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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):
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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 Mar 30, 2017, 12:21 pm
  #6841  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Originally Posted by behyx
I paid some things in January 2017 via iPaymy using HSBC Advance. I still haven't get the 9x. Should I be concerned?
You won't get any. See my message above.

One explanation at this moment is that due to the fact they switched to Getzpay and enabled proxy/scheduled payments, bonus points are not awarded any more because a) the payments are considered as offline b) the payments are excluded from earning bonus points or c) both.

I asked them to get my fee back due to this fact, but they refused, considering that after this change I am not going to use them and don't see how other would continue using them - expect that both services will fold down quickly.
invisible is offline  
Old Mar 30, 2017, 11:37 pm
  #6842  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Singapore & Globe trotting
Programs: QR Gold, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, GHA Titanium, Taj Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 425
Originally Posted by invisible
You won't get any. See my message above.

One explanation at this moment is that due to the fact they switched to Getzpay and enabled proxy/scheduled payments, bonus points are not awarded any more because a) the payments are considered as offline b) the payments are excluded from earning bonus points or c) both.

I asked them to get my fee back due to this fact, but they refused, considering that after this change I am not going to use them and don't see how other would continue using them - expect that both services will fold down quickly.
I got my 10x reward points for iPaymy transactions made with HSBC advance and DBS WWMC in Feb. This was before they switched payment providers. For March I'm still waiting to see as they haven't been posted yet.
lifeonthego_k is offline  
Old Mar 31, 2017, 7:27 am
  #6843  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,573
Originally Posted by invisible
I asked them to get my fee back due to this fact, but they refused, considering that after this change I am not going to use them and don't see how other would continue using them - expect that both services will fold down quickly.
Exactly. Highly unsustainable business model.
carrotjuice is online now  
Old Apr 1, 2017, 5:38 pm
  #6844  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: SQ QPP1, HYATT DIA, SPG GOLD, HH GOLD, IHG GOLD
Posts: 656
6x Promotion for Expedia using UOB PRVI Cards are now extended until 31 March 2018. But the bad news is Singapore Airlines is not one of the participating airlines

Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesia, Qatar Airways & Thai Airways are still in the promo.
MilesBuzz is offline  
Old Apr 1, 2017, 7:59 pm
  #6845  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SIN, BKK, MNL, HAM, TXL
Programs: KF*G, AB*G, IBP*G, LCAH*Plat, HH*D, ONYX*Plat, BW*DS
Posts: 90
Originally Posted by MilesBuzz
6x Promotion for Expedia using UOB PRVI Cards are now extended until 31 March 2018. But the bad news is Singapore Airlines is not one of the participating airlines

Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesia, Qatar Airways & Thai Airways are still in the promo.
They also removed ANA from the list...

They also still offer 6x miles over their UOBTravel portal but that usually proves useless to me since they require start point to be Singapore, so I cannot book for family members and friends.
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Old Apr 1, 2017, 9:26 pm
  #6846  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Anybody knows of any current CC promos for Japan Airlines?
lcpteck is offline  
Old Apr 2, 2017, 1:14 am
  #6847  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Singapore
Programs: KF, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 182
Originally Posted by carrotjuice
Exactly. Highly unsustainable business model.
It can be sustainable if they do it the right way. As long as they share a portion of the 2.6% they earn, with the banks / payment gateways (which they continue to do), they won't be blacklisted.

The main problem right now is that these payment providers are switching to automatic/ scheduled payments to reduce the payment cycle. But this means the payments will be considered 'offline' and will not result in maximum rewards.

