Oct 31, 2014, 6:05 am
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)***
============
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
============
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)***
============
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
============
The 'Best credit cards for KF miles accrual' master thread
May 6, 2016, 9:19 am
#5581
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SIN
Posts: 352
Maximizing miles on petrol purchases
Apologies if this is a repeat query. I dont recall any related posts to my questions in recent past.
For past 6-8 months, I am using DBS ESSO card - initial there were $70 vouchers and then their marketing strategy to keep me hooked on to ESSO and to that particular pump (habit!) worked. Hence I am out of maths on which card to use.
Everytime I decide to pull out my UOB Privi/CPM at ESSO (14%?), the discount maths on DBS ESSO card (17%?) dissuades me to pay higher and I delay formulating a strategy on which card to use at which pump..
Could the gurus here pls advise on which pump and which card gets us max miles for a full tank or say for $100 fuel purchase?
Appreciate if the SG bloggers dont make a whoo-haa about this topic.
For past 6-8 months, I am using DBS ESSO card - initial there were $70 vouchers and then their marketing strategy to keep me hooked on to ESSO and to that particular pump (habit!) worked. Hence I am out of maths on which card to use.
Everytime I decide to pull out my UOB Privi/CPM at ESSO (14%?), the discount maths on DBS ESSO card (17%?) dissuades me to pay higher and I delay formulating a strategy on which card to use at which pump..
Could the gurus here pls advise on which pump and which card gets us max miles for a full tank or say for $100 fuel purchase?
Appreciate if the SG bloggers dont make a whoo-haa about this topic.
May 6, 2016, 9:27 am
#5582
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,942
I am about to make a booking for 3 business class tickets to Japan on Thai Airways and I have the following options:
(1) Thai Airways website - priced at S$6.5k and if I pay using highest-local spending card (ANZ or UOB PRIVI), I will receive only 1.4 miles for every S$1 of spending = 9.1k miles
(2) Expedia.com.sg - priced at almost S$7k ($500 more expensive than option 1 above) and if I pay using DBS Visa Altitude Card, I will receive 3 miles for every S$ 1 spending (do correct me if I am wrong). The first 1.2 miles will be credited immediately (local spending) and the extra 1.8 miles will be credited at most 90 days after the end of each calendar month. Total max miles to be received (in 2 separate batches) = 21k miles.You are effectively buying 11,900 miles for S$500 i.e. at 4.2 cents per mile. Way too expensive. Anything over 2 S$ cents a mile is too expensive in my book
(3) UOB Travel - the price is the most ridiculous of the 3 options at slightly more than S$7.9k (an extra S$1.4k premium). With the current 6 miles for every S$1 spending at UOB Travel, total max miles to be received (I believe in separate batches too, but not so clear to me now) = 47.4k miles! Here you are effectively buying 38,300 miles for S$1,400 i.e. at a slightly better rate of 3.66 cents per mile but nothing to write home about.
I am seeking advice from the gurus here....which one will you choose? I am actually more inclined to pay the cheapest price (option 1) and get a miserly 9.1k miles; as the extra premium (S$500 or $1.4k miles) are simply not worth the extra miles (11.9k miles and 38.3k miles, respectively). Am I wrong in getting to that conclusion?
One reference point: I just paid S$1,095 to purchase 30k Starpoints last week (which can be converted to at least 35k KF or Asia Miles), which results in a valuation of 3.12 cents/per mile.You paid too much for the SQ KF miles at S$ 3.12 cents per mile. Options 2 and 3 above result in a value of 4.2 cents/mile and 3.66 cents/mile, respectively - and both are significantly higher than the valuation of Starpoints.
