When Tracy Ren decided to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics, she booked a Paris flight to Singapore Airlines with her mileage.
But she didn’t make money – she bought them.
Instead of buying the 1,000-mile airline directly from the $40 airline, Ren turned to Carousell, a popular online marketplace in the Asia-Pacific region, selling new and used goods, and increasingly, loyalty points and rewards.
By purchasing mileage online, Ren said, “the cost is close to 50% compared to buying air tickets.”
Is this allowed?
Aaron Wong, founder of Travel and Loyalty website, said buying and selling airline miles online is not illegal Millirion.
It also does not violate Carousell’s Terms of Service. The company bans weapons and cryptocurrency sales CNBC Travel Through a representative: “Sales governance of airline mileage and points depends on terms and conditions… (of) airlines… Carousell is unwilling and cannot enforce these third-party agreements.”
Wong said this is where online sellers rule according to the rules. Singapore Airlines’ loyalty program term states that “the sale or barter of Chrisley Miles is prohibited.”
Online sellers typically cost less than half the cost of Krisflyer, which sells 1,000 miles for around $40.
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“The question, then, isn’t whether you can… it’s whether you can get rid of it,” Wong said.
He said that if any airline catches travelers who buy and sell mileage, they can confiscate their mileage or close their traveler’s loyalty accounts. The buyer also operates The risk of losing money to online scammersHe said.
How it works
Wong said some sellers transfer credit card points directly to the buyer’s Krisflyer account. The names on the two accounts need to match, he said, but added: “Things fall on the crack.”
A more common approach, he said, is to name the buyer “nominee” under Singapore Airlines’ Krisflyer program. Members can”Nominate up to five peopleThe plan says, “They can redeem flights to take advantage of their miles.
I did nothing against any terms and conditions.
A member of Singapore Krisflyer who spoke with CNBC said he has been using this method to sell his mileage to strangers in Carousell, and in the past year and a half, Singapore has been priced at $17 per 1,000 miles ($12.75 per 1,000 miles).
The seller asked to remain anonymous to protect his identity at work, and he said buyers must share their passport details to be designated as nominees.
“Since I have to have their personal details, I share my details with them as well. I share my proof of my address with them…my phone number.” “If anything goes wrong, this gives them extra comfort.”
He said something really went wrong. He said he had to intervene in his redeemed tickets twice, including a buyer requesting a flight to be postponed on the departure date.
“In this case, it’s not bad, but if he calls me 15 minutes later, I’ll be in a meeting for an hour,” the seller said.
He said Singapore’s small size and low crime rate make it easier to sell airline miles in city-states.
“This is a A fairly compliant society. People usually don’t ride each other. ” he said.
Why do sellers want to sell
Another seller declined to reveal his name or allow CNBC to use his Carousell screen name, saying he started selling Krisflyer Miles 10 years ago, after amassing more points (mainly purchased through credit cards) than what he could use. In addition, he is always “who is driven to the validity period”.
His Carousell listing says he sells 1,000 miles for $15 to $25, depending on how to buy and how many miles are purchased. Over the past month, he has made six “five-star” reviews on mileage sales, with buyers raving about his “fast” and “worry-free” deals.
But the first sellers, CNBC, talked to him that he sold points for a completely different reason — buying flights for family members on cheaper airlines.
“Singapore Airlines ends up being a very expensive flight airline, so I rarely spend money on flying,” he said. “You sell those miles, get the funds, and use the same funds to your other bookings.”
Plus, he usually booked a trip six weeks in advance – by then, redemption flights were usually sold out. He also said he didn’t Buy products with Krisflyer Miles Because “the arithmetic doesn’t accumulate.”
The seller told CNBC that he did not feel that he was breaking any rules.
“The airline rules say that people need to be added as nominees in my account,” he said. “I did not do anything that violates any terms and conditions.”
However, when asked about selling Krisflyer Miles on Carousell using Singapore Airlines’ nomination system, a representative said the program’s terminology “is strictly prohibited from selling or bartering Krisflyer Miles, elite mileage, PPS value, rewards, rewards, rewards, reward tickets or other benefits”.
“It is possible for members engaged in such activities to cancel these interests,” the representative said. “The SIA works closely with relevant authorities to monitor these platforms and will take decisive action against any member who violates these rules.”
Legal ways to reduce
Wong of Milelion said that this did not stop the bungalow industry from breeding online for the “Miles Brok” business.
“Airlines tend to focus more on brokers, bigger people,” he said. “Carussel sellers know that, too.”
He said airlines tried to prevent the sale of mileage without overly heavy redemption for members who “play by the rules.” Finally, “They really can’t get it out completely.”
Wong recommends using services like Citi Payall and Cardup that allow users to earn miles from bills, rents and educational payments.
“The irony I see here is that you can do this in less ways.”
