Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > Singapore Airlines | KrisFlyer
Reload this Page >

The 'Best credit cards for KF miles accrual' master thread

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
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)***
============
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

============

Print Wikipost

The 'Best credit cards for KF miles accrual' master thread

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 18, 2017, 2:53 am
  #7276  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 1,961
Originally Posted by SQ319
Which cards do you use for Grab/Uber??
Well, Citi cards are probably not the best choice, as they charge 0.08% DCC fee on Uber (but you only get local mpd).
shuigao is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2017, 3:26 am
  #7277  
Moderator, El Al and Marriott Bonvoy, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Hyatt Contributor BadgeMarriott Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ*G, Mar LTT, Hyatt Glb, AA LTG, LY, HH, IC, BA, DL, UA SLV
Posts: 12,018
Originally Posted by Wadexis
What a lousy customer experience UOB has. Unbelievable.
It doesn't get better when you have more and more money with them. Only worse.
yosithezet is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2017, 3:35 am
  #7278  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: QF LTG, SQ EGTP, Bonvoy LTG
Posts: 4,847
Originally Posted by shuigao
Well, Citi cards are probably not the best choice, as they charge 0.08% DCC fee on Uber (but you only get local mpd).
But not for Grab, as payments processed locally, so they are fine for Grab. Which IMHO, is better than uber in SG anyway. BTW it's a 0.8% DCC fee, not 0.08% ...
lokijuh is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2017, 4:02 am
  #7279  
Hilton Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Singapore
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 362
Originally Posted by SQ319
Which cards do you use for Grab/Uber??
DBS WWMC. Don't they earn 4mpd?
gummibar is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2017, 6:49 am
  #7280  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Singapore & Globe trotting
Programs: QR Gold, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, GHA Titanium, Taj Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 425
Originally Posted by gummibar
DBS WWMC. Don't they earn 4mpd?
they do.
lifeonthego_k is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2017, 9:23 pm
  #7281  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 1,961
Originally Posted by invisible
I was told that transactions made with cardup are coded as cash advance.
That's quite a d*ck move on Citi's part, especially considering that they're now also advertising CardUp promo for their prestige cardholders (0% card up fee for $5000 for new CardUp users).

I don't pay rent, though, so don't know how to take advantage of this promo. Sign up and randomly send $5000 to my wife?
shuigao is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2017, 9:54 pm
  #7282  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SIN
Posts: 61
Originally Posted by shuigao
That's quite a d*ck move on Citi's part, especially considering that they're now also advertising CardUp promo for their prestige cardholders (0% card up fee for $5000 for new CardUp users).

I don't pay rent, though, so don't know how to take advantage of this promo. Sign up and randomly send $5000 to my wife?
But then she'd have to pay income tax on it as it would be rental income no?
Wadexis is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2017, 12:01 am
  #7283  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Singapore & Globe trotting
Programs: QR Gold, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, GHA Titanium, Taj Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 425
Originally Posted by shuigao
I don't pay rent, though, so don't know how to take advantage of this promo. Sign up and randomly send $5000 to my wife?
That will not be possible as Cardup requires you to have a bona fide transaction before you can use their platform (eg a condo bill, a school fees invoice, a rental agreement). You need to upload a contract or some documentation proof of why you are making the transfer.
lifeonthego_k is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2017, 12:04 am
  #7284  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Singapore & Globe trotting
Programs: QR Gold, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, GHA Titanium, Taj Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 425
Originally Posted by invisible
If anyone made transaction with cardup in aug/sep on Citi PM please check statement. If I am not alone, you should be seeing it too, and if I am alone, then they are pulling my leg.
I can confirm as well - used Citi PM for paying rent in Sept and got the 1.2x miles credited into my account.
lifeonthego_k is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2017, 12:22 am
  #7285  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 1,961
Originally Posted by Wadexis
But then she'd have to pay income tax on it as it would be rental income no?
Originally Posted by lifeonthego_k
That will not be possible as Cardup requires you to have a bona fide transaction before you can use their platform (eg a condo bill, a school fees invoice, a rental agreement). You need to upload a contract or some documentation proof of why you are making the transfer.
Ah, no chance to get some free miles then.

