If you’ve been in the miles game for long, you know the golden rule: You earn miles (redeemable) on the ground (credit cards primarily), but you earn Elite miles (status) in the air.
That rule has officially been broken.
In what is one of the very few ways globally to earn Star Alliance status credits without setting foot on a plane, Pelago—Singapore Airlines’ travel experiences platform—can be your secret weapon to achieve an elite status - or just to earn bonus miles.
Whether you are a few hundred miles short of KrisFlyer Elite Gold or just want to double-dip on your travel spending, here is everything you need to know about maximizing Pelago.
The Game Changer: Earning Status on the Ground
As of late 2025, Pelago allows you to earn Elite Miles and PPS Value on non-flight bookings. This is massive. Previously, booking tours or tickets just gave you redeemable miles. Now, they count towards your tier qualification.
Here is the earning structure for every SGD 1 spent on Pelago:
- 3 KrisFlyer Miles (Redeemable for flights)
- 1 Elite Mile (Counts towards Silver/Gold Status)
- 1 PPS Value (For PPS Club members, earned per SGD 3 spent)
Why this matters: Let’s say you book a family trip to Universal Studios Japan, some airport transfers, and a few day tours, totaling SGD 1,000. You aren’t just getting 3,000 KrisFlyer miles; you are also getting 1,000 Elite Miles. If you are sitting at 49,000 Elite miles and need that final push to hit Gold (50k) for lounge access and extra baggage, you can literally “buy” your way over the line by booking an experience you were going to take anyway.
Stacking for Maximum Returns (The 7+ MPD Strategy)
The “Silent Status” benefit is great, but let’s talk about the redeemable miles, because the earn rates are incredibly high.
- Base Earn: You get 3 miles per dollar (mpd) directly from Pelago.
- Credit Card Spend: Pelago typically codes as “Travel” or “Online,” meaning you can use travel cards to earn bonus miles - say another 4 mpd.
- Total: That is a baseline of 7 miles per dollar (or more) on unmatched experiences.
🚀 Pro Tip: Keep an eye on the Kris+ App. Pelago frequently runs “boosted” campaigns where booking via the Kris+ app can elevate the earn rate to 9 or even 10 mpd (plus your credit card points). This is currently one of the fastest ways to rack up miles in Singapore.
The “Hidden” Flight Discounts
If you already have a flight booked with Singapore Airlines or Scoot, do not book your activities at full price. Pelago offers exclusive discounts for passengers, and the best part is you still earn miles on the paid amount.
- Singapore Airlines Passengers:
- Discount: 10% off bookings.
- Cap: SGD 50 discount per transaction.
- Frequency: You can use your PNR (Booking Reference) up to 3 times.
- Scoot Passengers:
- Discount: 20% off bookings.
- Cap: SGD 15 discount per transaction.
- Frequency: Single use per PNR.
How to claim it: At checkout, simply look for the “Singapore Airlines/Scoot Promo” field and enter your 6-character PNR and Last Name. It’s instant savings.
What Should You Book?
Pelago isn’t just for tourist traps. You can use it for practical travel needs that earn you status:
- Airport Transfers: Instead of hailing a Grab or Uber upon arrival, pre-book a transfer. It’s often comparable in price, but you earn 3 mpd + Elite Miles.
- eSIMs: Keep your connectivity sorted and your miles balance growing.
- Attraction Tickets: Disney, Universal Studios, teamLab, and museum tickets are all available.
- Unique Experiences: From food tours in Tokyo to helicopter rides in New York.
Getting Started
If you haven’t signed up yet, you are leaving money (and miles) on the table.
- Sign Up: Create an account and link your KrisFlyer number in the profile settings (this is crucial for the miles to credit automatically).
- Browse: Search for activities in your next destination.
- Double Dip: Pay with a high-earning miles card.
The Bottom Line
Earning Star Alliance Gold used to require endless “mileage runs” on planes. Now, you can earn a chunk of it while riding a roller coaster or taking a private car to your hotel. If you are flying Singapore Airlines, using Pelago is a no-brainer—you get the discount, the miles, and that precious step closer to Elite status.
