updated: Nov 05, 2024
The KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card offers a very attractive bonus rate on things you’re most likely to spend on – but it also comes with a major caveat of a miles credit delay of up to 14 months.
For lovers of all things Singapore Airlines, the KrisFlyer UOB Card needs no introduction. But for the uninitiated, this miles credit card might be the addition you need in your wallet to ace the miles game.
Birthed from the partnership between UOB and Singapore Airlines, this co-branded card served as a successful follow-up to its lacklustre debit card counterpart. It transformed both in looks and mechanics; now sporting a golden new look and promising a competitive miles earn rate over a broad range of categories.
KrisFlyer UOB card product summary:
Pros ✅
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Cons ❌
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Competitive 3 mpd on SIA-related and everyday spend
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Only beneficial for frequent Singapore Airlines flyers
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Respectable 1.2 mpd base rate on all other spend
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Minimum S$800 annual spend must consist of SIA, Scoot, and KrisShop transactions
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No cap on bonus miles earned
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Miles are calculated in S$5 blocks
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Minimum S$800 spend requirement by year, instead of by month
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Bonus miles are only credited to KrisFlyer membership account after 14 months after paying annual fee*
AKA miles redemption is perpetually delayed |
No transfer fees for miles
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Exclusive privileges on Scoot flights, KrisShop, and Changi airport benefits
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Earn up to 6 bonus mpd with KrisFlyer UOB account
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Fast track to KrisFlyer Elite status with minimum spend
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Up to S$500,000 complimentary travel insurance coverage
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Up to US$200 e-Commerce protection
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*Does not apply to Kris+ Card transactions
For context, the typical miles earn rate hovers around 1.2 to 1.4 mpd on local spend and 2 to 2.4 mpd on foreign spend. However, the KrisFlyer UOB Card offers an impressive 3 mpd rate across a broad range of categories no less.
The eligible 3 mpd spend categories are as follows:
Right off the bat, the KrisFlyer UOB is positioning itself as a great card for frequent flyers with Singapore Airlines and general everyday spend. However, the caveat is that the 3 mpd on everyday spend is only eligible if you spend a minimum of S$800 on the SIA-related categories annually.
No matter, this minimum spend should be fairly achievable. Firstly, it's by year and not by month, so time is on your side. Secondly, just charge one or two Singapore Airlines or Scoot air tickets and it'll already form a bulk of that minimum spend.
And once you fulfil that requirement, you're home free. There is no cap on bonus miles earned. You're more than welcome to rack up your spend to maximise bonus miles (as much as your budget allows).
Apart from that, you earn a respectable 1.2 mpd on all other spend – which is on par with its other credit card peers like DBS Altitude, HSBC TravelOne, or Standard Chartered Journey.
This point is self-explanatory; there is no transfer fee on miles because they're already KrisFlyer miles.
Base KrisFlyer miles will be credited directly to your KrisFlyer membership account each month. Unfortunately, the process isn't exactly the same for Bonus KrisFlyer miles.
The Bonus KrisFlyer miles will be credited to your account only after you pay the KrisFlyer UOB Card's annual fee of S$196.20. Following that, you can expect to receive the bonus miles within two months of the payment.
Basically, there'll be a 14-month delay before your bonus miles can reach your account. There are several issues arising from this.
As if the bonus 3 mpd rate isn't enough, KrisFlyer UOB Accountholders can earn even more miles of up to 6 mpd! How does that work? You'll need to meet to criteria to qualify for this accelerated rate:
And, that's about it. No minimum credit card spend requirement, no additional insurance product purchases, no need to take up loans – nothing. Fulfil these two base requirements and you can start earning 6 mpd on all eligible KrisFlyer UOB spend.
The only downside is that these bonus miles earned on your account are capped at 5% of its monthly average balance. For more details on account mechanics, refer to the T&Cs here.
💡 Fun fact: The only other miles cards offering this 6 mpd rate are also from UOB – the UOB Lady's & Lady's Solitaire Cards.
While regular credit cards already offer a myriad of perks and benefits, a co-branded credit card just takes it to the next level. As a KrisFlyer UOB cardmember, you'll be entitled to card privileges from both UOB's and Singapore Airlines' end.
Here are all the current ongoing promotions:
Exclusive privileges
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Travel privileges
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Scoot privileges
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Get up to 5 mpd on all foreign currency transactions. Min. S$1,500 in foreign currency spend required.
Bonus miles capped at 7,600 miles per qualifying period.
Valid till 28 Aug 2023. SMS registration is required.
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Welcome offer: New-to-UOB cardmembers get up to 31,000 miles* + first year annual fee waiver. T&Cs apply. |
Priority check-in and boarding on flights
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Earn 1 mpd on monthly bills, rent, taxes, and one-off big-ticket purchases via UOB Payment Facility.
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Renewal offer: Get 10,000 miles when you pay annual fee and renew card membership
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Additional 5kg baggage allowance when up to 35kg baggage allowance is purchased
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Get S$20 off regular-priced items with min. S$120 nett spend on a single KrisShop transaction.
Promo code: KFUOBKS2023
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Fast track upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Silver status when you spend min. S$5,000 on SIA Group-related transactions.
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Standard seat selection on flights
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Complimentary tier upgrade to KrisShopper Insider with no min. spend.
Earn up to 5.5 mpd on KrisShop spend thereafter.
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Get S$15 off ChangiWiFi
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One-time booking flexibility waiver per itinerary
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Get S$10 off eligible Kris+ spend when you sign up for Kris+ membership.
Promo code: KPUOB23 (during first log-in)
Valid till 31 Jul 2023.
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Get S$15 off Grab rides to and from Changi airport.
Limited to 1x redemption biannually. Limited to first 1,000 redemptions per month.
Promo code: KFUOBCC
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*Consists of 20,000 miles for new-to-UOB card applicants, 5,000 miles for first-time applicants, and 6,000 miles with min. S$2,000 SIA-related spend within 60 days of card approval
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Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button on this page and complete the application form on SingSaver site using your Singpass MyInfo. Otherwise, you might need to prepare the following documents for the application process:
All things considered, the KrisFlyer UOB Card offers a very attractive bonus rate on things you’re most likely to spend on, but that comes with a major caveat of a credit delay of up to 14 months.
If you’re thinking of getting this card, you need to consider whether you’re willing to be locked into the card until your bonus miles post, and how the delayed crediting affects your timelines for award redemptions.
For obvious reasons, frequent flyers or loyal fans of Singapore Airlines and Scoot would benefit the most from this card. Or even if they're not your go-to air carrier of choice, you can always help your friends and family book tickets on their behalf too. And tada! You're on track to effortlessly earning an accelerated 3 mpd on your everyday spend.
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KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card
If you support Singapore's national carrier then the KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card is perfect for you. This credit card is suitable for those who don't want the hassle of a multi-card strategy for miles e...