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The 'Best credit cards for KF miles accrual' master thread

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Old Oct 31, 2014, 6:05 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: lifeonthego_k
I'm going to update this first post as more info flows in to create a 'master list' of all credit cards that offer a decent way of accruing miles - so please help out!

If you know of and/or use any other cards (or the ones already mentioned), please share your thoughts.

***ALL VALUES BELOW IN SINGAPORE DOLLARS (SGD)***
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In no particular order (apart from personal preference in terms of good-mileage opportunities):
============

1. UOB PRVI Miles VISA, MasterCard, AMEX

VISA:
http://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards...iles_visa.html
MasterCard:
http://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards...astercard.html
Amex:
http://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards...amex_card.html
http://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards...ard/microsite/



Mileage accrual:
The earn rate will be 1.4 miles for every $1 spent in multiples of S$10 (every multiple of S$5 gives 6 to 7 miles due to 3.5 UNI$ rounding off, every S$10 gives 14 miles), and 2.4 miles for every $1 spent OVERSEAS (every $5 gives 12 miles).

Requirements: min. income $80,000 (not strict).
Cost: First year free, then S$256.80 for main, first two supplementary always free. Annual fee waiver for Amex card if you charge $50,000 or more in a year.
Miles conversion fee: $25 per conversion. UNI$ are combined in 1 cardholder's name/FIN Number/NRIC together for all UOB cards which earn UNI$.

Pros: Best mileage accrual rates for overseas spend only. 20,000 bonus miles and annual fee waiver with spend of $50,000 per year (both only for Amex card). $45 1-way airport transfer voucher for $1,000 overseas spend in a given quarter (Amex only).
Cons: AMEX not always accepted by merchants. Points allocated on every $5 spent, rounded down to next $5. Transfer in blocks of 5000 UNI$ points = 10,000 miles. Points are valid for 2 years (transfer before expiry and they will subsequently be valid for a further 3 years from the date of transfer to KrisFlyer).

2. UOB Preferred Platinum Visa


http://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards..._platinum.html
http://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards...visa_card.html


Mileage accrual: Earn 4 miles for every $1 spent using ONLY MOBILE CONTACTLESS every $5 gives 10 UNI$ which equal 20 miles). Same incredible mileage-earning ratio for internet shopping with certain restrictions (travel-related, utilities, etc.). Earn 0.4 mile for every $1 for regular, signature-based payments AND ORPHAN SPEND DUE TO $5 ROUNDING OR EXCEEDING THE BONUS U$2000 SPEND (every $5 gives 1 UNI$ which equal 2 miles).

Earning 4 miles/$ is limited to the first S$1110 spent during the per calendar month (via Mobile Contactless). 2,000UNI$ refers to the extra 9UNI$ and does not include the normal 1UNI$.(Stop when you notice you earn 3UNI$ (1 + bonus 2) for the last S$5 transaction. ($1110/5)x9=1998UNI$, hence the last S$5 transaction will earn 2 bonus UNI$. The total bonus UNI$ awarded to you from qualifying spend on Selected Online Transactions and Mobile Contactless Transactions is capped at UNI$2,000 for each calendar month. THE CAP IS ON THE 9 UNI$ BONUS NOT 10UNI$ TOTAL YOU GET WITH BASE OF U$1 PER $ SPEND

Keep in mind that some merchants offer different, non-mileage accruing awards with UOB cards which are called SMART$. Some popular merchants include Cold Storage, Guardian and Giant Supermarket, ToastBox and Starbucks. A full list of merchants where Mobile contactless transactions will NOT earn miles can be found here:
http://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards...smartclub.html

Requirements: min. income $30,000 ($60,000 for foreigners).
Cost: First year free, then $192.60 for main and $96.30 for supplementary. Annual fee waived off easily.
Miles conversion fee: $25 per conversion, in blocks of 5000 UNI$=10,000 miles. UNI$ are combined in 1 cardholder's name for all UOB cards.

Pros: Incredible mileage accrual rates for Paywave transactions (not all merchants - some give SMART$ instead which are different rewards!) as well as internet transactions (some restrictions apply).
Cons: Points allocated on every $5 spent, rounded down to next $5. Transfer in blocks of 5000 UNI$ points = 10,000 miles. Points are valid for 2 years (transfer before expiry and they will subsequently be valid for a further 3 years from the date of transfer to KrisFlyer).

3. Citi PremierMiles MasterCard

https://www.citibank.com.sg/credit-cards/travel/premiermiles-card/?ecid=PSGONSGCCAENPM

Mileage accrual: Earn 1.2 miles for every $1 spent. Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent OVERSEAS. 10,000 bonus miles for each annual membership renewal.

