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

Old Oct 31, 2014, 6:05 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: lifeonthego_k
I'm going to update this first post as more info flows in to create a 'master list' of all credit cards that offer a decent way of accruing miles - so please help out!

If you know of and/or use any other cards (or the ones already mentioned), please share your thoughts.

***ALL VALUES BELOW IN SINGAPORE DOLLARS (SGD)***
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In no particular order (apart from personal preference in terms of good-mileage opportunities):
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1. UOB PRVI Miles VISA, MasterCard, AMEX

VISA:
http://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards...iles_visa.html
MasterCard:
http://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards...astercard.html
Amex:
http://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards...amex_card.html
http://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards...ard/microsite/



Mileage accrual:
The earn rate will be 1.4 miles for every $1 spent in multiples of S$10 (every multiple of S$5 gives 6 to 7 miles due to 3.5 UNI$ rounding off, every S$10 gives 14 miles), and 2.4 miles for every $1 spent OVERSEAS (every $5 gives 12 miles).

Requirements: min. income $80,000 (not strict).
Cost: First year free, then S$256.80 for main, first two supplementary always free. Annual fee waiver for Amex card if you charge $50,000 or more in a year.
Miles conversion fee: $25 per conversion. UNI$ are combined in 1 cardholder's name/FIN Number/NRIC together for all UOB cards which earn UNI$.

Pros: Best mileage accrual rates for overseas spend only. 20,000 bonus miles and annual fee waiver with spend of $50,000 per year (both only for Amex card). $45 1-way airport transfer voucher for $1,000 overseas spend in a given quarter (Amex only).
Cons: AMEX not always accepted by merchants. Points allocated on every $5 spent, rounded down to next $5. Transfer in blocks of 5000 UNI$ points = 10,000 miles. Points are valid for 2 years (transfer before expiry and they will subsequently be valid for a further 3 years from the date of transfer to KrisFlyer).

2. UOB Preferred Platinum Visa


http://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards..._platinum.html
http://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards...visa_card.html


Mileage accrual: Earn 4 miles for every $1 spent using ONLY MOBILE CONTACTLESS every $5 gives 10 UNI$ which equal 20 miles). Same incredible mileage-earning ratio for internet shopping with certain restrictions (travel-related, utilities, etc.). Earn 0.4 mile for every $1 for regular, signature-based payments AND ORPHAN SPEND DUE TO $5 ROUNDING OR EXCEEDING THE BONUS U$2000 SPEND (every $5 gives 1 UNI$ which equal 2 miles).

Earning 4 miles/$ is limited to the first S$1110 spent during the per calendar month (via Mobile Contactless). 2,000UNI$ refers to the extra 9UNI$ and does not include the normal 1UNI$.(Stop when you notice you earn 3UNI$ (1 + bonus 2) for the last S$5 transaction. ($1110/5)x9=1998UNI$, hence the last S$5 transaction will earn 2 bonus UNI$. The total bonus UNI$ awarded to you from qualifying spend on Selected Online Transactions and Mobile Contactless Transactions is capped at UNI$2,000 for each calendar month. THE CAP IS ON THE 9 UNI$ BONUS NOT 10UNI$ TOTAL YOU GET WITH BASE OF U$1 PER $ SPEND

Keep in mind that some merchants offer different, non-mileage accruing awards with UOB cards which are called SMART$. Some popular merchants include Cold Storage, Guardian and Giant Supermarket, ToastBox and Starbucks. A full list of merchants where Mobile contactless transactions will NOT earn miles can be found here:
http://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards...smartclub.html

Requirements: min. income $30,000 ($60,000 for foreigners).
Cost: First year free, then $192.60 for main and $96.30 for supplementary. Annual fee waived off easily.
Miles conversion fee: $25 per conversion, in blocks of 5000 UNI$=10,000 miles. UNI$ are combined in 1 cardholder's name for all UOB cards.

Pros: Incredible mileage accrual rates for Paywave transactions (not all merchants - some give SMART$ instead which are different rewards!) as well as internet transactions (some restrictions apply).
Cons: Points allocated on every $5 spent, rounded down to next $5. Transfer in blocks of 5000 UNI$ points = 10,000 miles. Points are valid for 2 years (transfer before expiry and they will subsequently be valid for a further 3 years from the date of transfer to KrisFlyer).

3. Citi PremierMiles MasterCard

https://www.citibank.com.sg/credit-cards/travel/premiermiles-card/?ecid=PSGONSGCCAENPM

Mileage accrual: Earn 1.2 miles for every $1 spent. Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent OVERSEAS. 10,000 bonus miles for each annual membership renewal.

