After cutting the 15% online booking discount in July 2016 (with Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer following suit in March of this year) and making redemptions on Malaysia Airlines flights more expensive in February 2015, Enrich is putting another nail in the coffin by increasing the cost of redemptions across the board from next month.

The changes in a nutshell

You can find information on the full changes and new award charts on this FAQ page but here’s a summary:

  • Both Malaysia Airlines and partner redemptions on oneworld airlines and Emirates are affected
  • Changes come into effect on 10 June 2017
  • Redemptions on Malaysia Airlines flights are switching from fixed-price to revenue-based, meaning they will be determined by the cash price of the ticket – this will disproportionately affect travel in Business and First Class as those tickets are more expensive
  • Upgrade pricing on Malaysia Airlines flights is also going up
  • Distance-based zones changing and redemptions on all partner flights is going up
  • Like Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles, redemptions pricing for return flights will now be less than that of two one-ways – this is the only piece of good news amongst these changes
  • If you book a ticket before the changes, you cannot cancel it after they come into effect but you can change the date
Emirates A380 Business Class

Enrich redemptions on Emirates Business Class flights are becoming much more expensive

Following the past two devaluations, the only good-value redemptions using Enrich miles became for Malaysia Airlines flights during discount offers, and Business Class travel on Emirates flights, which was priced more cheaply than if you used Qantas Points on the same route (First Class redemptions on Emirates are not permitted through Enrich.)

However, flying on Emirates (as well as Enrich’s oneworld partners) is becoming much more expensive. Here’s what’s happening to one-way Business Class redemptions:

RouteOld pricingNew pricingPrice increase
Brisbane - Auckland33,00055,000+67%
Melbourne - Singapore48,00082,000+71%
Adelaide - Dubai66,000131,000+99%
Sydney - London (via Dubai)87,000165,000+90%
Perth - New York (via Dubai)87,000165,000+90%
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Credit cards with Enrich as a transfer partner

The following bank rewards programs and credit cards have Enrich as a transfer partner:

Transfers to Enrich can take 48 hours or so, so if considering this promotion you’ll want to make the transfer as soon as possible to have the points in your Enrich account in time to make your redemption.

How to search and book

We have full details in our guide to using Enrich miles on Emirates flights.

Summing up

Struggling Malaysia Airlines has devalued their loyalty program repeatedly over the last five years.

Whilst there are few travellers in Australia use Enrich miles, if you do have any in your account, I would strongly suggest using them before the changes come into effect next month.

Massive devaluation to Malaysia Airlines Enrich program coming next month: use miles ASAP was last modified: April 3rd, 2020 by Matt Moffitt