KrisFlyer UOB Card: Best Option for SIA Loyalists?
KrisFlyer UOB Card: Best Option for SIA Loyalists?
ValueChampion Rating 
Pros
- 3 mi per S$1 on SIA, SilkAir, Scoot & KrisShop
- Up to 3 mi on dining, transport, online shopping & travel
- Expedited KF Elite Silver status, Scoot privileges
- 10,000 annual bonus renewal miles
Cons
- Just 1.2 mi on non-category overseas spend
- No lounge access perks
- No spend-based fee-waiver
UOB KrisFlyer Credit Card is the absolute best option on the market for SIA loyalists–especially young adults who tend to fly on a budget. Cardholders earn up to 3 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 in key categories like dining, transport, online shopping & travel bookings after just S$500 annual spend with SIA brands. Transactions with such brands–SIA, SilkAir, Scoot & KrisShop–also earn 3 miles per S$1. All other spend earns 1.2 miles per S$1. While there aren't many premium travel features like lounge access or discounted green fees, consumers can enjoy other perks that make travel easy, such as baggage upgrades, priority check-in & more with Scoot and vouchers for ChangiWiFi and Grab rides to and from the airport. And, while there's a S$192.6 fee, it's waived the 1st year and then offset by 10,000 annual renewal miles (worth about S$100)–making KrisFlyer UOB Card a perfect match for young SIA loyalists on a budget.
UOB KrisFlyer Credit Card Features and Benefits
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Key Features:
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What Makes KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card Stand Out
KrisFlyer UOB Card offers young SIA loyalists access to some of the highest miles rewards rates on the market, paired with perks that fit perfectly with a somewhat modest budget. Cardholders earn 1.2 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 general spend, both locally & overseas, and 3 miles for spend with SIA brands (SIA, SilkAir, Scoot & KrisShop). Rates are boosted to 3 miles per S$1 spend on dining & online food delivery, transport (including taxis & public transit), and online shopping & travel bookings–as long as the cardholder spends S$500 with SIA within a year. This is quite reasonable for frequent travellers, equating to the cost of 2-3 regional trips or 1-2 trips to East Asia or Oceania.
Comparative Rewards Rates in Boosted Categories
| Credit Card | Dining | Transport | Online Shopping | Travel Bookings | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KrisFlyer UOB | 3.0 mi/S$1 | 3.0 mi/S$1 | 3.0 mi/S$1 | 3.0 mi/S$1 | Min. S$500 annual SIA spend |
| Maybank Horizon | 3.2 mi/S$1 | 3.2 mi/S$1 | 0.4 mi/S$1 | 2.0 mi/S$1 | Dining & transport rates for local spend only |
| Amex SIA KrisFlyer | 1.1 mi/S$1 | 3.1 mi/S$1 | 1.1 mi/S$1 | 2.0 mi/S$1 | Transport applies to Grab only (up to 620mi/mo) |
These boosted miles rates are amongst the highest on the market within their spend categories, which makes KrisFlyer UOB Card an extremely competitive option for SIA flyers who can unlock them. However, dining, online shopping and local transport are also well-matched to young spenders. Young adults who typically fly on a budget are also more likely to take advantage of the card's many travel privileges that are exclusively tied to Scoot–SIA's budget airline. Other perks include a S$15 Grab voucher for trips to and from Changi Airport, a S$15 voucher for ChangiWiFi, and a S$20 rebate on shopping spend with KrisShop (min. S$100 nett spend).
KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card's Travel Perks
| Perk | Details |
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| Scoot Perks |
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| KrisShop Rebate |
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| Grab Voucher |
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| ChangiWiFi Voucher |
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| Travel Insurance |
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| Fast-Tracked KrisFlyer Elite Silver |
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KrisFlyer UOB Card does not have the luxury perks that some travellers might be looking for, however. Cardholders do not receive free or discounted lounge access, free green fees nor exclusive privileges at high-end hotels. Cardholders also earn just 1.2 miles per S$1 on their general overseas spend, which is far below the market standard. Nonetheless, KrisFlyer UOB Card does have a few high-end touches; cardholders receive free travel insurance and can expedite their KrisFlyer membership to Elite Silver with S$5,000 annual SIA spend (valid 1 year only).
All in all, KrisFlyer UOB Card is competitive for nearly all SIA loyalists who prefer rapid miles to perks, though young adults may especially benefit from its structure & benefits. Even better, while there's a S$192.6 annual fee, it's waived the 1st year, and is subsequently offset by 10,000 KrisFlyer annual bonus miles (worth about S$100). As a result, young flyers can affordably fuel rapid miles accrual just by committing to SIA as their airline of choice.
How Does KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card's Rewards Programme Work?
Use our quick guide below to learn how you can redeem UOB KrisFlyer Card's rewards.
- Cardholder must have KrisFlyer membership account (free for sign-up)
- Miles earned are automatically credited to KrisFlyer membership account at the end of each month
- As rewards are earned directly as KrisFlyer miles, there are no conversion fees
- Cardholders can earn +1.8 mi/S$1 in select categories (earning up to 3mi/S$1) with S$500 minimum SIA annual spend. This bonus is credited to the cardholder's account separately at the end of the year, 2 months after the membership anniversary
- Spend on supplementary card(s) is attributed to the principal card to meet qualifying spend requirements to reach any bonuses
- KrisFlyer miles cannot be converted to or exchanged for cash, transferred or paid to any other person, or used to settle or pay any other liability
- Once KrisFlyer miles are credited to KrisFlyer account, redemption and use are governed by the terms and conditions of the KrisFlyer programme
KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card's Rewards Exclusions
The following credit card expenditures are ineligible for rewards.
How does KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card Compare to Other Cards?
