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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 Aug 29, 2017, 11:18 pm
  #7216  
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 973
Name the stores I guess. Maybe others have had the same issues. In any case they won't be changing their practices - there are no real consumer rights and protections in Singapore.
Phaze is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2017, 1:53 am
  #7217  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SIN and wandering.
Posts: 1,549
Originally Posted by elleana
Anyhow, lately I've been seeing a lot of local currency transactions processed overseas (thereby incurring the 0.8% or 1% fee, which I think is crap but that's another story). This has been happening even in stores which seem local, list their items in SGD (and then charge me in SGD). Any tips on avoiding this? Other than avoiding these merchants but...
It's hard to avoid unless the companies tell you in advance that their payments are processed out of Singapore.

Companies which do this include

- Uber
- Expedia

(Feel free to add to the list).
SQ319 is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2017, 2:42 am
  #7218  
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: UA 1k Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 42
Anyone use Singapore air Debit card from UOB. If you have 350000 SGD in this account. You earn 5.4 mile per SGD. It is amazing.
williamqian2014 is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2017, 3:00 am
  #7219  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Singapore
Posts: 43
Miles earned is capped at 5% of monthly average balance. Doesn't seem wise to keep half a million in an account which doesn't earn interest, just miles - if you even spend that much per month to earn a sizeable amount of miles. May appeal to jet setting fashionistas who have half a million to spare, and spend $5,000 to earn that 25,000 in miles
SQ319 and ronaldko like this.
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Old Aug 30, 2017, 7:16 am
  #7220  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC/SIN
Programs: CX DM, SQ KF
Posts: 2,169
Originally Posted by elleana
This is somewhat off-topic for the thread (and I daresay even the SQ forum and FT) but I didn't quite know where else it should go, besides I figured the folks in here would be the most knowledgeable about credit card practices in Singapore and elsewhere..

Anyhow, lately I've been seeing a lot of local currency transactions processed overseas (thereby incurring the 0.8% or 1% fee, which I think is crap but that's another story). This has been happening even in stores which seem local, list their items in SGD (and then charge me in SGD). Any tips on avoiding this? Other than avoiding these merchants but...
Yeah - this had become a pain..but in a way, that made my card management easier!

UOB Prvi Amex / Preferred Plat Amex / SCB Priority Banking VI. DBS WWMC if/when I remember to use that for online stuff.

I've sung paeans to the SCB VI in the past - yes, a pretty bad mileage but all these make it a 'good stress-less' card for me:
a) Uber/eats Cashback (goes away end Sep)
b) Caltex - effectively 23%+ off
c) Miles for the mortgage/other relationships,
d) free point transfers between my and my wife's cards,
e) yet to be hit with a fees for overseas SGD processing (Uber & Expedia)
f) ability to buy Krisflyer miles @ S$0.02/mi pretty much anytime
(upto ~70% of the redemption - you can transfer a max 99K miles each go..just need to manage things a bit as the system only lets you purchase the points' shortfall for the redemption - not outright - having 2 in the family have the card helps!).

Using the card more these days has also helped to get to a 'no need to worry' for hitting the min spend targets for the Uber/Caltex cashbacks.

Citi used to get almost all our non-Amex spend - gets next to nothing now!

Last edited by jagmeets; Aug 30, 2017 at 7:22 am
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Old Aug 30, 2017, 7:25 am
  #7221  
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 856
Originally Posted by jagmeets
f) ability to buy Krisflyer miles @ S$0.02/mi pretty much anytime
(upto ~70% of the redemption - you can transfer a max 99K miles each go..just need to manage things a bit as the system only lets you purchase the points' shortfall for the redemption - not outright - having 2 in the family have the card helps!).
Please note that the online system only allows the max of 99k miles each go, but you can always call in to transfer more than that for the same one-time fee. At least, I could do that with the non priority banking version.
fone is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2017, 9:25 am
  #7222  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC/SIN
Programs: CX DM, SQ KF
Posts: 2,169
Originally Posted by fone
Please note that the online system only allows the max of 99k miles each go, but you can always call in to transfer more than that for the same one-time fee. At least, I could do that with the non priority banking version.
Ah yes- you're right!
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Old Aug 30, 2017, 6:22 pm
  #7223  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ KF Gold, HHonors Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 300
Originally Posted by SQ319
It's hard to avoid unless the companies tell you in advance that their payments are processed out of Singapore.

