Now that travel restrictions have been mostly eased, many are starting to plan for their next trip.
And a potentially strong contender to help you save those miles? The UOB Krisflyer card.
Considering most flight mileage cards offer a low MPD rate for daily spending, the UOB Krisflyer Card presents a good alternative for those of us not jet-setting every weekend.
Today, we’ll be reviewing the UOB Krisflyer Credit Card and giving our verdict based on:
- Eligibility
- Annual fees and charges
- Miles-per-dollar, discounts, and other perks
- Comparing this card vs other travel-focused cards
- Whom this card is best for
Eligibility Requirements
| Residential Status | Anyone |
| Age | 21 and above |
| Income | S$30,000 and above for Singapore Citizens and PRs; S$40,000 and above for foreigners with a valid visa |
Pretty standard as far as requirements go. If you can’t meet the minimum income requirements, you may be able to use a Fixed Deposit of at least S$10,000 as collateral instead.
Fees and Charges
| Annual Fees |
|
| Effective Interest Rate | 26.9% |
| Late Payment Charges | S$100 |
| Minimum Monthly Payment | 3% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Overlimit Fee | S$40 |
| Cash Advance Fee | 8% per transaction, subject to a minimum fee of S$15. |
| Cash Advance Interest Rate | 28% |
| Foreign Currency Transaction Fee | 3.25% |
The fees and charges are around the market average. You’ll get a fee waiver for the first year.
For subsequent years, you can dial the UOB hotline to request a waiver. Just note that if you go for this option, you’ll also be forgoing the renewal bonus of 10,000 KrisFlyer miles.
Miles, Discounts, and Other Perks
| Miles |
|
| Other Benefits |
|
Minimum Spend Requirement for 3 Miles Per Dollar
The important thing to note is that you must spend S$500 a year with KrisShop and SIA to qualify for 3mpd on everyday spending. Otherwise, you’ll only earn 1.2 mpd.
But since you’re getting this card to fly on SIA anyway, this should be quite achievable with the purchase of one air ticket or a bit of splurging on KrisShop.
Miles Crediting System
Base miles (1.2mpd) and bonus miles (3mpd – 1.2mpd) from qualifying transactions are credited at different times, which can be very confusing.
Your base miles will be credited to your account by the end of each calendar month. However, all bonus miles will only be credited 2 months after the end of the membership year.
Note: This will only apply if you meet the S$500 annual spend requirement on Krisflyer Shop or SIA group.
All miles will expire 3 years from the month of issuance, but most people report being able to use up their miles before they expire.
KrisFlyer UOB Deposit Account
Opening a KrisFlyer UOB Deposit Account with your credit card gives you even more miles when you spend. The account also gives you a base interest of 0.05% on your savings.
The bonus rate cap is 5% of your account’s monthly average balance. This means that if your account has an average of S$5,000 for the month, then your bonus rate will be limited to S$250.
Bonus rates start at 5mpd provided you have at least S$1,000 deposited. They increase to 6mpd if you credit your salary to the account.
How Does the UOB KrisFlyer Card Fare Against Others?
How does the UOB KrisFlyer stack up against other KrisFlyer co-branded cards…or perhaps other miles-focused cards?
In this section, we will be comparing the card against the:
- AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card
- Citi Rewards Card
- OCBC Titanium Rewards Card
| UOB KrisFlyer Credit Card | AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card | Citi Rewards Card | OCBC Titanium Rewards Card | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles per Dollar | 1.2 mpd (Base rate) 3 mpd (Bonus rate) | 1.1 mpd (Base rate) 3.1 mpd (Bonus rate) | 0.4 mpd (Base rate) 4 mpd (Bonus rate) | 0.4 mpd (Base rate) 4 mpd (Bonus rate) |
| Annual Fees | S$194.40 | S$178.20 | S$194.40 | S$194.40 |
| Annual Fee Waiver | First year waived | First year waived | First year waived | First 2 years waived |
| Minimum Spending Required | S$500 per year on KrisShop and SIA Group | None | None | S$10,000/year for auto fee waiver |
| Miles Earning Rate | 1.2 base mpd + 1.8 bonus mpd local and online spending 3 mpd on SIA, Scoot, KrisFlyer spending | 1.1 mpd on local spending 2 mpd on overseas spending in June and December 3.1 mpd for Grab spending | 10X Rewards points (4 miles) on online shopping, Grab, Gojek, food delivery, and any store that sells shoes and bags and clothes | 50 OCBC$ (20 miles) for every S$5 spent on eligible purchases 2 miles on all other spend |
| Miles Cap | None | S$200/month for Grab transactions. No cap for base rates | First $1,000/month. Subsequent spending = 0.4mpd | 120,000 OCBC$ annually (48,000 miles) |
| Welcome Bonus | 3,000 miles (Charge >S$5 on first transaction) | 5,000 miles after first transaction | 30,000 Citi ThankYou Points when you spend S$3,000 in the first 3 months | None |
| Renewal Bonus | 10,000 miles | N.A | N.A | N.A |
Judging by this snapshot, the UOB KrisFlyer card (1.2 mpd) is still the best compared with other cards. But if we were to compare the bonus rates for specific categories, then cards like the Citi Rewards Card or the OCBC Titanium Card would be a better choice.
The UOB KrisFlyer card is the best option if you’re on a budget but still want to save miles for the occasional getaway via SIA. No other card gives you bonus rates on things like dining and public transport, though there are many that offer bonus miles for Grab or other private car services.
Still, you’ll need to watch out for the list of merchants on UOB$ program to maximise your miles earning rate.
On the other hand, if you’re spending a significant amount on online shopping (e.g. Taobao, Amazon, food delivery) we’d suggest the Citi Rewards or OCBC Titanium Card instead. The 4mpd bonus rate is hard to beat, provided you stay below the miles cap for each card.
Whom This Card is Best For
This card is definitely not the best in the market if you’re a frequent online shopper for all your needs. Users who frequent places such as Cathay, Shell, Guardian, and Giant are also better off looking for another card with higher cashback rates.
For the loyal SIA or Scoot passengers, this card would be a great option for you. You’re more likely to hit the S$500 minimum SIA spending requirement to qualify for the 3mpd bonus rates. You’ll also be able to unlock exclusive Scoot privileges and expedite your KrisFlyer membership to Elite Silver for greater SIA related travel perks.