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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 Nov 14, 2015, 12:31 am
  #4846  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,464
I just transferred UNI$ to Krisflyer but nowhere did I get the option to enter my KF account number. Could someone please explain the next steps for these types of redemptions? Will I get a voucher that I somehow use with KF?
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Old Nov 14, 2015, 12:50 am
  #4847  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: SIA Solitaire PPS, IHG Royal Amb, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Hhonor Gold
Posts: 2,208
Originally Posted by staff
I just transferred UNI$ to Krisflyer but nowhere did I get the option to enter my KF account number. Could someone please explain the next steps for these types of redemptions? Will I get a voucher that I somehow use with KF?
For UOB FFP transfer, you need to register your KF &/or AM (Asia Miles) first by completing the form. Once they have set up the registration, you just need to indicate amount to be transferred. It will be transferred to the KF or AM FFP number provided earlier.

In this case, there is no letter provided. You can just login to KF or AM account to check. For KF, it should be credited within 2~3 working days.
hclee01 is offline  
Old Nov 14, 2015, 12:53 am
  #4848  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: SIA Solitaire PPS, IHG Royal Amb, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Hhonor Gold
Posts: 2,208
Originally Posted by Tyrhung
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.
Did you purchase the items online? For UOB PPV card, you will earn 10X for items purchased online (subject to certain restrictions, e.g. travel).
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Old Nov 14, 2015, 5:59 am
  #4849  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 55
UOB PPC - Adidas SG online

Originally Posted by hclee01
Did you purchase the items online? For UOB PPV card, you will earn 10X for items purchased online (subject to certain restrictions, e.g. travel).
Yes. I purchase from their sg website. Cause the spreadsheet for Citibank rewards put adidas.com without 10x (sing post commerce) hence I presume it meant online purchase.

In this case UOB PPC seems to be the card to use instead
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Old Nov 14, 2015, 9:09 am
  #4850  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: SIA Solitaire PPS, IHG Royal Amb, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Hhonor Gold
Posts: 2,208
Originally Posted by Tyrhung
Yes. I purchase from their sg website. Cause the spreadsheet for Citibank rewards put adidas.com without 10x (sing post commerce) hence I presume it meant online purchase.

In this case UOB PPC seems to be the card to use instead
For Adidas, Nike, etc, it is not considered under Citibank Rewards Card as shops that shop clothing, bag or shoes as major line of business. I have bought from Nike store before using Citibank Rewards Card, and the Citi CSO insisted that this does not fall under their category for awarding of 10X points.
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Old Nov 14, 2015, 9:40 am
  #4851  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,576
Originally Posted by hclee01
For Adidas, Nike, etc, it is not considered under Citibank Rewards Card as shops that shop clothing, bag or shoes as major line of business. I have bought from Nike store before using Citibank Rewards Card, and the Citi CSO insisted that this does not fall under their category for awarding of 10X points.
Why not? The "clothes, bags and shoes" apply to offline shopping only.

For online shopping (per Citi Rewards card website): "Online Shopping merchants include all shopping websites and EXCLUDE all (but not limited to) food & beverage, travel, airline, government, brokerage/ securities, cinema, insurance, tuition and online gambling websites."
carrotjuice is offline  
Old Nov 14, 2015, 10:12 am
  #4852  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: SIA Solitaire PPS, IHG Royal Amb, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Hhonor Gold
Posts: 2,208
Originally Posted by carrotjuice
Why not? The "clothes, bags and shoes" apply to offline shopping only.

For online shopping (per Citi Rewards card website): "Online Shopping merchants include all shopping websites and EXCLUDE all (but not limited to) food & beverage, travel, airline, government, brokerage/ securities, cinema, insurance, tuition and online gambling websites."
Sorry, I wasn't clear in my earlier post. I bought the products from the physical store.

However, I also noted that in CitiBank T&C:
https://www.citibank.com.sg/global_d...wards_2013.pdf

It reads as follows:
Online shopping merchants includes only shopping websites that sells clothes, shoes and bags as its main business activity.