Requirements: min. income $50,000 for VISA. Principal cardholder must be at least 21 years of age.
Cost: First year free, then $192.60 for VISA main, supplementary always free. Annual fee waiver available in exchange for forfeiting the 10,000renewal bonus.
Miles conversion fee: $25 per conversion.

Pros: Decent all-rounder, good for overseas spend. Points never expire. Bonus miles for annual card renewal. 11 frequent flyer programs & 3 hotel programs to choose from, including EVA Air - only 25,000 miles for 1 way Business Class within Asia!!
Cons: No miles awarded for EZ-Link & Transitlink transactions. Miles awarded per S$1. Cents not included. 1.2 miles/S$1. Transfer in blocks of 10,000 miles.

4. DBS Altitude VISA/AMEX

http://www.dbs.com/sg/personal/cards...e/default.aspx
http://www.dbs.com/sg/personal/cards...e/default.aspx



Mileage accrual: Earn 1.2 miles for every $1 spent (every $5 gives 3 DBS points which equal 6 miles). Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent OVERSEAS.

Requirements: min. income $80,000.
Cost: First year free, then $180 for main and $90 for supplementary. Annual fee waiver if you charge $25,000 or more in a year.
Miles conversion fee: S$26.75 per transfer, redeem 1700 DBS points to waive off.

Pros: Points never expire. No rounding down transaction amount to nearest $5 (calculation is done as follows: DBS points = 'transaction amount' divided by 5, multiply by 3, after that round down to nearest whole number. Minimum spend is S$1.67. Each DBS point = 2 miles). Earn 3 miles per S$1 spent on all online Flight and Hotel transactions (capped at S$5,000 per month). 10,000 miles renewal bonus if you have to pay card renewal fees.
Cons: All local spend now down to 1.2 miles/$ (since Dec 1, 2013). AMEX not always accepted by merchants. Transfer in blocks of 5000 DBS points = 10,000 miles (on the plus side points don't expire). Per transfer of S$26.75, redeem 1700 DBS points to waive off.

5. Maybank Horizon Platinum Visa

http://info.maybank2u.com.sg/persona...visa-card.aspx



Earn 3.2 air miles (8X TREATS Points) with every dollar spent on dining, petrol, taxi fares and hotel bookings at Agoda.com/horizon
Earn 2 air miles (5X TREATS Points) with every dollar spent on air tickets, travel packages and foreign currency transactions, with a minimal S$300 in a calendar month

Earn 0.4 mile for every $1 spent elsewhere (1 mile for every $2.50 spent).

Requirements: min. income $30,000 ($80,000 for foreigners).
Cost: $150 for main, supplementary always free. Unsure of any annual fee waiver conditions.
Miles conversion fee: In blocks of 5,000 points to 2000 Asia Miles or KrisFlyer. S$26.75 fee applies.

Pros: Great for ticket purchases and overseas spend. Complimentary access to selected VIP airport lounges when you charge a minimum of S$400 in a single transaction on air tickets or travel packages to your Card 3 months prior to the date of travel.
Cons: Great ONLY for ticket purchases and overseas spend. Points are valid for 1 year only, expire either on 30 June or 31 December of the same year if not Rewards Infinite member.

6. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend AMEX

https://www.americanexpress.com/sg/s...nd-credit-card



Mileage accrual: Earn 1.2 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 spent on all your eligible purchases with your Card

Earn 2 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 equivalent in foreign currency spent overseas on eligible purchases during June and December

Requirements: min. income $50,000 ($60,000 for foreigners). Principal cardholder must be over 21 years of age.
Cost: First year free, otherwise $256.80 for main, 2 supplementary cards always free (more available at $80.25 each). Annual fee cannot be waived unless you spend alot.
Miles conversion fee: None - your KrisFlyer miles are transferred to your account directly with no conversion fees or charges.

Pros: None, except for welcome offers (4 complimentary airport lounge access vouchers, one complimentary night with Millennium Hotels and Resorts).

Cons: Simply nothing special - there are better cards available for all types of purchases, including flight tickets, even with all of the bonuses above applied. AMEX not always accepted by merchants.

7. Citibank Rewards Card

http://www.citibank.com.sg/gcb/credi...CACRENCCHOCALM



Earn 10X Rewards (10 Rewards Points or 4 Miles for every S$1 spent) when you shop for clothes, bags and shoes or at departmental stores or online shopping websites, including SingTel & M1 online bill payment!

Pros: Transfer to 11 FFPs & 3 Hotel programs in blocks of 25,000 points=10,000 miles; S$25 fee.

Cons: Points awarded per S$1 spend. Cents not included. Cannot combined Thank You Points across cards.

