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

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

Old Jun 19, 2017, 7:34 am
  #7066  
Moderator, El Al and Marriott Bonvoy, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ*G, Mar LTT, Hyatt Glb, AA LTG, LY, HH, IC, BA, DL, UA SLV
Posts: 12,018
Originally Posted by shuigao
Thanks. I also note from the T&C that you can only get 1 night free per hotel per stay (i.e. 8 night stay doesn't get 2 free nights).

But I guess you could do 4 nights at one property, 4 nights at another, and get 2 nights off.
4 in one prop, 1 in another, 4 back at first.
yosithezet is offline  
Old Jun 19, 2017, 5:54 pm
  #7067  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,559
Originally Posted by spk307
no fee waiver. You get 20k miles. Plus the usual PP card with 6 free visits.
Am going to cancel it before they charge me. Poor value.
You don't have to cancel until they charge you for it. The fee is for the next year.
carrotjuice is offline  
Old Jun 19, 2017, 9:07 pm
  #7068  
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Singapore
Programs: Krisflyer Gold, Starwood Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 444
Originally Posted by MilesBuzz
I have used the SCB Visa Infinite Card for 1 year now. In the first year, the payment of annual fee of S$588.50 (including GST) entitled me to 35k miles. They just charged me for the annual fee this year. Has anyone tried to call and waive off the fees?

In addition, if I do choose to pay the annual fee, am I still entitled to the 35k miles again this year? It's not so explicitly mentioned in the T&C.

Thank you in advance for the info.
Two attempts to waive the fee failed for me so I cancelled the card. I wasn't a huge spender on it, but I do have SC Priority banking so I was a bit disappointed they wouldn't waive. They didn't even offer me the 20K renewal miles!
I did like the card for the Uber discount and sign up bonus, so I may reapply next year if that's not excluded in the t&cs.
w4rd is offline  
Old Jun 19, 2017, 10:31 pm
  #7069  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC/SIN
Programs: CX DM, SQ KF
Posts: 2,167
Originally Posted by w4rd
Two attempts to waive the fee failed for me so I cancelled the card. I wasn't a huge spender on it, but I do have SC Priority banking so I was a bit disappointed they wouldn't waive. They didn't even offer me the 20K renewal miles!
I did like the card for the Uber discount and sign up bonus, so I may reapply next year if that's not excluded in the t&cs.
Why not the SC Priority Banking VI instead?
Free/unlimited Priority Pass/same Uber & other deals.

I've actually seen a reasonable bit of my spend go to the card, despite the poor headline mileage earn. Decent deals (Caltex/Uber), a bit of mileage earn on mortgage/cash balances (besides the mortgage interest offset on part of the cash balance) and the ability to transfer reward points for free to my Wife's account
jagmeets is offline  
Old Jun 20, 2017, 1:07 am
  #7070  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 106
Originally Posted by w4rd
Two attempts to waive the fee failed for me so I cancelled the card. I wasn't a huge spender on it, but I do have SC Priority banking so I was a bit disappointed they wouldn't waive. They didn't even offer me the 20K renewal miles!
I did like the card for the Uber discount and sign up bonus, so I may reapply next year if that's not excluded in the t&cs.
They offered me the 20K miles (am SC Priority as well) but I cancelled mine anyway because the miles just weren't worth it.
feizhu is offline  
Old Jun 20, 2017, 3:45 am
  #7071  
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SIN
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 87
For the SG version of Prestige at least, this is no longer possible. Hotel hopping should still be fine, though.

From the updated T&C (from 2017) @ https://www.citibank.com.sg/prestige...-benefits.html
Stays at the same hotel property on two reservations that are fewer than 7 nights apart between the last night booked on the first reservation and the first night booked on the second reservation. (As an example, you book four nights at a first hotel property for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and book another night at a second hotel property on Friday, and then book four nights at the first hotel property again for Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. In this situation, you would only be eligible for one complimentary night for the first four nights booked at the first hotel property).
Originally Posted by yosithezet
4 in one prop, 1 in another, 4 back at first.
Lctkw is offline  
Old Jun 20, 2017, 4:18 am
  #7072  
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Singapore
Programs: Krisflyer Gold, Starwood Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 444
Originally Posted by jagmeets
Why not the SC Priority Banking VI instead?
Free/unlimited Priority Pass/same Uber & other deals.

