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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):
============

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 Jun 11, 2016, 11:47 pm
  #5821  
 
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
After 10+ years service is still what it was back then, touted big time as a differentiator, but haphazard and reluctantly executed at best. Staff in general and CSRs in particular are often challenged with even basic knowledge of the product or service they handle. Efforts are often half hearted and all that is compounded by lack of authority / empowerment even up to supervisor or manager level. To a degree, some firms have slightly better track record than others, but in the end following through with the customer oriented promises made, works only sometimes. I'll just vote with feet and take my business / service some place else ad that is all one can do in the end. There are exceptions at times, but for a supposedly service focused economy this still has a,long way to go. Banks, insurance firms, retailers, restaurants, etc.all fall into that category.

Last edited by demue; Jun 11, 2016 at 11:53 pm
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Old Jun 12, 2016, 1:23 am
  #5822  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Singapore
Programs: Hyatt Diamand; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; SPG Gold; LeAccor Platinum
Posts: 67
No offence, but to the CSO/Customer Service over the past few years has been dominated by one country off the coast of Singapore. If you ever get on a phone with a Singaporean, you will see the level of service being up there (a different class and a different level). But if not, 3/4 - 90 percent of the time you get a worse service if you are facing another country people working in SG

I agree with EXSIN, you get bad experiences, including the states and the uk
dp86 is offline  
Old Jun 12, 2016, 2:22 am
  #5823  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Singapore
Posts: 43
Originally Posted by carrotjuice
Not sure if it's worth the bother. T&Cs say "Transactions made on brokerage/securities and/or money payment/transfer websites are not classified as retail transactions and are expressly excluded. For Online Transactions which involve EZ-Link or Transitlink, 10x Rewards points are capped at 2,000 HSBC Rewards points per Account per calendar month (i.e. S$200 spend)."
I earn around 100,000 points a month so I don't think the cap is in place. It's my primary online shopping card, never used offline so I believe I've been getting the 10x points. The exchange rate is 5000 points for 2000 miles
chewiegranolabar is offline  
Old Jun 12, 2016, 6:53 am
  #5824  
 
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 dp86
I agree with EXSIN, you get bad experiences, including the states and the uk
Definitely, Europe and US are no exception and things can go wrong anywhere. However, customer service recovery is weak in SIN other than getting repeated "sorry" and some sort of a puzzled smile (if face to face) hoping that the troublemaking customer goes away together with the problem
demue is offline  
Old Jun 12, 2016, 7:07 pm
  #5825  
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 48
UOB have terrible CS
toothpick2 is offline  
Old Jun 12, 2016, 8:40 pm
  #5826  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Asia
Programs: KF Gold | IHG Amb | SPG LTG | HH Gold
Posts: 548
Originally Posted by invisible
If that bank is HSBC - I will name them on every corner. Because these f-ers did enough to me so I can write a book - "How NOT To Treat Your Customers - interactions with HSBC Singapore'.

Today I was at Raffles Place branch submitting Tax Payment Facility paperwork and new update Signature paperwork. Let's see how it will go this time, but here is the story for you:

They managed two years ago to FUBAR everything - I sent paperwork for tax payment, have not heard anything from them for 2 weeks called, finally visited Raffles branch and refused to leave until they give me update on that matter. After two hours was told that paperwork was denied because signature does not match the one in file and when I told them that I can update it now, was told that it is too late to re-submit it.

Almost lost it there - wanted to throw something at them. For such kind of behaviour they would end up facing class action suit back in States. Here in Singapore it is norm.
I've stopped banking with them some years ago - it is not just Singapore that they screw everything up, I have similar experience in HK too.

Let's not even go to customer service shall we? They don't even get their basics right!
LuisHK is offline  
Old Jun 12, 2016, 8:45 pm
  #5827  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Asia
Programs: KF Gold | IHG Amb | SPG LTG | HH Gold
Posts: 548
Originally Posted by dp86
No offence, but to the CSO/Customer Service over the past few years has been dominated by one country off the coast of Singapore. If you ever get on a phone with a Singaporean, you will see the level of service being up there (a different class and a different level). But if not, 3/4 - 90 percent of the time you get a worse service if you are facing another country people working in SG

I agree with EXSIN, you get bad experiences, including the states and the uk
It depends on who they employ and the culture of the Bank. Some banks employ local part-timers... while they might not be as nonchalant as those outsourced jokers, they are equally clueless.
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Old Jun 13, 2016, 2:09 am
  #5828  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,576
Back to DBS WMC-gate. CSO consulted the product manager, who said the terms were uploaded to the website on 7 June and cardholders were not individually communicated but "deemed communicated via the website".