(1) Thai Airways website - priced at S$6.5k and if I pay using highest-local spending card (ANZ or UOB PRIVI), I will receive only 1.4 miles for every S$1 of spending = 9.1k miles
(2) Expedia.com.sg - priced at almost S$7k ($500 more expensive than option 1 above) and if I pay using DBS Visa Altitude Card, I will receive 3 miles for every S$ 1 spending (do correct me if I am wrong). The first 1.2 miles will be credited immediately (local spending) and the extra 1.8 miles will be credited at most 90 days after the end of each calendar month. Total max miles to be received (in 2 separate batches) = 21k miles.You are effectively buying 11,900 miles for S$500 i.e. at 4.2 cents per mile. Way too expensive. Anything over 2 S$ cents a mile is too expensive in my book
(3) UOB Travel - the price is the most ridiculous of the 3 options at slightly more than S$7.9k (an extra S$1.4k premium). With the current 6 miles for every S$1 spending at UOB Travel, total max miles to be received (I believe in separate batches too, but not so clear to me now) = 47.4k miles! Here you are effectively buying 38,300 miles for S$1,400 i.e. at a slightly better rate of 3.66 cents per mile but nothing to write home about.
I am seeking advice from the gurus here....which one will you choose? I am actually more inclined to pay the cheapest price (option 1) and get a miserly 9.1k miles; as the extra premium (S$500 or $1.4k miles) are simply not worth the extra miles (11.9k miles and 38.3k miles, respectively). Am I wrong in getting to that conclusion?
One reference point: I just paid S$1,095 to purchase 30k Starpoints last week (which can be converted to at least 35k KF or Asia Miles), which results in a valuation of 3.12 cents/per mile.You paid too much for the SQ KF miles at S$ 3.12 cents per mile. Options 2 and 3 above result in a value of 4.2 cents/mile and 3.66 cents/mile, respectively - and both are significantly higher than the valuation of Starpoints.
May 6, 2016, 9:30 am
#5584
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,942
Apologies if this is a repeat query. I dont recall any related posts to my questions in recent past.
For past 6-8 months, I am using DBS ESSO card - initial there were $70 vouchers and then their marketing strategy to keep me hooked on to ESSO and to that particular pump (habit!) worked. Hence I am out of maths on which card to use.
Everytime I decide to pull out my UOB Privi/CPM at ESSO (14%?), the discount maths on DBS ESSO card (17%?) dissuades me to pay higher and I delay formulating a strategy on which card to use at which pump..
Could the gurus here pls advise on which pump and which card gets us max miles for a full tank or say for $100 fuel purchase?
Appreciate if the SG bloggers dont make a whoo-haa about this topic.
For past 6-8 months, I am using DBS ESSO card - initial there were $70 vouchers and then their marketing strategy to keep me hooked on to ESSO and to that particular pump (habit!) worked. Hence I am out of maths on which card to use.
Everytime I decide to pull out my UOB Privi/CPM at ESSO (14%?), the discount maths on DBS ESSO card (17%?) dissuades me to pay higher and I delay formulating a strategy on which card to use at which pump..
Could the gurus here pls advise on which pump and which card gets us max miles for a full tank or say for $100 fuel purchase?
Appreciate if the SG bloggers dont make a whoo-haa about this topic.
May 6, 2016, 10:12 am
#5585
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Singapore
Programs: A3 Gold, SQ Gold, AT Gold, Accor Silver, HHonors Diamond, I Prefer Elite, DISCOVERY Titanium
Posts: 472
Apologies if this is a repeat query. I dont recall any related posts to my questions in recent past.
For past 6-8 months, I am using DBS ESSO card - initial there were $70 vouchers and then their marketing strategy to keep me hooked on to ESSO and to that particular pump (habit!) worked. Hence I am out of maths on which card to use.
Everytime I decide to pull out my UOB Privi/CPM at ESSO (14%?), the discount maths on DBS ESSO card (17%?) dissuades me to pay higher and I delay formulating a strategy on which card to use at which pump..
Could the gurus here pls advise on which pump and which card gets us max miles for a full tank or say for $100 fuel purchase?
Appreciate if the SG bloggers dont make a whoo-haa about this topic.
