi Airport is definitely worth the cease. From the butterfly backyard and indoor waterfall to rooftop lounges and a film theatre, it’s simply essentially the most entertaining layover you’ll ever have.
Take pleasure in one of the vital beautiful airports on this planet - Kuala Lumpur: An underrated vacation spot for lodge standing chasers and meals lovers alike. One evening at AC Resort Kuala Lumpur usually prices simply 5,500 Marriott Bonvoy factors, and it’s additionally house to one of many most cost-effective Hilton properties on this planet. And naturally, the native meals scene is nothing in need of legendary.
One evening at AC Resort Kuala Lumpur usually prices 5,500 Marriott Bonvoy factors
Though we usually advocate reserving flights straight via the airline, I discovered a greater deal through Agoda, an internet journey company (OTA). Regardless of being a third-party reserving, every part labored easily:
- I used to be ready so as to add the reserving to my Singapore Airways KrisFlyer account and profit from my KrisFlyer Elite Silver standing
- I might choose seats (together with a Premium Economic system seat on one section), add baggage, and handle the journey like all direct reserving
Simply make sure you double-check that your reserving exhibits legitimate fare courses and Singapore Airways because the working provider.
A well-planned round-trip, two layovers, and a little bit of strategic pondering. That’s all it took to finish the KrisFlyer Elite Gold problem.
Alongside the way in which, I used to be in a position to benefit from the journey with out breaking the financial institution.
What Occurs After You Qualify
After finishing my fourth Singapore Airways flight, my KrisFlyer Elite Gold standing was granted the very subsequent day.
No follow-up was wanted. Only a affirmation electronic mail and an up to date standing mirrored in my KrisFlyer account. (Though the phrases and situations do point out it could take as much as two weeks.)
At that time, I used to be formally Star Alliance Gold, which unlocks advantages throughout all 25 Star Alliance airways.
For those who’re planning to make use of your new standing whereas redeeming factors with Aeroplan or different associate applications, there’s one vital factor to recollect.
You’ll have to enter your KrisFlyer quantity as an alternative of your Aeroplan quantity when making your reserving.
For those who overlook, you’ll have to name the Aeroplan contact centre and ask them to switch your Aeroplan quantity along with your KrisFlyer quantity.
This usually requires explaining why you’re doing it—one thing that may be extra effort than it’s value, particularly if the agent isn’t aware of the KrisFlyer and Star Alliance standing.
Attaching your KrisFlyer quantity ensures you get all of the perks that include Star Alliance Gold: lounge entry, precedence check-in, and free checked baggage, even on home routes with carriers like Aegean or Turkish Airways.
For instance, I might now fly economic system on an Aegean Airways flight from Athens to Santorini, and nonetheless get entry to the lounge and a complimentary checked bag, just because I had my KrisFlyer quantity on the reserving.
Was It Value It?
Whereas this technique appears straightforward in principle, it undoubtedly takes some planning and coordination. I wouldn’t advocate flying all the way in which to Jakarta from Canada simply to finish this problem.
However in the event you’re already in Southeast Asia and count on to profit from Star Alliance Gold within the coming yr, then it’s a no brainer.
With the proper routing and timing, you would even full the problem in sooner or later, with only a knapsack in tow. Begin within the morning, fly your 4 segments, and wrap up by dinner, standing unlocked.
Conclusion
Incomes Star Alliance Gold via the Marriott Bonvoy–KrisFlyer partnership is without doubt one of the best and cost-effective standing shortcuts on the market, in the event you occur to be in the proper place on the proper time.
With only one well booked round-trip and Marriott Platinum standing, I unlocked a yr of airport lounge entry, precedence check-in, further baggage, and a far smoother journey expertise throughout 25 Star Alliance airways.
It is probably not for everybody, however for these already travelling in Southeast Asia, it’s a golden alternative value contemplating.