When asked for the effective date for the changes, CSO said there has been no change to the terms because "the exclusions have been in place all this while" and the uploaded terms were intended to "make these exclusions more explicit".

I immediately disputed this, saying that 10X points were earned for all spends (even for the supposedly excluded items) up till last month... hence the recent 7 June upload to the website was CHANGING the terms and that required REASONABLE NOTICE.

CSO understood this and has gone back again to check with the product manager.

The saga continues...
carrotjuice is offline  
Old Jun 13, 2016, 2:41 am
  #5829  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 876
Originally Posted by invisible
Three years ago, applied to HSBC Advance, filled ALL forms, asked over email and phone call if everything I've provided was sufficient, have not heard anything for 4 weeks. When I called back, was told that the person who took my application has left, and because new person was not aware of my application, now I need to start everything again.

I told him to stuck the application where the sun don't shine.
My own experience, applied online, submitted all document online as well.
Keep receiving email to ask the same set of documents. So submitted all of them again, a week later same request email arrived my mailbox again.
This time, called the CS hotline, the other end didn't know what was going on.
And would find out for me. End up they needed another document which was never stated in the email.
jjjohn is offline  
Old Jun 13, 2016, 3:12 am
  #5830  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
HSBC saga continues. Every time I think they can't surprise me anymore with their stupidity, well, they manage to do it again.

Today's story: got notification from Premier RM that my tax payment paperwork was denied because... the processed tax and the fee exceeds the credit limit on the Premier Mastercard by 12 (TWELVE) dollars!

So I have to fill the application form to request credit increase, submit the income document (which was already submitted when I brought tax paperwork to the office) my ID (which they have and was submitted last time last WEEK!) alongside with signature (which might be denied again because it does not match the one in file).

After that HSBC will decide to increase or not the credit limit on the Premier Mastercard.

Now questions to the audience:

- Do they purposely take people with IQ less than 50 to work in their offices?
- If they treat like this their 'Premier' customers, could you imagine how they treat ordinary people?
invisible is offline  
Old Jun 13, 2016, 3:24 am
  #5831  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,576
Another anecdote for HSBC. After I had terminated my relationship with them, I keep receiving emails to access my statement online. It took me over a year before I got these nuisance emails to stop...
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Old Jun 13, 2016, 3:27 am
  #5832  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,576
And don't get me started on Citibank who every time I do something new with them as a longstanding existing customer, they keep asking for a photocopy of my NRIC.
carrotjuice is offline  
Old Jun 13, 2016, 3:29 am
  #5833  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 55
Originally Posted by carrotjuice
Back to DBS WMC-gate. CSO consulted the product manager, who said the terms were uploaded to the website on 7 June and cardholders were not individually communicated but "deemed communicated via the website".

When asked for the effective date for the changes, CSO said there has been no change to the terms because "the exclusions have been in place all this while" and the uploaded terms were intended to "make these exclusions more explicit".

I immediately disputed this, saying that 10X points were earned for all spends (even for the supposedly excluded items) up till last month... hence the recent 7 June upload to the website was CHANGING the terms and that required REASONABLE NOTICE.

CSO understood this and has gone back again to check with the product manager.

The saga continues...
It would be a good news if its per what the CSO answered. Nevertheless still need to wait for their reply.
Thanks CJ
Tyrhung is offline  
Old Jun 13, 2016, 3:32 am
  #5834  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SIN
Programs: TK-G | Accor P | SQ-G | Marriott T
Posts: 3,831
Originally Posted by LuisHK
I've stopped banking with them some years ago - it is not just Singapore that they screw everything up, I have similar experience in HK too.

Let's not even go to customer service shall we? They don't even get their basics right!
I also cancel my HSBC VI after 4 years being the suckers

invisible, I will buy your book. May be I can be your co-author?
lingua101 is offline  
Old Jun 13, 2016, 3:43 am
  #5835  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Asia
Programs: KF Gold | IHG Amb | SPG LTG | HH Gold
Posts: 548
Originally Posted by invisible
Now questions to the audience:
- Do they purposely take people with IQ less than 50 to work in their offices?
No. Just that they are so rigid in the set of flawed process they've set up.

Originally Posted by carrotjuice
And don't get me started on Citibank who every time I do something new with them as a longstanding existing customer, they keep asking for a photocopy of my NRIC.
I get this from them as well, but at least they get things done - not come back with stupid reasons.
LuisHK is offline  


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