Requirements: min. income $50,000 for VISA. Principal cardholder must be at least 21 years of age.
Cost: First year free, then $192.60 for VISA main, supplementary always free. Annual fee waiver available in exchange for forfeiting the 10,000renewal bonus.
Miles conversion fee: $25 per conversion.

Pros: Decent all-rounder, good for overseas spend. Points never expire. Bonus miles for annual card renewal. 11 frequent flyer programs & 3 hotel programs to choose from, including EVA Air - only 25,000 miles for 1 way Business Class within Asia!!
Cons: No miles awarded for EZ-Link & Transitlink transactions. Miles awarded per S$1. Cents not included. 1.2 miles/S$1. Transfer in blocks of 10,000 miles.

4. DBS Altitude VISA/AMEX

http://www.dbs.com/sg/personal/cards...e/default.aspx
http://www.dbs.com/sg/personal/cards...e/default.aspx



Mileage accrual: Earn 1.2 miles for every $1 spent (every $5 gives 3 DBS points which equal 6 miles). Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent OVERSEAS.

Requirements: min. income $80,000.
Cost: First year free, then $180 for main and $90 for supplementary. Annual fee waiver if you charge $25,000 or more in a year.
Miles conversion fee: S$26.75 per transfer, redeem 1700 DBS points to waive off.

Pros: Points never expire. No rounding down transaction amount to nearest $5 (calculation is done as follows: DBS points = 'transaction amount' divided by 5, multiply by 3, after that round down to nearest whole number. Minimum spend is S$1.67. Each DBS point = 2 miles). Earn 3 miles per S$1 spent on all online Flight and Hotel transactions (capped at S$5,000 per month). 10,000 miles renewal bonus if you have to pay card renewal fees.
Cons: All local spend now down to 1.2 miles/$ (since Dec 1, 2013). AMEX not always accepted by merchants. Transfer in blocks of 5000 DBS points = 10,000 miles (on the plus side points don't expire). Per transfer of S$26.75, redeem 1700 DBS points to waive off.

5. Maybank Horizon Platinum Visa

http://info.maybank2u.com.sg/persona...visa-card.aspx



Earn 3.2 air miles (8X TREATS Points) with every dollar spent on dining, petrol, taxi fares and hotel bookings at Agoda.com/horizon
Earn 2 air miles (5X TREATS Points) with every dollar spent on air tickets, travel packages and foreign currency transactions, with a minimal S$300 in a calendar month

Earn 0.4 mile for every $1 spent elsewhere (1 mile for every $2.50 spent).

Requirements: min. income $30,000 ($80,000 for foreigners).
Cost: $150 for main, supplementary always free. Unsure of any annual fee waiver conditions.
Miles conversion fee: In blocks of 5,000 points to 2000 Asia Miles or KrisFlyer. S$26.75 fee applies.

Pros: Great for ticket purchases and overseas spend. Complimentary access to selected VIP airport lounges when you charge a minimum of S$400 in a single transaction on air tickets or travel packages to your Card 3 months prior to the date of travel.
Cons: Great ONLY for ticket purchases and overseas spend. Points are valid for 1 year only, expire either on 30 June or 31 December of the same year if not Rewards Infinite member.

6. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend AMEX

https://www.americanexpress.com/sg/s...nd-credit-card



Mileage accrual: Earn 1.2 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 spent on all your eligible purchases with your Card

Earn 2 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 equivalent in foreign currency spent overseas on eligible purchases during June and December

Requirements: min. income $50,000 ($60,000 for foreigners). Principal cardholder must be over 21 years of age.
Cost: First year free, otherwise $256.80 for main, 2 supplementary cards always free (more available at $80.25 each). Annual fee cannot be waived unless you spend alot.
Miles conversion fee: None - your KrisFlyer miles are transferred to your account directly with no conversion fees or charges.

Pros: None, except for welcome offers (4 complimentary airport lounge access vouchers, one complimentary night with Millennium Hotels and Resorts).

Cons: Simply nothing special - there are better cards available for all types of purchases, including flight tickets, even with all of the bonuses above applied. AMEX not always accepted by merchants.

7. Citibank Rewards Card

http://www.citibank.com.sg/gcb/credi...CACRENCCHOCALM



Earn 10X Rewards (10 Rewards Points or 4 Miles for every S$1 spent) when you shop for clothes, bags and shoes or at departmental stores or online shopping websites, including SingTel & M1 online bill payment!

Pros: Transfer to 11 FFPs & 3 Hotel programs in blocks of 25,000 points=10,000 miles; S$25 fee.

Cons: Points awarded per S$1 spend. Cents not included. Cannot combined Thank You Points across cards.