Companies which do this include

- Uber
- Expedia

(Feel free to add to the list).
That's what I find annoying - even happens with seemingly local companies.

- Adobe
- New York Times
- Nike SG
- Mums.sg <--- this was what drove me over the edge. They are most definitely local only!
elleana is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2017, 9:01 pm
  #7224  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Post UOB Payment Facility

UOB Payment Facility

Seems like an okay deal for UOB Prvi Miles Card holders.
lcpteck is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2017, 1:02 am
  #7225  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 1,961
Originally Posted by elleana
That's what I find annoying - even happens with seemingly local companies.
I ranted about it a few pages ago lol. The worst part about it is that we get charged DCC but don't even earn foreign spend miles. But doesn't seem that anything can be done other than just to suck it up or to switch card(s).
shuigao is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2017, 1:15 am
  #7226  
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: UA 1k Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 42
Originally Posted by chewiegranolabar
Miles earned is capped at 5% of monthly average balance. Doesn't seem wise to keep half a million in an account which doesn't earn interest, just miles - if you even spend that much per month to earn a sizeable amount of miles. May appeal to jet setting fashionistas who have half a million to spare, and spend $5,000 to earn that 25,000 in miles
Oh, I thought it is too good to be true. Thank you, my bank did not tell me anything abut that.
williamqian2014 is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2017, 1:25 am
  #7227  
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Accor Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, SQ TPPS
Posts: 50
Originally Posted by Phaze
Name the stores I guess. Maybe others have had the same issues. In any case they won't be changing their practices - there are no real consumer rights and protections in Singapore.
Elleana's examples of stores, save for the Mums.sg example, don't appear to be "local" stores. In any case, why do you make the sweeping statement that there are no real consumer rights and protections in Singapore? Are you a Singaporean or ordinarily resident in Singapore? There's a difference between not having real consumer rights and protections and not knowing that there actually exist a whole range of real consumer rights and protections.
tth_ben is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2017, 1:26 am
  #7228  
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Accor Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, SQ TPPS
Posts: 50
Originally Posted by williamqian2014
Anyone use Singapore air Debit card from UOB. If you have 350000 SGD in this account. You earn 5.4 mile per SGD. It is amazing.
http://milelion.com/2017/04/19/the-k...ad-on-arrival/
ronaldko likes this.
tth_ben is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2017, 5:32 am
  #7229  
 
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: 7,726
Originally Posted by lcpteck
UOB Payment Facility

Seems like an okay deal for UOB Prvi Miles Card holders.
Hmm, so are they leveraging Card up infrastructure or are they actually competing with a start up they venture funded? Just wondering.

This is quite a common facility in other countries, in Germany the LH M&M CC has had such a facility for years. Good to see it now in SG. 2% is lower than card up fee of 2.6%. Could be worth it to some for certain cases as it is basically paying 2c per mile.

Last edited by demue; Aug 31, 2017 at 5:38 am
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Old Aug 31, 2017, 5:41 pm
  #7230  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ KF Gold, HHonors Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 300
Originally Posted by demue
Hmm, so are they leveraging Card up infrastructure or are they actually competing with a start up they venture funded? Just wondering.

This is quite a common facility in other countries, in Germany the LH M&M CC has had such a facility for years. Good to see it now in SG. 2% is lower than card up fee of 2.6%. Could be worth it to some for certain cases as it is basically paying 2c per mile.
I'd probably do it. With some of the annual fees its almost 2c per mile anyway, so not that far off.
elleana is offline  


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