Best Miles Credit CardsSingapore 2026
Master the art of earning airline miles in Singapore. Compare KrisFlyer, Asia Miles, and transfer programs to unlock premium travel experiences at fraction of the cost.
20 min readExpert StrategiesUpdated Sep 2026
Should You Collect Miles?
Miles cards can deliver exceptional value, but they're not for everyone. Use this guide to decide if miles are right for you.
Miles Are Worth It If:
- You travel internationally 2+ times per year
- You spend S$3,000+ monthly on credit cards
- You enjoy researching and optimizing redemptions
- You prefer premium cabin experiences
- You can be flexible with travel dates
Potential Value:
2-6 cents per mile when redeemed optimally
Stick to Cashback If:
- You travel less than twice per year
- You prefer guaranteed, immediate value
- You don't want to track expiry dates
- You mainly book budget airlines
- You have fixed travel dates/destinations
Cashback Alternative:
1.5-6% guaranteed cashback with simpler management
Top Miles Credit Cards Comparison
| Card Name | General Rate | Bonus Rate | Program | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DBS Altitude Visa Signature Min income S$30,000 | 1.2 mpd | 2 mpd Online travel bookings | DBS Points (transferable) | S$196.20 First year waived |
OCBC 90°N Card Min income S$30,000 | 1.2 mpd | 2 mpd Hotel bookings via OCBC Travel | OCBC$ (transferable) | S$196.20 First year waived |
UOB KrisFlyer Credit Card Min income S$30,000 | 1.4 mpd | 2.4 mpd Online and foreign currency | KrisFlyer (direct earn) | S$196.20 First year waived |
American Express Gold Card Min income S$60,000 | 2 mpd | 3 mpd Dining and groceries | Membership Rewards | S$321 First year waived |
Comprehensive Card Reviews
DBS Altitude Visa Signature
1.2 mpd
general
2 mpd
Online travel bookings
1.2 mpd general spending2 mpd online travelFree airport lounge access
S$196.20
First year waived
Strengths
- • Versatile transfer options
- • Good general earning rate
- • Comprehensive travel benefits
Weaknesses
- • Annual fee after first year
- • Complex point transfer system
- • Limited bonus categories
Travel Benefits
Lounge: 6 visits per year to Priority Pass lounges
Insurance: Up to S$1 million coverage
Transfers: 12+ airlines including KrisFlyer, Asia Miles
Signup: 10,000 DBS Points with S$2,000 spend in first 3 months
Best for: Flexible travelers who book onlineApply Now →
OCBC 90°N Card
1.2 mpd
general
2 mpd
Hotel bookings via OCBC Travel
1.2 mpd general spending2 mpd hotelsQuarterly 5x categories
S$196.20
First year waived
Strengths
- • Strong hotel earning
- • Quarterly bonus categories
- • Good transfer partners
Weaknesses
- • Limited transfer partners vs DBS
- • Hotel bonus requires specific booking
- • Annual fee
Travel Benefits
Lounge: 2 visits per year to Plaza Premium lounges
Insurance: Up to S$750,000 coverage
Transfers: 9 airlines including KrisFlyer, British Airways
Signup: 20,000 OCBC$ with S$3,000 spend in first 3 months
Best for: Hotel-focused travelersApply Now →
UOB KrisFlyer Credit Card
1.4 mpd
general
2.4 mpd
Online and foreign currency
1.4 mpd general spending2.4 mpd online/foreignDirect KrisFlyer earning
S$196.20
First year waived
Strengths
- • Highest general earn rate
- • Direct KrisFlyer credits
- • Strong online/foreign rates
Weaknesses
- • Limited to KrisFlyer only
- • No transfer flexibility
- • Annual fee
Travel Benefits
Lounge: None (separate application)
Insurance: Up to S$500,000 coverage
Transfers: KrisFlyer only
Signup: 10,000 KrisFlyer miles with S$2,000 spend in first 3 months
Best for: Singapore Airlines loyalistsApply Now →
American Express Gold Card
2 mpd
general
3 mpd
Dining and groceries
2 mpd general spending3 mpd dining/groceriesPremium benefits
S$321
First year waived
Strengths
- • Highest earning rates
- • Excellent transfer partners
- • Premium dining benefits
Weaknesses
- • Higher annual fee
- • Limited merchant acceptance
- • Complex benefits
Travel Benefits
Lounge: Centurion Lounge access
Insurance: Up to S$2 million coverage
Transfers: 17+ airlines including KrisFlyer, Cathay
Signup: 40,000 MR points with S$5,000 spend in first 3 months
