Step aside, KrisFlyer. Qatar Airways has teamed up with Garuda Indonesia, unlocking Business Class awards from Singapore for just 12,500 Avios to Jakarta or 18,000 Avios to Bali – with zero fuel surcharges.
Back in February this year, we reported on a new frequent flyer partnership between Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia, which now allows earning and redemption of KrisFlyer miles on selected Garuda flights, though sadly at fairly unattractive redemption rates, with a high fuel surcharge imposed.
Indonesia’s national carrier is continuing to grow its frequent flyer network as part of its wider growth strategy, recently partnering with Emirates Skywards and, more notably for our readers, Qatar Airways Privilege Club since 4th April 2025.
The new latter tie-up is particularly useful, as it means Garuda Indonesia flights can now be redeemed using Avios – a points currency that’s easy to accumulate in Singapore through credit card spend, or purchase at a discount during regular promotions.
With award redemptions between Singapore and Jakarta starting from just 6,000 Avios in Economy and 12,500 Avios in Business Class, with no fuel surcharges, this now represents the best way for Singapore-based travellers to redeem Garuda flights to and from Changi.
Additionally, Qatar Airways Avios can be used to redeem award seats network-wide on Garuda Indonesia – a far more flexible arrangement compared to KrisFlyer miles, which can only be used on three routes.
Qatar award rates on Garuda Indonesia
Back in 2023, Qatar Airways introduced a new partner award chart, to match the British Airways Executive Club partner chart, with much more competitive one-way Avios pricing on a per sector basis.
Partner Award Chart
The bad news is that this partner award chart doesn’t seem to have been strictly followed in the case of most Garuda Indonesia redemptions, with some higher pricing introduced for this particular partner on longer routings.
Here’s how the award chart looks, based on our searches, with “standard” partner rates from the table above also shown for comparison, where applicable.
| Qatar Avios Award rates on Garuda Indonesia (one-way) |
||
| Distance Example Routes |
Economy Class |
Business Class |
| 0 – 650 miles Singapore – Jakarta Jakarta – Bali |
6,000 | 12,500 |
| 651 – 1,151 miles Singapore – Bali Jakarta – Lombok |
9,000 | 18,000 |
| 1,152 – 2,000 miles Jakarta – Sorong |
13,000 |
26,000 |
| 2,001 – 3,000 miles Jakarta – Hong Kong Jakarta – Shanghai |
16,000 |
40,000 |
| 3,001 – 4,000 miles Jakarta – Melbourne Jakarta – Tokyo |
25,000 |
65,000 |
| 4,001 – 5,500 miles Jakarta – Doha Jakarta – Jeddah |
36,000 |
80,000 |
| 5,501 – 6,500 miles |
Not applicable to GA routes | |
| 6,501 – 7,000 miles Jakarta – Amsterdam |
50,000 |
120,000 |
As usual with Avios, it’s shorter sectors that have the most attractive rates – once you redeem for longer flights like Jakarta to Melbourne or Sydney is becomes quite unattractive, especially in Business Class.
Garuda Indonesia’s shortest route from Singapore – which is to and from Jakarta – falls into the cheapest redemption category at 0 – 650 miles, while its two longer routes from Singapore to Bali (Denpasar) and Surabaya fall into the second cheapest zone at 651 – 1,151 miles.
Here’s how that looks, compared to redeeming KrisFlyer miles on the carrier’s Singapore routes.
| Garuda Indonesia Awards KrisFlyer vs. QRPC Economy Class |
|||
| Route |  |
 |
QRPC Saving |
| Singapore Jakarta | 13,500 + S$112 |
6,000 + S$65 |
7,500 miles + S$47 |
| Jakarta Singapore | 13,500 + S$69 |
6,000 + S$22 |
7,500 miles + S$47 |
| Singapore Bali | 13,500 + S$119 |
9,000 + S$65 |
4,500 miles + S$54 |
| Bali Singapore | 13,500 + S$74 |
9,000 + S$20 |
4,500 miles + S$54 |
| Singapore Surabaya | 13,500 + S$112 |
9,000 + S$65 |
4,500 miles + S$47 |
| Surabaya Singapore | 13,500 + S$66 |
9,000 + S$19 |
4,500 miles + S$47 |
As you can see, Qatar Airways is also not passing on Garuda Indonesia’s fuel surcharge with these award flights, like KrisFlyer does, giving you a decent cash saving of around S$50 per sector, in addition to the reduction in miles you’ll need to burn for an award ticket.
Here’s how the chart looks on Garuda’s Singapore routes for Business Class.
| Garuda Indonesia Awards KrisFlyer vs. QRPC Business Class |
|||
| Route | |
|
QRPC Saving |
| Singapore Jakarta | 24,000 + S$112 |
12,500 + S$65 |
11,500 miles + S$47 |
| Jakarta Singapore | 24,000 + S$69 |
12,500 + S$22 |
11,500 miles + S$47 |
| Singapore Bali | 24,000 + S$119 |
18,000 + S$65 |
6,000 miles + S$54 |
| Bali Singapore | 24,000 + S$74 |
18,000 + S$20 |
6,000 miles + S$54 |
| Singapore Surabaya | 24,000 + S$112 |
18,000 + S$65 |
6,000 miles + S$47 |
| Surabaya Singapore | 24,000 + S$66 |
18,000 + S$19 |
6,000 miles + S$47 |
If you’re holding both Avios and KrisFlyer miles, it’s Avios that’s now your go-to redemption option on these Garuda Indonesia routes.
