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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 Nov 9, 2015, 2:05 am
  #4831  
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Singapore
Programs: Krisflyer Gold, Starwood Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 444
Originally Posted by ClementiTotoro
@w4rd, if you don't mind sharing, which Millennium hotel did you stay with and how was availability of award nights?

Thinking the card privileges may not be that good if availability is limited.
I stayed at Millennium Gloucester in London in September which had quite good availability. I wanted to stay at Mayfair but there was no availability on my dates. Unsurprisingly the cheaper Millenniums had more availability than the high end branches!

Its pretty easy to check for availability in advance. Go to http://www.millenniumhotels.com/ and try to make a booking. Enter the promo code ASCEND and if there is availability the price will show as $0
You'll need the voucher and CC to actually check in though!
w4rd is offline  
Old Nov 9, 2015, 5:11 am
  #4832  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,818
Originally Posted by w4rd
Its pretty easy to check for availability in advance. Go to http://www.millenniumhotels.com/ and try to make a booking. Enter the promo code ASCEND and if there is availability the price will show as $0
You'll need the voucher and CC to actually check in though!
Too bad the voucher can't be used locally in Singapore or places like Japan.
lcpteck is offline  
Old Nov 10, 2015, 1:07 am
  #4833  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 55
Finding each transaction made is worth how many reward points

Hi all,

Is there a way or place to see each transaction is worth how much points or do i have to manually break down using total points earned and transaction made?

Although some is easy to spot if its 10x or not, but if there is alot of transactions made then it will be a hassle.
Tyrhung is offline  
Old Nov 10, 2015, 1:46 am
  #4834  
 
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
Originally Posted by Tyrhung
Hi all,

Is there a way or place to see each transaction is worth how much points or do i have to manually break down using total points earned and transaction made?

Although some is easy to spot if its 10x or not, but if there is alot of transactions made then it will be a hassle.
This has always been an issue. Not only on points/miles but cash rebates as well. Almost every card out there has this feature so there must be transparency. I believe it is timely for CASE to lobby for banks to provide a breakdown on the month statement or even get MAS make it mandatory for banks to do so.
chrisksc is offline  
Old Nov 10, 2015, 2:28 am
  #4835  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo
Programs: Accor Plus Plat, Marriot Plat, AF Silver
Posts: 315
Originally Posted by LuisHK
HSBC had once rejected me due to my "risky job". Apparently someone in their department thinks that my industry will go down

I'm with Citi since.
I had to call again to find anyone with any clue as where my "24h" application went after more than 10 days and 2 calls to their customer phone line.

It was rejected a second time, they just didn't bother to inform me.

I told UOB customer service, UBO card service and UOB credit services all the good things I think of their "service" and cancelled my application anyway. I hope they DO listen to their recorded customer service calls, mine could be used as an example on how to badly handle prospective clients.

UOB sounds like a completely clueless bank. Maybe a good move to avoid them entirely.

Citibank got an application email 5 minutes later.

Julien
generikz is offline  
Old Nov 10, 2015, 7:33 am
  #4836  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,718
Originally Posted by chrisksc
This has always been an issue. Not only on points/miles but cash rebates as well. Almost every card out there has this feature so there must be transparency. I believe it is timely for CASE to lobby for banks to provide a breakdown on the month statement or even get MAS make it mandatory for banks to do so.
I have always write in to MAS if I am unhappy with the replies. MAS will usually forward and request the bank to address the issue. Sometimes. I get a reply. Sometimes still rubbish and will address back to MAS. The more people write in to MAS, then chances maybe higher that things will be more transparentt
tboons is offline  
Old Nov 10, 2015, 9:50 pm
  #4837  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo
Programs: Accor Plus Plat, Marriot Plat, AF Silver
Posts: 315
Originally Posted by tboons
I have always write in to MAS if I am unhappy with the replies.
I did, thanks for the tip.