8. DBS Woman's World MasterCard® Card

http://www.dbs.com.sg/personal/cards...astercard-card



10X Rewards for Online Retail Purchases
T&C Here: https://www.dbs.com.sg/iwov-resource...s_card_tnc.pdf

Pros: Men also can get this card!! DBS points are combined in 1 cardholder's name. No rounding down transaction amount to nearest $5 (calculation is done as follows: DBS points = 'transaction amount' divided by 5, multiply by 10, after that round down to nearest whole number. Minimum spend is S$1. Each DBS point = 2 miles).

Cons: DBS points are valid for 1 year based on card anniversary date. The additional 9X DBS Points for online retail spend in a calendar month will be awarded on the 16th of the next calendar month. If the above days are not working days, the Points will be awarded on the next working day. The additional 9X DBS Points are only applicable to the first S$2,000 online retail spend every calendar month.

9. OCBC Titanium Rewards Card

https://www.ocbc.com/personal-bankin...astercard.html

10x OCBC$ on your shopping Local & Overseas Shopping Transactions, Local & Overseas Department Store Transactions and Local & Overseas Online Transactions.
The remaining 9 OCBC$ will be posted to the Card Account by the end of the next calendar month

https://www.ocbc.com/assets/pdf/card...ons.pdf?rand=1
10,000 KrisFlyer miles requires OCBC$ 25000, For each conversion of OCBC$ to KrisFlyer miles a fee of S$25 will be charged

10. UOB Lady's Card
https://www.uob.com.sg/personal/card...ard/index.page

============

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The 'Best credit cards for KF miles accrual' master thread

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Old Oct 17, 2010, 8:12 am
  #61  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 1,799
Depends on your needs, really.

If you always have a healthy points balance, and would redeem every now and then, then having to transfer in lots of 2000 points wouldn't be a problem at all.

Also, for Visa vs Amex, it depends on where you shop. Visa is accepted at more places, but if you usually (or only) go to places that accept Amex anyway, it wouldn't matter at all.

Personally, I prefer Citi PM over DBS Altitude but I can perfectly understand if someone would prefer it the other way around.
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Old Oct 17, 2010, 10:33 am
  #62  
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,174
We did the math earlier on and the results were the following: If you spend up to $7,000 using your card in a given month, you are better off with DBS Altitude AMEX. If you charge over $7,000 per month then Citi PremierMiles Visa will be better.

Keep in mind that DBS now has a promo where you get 10,000 extra miles on top of everything just for charging $10,000 in total until the end of the year, so you might have to raise those break-even thresholds even higher.
aster is online now  
Old Oct 18, 2010, 6:22 am
  #63  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,942
Has DBS reinstated expiry dates for its points?

I dont have the statement on hand now, but seem to recall that in the last statement, some if not all of the DBS cards showed dates on which the points in question would expire. Did anyone else also notice this change?
SingaporeDon is offline  
Old Oct 18, 2010, 10:51 am
  #64  
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,174
Several months ago DBS points had an expiry date, but now they never expire (at least those earned via the Altitude AMEX card).
aster is online now  
Old Oct 18, 2010, 10:39 pm
  #65  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: HAK / HFE / NYC / SIN / SZX
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Honors Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb, Marriott Platinum,SQ, DL, AA, Hyatt
Posts: 688
With the exception of the Amex Altitude card, all other DBS cards that earn points have expiry dates.
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Old Nov 3, 2010, 10:21 pm
  #66  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,942
Both DBS Amex Altitudes and DBS Treasures Black Amex have NO expiry date

Originally Posted by chrisksc
With the exception of the Amex Altitude card, all other DBS cards that earn points have expiry dates.
Just checked the latest statement and can confirm that for BOTH DBS Altitudes and DBS Treasures Black Amex Card, there is no expiry date.

For another DBS credit card I have ( not even sure which one, may be Takashimaya) there is an expiry date
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Old Nov 20, 2010, 5:04 pm
  #67  
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,174
Will give all the major banks a look this week to see if any new cards or special offers have surfaced in Singapore. :-:
aster is online now  
Old Nov 22, 2010, 8:19 am
  #68  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Melbourne
Programs: QF PL (OW Emerald) Lifetime Gold; HGP Explorist; SPG Gold; HH Diamond
Posts: 198
I have been using the DBS Altitude card for the past 18mths and am very happy with it. Just received invitation from DBS for Amex Black. As far as I can tell, there are no additional benefits (in terms of points earning)? Putting aside the current 10,000 point promotion (which I've easily already qualified for), is there any reason why I would or would not swithc to the Black?

