Are you on the lookout for a credit card that can help you earn points and miles towards your next adventure?
With so many options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right card. In this article, we will be highlighting the top 10 miles-earning credit cards in Singapore, based on their features, rewards, and benefits.
What are miles?
Miles is a type of loyalty currency that can be earned and redeemed for various travel-related perks, such as free flights, hotel stays, etc.
These points are typically earned by using a miles-earning credit card, flying with a particular airline, or staying at a participating hotel. The amount of miles earned largely depends on the credit card as well as the amount spent on qualifying purchases.
It’s important to note that miles have an expiration date and can lose their value over time, so it’s crucial to keep track of when they expire and use them before they do.
Read more: How To Earn and Redeem Airlines Miles: A Guide for Beginners
DBS Altitude Card
The DBS Altitude Card is great if you are looking to prioritise travel perks as you can earn up to 10 miles for each dollar spent. Cardholders also get two complimentary lounge visits per year, and the miles earned never expire.
The annual fee of S$194.40 can be waived with just S$25,000 worth of annual spend. Pairing this card with the DBS multiplier is a smart way to earn higher interest on your savings while still being able to earn rewards from your spending.
HSBC Revolution Card
The HSBC Revolution Card is a popular choice for individuals who prefer contactless payments and online purchases, including recurring bills, travel bookings, and even transit, as some credit cards do not offer rewards for these types of transactions.
The 10X rewards (equivalent to 4 miles) are capped at S$1,000 every month, and only apply to contactless and online expenditure.
Furthermore, having no annual fee makes this card stand out amongst the rest.
Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card
If you’re someone who spends a significant portion of your budget within Singapore but still wants to earn miles for travel, the Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card might be the perfect fit for you.
In contrast to other credit cards that typically offer annual fee waivers as a promotion, this card guarantees an annual fee waiver for the first three years, resulting in substantial savings of up to S$540.
Moreover, this card is unique in that it offers significant rewards for both local and travel spending, as well as additional perks such as free travel insurance and airport lounge access.
Citi PremierMiles Card
The Citi PremierMiles Card is a reliable and versatile option for accumulating miles, with the added benefit of never expiring. Rewards rates are competitive, and cardholders are entitled to exclusive perks that are typically limited to more expensive cards, such as two free lounge visits per year.
While the S$194.40 annual fee is only waived for the first year, it is still relatively lower than most alternative credit cards. Moreover, the annual renewal bonus of 10,000 miles helps to offset the annual fee, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers.
UOB PRVI Miles Card
If you’re a high spender looking to earn miles at top rates without paying exorbitant fees, the UOB PRVI Miles Card is a great option to consider, as it provides the fastest way to accumulate miles, while also offering attractive perks and an annual fee waiver.
Upon signing up, you will have the option to choose between American Express, Visa, and MasterCard. Additionally, you will be offered an abundance of benefits, including up to eight free airport transfers and travel insurance coverage of up to S$500,000.
Citi Prestige Card
Citi Prestige Card is one of the best miles-earning credit cards for those seeking luxurious travel experiences.
The card offers a plethora of benefits to its cardholders, including unlimited access to airport lounges, bonus hotel nights worldwide, limo transfers, and golfing privileges in Southeast Asia. In addition, cardholders can enjoy exclusive dining and lifestyle perks through Citi Prestige Concierge and MasterCard World Elite.
Cardholders can also receive 25,000 bonus miles per year, and an annual bonus based on their Citibank relationship, which helps to offset the S$540 fee.
OCBC 90°N Card
The OCBC 90°N is the perfect choice if you’re a high spender looking for a credit card that maximises both miles and cashback rewards. This card earns rewards in Travel$, which can be redeemed for 1 air mile.
Points earned can be redeemed for miles or cashback at an equal conversion rate with no conversion fees, and rewards never expire. Additionally, cardholders can enjoy discounted access to lounges worldwide through Mastercard Airport Experiences.