8. DBS Woman's World MasterCard® Card

http://www.dbs.com.sg/personal/cards...astercard-card



10X Rewards for Online Retail Purchases
T&C Here: https://www.dbs.com.sg/iwov-resource...s_card_tnc.pdf

Pros: Men also can get this card!! DBS points are combined in 1 cardholder's name. No rounding down transaction amount to nearest $5 (calculation is done as follows: DBS points = 'transaction amount' divided by 5, multiply by 10, after that round down to nearest whole number. Minimum spend is S$1. Each DBS point = 2 miles).

Cons: DBS points are valid for 1 year based on card anniversary date. The additional 9X DBS Points for online retail spend in a calendar month will be awarded on the 16th of the next calendar month. If the above days are not working days, the Points will be awarded on the next working day. The additional 9X DBS Points are only applicable to the first S$2,000 online retail spend every calendar month.

9. OCBC Titanium Rewards Card

https://www.ocbc.com/personal-bankin...astercard.html

10x OCBC$ on your shopping Local & Overseas Shopping Transactions, Local & Overseas Department Store Transactions and Local & Overseas Online Transactions.
The remaining 9 OCBC$ will be posted to the Card Account by the end of the next calendar month

https://www.ocbc.com/assets/pdf/card...ons.pdf?rand=1
10,000 KrisFlyer miles requires OCBC$ 25000, For each conversion of OCBC$ to KrisFlyer miles a fee of S$25 will be charged

10. UOB Lady's Card
https://www.uob.com.sg/personal/card...ard/index.page

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

Old Apr 28, 2018, 11:21 pm
  #7411  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
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Originally Posted by NetJets Germany

i take it the supermarkets like Cold Storage, Giant and Fairprice are excluded? How about Redmart?
Read the T&Cs. Very few transactions are on the exclusion list and one of the ones you mention are on it.
lifeonthego_k is offline  
Old Apr 28, 2018, 11:24 pm
  #7412  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Originally Posted by NetJets Germany
So where do people see the biggest opportunities for this if spending is limited to SGD in Singapore at eligible merchants?

i take it the supermarkets like Cold Storage, Giant and Fairprice are excluded? How about Redmart?
Why would supermarkets be excluded? Citibank’s cards never had them as a special category that earns 4 miles per $1 - only “department stores, shoes, clothings and bags” in the case of Rewards card.
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Old Apr 28, 2018, 11:27 pm
  #7413  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
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Originally Posted by carrotjuice
Read the terms carefully. Foreign currency is excluded for Premier Miles, Prestige and Ultima only - not for Rewards!
Yes, it doesn't say anything explicitly in the terms. However, CSOs are as yet unable to confirm that foreign transactions can indeed earn 20x. I'll get a call back on Monday from a CSO with more info.
lifeonthego_k is offline  
Old Apr 29, 2018, 1:59 am
  #7414  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
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Foreign currency transactions get 20x - confirmed for rewards card. But only if they were excluded from 10x before.
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Old Apr 29, 2018, 3:23 am
  #7415  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Originally Posted by spk307
Foreign currency transactions get 20x - confirmed for rewards card. But only if they were excluded from 10x before.
The Rewards card has now moved to the front of my wallet (or Apple Pay, as the case may be). There’s no loss - use it at any merchant and earn 20X Rewards. Use it at excluded merchants of “department stores, clothing, shoes and handbags” and earn 10X Rewards (as you’d normally do with a physical card, anyway).
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Old Apr 29, 2018, 3:29 am
  #7416  
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SIN
Programs: CX DM, SQ KF Gold
Posts: 979
Originally Posted by carrotjuice
Why would supermarkets be excluded? Citibank’s cards never had them as a special category that earns 4 miles per $1 - only “department stores, shoes, clothings and bags” in the case of Rewards card.
My mistake, I mixed this up with another bank’s credit card - apologies!

I’ve got the Prestige and the Premiermiles Visa card, and upon re-reading the T&Cs, it appears to me that supermarkets and App payments (SQ and CX app) should be eligible for increased miles / Citi Dollars under this promotion. I’m not sure on Redmart yet.