My priority is points (SQ) earning.

thanks
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Old Nov 26, 2010, 5:53 am
  #69  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,942
Originally Posted by dtm1
I have been using the DBS Altitude card for the past 18mths and am very happy with it. Just received invitation from DBS for Amex Black. As far as I can tell, there are no additional benefits (in terms of points earning)? Putting aside the current 10,000 point promotion (which I've easily already qualified for), is there any reason why I would or would not swithc to the Black?

My priority is points (SQ) earning.

thanks
DBS Treasures Amex Black gives you double points for all foreign purchases - best SQ Krisflyer points for $1 spend of any card, so I use that card exclusively for overseas spend. And yes, I do end up paying the FX charges, but reckon it is still worth it. Not sure if the DBS Amex Black card has this benefit too, but I guess it does. If not, sign up for DBS Treasures first!!
SingaporeDon is offline  
Old Nov 27, 2010, 6:37 am
  #70  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,681
I much prefer Maybank Horizon Platinum Visa for all my air-tickets and overseas spendings. $1 = 2 miles and no annual fees for 10 years! Plus free meal at The Green Market at T2 if you charge your air-tkt to the card.
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Old Dec 19, 2010, 12:24 am
  #71  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: KF
Posts: 3
Hi Aster,
Great comparison.
Can I use it in my blog? with reference to you of course?
tx
GK
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Old Dec 19, 2010, 1:38 am
  #72  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,174
Yes, by all means. Just remember to update the info as time moves on...
aster is online now  
Old Dec 20, 2010, 6:58 am
  #73  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 50
Originally Posted by gk2003
Hi Aster,
Great comparison.
Can I use it in my blog? with reference to you of course?
tx
GK
and what blog might that be?
adamantine is offline  
Old Jan 13, 2011, 6:03 am
  #74  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 819
10x Maybank tr’eats Points for Ez-link top-up!!!

Effective 16 November 2010, Citi's clear platinum does not award 5x Citidollars for Ez-link top up anymore. The most annoying part is Citibank does not make any announcement about it, they quietly remove it. When you check your rewards points, then only you realise the Ez-link top-up does not earn 5x Citidollars...

But the good news is: WEF 1/1/2011, Maybank awards 10x tr’eats Points for Ez-link top-up!!! But the thing is, you need to pay S$10 annual fee (subject to GST) for the annual Rewards Infinite membership. But it is worth it. Because with 2 S$50 Ez-link top up, you get 1000 t'reats points and you can redeem a S$10 t'reats voucher for your Birthday month!!!...

http://info.maybank2u.com.sg/persona...-infinite.aspx

Ez-link can also be used as payment mode at 7 eleven, Guardian, Giant, Shop n Save, Singapore Post etc...hence indirectly you earn 10x rewards!!

http://www.ezlink.com.sg/retail-therapy/

http://www.ezrewards.com.sg/m3.html

You need to have more $ in your Ez-link card than the amount you wish to purchase for the transaction to go through. If you have S$5 in your Ez-link card, and you want to pay S$5.50, it will not go through.

Every S$50 top up earns you 200 KrisFlyer miles!!! (A convenience fee of S$0.25 is chargeable for each EZ-Reload top-up transaction)

Last edited by vsepr; Jan 13, 2011 at 7:10 am
vsepr is offline  
Old Jan 13, 2011, 5:56 pm
  #75  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SIN
Posts: 543
Originally Posted by vsepr
Effective 16 November 2010, Citi's clear platinum does not award 5x Citidollars for Ez-link top up anymore. The most annoying part is Citibank does not make any announcement about it, they quietly remove it. When you check your rewards points, then only you realise the Ez-link top-up does not earn 5x Citidollars...

But the good news is: WEF 1/1/2011, Maybank awards 10x tr’eats Points for Ez-link top-up!!! But the thing is, you need to pay S$10 annual fee (subject to GST) for the annual Rewards Infinite membership. But it is worth it. Because with 2 S$50 Ez-link top up, you get 1000 t'reats points and you can redeem a S$10 t'reats voucher for your Birthday month!!!...

http://info.maybank2u.com.sg/persona...-infinite.aspx

Ez-link can also be used as payment mode at 7 eleven, Guardian, Giant, Shop n Save, Singapore Post etc...hence indirectly you earn 10x rewards!!

http://www.ezlink.com.sg/retail-therapy/

http://www.ezrewards.com.sg/m3.html

You need to have more $ in your Ez-link card than the amount you wish to purchase for the transaction to go through. If you have S$5 in your Ez-link card, and you want to pay S$5.50, it will not go through.

Every S$50 top up earns you 200 KrisFlyer miles!!! (A convenience fee of S$0.25 is chargeable for each EZ-Reload top-up transaction)

No diff to me, no more 50% off miles and anniversary bonus
luv_flying is offline  


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