OCBC Voyage Card
The OCBC Voyage Card is a top travel credit card that offers flexibility in miles redemption, with no black-out dates and minimal processing time. Cardholders also enjoy boosted rewards rates for local dining spend, at an elevated 1.6 miles per dollar spent, which is a unique feature of this credit card.
While the card requires a high annual salary of S$120,000 and a S$492.50 annual fee, it’s ideal for affluent consumers who travel irregularly and want to maximise miles earnings. Additionally, other perks include unlimited lounge access, free limo transfers, and golfing privileges across SE Asia.
American Express Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Card
For those who frequently fly with Singapore Airlines and are considering their first miles-earning credit card, the American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Card is worth considering. This credit card offers boosted rates with Singapore Air, SilkAir, and KrisShop.
Rewards are earned directly as KrisFlyer miles, which eliminates the need for conversion rates, transfer fees or long processing times. At an affordable S$178.20 fee, waived for the first year, this credit card is a straightforward option for those who take Singapore Airlines flights frequently.
HSBC Visa Infinite
The HSBC Visa Infinite provides a substantial welcome gift of 35,000 miles upon signing up as well as some other neat perks such as airport limousine transfers, travel insurance up to US$2 million, and unlimited access to over 1,100 airport lounges worldwide.
It’s worth mentioning that these features are not particularly competitive, especially for a luxury credit card. However, this card offers a great way for affluent individuals to take advantage of the first-year benefits and maximise miles with little effort.
Read more: Yes, You Can Save Money With Your Credit Cards
TLDR: Summary of the 10 Best Miles Credit Cards
| Card | Miles Per Dollar (MPD) | Best For |
| DBS Altitude | – 10 mpd on hotel transactions at Kaligo – 6 mpd on flight and hotel transactions at Expedia – 3 mpd on online flights & hotel transactions (S$5,000 per month) – 1.2 mpd on local spend – 2 miles on overseas spend | Booking flights and hotels |
| HSBC Revolution | – 4 mpd on contactless spending and online transaction (capped at S$1,000 per month) | Online purchases and contactless payments |
| Maybank Horizon Visa Signature | – 3.2 mpd on dining, petrol, taxis or Grab, and Agoda hotel bookings – 2 mpd on foreign online spend, fights and travel packages | Local and travel spend |
| Citi PremierMiles | – 10 mpd on hotel transactions at Kaligo (valid until 31 December 2023) – 7 mpd on hotel transactions at Agoda (valid for booking from now till 31 December 2023 and stays until 30 April 2024) – 1.2 mpd on local spend – 2 mpd on overseas spend | Booking flights and hotels |
| UOB PRVI Miles | – 6 mpd on hotel and airline bookings – 1.4 mpd on local spend – 2.4 mpd on overseas spend | Local spend |
| Citi Prestige | – 1.3 mpd on local spend – 2.2 mpd on overseas spend | Luxury and Travel Perks |
| OCBC 90°N | – Up to 7 mpd on bookings made with Agoda – 1.3 mpd on local spend – 2.1 mpd on overseas spend | Unlimited miles and cashback |
| OCBC Voyage | – 1.3 mpd on local spend – 2.2 mpd on overseas spend | Overseas spend and local dining |
| American Express Singapore Airlines Krisflyer | – 1.1 KrisFlyer mpd on local spend – 2 KrisFlyer mpd on overseas spend – 3.1 KrisFlyer mpd on Grab transactions (S$200 per month) | Frequent spending on Singapore Airlines Group |
| HSBC Visa Infinite | – Up to 1.25 mpd on local spend – Up to 2.25 mpd on overseas spend | Sign up gift |
Conclusion
Choosing the right miles-earning credit card can help you maximise your travel rewards and save money on your next vacation.
However, it’s important to consider your spending habits and travel preferences before making a decision. Doing so allows you to find a miles-earning credit card that works best for you while you earn rewards on your everyday expenses.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to redeem your miles, be sure to check out our article on the topic.
Read more: Best Credit Card for Maximising Cashback