Originally Posted by lifeonthego_k
I can confirm as well - used Citi PM for paying rent in Sept and got the 1.2x miles credited into my account.
IINM, invisible is asking whether you got hit with finance charges on the CardUp transaction -- it appears that for him, CardUp txns are posting as cash advances for some reason.
shuigao is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2017, 2:17 am
  #7286  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Singapore & Globe trotting
Programs: QR Gold, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, GHA Titanium, Taj Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 425
Originally Posted by shuigao
IINM, invisible is asking whether you got hit with finance charges on the CardUp transaction -- it appears that for him, CardUp txns are posting as cash advances for some reason.

Whoops, in that case, @invisible, i did not get charged any finance charges.
lifeonthego_k is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2017, 2:32 am
  #7287  
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 856
They usually go hand-in-hand where cash advances will get charged interests but no miles.

Originally Posted by shuigao
Ah, no chance to get some free miles then.


IINM, invisible is asking whether you got hit with finance charges on the CardUp transaction -- it appears that for him, CardUp txns are posting as cash advances for some reason.
Originally Posted by lifeonthego_k
Whoops, in that case, @invisible, i did not get charged any finance charges.
fone is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2017, 8:49 am
  #7288  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,576
On the phone with UOB as I'm typing this, and vomitting blood in the process of trying to get the correct information.

I wanted to know for UOB PPV, where the monthly cap is now UNI$2,000 - does the UNI$ apply to full 10X earnings or just the 9X bonus earnings.

A) If applicable to full 10X earnings, then max spend per month is S$1,000.

B) If applicable to 9X bonus earnings only, then max spend per month is S$1,110.

First CSO told me B). My phone line got disconnected before the call was over. After I got through, second CSO told me A).

Why can't UOB ever provide a single version of the truth?! It's so frustrating...
carrotjuice is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2017, 7:00 pm
  #7289  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,576
And while we're on the topic of UOB's incompetence, I was looking at their website for the current UOB One Card 10th anniversary promo that gives 10% rebate if you set it up as a digitised card (e.g. Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, etc.) and spend via that method.

The website T&Cs say:

http://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards/credit/one/mobile.html

Promotion is only applicable to principal Cardmembers of a UOB One Card ... who have successfully registered before 31 October 2017 via Short Message Service (SMS) ... and has an applicable minimum retail spend of S$500 for each qualifying period.

But the PDF T&Cs say:

http://uob.com.sg/assets/pdfs/one-card-mobile-rebates-tnc.pdf

[Cardholder qualifies when] charges a minimum spend of S$500 worth of Eligible Transactions ... during any one of the following Qualifying Periods (defined as 10-31 Aug, 1-30 Sep, 1-31 Oct).

Now, "each qualifying period" and "any one of the qualifying periods" are two completely different things, a difference between S$1,500 versus S$500 spend!

No wonder their CSOs can't give a straight answer to straight questions over the phone, when their product managers are contradictory in their own T&Cs!!

Last edited by carrotjuice; Sep 20, 2017 at 6:29 am
carrotjuice is offline  
Old Sep 20, 2017, 2:22 pm
  #7290  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Singapore
Programs: KF, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 182
Originally Posted by shuigao
That's quite a d*ck move on Citi's part, especially considering that they're now also advertising CardUp promo for their prestige cardholders (0% card up fee for $5000 for new CardUp users).

I don't pay rent, though, so don't know how to take advantage of this promo. Sign up and randomly send $5000 to my wife?
I think the original post on 'Cardup being considered as cash advance' should be ignored as nobody else have got that problem. That post's OP should scrutinise his / her statement and take it up with the bank.

As you said, Citi is embracing Cardup, as they see that they can earn 1% to 1.5% easily without much advertising cost.
spk307 is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.