Their initiative for efficiency could be the cause of their own downfall if customers stop using their portal.
spk307 is offline  
Old Apr 2, 2017, 9:58 pm
  #6848  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 129
Not sure if covered before, but which card should I use for Airbnb booking to get 4mpd? Does it count as an online transaction?
vade is offline  
Old Apr 2, 2017, 11:31 pm
  #6849  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Asia
Programs: FB Platinum
Posts: 186
definitely counts as online. if you wanna be doubly-sure and leave no room for error, then just select paypal as the payment method and use your card through paypal.
natcin is offline  
Old Apr 3, 2017, 6:30 pm
  #6850  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SIN, BKK, MNL, HAM, TXL
Programs: KF*G, AB*G, IBP*G, LCAH*Plat, HH*D, ONYX*Plat, BW*DS
Posts: 90
Originally Posted by lcpteck
Anybody knows of any current CC promos for Japan Airlines?
​​​​​​UOB PRVIMiles offers 6x miles when booking Japan Airlines via their UOBTravel portal. This is assuming you are flying ex-SIN.
qsharp is offline  
Old Apr 4, 2017, 12:46 pm
  #6851  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Originally Posted by qsharp
​​​​​​UOB PRVIMiles offers 6x miles when booking Japan Airlines via their UOBTravel portal. This is assuming you are flying ex-SIN.
Oh yeah saw that, thanks. Too bad I"m flying ex-KUL.
lcpteck is offline  
Old Apr 4, 2017, 6:48 pm
  #6852  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SIN, BKK, MNL, HAM, TXL
Programs: KF*G, AB*G, IBP*G, LCAH*Plat, HH*D, ONYX*Plat, BW*DS
Posts: 90
Originally Posted by lcpteck
Oh yeah saw that, thanks. Too bad I"m flying ex-KUL.
Oh well, you could always profit from 6x miles offered for MH bookings and buy a transit ticket from KUL to SIN first. ;-)

UOBTravel allows flexi returns, so you could even fly frm Japan back to KUL directly.
qsharp is offline  
Old Apr 4, 2017, 9:21 pm
  #6853  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Originally Posted by qsharp
Oh well, you could always profit from 6x miles offered for MH bookings and buy a transit ticket from KUL to SIN first. ;-)

UOBTravel allows flexi returns, so you could even fly frm Japan back to KUL directly.
I don't see MH as a participating airline for UOBTravel 6 Miles promotion.

Only the below airlines are participating (ex-SIN):

Participating Airlines: All Nippon Airways (NH), British Airways (BA), Cathay Pacific Airways (CX), Emirates (EK), Etihad Airways (EY), Qantas (QF), Thai Airways (TG) and United Airlines (UA), Japan Airlines (JL), American Airlines (AA), Qatar Airways (QR), Air China (CA), China Eastern Airways (MU), Lufthansa (LH), Swiss International Airlines (LX), Korean Airlines (KE), Asiana Airlines (OZ), Delta Airlines (DL).
lcpteck is offline  
Old Apr 5, 2017, 10:13 am
  #6854  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SIN, BKK, MNL, HAM, TXL
Programs: KF*G, AB*G, IBP*G, LCAH*Plat, HH*D, ONYX*Plat, BW*DS
Posts: 90
Originally Posted by lcpteck
I don't see MH as a participating airline for UOBTravel 6 Miles promotion.

Only the below airlines are participating (ex-SIN):

Participating Airlines: All Nippon Airways (NH), British Airways (BA), Cathay Pacific Airways (CX), Emirates (EK), Etihad Airways (EY), Qantas (QF), Thai Airways (TG) and United Airlines (UA), Japan Airlines (JL), American Airlines (AA), Qatar Airways (QR), Air China (CA), China Eastern Airways (MU), Lufthansa (LH), Swiss International Airlines (LX), Korean Airlines (KE), Asiana Airlines (OZ), Delta Airlines (DL).
My bad, sorry. They used to be participating in either Expedia or UOBTravel promo... That would leave SilkAir, albeit considerably more expensive than MH. But then again, you get better service and can still get your 6x bonus...
qsharp is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 8:31 am
  #6855  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SIN and wandering.
Posts: 1,549
Originally Posted by vade
Not sure if covered before, but which card should I use for Airbnb booking to get 4mpd? Does it count as an online transaction?
I was going to suggest DBS WWMC for 10X for all online purchases, but I just double checked the T&C and now the 10X points have been changed to only include 10X Retail spend?

https://www.dbs.com.sg/iwov-resource...s_card_tnc.pdf

Can anyone confirm that WWMC no longer gives 10X for all online spend? Only for online retail spending?
SQ319 is offline  


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