Read our comparisons of KrisFlyer UOB Card with other cards and learn what makes each card unique in their own way. We compare and contrast each card to highlight its uniqueness to help you identify the card that you need.
| KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card v. American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Card | |
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| American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Card is an optimal match for SIA loyalists who want to rapidly accrue miles upfront. Cardholders enjoy one of the best welcome promotions on the market, with the potential to earn up to 21,500 miles within 6 months: 5,000 KrisFlyer bonus miles for the first transaction, 8,000 miles with S$5k spend in 3 months, another 8,000 miles with another S$5k spend in the next 3 months, then 500 bonus miles with the first Grab booking.
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| KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card v. Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card | |
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| Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card is an excellent option for people with primarily local budgets who want to earn miles on everyday expenses as well as on their vacations abroad. Cardholders earn a remarkable 3.2 miles per S$1 on local dining, transport (including petrol) and hotel bookings with Agoda–higher than corresponding rates offered by KrisFlyer UOB Card, and with no minimum spend requirement. However, unlike with KrisFlyer UOB, these rates apply only to spend in Singapore; overseas transactions in these categories earn just 2 miles per S$1. In addition, air tickets earn just 2 miles per S$1. While this rewards rate is airline-agnostic, it's lower than KrisFlyer UOB's rate of 3 miles/S$1 for bookings with SIA brands.
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| KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card v. Citi PremierMiles Visa Card | |
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| Citi PremierMiles Visa Card offers average spenders a chance to enjoy competitive rates and luxury perks without having to pay an exorbitant fee. Cardholders earn 1.2 miles per S$1 local spend and 2 miles overseas–which is higher than KrisFlyer UOB Card's 1.2 miles per S$1 general rate for foreign currency transactions. KrisFlyer UOB Card does, however, provide a rate boost for categories like dining, transport and online shopping.
On the other hand, Citi PremierMiles Visa Card also offers 2 free lounge visits every year, which is not provided by KrisFlyer UOB Card. While both offer 10,000 annual bonus miles, KrisFlyer UOB Card also offers an opportunity to upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Silver Status, which would boost rewards by another 25%. Ultimately, KrisFlyer UOB Card is better fit for rapid miles accrual, while Citi PremierMiles may be a better match for general overseas spenders who prefer luxury perks. | |
| KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card v. DBS Altitude Visa Card | |
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| DBS Altitude Visa Card is the best option on the market for frequent travellers who want to enjoy luxury travel perks without having to pay an annual fee. Cardholders earn 1.2 miles per S$1 locally, 2 miles overseas and 3 miles on online travel bookings. In addition to these rates, consumers enjoy 2 free lounge visits per year, discounted green fees, free travel insurance and access to hotel upgrades via Visa Digital Concierge. With just S$25,000 annual spend, cardholders are also fully exempt from paying the S$192.6 annual fee.
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| KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card v. Amex SIA KF Card |
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| American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Card is an optimal match for SIA loyalists who want to rapidly accrue miles upfront. Cardholders enjoy one of the best welcome promotions on the market, with the potential to earn up to 21,500 miles within 6 months: 5,000 KF bonus miles for the first transaction, 8,000 miles with S$5k spend in 3 months, another 8,000 miles with another S$5k spend in the next 3 months, then 500 bonus miles with the first Grab booking.
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| KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card v. Maybank Horizon Visa |
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| Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card is an excellent option for people with primarily local budgets who want to earn miles on everyday expenses as well as on their vacations abroad. Cardholders earn a remarkable 3.2 miles per S$1 on local dining, transport (including petrol) and hotel bookings with Agoda–higher than corresponding rates offered by KrisFlyer UOB Card, and with no minimum spend requirement. However, unlike with KrisFlyer UOB, these rates apply only to spend in Singapore; overseas transactions in these categories earn just 2 miles per S$1. In addition, air tickets earn just 2 miles per S$1. While this rewards rate is airline-agnostic, it's lower than KrisFlyer UOB's rate of 3 miles/S$1 for bookings with SIA brands.
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| KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card v. Citi PremierMiles Visa Card |
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| Citi PremierMiles Visa Card offers average spenders a chance to enjoy competitive rates and luxury perks without having to pay an exorbitant fee. Cardholders earn 1.2 miles per S$1 local spend and 2 miles overseas–which is higher than KrisFlyer UOB Card's 1.2 miles per S$1 general rate for foreign currency transactions. KrisFlyer UOB Card does, however, provide a rate boost for categories like dining, transport and online shopping.
On the other hand, Citi PremierMiles Card also offers 2 free lounge visits every year, which is not provided by KrisFlyer UOB Card. While both offer 10,000 annual bonus miles, KrisFlyer UOB Card also offers an opportunity to upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Silver Status, which would boost rewards by another 25%. Ultimately, KrisFlyer UOB Card is better fit for rapid miles accrual, while Citi PremierMiles Visa may be a better match for general overseas spenders who prefer luxury perks. |
| KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card v. DBS Altitude |
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| DBS Altitude Visa Card is the best option on the market for frequent travellers who want to enjoy luxury travel perks without having to pay an annual fee. Cardholders earn 1.2 miles per S$1 locally, 2 miles overseas and 3 miles on online travel bookings. In addition to these rates, consumers enjoy 2 free lounge visits per year, discounted green fees, free travel insurance and access to hotel upgrades via Visa Digital Concierge. With just S$25,000 annual spend, cardholders are also fully exempt from paying the S$192.6 annual fee.
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Zoryana is a Senior Research Analyst at ValueChampion, who focuses on evaluating credit cards, savings and fixed deposits in Singapore. She holds a BA in Political Science and an MPA in International Finance and Economic Policy, both from Columbia University. Prior to joining ValueChampion, Zoryana worked in treasury management consulting.