Malaysia Airlines is currently running a promotion, whereby you can earn up to 20% bonus Enrich miles when you convert your credit card points to Enrich miles. You can find out the conversion rates from each of your banks in the link here.
In recent times, there's been a noteworthy change in the airline rewards landscape, particularly concerning Malaysia Airlines. While credit card reward points offer versatile ways to gain maximum benefits, converting these points to Malaysia Airlines' Enrich Miles might not be the wisest decision anymore. Here's why.
A little backstory: For years, I've championed the superiority of KrisFlyer Miles over Enrich Miles. With fewer KrisFlyer Miles, one could experience the opulence of First Class or Suite Class to destinations like London, while the same privilege would cost substantially more using Malaysia Airlines Enrich Miles on just Business Class. For followers of my blog, especially those holding the Maybank 2 Cards Premier, this conversion distinction became more apparent, making any Enrich Miles redemption seem nonsensical.
In a surprising turn of events, Malaysia Airlines introduced Enrich Base tickets, later renamed to Enrich Saver tickets. This move was revolutionary. It meant fewer Enrich Points were needed to redeem a Business Class Ticket than those required by KrisFlyer or even Asia Miles. Naturally, many of us, lured by this new advantage, converted substantial credit card rewards points to Enrich Points, especially during the bonus points promotions in February and July 2023.
Yet, by Mid-August, the tables turned. Despite promotional displays, Enrich Saver tickets became elusive. An example that stands out is the Melbourne route. It promised a Business Class ticket for just 53,500 Enrich Points. However, in reality, a staggering minimum of 226,500 Enrich Points was demanded. This unexpected escalation wasn't just limited to Melbourne; a Business Class ticket to London skyrocketed to an unreasonable 296.5K Enrich Points!
In contrast, with KrisFlyer Miles, one can enjoy First Class with Singapore Airlines (recently crowned the Best Airline in the World) to London or Melbourne for fewer points than a non Enrich Saver Business Class with Malaysia Airlines.
The crux of the issue arose post the July 2023 promotion. Many, including myself, converted sizeable credit card reward points into Enrich Points, enticed by the promise of Elite Points and tier upgrades. But soon after, Malaysia Airlines pulled the rug from under our feet. The Enrich Saver tickets, which were a key attraction, became inaccessible without prior notice. Now, those who converted their points find themselves with Enrich Points that are nearly obsolete for redeeming Business Class tickets. To illustrate, a KL to Australia ticket which previously cost under 55K Enrich Points now requires a whopping 200K!
Final Thoughts
The ramifications of these changes are clear. The inability to redeem Enrich Saver tickets significantly dampens the appeal of converting credit card reward points into Enrich Points.
In closing, if you're investing your hard-earned money to accumulate credit card points, consider their conversion to KrisFlyer Miles for a surreal Suite Class experience. Contrary to popular belief, redeeming a ticket with Singapore Airlines using KrisFlyer Miles is more straightforward and offers better value than with Malaysia Airlines. The choice seems evident: prioritise quality, value, and reliability over fleeting promotions.
