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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):
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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

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Old Mar 1, 2011, 10:49 pm
  #121  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 50
Originally Posted by aster
Back in the day DBS Altitude Amex and the DBS Treasures Amex (for those with at least 200k there) had the same high ratio of miles:dollars spent.

Nowadays, with the Altitude card giving the most miles of any card in Singapore for overall spend, I'm surprised they haven't bumped up the Treasures card to equal that (unless I missed info about the "raise").
in terms of mileage accrual, how do the altitude and treasures compare? If they used to be exactly the same, DBS might not have made the treasures as competitive as the altitude so that customers might be more inclined to apply for the altitude if they already hold the treasures?

They might have instead focused on improving the treasures other benefits. However, these are all my guesswork. I don't hold or know the treasures benefits :P
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Old Mar 2, 2011, 4:40 am
  #122  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: SPG Gold, SQ Blue, OZ Diamond, JAVA and occasionally C
Posts: 5,563
Is this treasures amex the same as the treasures black elite amex?
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Old Mar 2, 2011, 5:37 am
  #123  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,174
Yes, that would be the same card, though I can't find it on their site and I feel that resorting to Google for that would be a little too much...

But there is only one Treasures card (AMEX) and it could well be black.
aster is offline  
Old Mar 2, 2011, 5:40 am
  #124  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ PPS, FB Plat, LH SEN *G, Emirates Gold, SPG Plat, Accor Plat, Hhonors Gold and some others
Posts: 155
is there a card where you get status miles with? for any FFP?

i know the FB AMEX France card does it, but not sure if that's the only one?
Mickey4finger is offline  
Old Mar 2, 2011, 6:11 am
  #125  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: SPG Gold, SQ Blue, OZ Diamond, JAVA and occasionally C
Posts: 5,563
Originally Posted by Mickey4finger
is there a card where you get status miles with? for any FFP?

i know the FB AMEX France card does it, but not sure if that's the only one?
Not that I know of. All SQ status miles can be earned by flying only.
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Old Mar 2, 2011, 6:11 pm
  #126  
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: SQ*G, JMB S, CX Gold, SPG D, Hyatt GP D, Marriott S
Posts: 24
I've been reading that the Citi Rewards card gives a $1 = 4 miles on anything bought in a department store. Can anyone confirm this? I can't seem to find a list of participating dept stores either ...
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Old Mar 3, 2011, 1:26 am
  #127  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 50
Originally Posted by insigma
I've been reading that the Citi Rewards card gives a $1 = 4 miles on anything bought in a department store. Can anyone confirm this? I can't seem to find a list of participating dept stores either ...
it is only for dept stores and stores that sell mainly shoes or bags or clothings.

If the shop falls within these categories, use your rewards card and u get 4 miles per $1. If you don't can raise dispute.
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Old Mar 3, 2011, 4:16 am
  #128  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,174
Originally Posted by insigma
I've been reading that the Citi Rewards card gives a $1 = 4 miles on anything bought in a department store. Can anyone confirm this? I can't seem to find a list of participating dept stores either ...
As mentioned above there is one for buying shoes/bags so pretty much a ladies card, but this is the one I think you're looking for:

http://www.citibank.com.sg/gcb/credi...i_platinum.htm

5x Rewards for all spend at department stores and supermarkets:

Department Stores:
Tangs . Isetan . John Little . Marks & Spencer . Metro . OG . Robinsons . BHG . Takashimaya Department Store.

Supermarkets/Hypermarket:
Carrefour . Cold Storage . Giant . Market Place . NTUC Fair Price . Shop N Save . Singapore Meidi-Ya

This is the perfect card to complement the DBS Altitude Amex for someone living in Singapore.
aster is offline  
Old Mar 3, 2011, 5:05 am
  #129  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,174
The above card generates 2 miles per S$1 spent. So not entirely mind-boggling, but still very good for all that supermarket (+department store) spend that is inevitable for anyone living in Sing.
aster is offline  
Old Mar 3, 2011, 5:43 am
  #130  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 50
Originally Posted by aster
As mentioned above there is one for buying shoes/bags so pretty much a ladies card, but this is the one I think you're looking for:

http://www.citibank.com.sg/gcb/credi...i_platinum.htm

5x Rewards for all spend at department stores and supermarkets:

Department Stores:
Tangs . Isetan . John Little . Marks & Spencer . Metro . OG . Robinsons . BHG . Takashimaya Department Store.

Supermarkets/Hypermarket:
Carrefour . Cold Storage . Giant . Market Place . NTUC Fair Price . Shop N Save . Singapore Meidi-Ya

This is the perfect card to complement the DBS Altitude Amex for someone living in Singapore.
the rewards card is much better than the plat card unless u spend at supermarts. the rewards card is basically a replacement for the plat card
adamantine is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2011, 12:49 am
  #131  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 14
I currently use my amex for work expenses, citibank platinum for personal and have an ocbc robinsons card to get extra discount there :-)

But I've been thinking... it may be more efficient for me to get a citi premiermiles card and use it as personal cos it's visa as well, could probably earn a lot more miles that way. So then I'll use the dbs altitude for work expenses and citi card for personal, all getting me miles.

What do you guys do? Just funnel all cc expense rewards into miles and get maximum benefit that way? Or keep other cc rewards? Any thoughts on this?

When I purchase using miles, I noticed that I still have to pay e.g. 160 SGD for a flight to Bangkok, + 16000 miles or so... is that what you do?
nb123 is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2011, 3:21 am
  #132  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: SPG Gold, SQ Blue, OZ Diamond, JAVA and occasionally C
Posts: 5,563
Originally Posted by nb123
I currently use my amex for work expenses, citibank platinum for personal and have an ocbc robinsons card to get extra discount there :-)

But I've been thinking... it may be more efficient for me to get a citi premiermiles card and use it as personal cos it's visa as well, could probably earn a lot more miles that way. So then I'll use the dbs altitude for work expenses and citi card for personal, all getting me miles.

What do you guys do? Just funnel all cc expense rewards into miles and get maximum benefit that way? Or keep other cc rewards? Any thoughts on this?

When I purchase using miles, I noticed that I still have to pay e.g. 160 SGD for a flight to Bangkok, + 16000 miles or so... is that what you do?
I channel overseas spend to Maybank horizon card and local spends to UOB signature.

The 160 redemption charge is for airport and fuel surcharge. Some airlines don't charge fuel surcharge for miles redemption but sq is stingy.
kitsura is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2011, 4:31 am
  #133  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,174
How are the exchange rates when using the Maybank card overseas?

I would skip UOB's cards when it comes to mileage accrual. I haven't seen anything interesting there from that perspective...

It's basically DBS and Citi fighting it out for the best card when it comes to general spend in Singapore, and now that City hasn't extended their bonus after Dec 31, 2010, you could say that DBS Altitude Amex is the king of all cards for us mileage-savvy folk over here.
aster is offline  
Old Mar 6, 2011, 7:46 pm
  #134  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: SPG Gold, SQ Blue, OZ Diamond, JAVA and occasionally C
Posts: 5,563
I'm not too sure about the exchange rate on the Maybank cards but I guess there are a few pips difference between the few banks. Anyway $0.50 per mile is too good a deal to give up. Plus with the current ezlink promotion of 10x treats points I'm moving all my grocery shopping to cold storage and giant.
kitsura is offline  
Old Mar 6, 2011, 8:59 pm
  #135  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,174
The DBS Treasures Black Amex gives you 2.4 miles per Dollar on overseas spend. Does the Maybank card generate just 2 miles/$?
aster is offline  


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