Best for: High spenders, premium travelersApply Now →
Citi PremierMiles Card
1.2 mpd
general
2 mpd
Dining and fuel
1.2 mpd general spending2 mpd dining/fuelNo expiry miles
S$196.20
First year waived
Strengths
- • Miles never expire
- • Good dining bonus
- • Solid transfer partners
Weaknesses
- • Average earning rates
- • Limited bonus categories
- • Annual fee
Travel Benefits
Lounge: 2 visits per year to Priority Pass
Insurance: Up to S$600,000 coverage
Transfers: 14 airlines including KrisFlyer, Asia Miles
Signup: 20,000 Citi Miles with S$2,500 spend in first 3 months
Best for: Occasional travelers who want miles securityApply Now →
HSBC TravelOne Card
1 mpd
general
2 mpd
Travel and dining
1 mpd general spending2 mpd travel/diningTravel booking benefits
S$196.20
First year waived
Strengths
- • Strong travel/dining earn
- • Good for beginners
- • Travel booking perks
Weaknesses
- • Lower general earn rate
- • Fewer transfer partners
- • Limited benefits
Travel Benefits
Lounge: None
Insurance: Up to S$500,000 coverage
Transfers: 8 airlines including KrisFlyer, Asia Miles
Signup: 15,000 HSBC Rewards with S$2,000 spend in first 3 months
Best for: Beginning miles collectorsApply Now →
Understanding Miles Programs
KrisFlyer
Singapore Airlines loyalty program
Redemption Value
2.5-6 cents per mile
Strengths
- • Excellent redemption value
- • Premium cabin availability
- • KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes
Weaknesses
- • Limited partner airlines
- • Competitive award space
- • Regional focus
Best Redemptions
- • Premium cabins to Europe/US
- • Round-the-world tickets
- • Spontaneous domestic
Expiry:
3 years from earning
Best Cards:
UOB KrisFlyer, DBS Altitude
Asia Miles
Cathay Pacific loyalty program
Redemption Value
1.8-4 cents per mile
Strengths
- • Extensive Asian network
- • Good oneworld partners
- • Reasonable redemption rates
Weaknesses
- • Fuel surcharges
- • Limited US coverage
- • Competitive premium space
Best Redemptions
- • Business class within Asia
- • oneworld partner flights
- • Cathay premium cabins
Expiry:
3 years from earning
Best Cards:
DBS Altitude, OCBC 90°N
Avianca LifeMiles
Avianca loyalty program
Redemption Value
1.5-3 cents per mile
Strengths
- • No fuel surcharges
- • Star Alliance partners
- • Good value redemptions
Weaknesses
- • Less familiar program
- • Limited local presence
- • Complex routing rules
Best Redemptions
- • Star Alliance partners
- • US domestic flights
- • European carriers
Expiry:
2 years from earning
Best Cards:
DBS Altitude, American Express
Advanced Redemption Strategies
Sweet Spot Hunting
Find underpriced award redemptions across airline programs
AdvancedTime: HighValue: 3-6x
Example Redemptions
- • KrisFlyer: Singapore to Europe in Business for 65,000 miles
- • Asia Miles: Hong Kong to Japan in First for 45,000 miles
- • LifeMiles: US transcontinental in Business for 25,000 miles
Implementation Tips
- Research award charts regularly
- Book 11 months in advance
- Consider positioning flights
- Use flexible dates
Transfer Bonuses
Maximize value through periodic transfer promotions
IntermediateTime: MediumValue: 1.2-2x
Example Redemptions
- • 25% bonus KrisFlyer transfers (effective 3.1 mpd)
- • 20% bonus Asia Miles transfers (effective 2.9 mpd)
- • 30% bonus British Airways transfers
Implementation Tips
- Track transfer bonus calendars
- Stockpile points during bonuses
- Plan redemptions around promotions
- Transfer minimum amounts only
Mixed Cabin Redemptions
Book premium cabins for long sectors, economy for short
IntermediateTime: MediumValue: 2-4x
Example Redemptions
- • Business SIN-LHR, Economy LHR-FRA
- • First HKG-NRT, Business NRT-LAX
- • Premium Economy long haul + Business short haul
Implementation Tips
- Focus premium on overnight flights
- Use economy for short connections
- Book separate tickets if needed
- Consider stopover cities
Miles Earning Strategies by Experience Level
1
Single Card Focus
Master one high-earning miles card
Time:
1 hour/month
Complexity:
Low
Expected Return: Good
Setup Steps:
- 1Choose one primary miles card
- 2Use for all eligible spending
- 3Meet minimum spending requirements