Julien
generikz is offline  
Old Nov 10, 2015, 11:17 pm
  #4838  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Asia
Programs: KF Gold | IHG Amb | SPG LTG | HH Gold
Posts: 548
Originally Posted by tboons
I have always write in to MAS if I am unhappy with the replies. MAS will usually forward and request the bank to address the issue. Sometimes. I get a reply. Sometimes still rubbish and will address back to MAS. The more people write in to MAS, then chances maybe higher that things will be more transparentt
I'm not sure if it works for a bank which have backward systems and complex processes. I reckon if it works it would have long time ago.
LuisHK is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2015, 6:44 pm
  #4839  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,718
That's the role of MAS to regulate the banks if needed. If you never try, you never knos
tboons is offline  
Old Nov 12, 2015, 8:21 pm
  #4840  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo
Programs: Accor Plus Plat, Marriot Plat, AF Silver
Posts: 315
Originally Posted by tboons
That's the role of MAS to regulate the banks if needed. If you never try, you never knos
Actually, MAS does listen:

Banks grant credit facilities based on their own internal credit evaluation criteria. Other than taking into consideration MAS' minimum income requirements, banks generally also take into account the applicant's credit history, stability of income and employment, debt burden and the ability of the applicant to make repayments in deciding whether to extend credit to an individual. While we understand your concerns, MAS does not intervene in such commercial decisions.

Nonetheless, MAS expects each financial institution (FI) to have its own dispute resolution process to handle consumer complaints and feedback independently, effectively and promptly. We also expect FIs to address consumers' concerns arising from their practices and services provided. On your feedback regarding UOB, we have asked the bank to look into this matter and reply to you within 14 business days, copying MAS. MAS will monitor UOB's reply to you and follow up with the bank if there are any matters of supervisory concern.
And UOB already sent a:

We refer to your email of 11 November 2015 to the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

We are investigating your feedback and will respond to you shortly.
I'm curious to know why I was rejected. If I am rejected... it feels like 99% others would be. Unless they discriminate foreigners vs. locals.

By the way, Citicard approved within 3 business days.

Julien
generikz is offline  
Old Nov 12, 2015, 8:38 pm
  #4841  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 55
Efficiency of the bank issued CC

Originally Posted by generikz
Actually, MAS does listen:

Yup. For my case Citibank replied the fastest and made an effort to call me, requiring additional information. First to receive their cc (as compared to posb, uob, hsbc).

Imo HSBC is the slowest in replying back.

And UOB already sent a:



I'm curious to know why I was rejected. If I am rejected... it feels like 99% others would be. Unless they discriminate foreigners vs. locals.

By the way, Citicard approved within 3 business days.

Julien
Tyrhung is offline  
Old Nov 12, 2015, 11:32 pm
  #4842  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 1,799
Originally Posted by generikz
Unless they discriminate foreigners vs. locals.
Won't name the bank here, but some years ago, at their road show, they asked if people were Singaporean or PR. Foreigners get pointed down to another bank.
Awesom Andy is offline  
Old Nov 13, 2015, 1:55 am
  #4843  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: QF LTG, SQ EGTP, Bonvoy LTG
Posts: 4,834
Originally Posted by Awesom Andy
Won't name the bank here, but some years ago, at their road show, they asked if people were Singaporean or PR. Foreigners get pointed down to another bank.
Conversely, I had no problems getting cards from DBS and Citi as a foreigner on EP, but one particular foreign banzk that comes from my home country, rejected me twice after I became PR (even though I had higher salary than previously)
lokijuh is offline  
Old Nov 13, 2015, 10:36 am
  #4844  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,818
Originally Posted by lokijuh
Conversely, I had no problems getting cards from DBS and Citi as a foreigner on EP, but one particular foreign banzk that comes from my home country, rejected me twice after I became PR (even though I had higher salary than previously)
That's weird.
lcpteck is offline  
Old Nov 14, 2015, 12:08 am
  #4845  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 55
From the spreadsheet of lcpteck for the various bank CCs, adidas.com.sg for Citi Rewards doesn't has 10X as stated there. However i used my UOB PPV for the purchase and it seems that i am entitled to the 10X.

I thought MCC is tagged by Visa to the merchant/Supplier? Or is there a change for Adidas.com.sg MCC now.
Tyrhung is offline  

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