Unfortunately, I suspect that for Nike/Adidas shops, the merchant MCC code is tagged as "sporting shops" which seems not to fall under the category that they have indicated.
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Old Nov 14, 2015, 9:01 pm
  #4853  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Originally Posted by hclee01
Unfortunately, I suspect that for Nike/Adidas shops, the merchant MCC code is tagged as "sporting shops" which seems not to fall under the category that they have indicated.
I can confirm that 'sporting' MCCs are not eligible for 10x.
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Old Nov 15, 2015, 1:23 am
  #4854  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,576
Originally Posted by lcpteck
I can confirm that 'sporting' MCCs are not eligible for 10x.
This is utterly crap.

Just as 'tailors' do not qualify even though it sells (what else but...) clothes!

With all these fine print and senseless terms, no wonder people like us find ways to beat the banks!
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Old Nov 15, 2015, 1:55 am
  #4855  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 819
Sportslink and World of Sports do not earn 10x Citi dollars with Citi Rewards Card. Only Royal Sporting House can.

These MCC earn 10x Citidollars:

5621 – women ready to wear
5699 – accessories & apparel store, miscellaneous
5691 – men’s, women’s clothing store
5631 – women accessories & specialty store
5651 – family clothing store
5611 – men and boy’s clothing and accessories store
5655 – sports apparel & riding apparel store
5641 – children & infant wear store
5661 – shoe store
5948 – leather goods & luggage
5311 – departmental store
vsepr is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2015, 3:29 am
  #4856  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,464
Originally Posted by hclee01
For UOB FFP transfer, you need to register your KF &/or AM (Asia Miles) first by completing the form. Once they have set up the registration, you just need to indicate amount to be transferred. It will be transferred to the KF or AM FFP number provided earlier.

In this case, there is no letter provided. You can just login to KF or AM account to check. For KF, it should be credited within 2~3 working days.
I called UOB to inquire about this, and they said they already had linked my KF number "ending with XXXX" (I have no idea how or when this happened). She still said it will take 14-21 days for the miles to transfer though -- assuming this isn't the case?
Kilian Zoll is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2015, 3:40 am
  #4857  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Originally Posted by staff
I called UOB to inquire about this, and they said they already had linked my KF number "ending with XXXX" (I have no idea how or when this happened). She still said it will take 14-21 days for the miles to transfer though -- assuming this isn't the case?
It was probably linked when you first filled in the application form to apply for the card, there is space in the membership form that can fill in the FFP info.
lcpteck is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2015, 11:39 pm
  #4858  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,464
Originally Posted by lcpteck
It was probably linked when you first filled in the application form to apply for the card, there is space in the membership form that can fill in the FFP info.
Makes sense. With this in mind, I'm assuming the UNI$ should transfer pretty quickly? I'm waiting to book an award seat and would hate if it would go unavailable before the miles transfer across...
Kilian Zoll is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2015, 12:57 am
  #4859  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC/SIN
Programs: CX DM, SQ KF
Posts: 2,171
The 'Best credit cards for KF miles accrual' master thread

My last transfer from UOB took 4 days - was to Asiamiles though.
jagmeets is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2015, 1:53 am
  #4860  
 
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: 7,739
Originally Posted by vsepr
Sportslink and World of Sports do not earn 10x Citi dollars with Citi Rewards Card. Only Royal Sporting House can.

These MCC earn 10x Citidollars:

5621 – women ready to wear
5699 – accessories & apparel store, miscellaneous
5691 – men’s, women’s clothing store
5631 – women accessories & specialty store
5651 – family clothing store
5611 – men and boy’s clothing and accessories store
5655 – sports apparel & riding apparel store
5641 – children & infant wear store
5661 – shoe store
5948 – leather goods & luggage
5311 – departmental store
Hmm, I bought stuff from the Salomon store at Novena Square and am pretty confident that it clocked 10x points with Citi Rewards. They are owned by World of Sports, but not sure if they got an MCC like 5655. was last year so hard to check now, but I'll look out for any future transactions.
demue is offline  


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