- 4Track miles earned monthly
Recommended Setup:
UOB KrisFlyer for SIA loyalists, DBS Altitude for flexibility
2
Category Optimization
Multiple cards for different spending categories
Time:
2 hours/month
Complexity:
Medium
Expected Return: High
Setup Steps:
- 1Map spending to highest earning cards
- 2Use AmEx Gold for dining/groceries
- 3Use UOB KrisFlyer for online/foreign
- 4Use general card for other spending
Recommended Setup:
AmEx Gold + UOB KrisFlyer + backup card
3
Miles Manufacturing
Systematic earning through all available channels
Time:
5+ hours/month
Complexity:
High
Expected Return: Very High
Setup Steps:
- 1Multiple cards for optimization
- 2Bank point transfer bonuses
- 3Dining programs participation
- 4Portal shopping optimization
- 5Airline shopping portals
Recommended Setup:
Portfolio approach with 3-5 active cards
Real Redemption Value Examples
Understanding Mile Values
Miles value varies dramatically based on how you redeem them. Premium cabins and peak routes often deliver 3-6 cents per mile, while economy redemptions may only yield 1-2 cents.
Singapore to London (Business)
6.7 cents
per mile
Cash Price
S$4,500
Miles Redemption
65,000 KrisFlyer + S$150 taxes
Time to Earn
18 months moderate spending
(S$54,167 (1.2 mpd card))
Excellent value - 670% return
Singapore to Tokyo (Economy)
3.0 cents
per mile
Cash Price
S$800
Miles Redemption
25,000 KrisFlyer + S$50 taxes
Time to Earn
7 months moderate spending
(S$20,833 (1.2 mpd card))
Good value - 300% return
Singapore to Sydney (Premium Economy)
3.3 cents
per mile
Cash Price
S$1,400
Miles Redemption
40,000 KrisFlyer + S$100 taxes
Time to Earn
11 months moderate spending
(S$33,333 (1.2 mpd card))
Good value - 330% return
Maximizing Redemption Value
High-Value Redemptions
- • Business/First class long-haul flights
- • Peak season travel to popular destinations
- • Last-minute premium cabin bookings
- • Round-the-world tickets
Lower-Value Redemptions
- • Economy class regional flights
- • Off-peak domestic routes
- • Short-haul flights under 3 hours
- • Budget airline equivalent routes
Miles Card Application Guide
Eligibility Requirements
Standard Cards
- • Singapore citizen or PR
- • Minimum age 21 years
- • Minimum annual income S$30,000-S$60,000
- • Good credit history
- • Stable employment
Premium Cards
- • Higher income requirements (S$60,000+)
- • Existing banking relationship preferred
- • Clean credit report
- • Demonstrated spending capacity
Application Timeline
1
Application
Complete online application with documents
⏱ 20 minutes
Apply during bank promotions for better bonuses
2
Processing
Bank reviews application and credit
⏱ 3-7 days
Check application status online regularly
3
Approval
Approval notification and card dispatch
⏱ 1 day
Set up online banking immediately
4
Activation
Activate card and start earning miles
⏱ 5 minutes
Make first purchase to trigger signup bonus tracking
Pro Application Tips
Before Applying
- Check your credit score (aim for 700+)
- Research current signup bonuses
- Plan major purchases to meet spend requirements
- Apply only when you can meet minimum spending
After Approval
- Set up automatic payments
- Track progress toward signup bonus
- Understand miles expiry policies
- Register for airline loyalty programs
Common Miles Card Mistakes
Critical Mistakes to Avoid
Earning Mistakes
- • Not meeting signup bonus spending requirements
- • Letting miles expire due to inactivity
- • Carrying credit card balances to earn miles
- • Focusing only on earning without redemption plan
Redemption Mistakes
- • Redeeming for low-value economy flights
- • Not comparing cash vs. miles prices
- • Booking fixed dates without flexibility
- • Ignoring transfer partner sweet spots
Expert Success Tips
Earning Optimization
- • Use category-specific cards for bonus earning
- • Time applications around major purchases
- • Participate in dining and shopping programs
- • Take advantage of transfer bonuses
Redemption Strategy
- • Book premium cabins for best value
- • Use flexible dates to find availability
- • Research sweet spots across programs
- • Book 11 months ahead for popular routes