Last edited by NetJets Germany; Apr 29, 2018 at 3:35 am
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Old May 1, 2018, 11:52 pm
  #7417  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SIN, BKK, MNL, HAM, TXL
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Posts: 90
Which card do you currently use for Points.com purchases? I am planning to buy IHG points and they are handled by Points.com. I have heard recent news that OCBC TR made a fuss about it and people had to submit proof of online transaction to claim the extra miles. What about the DBS WWMC or UOB PPV?
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Old May 2, 2018, 8:43 am
  #7418  
 
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: 423
Originally Posted by qsharp
Which card do you currently use for Points.com purchases? I am planning to buy IHG points and they are handled by Points.com. I have heard recent news that OCBC TR made a fuss about it and people had to submit proof of online transaction to claim the extra miles. What about the DBS WWMC or UOB PPV?
DBS WWMC no longer awards 4mpd for points.com. Use Citi Rewards instead. Read this article for more info: PSA: DBS Woman's World Card may no longer earn 10X at Points.com - The MileLion
lifeonthego_k is offline  
Old May 3, 2018, 4:23 am
  #7419  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, SQ PPS Solitaire
Posts: 3,597
Originally Posted by NetJets Germany
So where do people see the biggest opportunities for this if spending is limited to SGD in Singapore at eligible merchants?

i take it the supermarkets like Cold Storage, Giant and Fairprice are excluded? How about Redmart?

To me, paying for flights on the SQ and CX apps could potentially look very interesting, unless there is a catch that has escaped my attention?
https://www.citibank.com.sg/gcb/land...conditions.pdf

Supermarkets are included and you can buy NTUC vouchers to keep your 16% discount for purchases post July.

Buying wine/champagne can be attractive with the discount as the discount is on top of the aggressive pricing for selected wines/champagnes for example at Cold Storage.

No catch for SQ or CX. Still have to try whether purchases for tickets originating outside of Singapore but paid in SGD qualify but the T&C seem to support that those transactions are eligible. You can become a PPS member now for 16% off.
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Old May 3, 2018, 2:40 pm
  #7420  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,552
Originally Posted by SMK77
https://www.citibank.com.sg/gcb/land...conditions.pdf

Supermarkets are included and you can buy NTUC vouchers to keep your 16% discount for purchases post July.

Buying wine/champagne can be attractive with the discount as the discount is on top of the aggressive pricing for selected wines/champagnes for example at Cold Storage.
Sorry don’t get the 16% discount thingy... care to explain please?
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Old May 3, 2018, 5:18 pm
  #7421  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, SQ PPS Solitaire
Posts: 3,597
Originally Posted by carrotjuice
Sorry don’t get the 16% discount thingy... care to explain please?
Buy NTUC Voucher for 1,000$ using Apple Pay gets you 8,000 Miles in return. Using 2 cents per mile as the given valuation, you get 160$ cash back or discount in form of miles.

Same for Apple products or SQ tickets.
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Old May 3, 2018, 11:48 pm
  #7422  
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Join Date: Feb 2005
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Originally Posted by SMK77


Buy NTUC Voucher for 1,000$ using Apple Pay gets you 8,000 Miles in return. Using 2 cents per mile as the given valuation, you get 160$ cash back or discount in form of miles.

Same for Apple products or SQ tickets.
What is the validity of the vouchers? 1 year or?

Are they equivalent to cash at FairPrice? Still get all the normal discounts on products? Anywhere but FairPrice to use them?
yosithezet is offline  
Old May 4, 2018, 12:48 am
  #7423  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, SQ PPS Solitaire
Posts: 3,597
Originally Posted by yosithezet
What is the validity of the vouchers? 1 year or?

Are they equivalent to cash at FairPrice? Still get all the normal discounts on products? Anywhere but FairPrice to use them?
I am happy to introduce you to my friend Mr Google as I am not representing FairPrice or any of their products.
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Old May 6, 2018, 12:27 am
  #7424  
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SIN
Programs: CX DM, SQ KF Gold
Posts: 979
Originally Posted by spk307
Foreign currency transactions get 20x - confirmed for rewards card. But only if they were excluded from 10x before.
Originally Posted by carrotjuice


The Rewards card has now moved to the front of my wallet (or Apple Pay, as the case may be). There’s no loss - use it at any merchant and earn 20X Rewards. Use it at excluded merchants of “department stores, clothing, shoes and handbags” and earn 10X Rewards (as you’d normally do with a physical card, anyway).
So would ticket purchases on the SQ and CX apps be included in the 20X Rewards for the Rewards card? Im asking since the T&Cs state that transactions that already earn 10X Rewards, including online transactions, are excluded from the bonus 20X promotion. So do SQ and CX app purchases count as online purchases, or are they treated separately?
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Old May 6, 2018, 10:14 am
  #7425  
 
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: 423
Originally Posted by NetJets Germany
So would ticket purchases on the SQ and CX apps be included in the 20X Rewards for the Rewards card? Im asking since the T&Cs state that transactions that already earn 10X Rewards, including online transactions, are excluded from the bonus 20X promotion. So do SQ and CX app purchases count as online purchases, or are they treated separately?
Yes, SQ and CX would yield 20x points when using their in-app Apple Pay option to pay. These online transactions would normally give 1x, and not 10x with Citi Rewards, hence they are eligible to get 20x now under the promo.
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lifeonthego_k is offline  

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