Do note, however, that while Singapore Airlines exclusively operates wide-body aircraft on its Singapore – Bali and Singapore – Jakarta routes, with 2013 Long Haul or 2018 Regional Business Class seats, Garuda Indonesia uses Boeing 737-800s on these services with recliner seats in Business Class – probably not worth redeeming miles for.
(Photo: InsideFlyer)
Online booking is available
Thankfully, searching and booking Garuda Indonesia flights using Qatar Airways Avios points is available wholly online, which makes it simple for members to lock in redemptions.
As you can see in this example, an immediately-redeemable Singapore – Jakarta flight costs only 6,000 Avios points plus S$65 in mandatory taxes and fees.
That’s significantly cheaper than the KrisFlyer programme will charge for travel on Garuda Indonesia (13,500 miles + S$112), or for travel on Singapore Airlines flights (8,500 miles + S$65).
This also works for British Airways (and other) Avios
If you’re holding a balance in British Airways Avios points but not in Qatar Airways Avios points – don’t worry.
While you can’t search and book Garuda Indonesia awards via the British Airways portal, BA Avios and QR Avios are interchangeable, with instant, fee-free and fully reversible online transfers of any amount you like between the two, as often as you wish.
In fact you can also transfer Avios from Iberia, Aer Lingus, Finnair and the newest partner Loganair into Qatar Airways Privilege Club, by first converting to British Airways, then to Qatar from there.
On a similar note, you may recall how we recently highlighted that you can now secure Finnair Business Class to Europe using only 62,500 BA Avios + S$87, and take advantage of fuel-surcharge-free intra-Asia awards on Cathay Pacific using as few as 9,000 Avios.
The currency is also your cheapest way by far to redeem Virgin Australia flights, at rates far lower than KrisFlyer charges, again thanks to the Qatar Airways partnership.
Earning Avios in Singapore
You can transfer credit card points into two Avios frequent flyer programmes from the following banks in Singapore.
Singapore Bank to Avios transfer partners
= Good transfer ratio
= Lousy transfer ratio
Do note that HSBC transfers to Qatar Privilege Club at a poorer rate than it does to other programmes, while the same issue affects OCBC transfers to British Airways Executive Club Avios. Avoid these options, and remember BA to QR Avios transfers are free and instant (HSBC take note!).
It’s also possible to buy Avios points relatively cheaply throughout the year, from as little as 1.5 Singapore cents each, with recent deals from Finnair Plus and Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
Earning Avios on Garuda Indonesia flights
Another nice feature of this new partnership is that Qatar Airways Privilege Club members can now earn Avios points when flying on all flights operated by Garuda Indonesia, when ticketed in an eligible booking class.
Here’s how that looks.
| Avios Points Accrual on Garuda Indonesia |
||
| Cabin | Booking Class |
Accrual Percentage (miles x) |
| First Class | A, F, P |
250% |
| Business Class | C, J | 175% |
| D, I | 150% | |
| Economy Class | Y | 100% |
| B, K, M, N, W | 80% | |
| G, H, Q, S, T, V | 30% | |
In some cases these are more generous accrual rates compared to KrisFlyer miles – which can only be accrued on flights between Singapore and Bali, Jakarta and Surabaya. Qatar Avios accrual is is network-wide on Garuda Indonesia.
(Photo: Gunawan Kartapranata)
In order to accrue Qatar Avios on Garuda Indonesia-operated codeshare flights, you’ll have to enter your QRPC membership details at the booking stage, or later via the “Manage Booking” portal, or at the check-in desk or kiosk.
Flying Blue is another alternative
Garuda Indonesia is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, so you can redeem Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue miles to secure its flights, and that comes similar rates compared to using Qatar Airways Avios for the same purpose.
This may be of interest to our readers, because it’s possible to transfer credit card points earned through Citi, HSBC and OCBC in Singapore into the Flying Blue programme.
However, do note that – like KrisFlyer – Flying Blue passes on Garuda’s fuel surcharge when making award bookings, while Qatar Airways does not. Stick to the latter is our advice.
Garuda Indonesia has launched a new frequent flyer partnership with Qatar Airways Privilege Club, allowing travellers to earn and redeem Avios on all Garuda-operated flights.
With no fuel surcharges and attractive redemption rates – starting from just 6,000 Avios in Economy or 12,500 Avios in Business Class between Singapore and Jakarta – this tie-up now offers a much better-value option for redeeming Garuda awards compared to KrisFlyer, and even Flying Blue.
Online booking is available via Qatar Airways, and Avios from other programmes like British Airways and Finnair can be transferred in instantly. Earning Avios on Garuda flights is also generally more attractive than crediting to KrisFlyer, across a wider route network, if you’re travelling on a cash booking with the airline.
(Cover Photo: Airbus)