For past 6-8 months, I am using DBS ESSO card - initial there were $70 vouchers and then their marketing strategy to keep me hooked on to ESSO and to that particular pump (habit!) worked. Hence I am out of maths on which card to use.
Everytime I decide to pull out my UOB Privi/CPM at ESSO (14%?), the discount maths on DBS ESSO card (17%?) dissuades me to pay higher and I delay formulating a strategy on which card to use at which pump..
Could the gurus here pls advise on which pump and which card gets us max miles for a full tank or say for $100 fuel purchase?
Appreciate if the SG bloggers dont make a whoo-haa about this topic.
May 6, 2016, 7:35 pm
#5586
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
I earn way above any limits for credit cards, also in SIN on an EP, and have had more card applications declined than approved. I find it bizarre.
When my most recent declination happened, I asked the Standard Chartered guy to explain to me exactly why I was declined for this card. He said he couldn't tell me and that I was welcome to get a credit score assessment. I didn't bother, as I had just obtained a card from DBS, have never missed a payment on anything, so I didn't think there was any issue there.
There's still a lot of things in SIN I will never understand (or that seem to follow their own logic).
When my most recent declination happened, I asked the Standard Chartered guy to explain to me exactly why I was declined for this card. He said he couldn't tell me and that I was welcome to get a credit score assessment. I didn't bother, as I had just obtained a card from DBS, have never missed a payment on anything, so I didn't think there was any issue there.
There's still a lot of things in SIN I will never understand (or that seem to follow their own logic).
I only ventured into the local credit card game once a PR.
May 6, 2016, 8:43 pm
#5587
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SYD
Programs: QF LTG, VASG, NZ*S, OZD, IHG SpireAMB, HHD
Posts: 1,421
Interesting! HSBC was my existing bank and they were very good at relocation assistance for me too. I turned down their offer of a credit card in the hope of getting these much more rewarding local cards. Ironically, when I eventually applied for a HSBC Singapore credit card after frustration at several rejections in Singapore, I never heard back from them. I would have pushed it with the HSBC Premier service, but DBS came along and offered my a card, so I didn't bother after that.
May 6, 2016, 9:04 pm
#5588
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,576
Interesting! HSBC was my existing bank and they were very good at relocation assistance for me too. I turned down their offer of a credit card in the hope of getting these much more rewarding local cards. Ironically, when I eventually applied for a HSBC Singapore credit card after frustration at several rejections in Singapore, I never heard back from them. I would have pushed it with the HSBC Premier service, but DBS came along and offered my a card, so I didn't bother after that.
May 7, 2016, 6:59 am
#5589
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 22
http://info.maybank2u.com.sg/personal/cards/special-promos/wmc-fuel-savings.aspx#tnc
May 7, 2016, 10:55 am
#5590
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,942
HSBC Premier Mastercard best for Income Tax Payments
Had not really investigated this before, but did some research today and realised that HSBC Premier Mastercard charges .5% for income tax payments, and with 4 miles per $ spend you would effectively buy SQ KF miles at 1.25 cents per mile, which is better than what you get with ANZ or HSBC Revolution or SCB VI which are usually mentioned as good cards for tax payments. Wonder if I have missed something?
May 7, 2016, 5:05 pm
#5591
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: SQ QPP1, HYATT DIA, SPG GOLD, HH GOLD, IHG GOLD
Posts: 656
Do correct me if I am wrong.
May 7, 2016, 5:10 pm
#5592
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: SQ QPP1, HYATT DIA, SPG GOLD, HH GOLD, IHG GOLD
Posts: 656
Do you have a Citibank credit card? You earn 6 miles per S$1 at expedia. And for some flights (usually those departing BKK), I oftentimes find expedia.co.th provides better fares than expedia.com.sg
You need to register by SMS first though to ensure you qualify for the promo miles.
You need to register by SMS first though to ensure you qualify for the promo miles.
May 7, 2016, 9:41 pm
#5593
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,576
May 7, 2016, 10:54 pm
#5594
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
May 7, 2016, 10:56 pm
#5595
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819