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Since July 21, 2026, an empty account no longer allows you to view KrisFlyer award space on the Singapore Airlines website. This change may seem technical, but it removes one of the few free tools Canadian travelers have to spot Star Alliance award space before booking with Aeroplan. Let’s look at the details of these changes together.
Until now, anyone could open a KrisFlyer account for free and immediately launch an award availability search, both for Singapore Airlines and its Star Alliance partners. This is no longer the case. A member whose balance is deemed insufficient now sees an error message indicating that their current mile balance does not allow for an award flight search.
Two important clarifications on the scope of this restriction:
I must admit, this is the most frustrating part of the issue. Initial reports pointed to a threshold of 1,000 KrisFlyer miles, but members with that balance were subsequently blocked, pushing the estimate toward 1,500 miles. Singapore Airlines has not released any statement and seemingly refuses to clarify.
In a statement to the specialized press, the carrier indicated it has implemented “additional protections on KrisFlyer award searches to protect our systems against automated and repetitive search activity.” It added that it cannot disclose specific thresholds or criteria because they are part of its internal security controls.
Aeroplan is the primary airline program in the country, providing access to the Star Alliance network. The problem is that Air Canada’s engine doesn’t always display all partner availability clearly, especially for long-haul business class flights.
Many travelers therefore used the Singapore Airlines site as a second pair of eyes, for free, to validate that an award seat actually existed before transferring points or calling Aeroplan. It is this free verification that is now conditional.
The most accessible way in Canada is through Marriott Bonvoy, our favorite program. From there, you can transfer to KrisFlyer at a ratio of 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 KrisFlyer mile, with a minimum transfer of 3,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. This minimum gives you exactly 1,000 KrisFlyer miles, and the transfer takes about 2 days.
If the actual threshold is closer to 1,500 miles, plan for 4,500 Marriott Bonvoy points. This is an opportunity cost of a few dozen dollars to maintain access to a search tool, which remains reasonable if you are planning a business class ticket worth over $5,000.
The full procedure for the transfer can be found in our dedicated tutorial.
To accumulate these Marriott Bonvoy points without staying at hotels, the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card remains the simplest entry point in Canada.
If you don’t want to tie up miles with KrisFlyer, several platforms also cover Star Alliance award availability. We have tested the main ones and published a detailed review of each.
Singapore Airlines’ move targets disposable accounts used by search bots, not travelers. However, the side effect is real: searching for an award flight for free is becoming a bit harder every year, as programs one by one close their public engines.
Our advice remains simple. If you are seriously aiming for a Star Alliance business class ticket, keep a small active balance in KrisFlyer rather than leaving the account at zero. It’s not an expense; it’s access.
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