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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 12, 2017, 6:08 am
  #7036  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: singapore, the netherlands
Programs: SQ PPS, KLM Platinum, Air Berlin gold, HHonors Gold, SPG gold
Posts: 81
Originally Posted by LuisHK
For those who are intending to try CardUp, Citi Prestige has a promotion (end 31st Jul);

First Payment (up to S$4,000)
First 100 Cardmembers 0% CardUp fee
(Promo code: CITIZEROFEE)

Subsequent Cardmembers
1.9% CardUp fee
(Promo code: CITI19)


Subsequent Payments
2.4% CardUp fee
(Promo code: CITI24)
Mind sharing where you get your Citi Prestige promo alerts? I rarely get mine direct from Citi and often stumble across them accidentally.
tingadingling is offline  
Old Jun 12, 2017, 10:41 am
  #7037  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Originally Posted by invisible
One needs to dig a little be more into fine print and T/C on that. Because with HSBC the similar transfer in subject of 2% on top of the interbank exchange rate. So transferring 10K - say goodbye to $200.
That's why it's better than HSBC's, there are no fees for the Citibank's CGT.
lcpteck is offline  
Old Jun 12, 2017, 10:47 am
  #7038  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Originally Posted by carrotjuice
I've lost count how many time I've had to assert to UOB to claim 4 MPD for dining at restaurants and cafes, but establishments in malls (Japan, Korea) and hotels (almost everywhere) don't track properly.
Unfortunately if your dining establishment is inside a mall/shopping complex in Japan, the merchant is actually the mall so you won't get the bonus miles. I tried this years ago. You'll need to use a general spending card or not eat in the mall/shopping complex.
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Old Jun 12, 2017, 10:49 am
  #7039  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Originally Posted by shuigao
With the KF devaluation, what value are you guys placing on a KF mile (for purposes of deciding what to "buy" them at)?

I got my Citi Prestige application approved, elected to pay the first year s$525 for the 25,000 miles (2.1c/mile). Wondering if that's a wise choice given that I think KF miles are only "worth" like barely over 3c/mile (for J redemptions) nowadays.
Originally Posted by ExSin
The devaluation isnt that bad, given that YMMV, there is still value to be found. And hey, less taxes too!

I still choose to earn KF miles even though I have literally become ex-sin (relocated temporarily)
Agreed, so little cash involved with the new redemption system. I actually do like it.
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Old Jun 12, 2017, 12:53 pm
  #7040  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Originally Posted by lcpteck
That's why it's better than HSBC's, there are no fees for the Citibank's CGT.
I'd want to know what exchange rate Citi uses during the transfer and where it is written.

I have my own method transferring money to US to minimize exchange rate/fee loses, but would not recommend it to an average person due to its complexity.
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Old Jun 12, 2017, 12:55 pm
  #7041  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Originally Posted by ExSin
The devaluation isnt that bad
It is not that bad. It is this bad.... considering that DBS WWMC, HSBC Advance, CardUp/ipaymy options closed doors within couple month after the event. Instead of 96K miles per year, my miles earnings will be about 1/3 of that, so for two RT tickets in Business to NZ for example I need to collect miles for next 7 years and by that time two devaluations will happen.

Seems I will switch to applying on US based cards with large signup bonuses.
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Old Jun 12, 2017, 6:58 pm
  #7042  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,576
Originally Posted by tingadingling
There are several but the free nights generally vary across properties.

...

Look out for free night offers while booking and ask the Citi concierge to book the rate for you so you're eligible for the Citi night free, in addition.
I doubt this still works. Hasn't Citi changed the terms of the Pretige card to rebate the AVERAGE nightly rate now, instead of the FOURTH night's rate?
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Old Jun 12, 2017, 7:00 pm
  #7043  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,576
Originally Posted by lcpteck
Unfortunately if your dining establishment is inside a mall/shopping complex in Japan, the merchant is actually the mall so you won't get the bonus miles. I tried this years ago. You'll need to use a general spending card or not eat in the mall/shopping complex.
Understand this is the case. But arguably if UOB blatantly advertises its PPAMEX as THE card to use for dining, they should honour 4MPD for all dining establishments - irregardless of whether the establishment is in a mall or not.
carrotjuice is offline  
Old Jun 12, 2017, 8:52 pm
  #7044  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SIN, BKK, MNL, HAM, TXL
Programs: KF*G, AB*G, IBP*G, LCAH*Plat, HH*D, ONYX*Plat, BW*DS
Posts: 90
Originally Posted by qsharp
As far as I can see, the card does not impose any minimum spending requirements... Does anyone know whether the annual fee can be waived? I am not so much interested in the gift/miles upon renewal and in terms of how it is phrased "Receive your choice of Welcome Gift upon paying the annual fee of $535 (inclusive of GST)", I am not so sure whether you are actually obliged to pay the annual fee at all.

To me, this card would prove useful just for the Priority Pass membership already. Any thoughts?
Just to re-iterate this, I have not seen a lot of people talking about this particular card, so is anyone in possession of this and can explain the specifics of the annual fees and how they handle it?
qsharp is offline  
Old Jun 13, 2017, 6:05 am
  #7045  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Singapore Airlines Solitaire PPS Club, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 93
I'm completely lost in the maze of credit cards that accrue Krisflyer miles. Which, in forum members experience, is the best card to get in the United Kingdom? Thank you so much in advance for your help!
Beolab is offline  
Old Jun 13, 2017, 7:31 am
  #7046  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Originally Posted by invisible
I'd want to know what exchange rate Citi uses during the transfer and where it is written.
If both accounts are in the same currency then there is no loss. However when they are not, there's still some loss due to the change in currency according to Citibank's own rates.

I'm not sure where the T&Cs are though but am using CGT at the moment and it works well for my intended purpose.

Last edited by lcpteck; Jun 15, 2017 at 5:06 am Reason: grammar
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Old Jun 13, 2017, 7:32 am
  #7047  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Originally Posted by carrotjuice
Understand this is the case. But arguably if UOB blatantly advertises its PPAMEX as THE card to use for dining, they should honour 4MPD for all dining establishments - irregardless of whether the establishment is in a mall or not.
I agree but like all advertisements you gotta pay attention to the T&Cs which the bank has the final say. So always read the T&Cs and trial and error to understand what works and what doesn't. ^
lcpteck is offline  
Old Jun 13, 2017, 8:58 pm
  #7048  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 62
Originally Posted by invisible
It is not that bad. It is this bad.... considering that DBS WWMC, HSBC Advance, CardUp/ipaymy options closed doors within couple month after the event. Instead of 96K miles per year, my miles earnings will be about 1/3 of that, so for two RT tickets in Business to NZ for example I need to collect miles for next 7 years and by that time two devaluations will happen.

Seems I will switch to applying on US based cards with large signup bonuses.
How you get US Based Credit Card without social security number/US ID ?
laurent_rio is offline  
Old Jun 14, 2017, 3:25 am
  #7049  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Originally Posted by laurent_rio
How you get US Based Credit Card without social security number/US ID ?
US citizen here...
invisible is offline  
Old Jun 14, 2017, 9:40 am
  #7050  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Singapore
Programs: KF, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 182
Originally Posted by laurent_rio
How you get US Based Credit Card without social security number/US ID ?
Am thinking of asking my manager for a 6 month stint in US, just to get a social security number (I guess 6 months should be enough?).
The kind of sign up offers they get - we can only dream of! :-(
spk307 is offline  


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