Guide on How to Earn KrisFlyer Elite Miles

Fly smarter with KrisFlyer Elite! Learn how to earn, qualify, and maximise your elite miles for the best rewards!

Master the art of KrisFlyer Elite: your guide to status, credit card air miles, and rewards! Read on to learn how to earn KrisFlyer Elite miles, the best credit cards to do so, KrisFlyer promotions, and how to redeem your rewards for maximum perks!

If you've also ever wondered what's so special about KrisFlyer Elite miles compared to the usual KrisFlyer Miles, read on and find out!

We’ve all heard of Singapore Airlines' KrisFlyer frequent flyer programme, allowing you to convert your frequent travels into elite status and unparalleled benefits. But have you heard of the different status tiers with increasingly enticing benefits?

The KrisFlyer programme includes the Solitaire PPS Club, PPS Club, KrisFlyer Elite Gold, KrisFlyer Elite Silver, and regular KrisFlyer members – with the status and accompanying privileges in descending order.

KrisFlyer Elite Silver is your first milestone, requiring you to earn or maintain 25,000 Elite miles within 12 consecutive months. Progressing further, KrisFlyer Elite Gold beckons at 50,000 Elite miles, opening doors to even greater perks. To put it simply, ranging from fancy flight upgrades to exclusive lounge access, KrisFlyer Elite is your one-way ticket to exclusive rewards.

Distinct from regular KrisFlyer miles but earned alongside them, KrisFlyer Elite miles are the key to unlocking higher status tiers within the KrisFlyer programme. Unlike regular KrisFlyer miles, Elite miles cannot be converted or redeemed for rewards. Rather, their sole purpose is to determine your status tier, and subsequently, the range of exclusive benefits you’re entitled to.

Best and fastest way to earn KrisFlyer Elite miles

Looking to learn how to earn KrisFlyer miles fast?

The fastest and most sure-fire way to rack up your KrisFlyer Elite miles (that track you towards your Elite Gold and Elite Silver status) is through flying with: 

• Singapore Airlines

• Scoot

• Star Alliance partners

• Juneyao Air

• Selected other airline partners

How to calculate KrisFlyer Elite miles?

For Singapore Airlines, your Elite miles earning rate varies depending on your cabin class. To calculate your KrisFlyer Elite mile earnings from Singapore Airlines, you can refer to the table below.

As for Scoot, your earnings are fixed at a rate of 2.5 Elite miles per mile flown on Scoot.

Or to make things even simpler, let the Accrual Calculator do the job for you!

Achieving KrisFlyer Elite status is not as far-fetched as you think. To claim KrisFlyer Elite Silver status, gather 25,000 Elite miles within 12 consecutive months. Your upgrade takes effect within a day, and your status lasts until the end of the 12th month. To continue enjoying these Elite Silver benefits, keep up your earnings of 25,000 Elite miles in the next 12 months. 

As for KrisFlyer Elite Gold status, aim for 50,000 Elite miles within 12 consecutive months. With each milestone, you unlock a new realm of perks and privileges, making your travel experience with KrisFlyer even more rewarding.

You can track your miles, progress, and status easily on your KrisFlyer account. Plan your flights strategically and take advantage of promotions to fast-track your way to elite status and the luxuries it brings!

Unlike regular KrisFlyer miles that can be used directly for flight, hotel, and experience benefits, KrisFlyer Elite miles do not offer direct trade-in rewards. Hence, they cannot be redeemed for award flights. Rather, they are a separate component of the KrisFlyer frequent flyer programme that tracks your Elite status.

Now, you must be thinking: then what exactly can I do with this Elite status? Well, the answer lies in this extensive list of enticing perks for Elite Silver members:

• 25% tier bonus on actual miles flown

• Star Alliance Silver status

• Seat selection privileges

• Priority reservation waitlist

• Priority airport standby

• Waived or discounted KrisFlyer service fees

• More benefits on Scoot (e.g. baggage upgrade, automatic assignment of standard seating for travelling groups, complimentary BoardMeFirst for travelling groups)

These perks and privileges only get even more bountiful for Elite Gold members, with:

• Access to an extensive network of lounges (e.g. KrisFlyer Gold Lounge at Changi Airport, SilverKris lounges worldwide, over 1,000 Star Alliance Gold lounges worldwide, Virgin Australia lounges in Australia, Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses)

• Accelerated membership status with Shangri-La’s loyalty programme (with an accelerated upgrade to Golden Circle Jade membership when you stay for one night at any Shangri-La hotel and resort, Kerry hotel, Traders hotel or Hotel Jen worldwide)

• KrisFlyer Milestone Rewards (e.g. flight upgrades, flight discount vouchers, KrisShop promotions, bonus KrisFlyer miles)

• Star Alliance Gold status (e.g. priority airport check-in, extra baggage allowance, priority security and immigration, complimentary upgrade to Business First Class on the Heathrow Express if available, etc) 

• Extra check-in baggage allowance

• Seat selection privileges

• Priority airport check-in, boarding, and baggage handling

• Waived or discounted KrisFlyer service fees

• More benefits on Scoot (e.g. baggage upgrade, automatic assignment of standard seating for travelling groups, complimentary BoardMeFirst for travelling groups)

In summary, here’s how the KrisFlyer Elite Silver and Gold status stack up against each other:

» MORE: How to redeem Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles

Technically? Yes. But don’t get too excited just yet.

From 5 March to 4 June 2024, Singapore Airlines ran a special campaign called “Earn Status Credits Beyond the Skies”. During this period, rather than only earning Elite miles from flights, you could also rack up status credits when you:

• Shop and dine with Kris+ in Singapore and Australia (and earn up to 9 regular KrisFlyer mpd!)

• Get your latest gadgets or SIA-exclusive branded items through KrisShop

• Engage in any of Pelago’s unique experiences globally (and earn 3 KrisFlyer mpd on every booking!)

Every S$1 spent on any of the aforementioned activities equates to 1 Elite mile earned. 

If you’re thinking this fast-track to Elite status sounded too good to be true… Unfortunately, you’re right. While this campaign did technically allow you to earn Elite miles on the ground, it was capped at a maximum of 5,000 Elite miles (which is only 10% of the total miles you will need to upgrade or renew your KrisFlyer Elite Silver status).

As of now, this promo has ended, and Singapore Airlines hasn’t announced a new one yet. That said, it’s worth keeping an eye out—these ground-based Elite mile promos tend to pop up every now and then, especially when SIA wants to boost engagement with their Kris+ ecosystem.

TL;DR: Yes, there may be promotions that allow you to earn Elite miles without flying… But keep in mind that these are more of a helping hand for those slightly short of hitting their target (of 50,000 Elite miles), rather than a backdoor to Elite status without taking the skies.

While you can’t earn Elite miles without flying or through promotions, you can, however, earn normal Krisflyer miles with credit cards through spending and sign-up promotions.

Here are the best American Express KrisFlyer cards to give you a head start:

AMEX Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend cardholders are entitled to a fast-track status upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Gold status with minimum S$16,000 spend on Singapore Airlines tickets from singaporeair.com. These purchases must be made within the first 6 months of card approval though, so do track your airfare transactions to ensure you qualify!

Credit cards are the best way to earn KrisFlyer miles besides actually flying.

If you’re looking for that little push to bump you up to KrisFlyer Elite status without catching another flight, and those two AMEX cards weren’t quite to your liking, these might be the cards for you!