I've actually seen a reasonable bit of my spend go to the card, despite the poor headline mileage earn. Decent deals (Caltex/Uber), a bit of mileage earn on mortgage/cash balances (besides the mortgage interest offset on part of the cash balance) and the ability to transfer reward points for free to my Wife's account
I took the non-Priority card last year for the big sign-up bonus and I already have Citi Prestige for Priority Pass, so don't feel particularly motivated to apply for the SC Priority VI at the moment.

I ended up with too many cards in recent years which were getting hard to manage so a bit of consolidation (ANZ going away too) is quite welcome personally.
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Old Jun 20, 2017, 5:55 am
  #7073  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
So for following categories - Insurance, Utilities - SP Power and Singtel - anything left earning miles?
invisible is offline  
Old Jun 20, 2017, 7:56 am
  #7074  
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,724
Originally Posted by invisible
So for following categories - Insurance, Utilities - SP Power and Singtel - anything left earning miles?
SP Power the one I'm aware off and use is DBS Altitude. You can sign up officially for auto deductions and 1.2mls per $ is better than nothing.
demue is offline  
Old Jun 20, 2017, 7:56 pm
  #7075  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Originally Posted by demue
SP Power the one I'm aware off and use is DBS Altitude. You can sign up officially for auto deductions and 1.2mls per $ is better than nothing.
there is new T/C from 2nd of Jul which says no points earning for insurance and utilities payments.
invisible is offline  
Old Jun 21, 2017, 1:33 am
  #7076  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Asia
Programs: KF Gold | IHG Amb | SPG LTG | HH Gold
Posts: 548
Originally Posted by tingadingling
Mind sharing where you get your Citi Prestige promo alerts? I rarely get mine direct from Citi and often stumble across them accidentally.
I receive these direct notifications from time to time via email.
LuisHK is offline  
Old Jun 21, 2017, 6:09 am
  #7077  
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,724
Originally Posted by invisible
there is new T/C from 2nd of Jul which says no points earning for insurance and utilities payments.
Thanks. Interesting, silly for sure. I missed that part on utilities. Well can one still go to SP Power office and pay with other general spending cards and earn? Just wondering as that was fine in the past even using Citi PM etc. (a hassle of cos). DBS Altitude was only one allowing the auto deduction / recurring payment. Means for my case that Altitude is just good for annual renewal miles and some promotions on flight / hotel bookings under the right circumstances, rest can use other cards as Ezlink top up and SP power options go away. Oh well ...
demue is offline  
Old Jun 21, 2017, 6:30 pm
  #7078  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 129
Been a slew of TnC changes (HSBC Advance, DBSWMMC). Hard to keep track so apologies in advance if already been discussed.

What's the best card to use now for telco payments?
vade is offline  
Old Jun 21, 2017, 6:31 pm
  #7079  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,559
Originally Posted by demue
Thanks. Interesting, silly for sure. I missed that part on utilities. Well can one still go to SP Power office and pay with other general spending cards and earn? Just wondering as that was fine in the past even using Citi PM etc. (a hassle of cos).
Believe even over the counter payment will still be classified as utilities...
carrotjuice is offline  
Old Jun 21, 2017, 6:32 pm
  #7080  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,559
Originally Posted by vade
Been a slew of TnC changes (HSBC Advance, DBSWMMC). Hard to keep track so apologies in advance if already been discussed.

What's the best card to use now for telco payments?
I pay my Singtel bills online using Citi Rewards. It still gets 10X points.
carrotjuice is offline  

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