As 2024 comes to a close, Singapore Airlines has released its annual “wrapped” emails, providing KrisFlyer members with a snapshot of their travel and loyalty activities throughout the year. This year proved to be fascinating, with a staggering 80 billion KrisFlyer miles redeemed globally. However, only 24% of active members earned miles from at least two partners within the Singapore Airlines Group—something that undoubtedly raised eyebrows among company executives focused on cross-selling strategies.

My Travel Experience in 2024: A New Chapter

For me, 2024 was a more subdued travel year, primarily due to the arrival of my little one, whom I've affectionately nicknamed the MileCub. Despite the change in pace, I still managed to accumulate 66,249 miles over 30 flights. I took the MileCub on five trips; we visited Bali twice, Kuala Lumpur twice, and made one memorable stop in Perth. Each time, we chose Singapore Airlines for its unmatched convenience and exceptional ground services, especially the First Class check-in and lounge.

Interestingly, this year wasn’t particularly adventurous in terms of airline choices. Whenever I didn’t travel with the MileCub, Singapore Airlines remained my go-to carrier.

Airlines I Flew in 2024

In 2024, I ventured into the skies with a few non-Singapore Airlines carriers:

- **Air Asia** (HKT-KUL, KUL-SIN) - **Air France** (BCN-CDG) - **Alaska Air** (LAX-LAS) - **Cathay Pacific** (SIN-HKG-SIN) - **Etihad Airways** (SIN-AUH-MAD) - **Scoot** (SIN-HKT) - **United Airlines** (LAS-LAX)

My standout journey was a long-haul trip with Etihad Airways, flying from Singapore to Madrid via Abu Dhabi. The experience was nothing short of excellent.

Earning Miles: A Missed Opportunity

Over the year, I earned a total of 44,272 KrisFlyer miles. Upon reflection, this amount may come as a surprise given my frequent flights with Singapore Airlines. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for even a round-trip Economy Class ticket to Tokyo.

Why so few miles? I was not actively trying to accumulate more this year; rather, my focus was on redeeming my existing balance, particularly as many of my miles from the COVID period were nearing expiration.

In contrast, my other frequent flyer accounts saw significant boosts. For instance, I seized opportunities with the **Alaska Mileage Plan**, enjoying a sale on Hawaiian Airlines miles and turning points from my **British Airways Executive Club** into significant redemptions due to changes in my partner’s AMEX membership.

Interestingly, despite accumulating a relatively small number of KrisFlyer miles, I somehow found myself among the top 20% of miles earners in Singapore, hinting at the larger picture of overall membership engagement.

A Look at the Community

Within The MileLion Community, many members are sharing their impressive earning figures for 2024, revealing a competitive spirit that adds excitement to the frequent flyer experience.

A Record Year for Redeeming: My 1.5 Million Miles Story

This year, I burned through a staggering 1,466,400 KrisFlyer miles. This remarkable usage can be traced back to the COVID era when Singapore Airlines encouraged members to convert credit card points into miles through generous transfer bonuses. Having taken advantage of these promotions, I found myself with a substantial stash that I needed to apply toward travel before expiry.

Fortunately, you can book trips using KrisFlyer miles up to one year in advance. Thus, I secured my 2025 travels, which will whisk me away to destinations like Perth, London, Melbourne, San Francisco, and Seattle.

As expected, Singapore Airlines remained my sole choice for redeeming KrisFlyer miles. While many members may explore options like Kris+ or Pelago for ground services, I opted to keep it straightforward. Burning through nearly 1.5 million KrisFlyer miles placed me in the elite top 1% of members, a testament to my strategic travel planning.

Looking Forward: What Does 2025 Hold?

In conclusion, 2024 was a transitional year in which I concentrated on depleting my KrisFlyer balance rather than increasing it. With the COVID-era miles finally running their course, this year proved that KrisFlyer members still face a “use it or lose it” conundrum, especially since Singapore Airlines has yet to adopt an activity-based mileage expiration policy.

What awaits in 2025? While KrisFlyer will undoubtedly remain my primary frequent flyer program, I’m starting to see enticing alternatives, including **EVA Air's Infinity MileageLands**, **Flying Blue**, and **Qatar Privilege Club**, offering fantastic earning opportunities for specific routes. Additionally, new platforms like **Heymax** are emerging, presenting unique chances to earn 'exotic' miles—diversification could very well be the key to enhanced travel experiences ahead! Stay tuned for more updates as my journey continues!