What are the benefits of having a KrisFlyer credit card?

There are lots of benefits, including: You earn KrisFlyer miles on all your eligible credit card purchases (basically everything except cash equivalents like balance transfers, cash withdrawals and purchases of foreign currency). You earn KrisFlyer miles directly, avoiding the hassle of having to convert other types of rewards points into KrisFlyer miles. KrisFlyer cardholders can take advantage of other benefits attached to the card, such as free or discounted travel insurance, savings at selected restaurants and airport lounge access (benefits vary depending on which card you choose).

How many KrisFlyer miles can I earn using a KrisFlyer miles credit card?

It depends on how much you spend and on the card’s earning rate per dollar (e.g.. 1.1 KrisFlyer miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases). Some cards also award welcome bonus miles to new cardmembers who spend a target amount within a specified period (e.g. 7,500 bonus miles for spending $5,000 in the first three months after card approval). You may also be able to earn bonus miles for referring a friend who is successfully approved for a KrisFlyer credit card account.

How can I redeem KrisFlyer miles?

Firstly, you’ll need to be a KrisFlyer member, so that the KrisFlyer miles you earn with your credit card can be deposited into your miles account. Then you can redeem them for award tickets and seat upgrades with Singapore Airlines and its Star Alliance and other partners. At singaporeair.com you can also pay the balance in cash if you don’t have quite enough miles for your chosen flight. You can also choose to pay with miles, or with a mix of miles and cash, for over 2,000 products (fashion, electronics, homewares, etc) at KrisShop.com.

Do KrisFlyer miles expire?

Yes, unless you are in one of the top two KrisFlyer elite member tiers. For everyone else, KrisFlyer miles expire on the last day of the month, 36 months after the month in which they were credited to your miles account. The oldest miles are used first when you redeem them, so you just need to ensure that you redeem miles – for flights, seat upgrades or merchandise – at least once every three years. Your KrisFlyer account page at the Singapore Airlines website, or on your mobile app, will show how many of your miles are due to expire each month for the next six months. An alternative option is to pay a fee (currently $US12 per 10,000 expiring miles) to extend their validity for six months (12 months for higher status members), or sacrifice 1,200 miles per 10,000 expiring miles to receive the same extension. You could also consider transferring the points to another air miles membership (such as Virgin Australia’s Velocity) if you have one that accepts KrisFlyer miles as a conversion option.

What are the eligibility requirements for a KrisFlyer credit card?

Eligibility requirements vary from card to card, but as a general rule you need to be at least 21 years old with an annual income of at least $30,000 for Singaporeans (or a fixed deposit collateral of $10,000), or at least $40,000 p.a. for foreigners (or a fixed deposit collateral of ($10,000).

How much do KrisFlyer credit cards cost in terms of the annual fee?

Again, this varies depending on the card, but the range is roughly $175-$350 p.a. Cards with a larger annual fee tend to have a higher miles earning rate per dollar and more attractive complimentary benefits. Some cards waive or discount the annual fee during the first year. The value of the KrisFlyer miles you can earn, plus the complimentary benefits, will usually be well in excess of the cost of the annual fee. So you should come out ahead each year if you use your card at every opportunity, and make full use of the attached benefits.

Best KrisFlyer Credit Cards for Earning Miles in Singapore

Best KrisFlyer credit cards

Boost your KrisFlyer Miles balance with a credit card that earns KrisFlyer Miles. Make an informed decision with this comparison of earn rates, sign up bonuses, annual fees, and additional benefits.

Updated 18 Oct 2024 |

Anyone who's ever flown Business or First Class with Singapore Airlines will tell you how good it is. Thankfully, KrisFlyer has several partnerships with credit card rewards programs, giving Singaporeans the opportunity to earn KrisFlyer Miles.

How to compare credit cards that earn KrisFlyer Miles

Here are some of the most important features to examine when comparing offers.

Earn rate. Higher earn rates are better but don't overlook points caps and tiers based on spending or elevated earn rates for different spending classifications, such as dining, entertainment, petrol, shopping, or travel.
Conversion rate. If you choose a credit card that doesn't earn directly into KrisFlyer, there is a conversion rate from the credit card rewards program to KrisFlyer that may vary between programs.
Sign up bonus points. Check the details of the offer, since hitting the target can quickly boost your KrisFlyer Miles balance.
Other benefits. Factor in common additional perks such as travel insurance, 24/7 concierge service, or access to airport lounges. They only have value if you can use them.
Annual fee. Don't overlook how much it will cost to keep the account open and whether it's worth paying.

How to convert rewards points to KrisFlyer Miles

If you decide to go with a credit card that earns points you can convert to KrisFlyer Miles (such as an DBS or Citi), here's how it generally works.

Log into your credit card rewards program account and select the option to convert points to Miles.
Choose Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
Enter the number of points to transfer and submit the form.
Points will be deposited in your KrisFlyer account. Note that this is not instantaneous, and it can take up to 15 business days for the transaction to be processed.

Pros and cons

So, what are the pros and cons of the KrisFlyer Miles program?

Pros

Earn KrisFlyer Miles on everyday spending. A credit card is one of the best ways to earn KrisFlyer Miles in Singapore without flying with Singapore Airlines.
Bonus KrisFlyer points. Trigger the credit card sign up bonus offer, then transfer points to KrisFlyer.
Valuable additional benefits. KrisFlyer Miles-earning cards are higher-end and come with additional perks such as international travel insurance or access to airport lounges.
Use KrisFlyer Miles to fly with Star Alliance partners. Access award flights with other Star Alliance airlines, as well as Virgin Australia, Virgin Atlantic, Alaska Airlines and Vistara.

Cons

Expensive annual fees. Having a credit card that earns KrisFlyer points can cost hundreds of dollars. You'll need to work out whether the combined benefits justify its cost.
Earning limits. Caps and thresholds can impede high-spenders from maximising their earning potential.
KrisFlyer Miles expire after three years. Even if you have an active account, there's a three-year time limit on using your Miles. Don't convert your rewards points into KrisFlyer Miles until you are ready to use them.

FAQs

Can I earn KrisFlyer Miles with any credit card?

No, not all credit cards give you the chance to earn KrisFlyer Miles. You'll have to look for a card that is part of the KrisFlyer program or has a points conversion partnership with Singapore Airlines.

How long does it take for points to transfer from a rewards program to KrisFlyer?

In our experience, it can take several days for points to show up in KrisFlyer after transferring from a rewards program.

Are points conversion rates the same for all credit cards?

No. The conversion rate varies between different rewards programs, and can require 2.0, 2.5 or even 3.0 credit card rewards points for each KrisFlyer Mile you wish to acquire.