Singapore Airlines (SIA) has decided to allow customers to use both cash and their KrisFlyer miles to pay for flights. This is for the full fare, including taxes and other surcharges. Before, no cash top-up was allowed.

The changes, from Thursday, means travellers need not worry about chalking up enough miles for a full flight before they expire. SIA has announced the changes via e-mail to hundreds of thousands of its KrisFlyer and PPS (Priority Passenger Service) members.

The airline said: "With this new payment option, you may combine your miles with cash (payable with credit/debit card) to pay for an airfare on your desired flight, instead of waiting for that award ticket and/or flight upgrade to become available." With only a minimum of about 5,000 KrisFlyer miles to start, "this feature will also allow you to use smaller amounts of miles in your account that may be expiring", said the e-mail.

From next year, SIA travellers can also use their miles to offset against taxes and other surcharges.