Best Travel Credit Cards 2014

Each bank typically has a credit card that is very good for frequent travellers to accumulate KrisFlyer miles. However, depending on what you spend most of your money on, different credit cards will be suitable for you. 15,000 KrisFlyer miles gets you a round-trip ticket to Bali. 30,000 KrisFlyer miles gets you a round-trip ticket to Hong Kong. So, how can you start redeeming your tickets?

The ANZ Travel Visa Signature Card is very good if you are travelling to Australia or New Zealand and rewards you with 2.8 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 spent in Australia and New Zealand and air tickets purchased from Qantas or Jetstar airlines. On all other spendings, you will get 1.4 KrisFlyer miles. However, there is a monthly cap of 14,000 Travel$ (equivalent to 14,000 KrisFlyer miles) per month which is equivalent to S$10,000 spending. If you are planning to spend more than S$10,000, you might want to consider other cards without a cap. What's more, you get 2,000 miles for the first S$500 spent. A minimum annual income of S$60,000 is required. You get 10,000 miles upon card renewal with card fees of S$200. Click here to Apply Now and we will direct you to the official card issuer's website.

The UOB Preferred American Express Platinum Card is perfect for foodies as it rewards card members with 10X UNI$ on local and overseas dining. 10UNI$ is equivalent to 4 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 spent on dining. However, on other spending, you will earn 0.8 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 spent. Click here to Apply Now and we will direct you to the official card issuer's website.

For shopaholics who cannot get enough shoes, clothes and bags, with the Citi Rewards Visa / MasterCard, you will earn 10 Citi$ which is equivalent to 4 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 spent both locally and overseas. This is capped at 120,000 Citi$ per year. On other spending, you will earn 0.4 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 spent. Click here to Apply Now and we will direct you to the official card issuer's website.

For those who prefer online shopping, DBS Woman's World MasterCard® Credit Card provides 10X DBS points equivalent to 4 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 spent on online purchases. This is capped at S$2,000 spending per month (ie. 8,000 KrisFlyer miles) However, for local spend, only 0.4 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 spent while 1.2 KrisFlyer miles will be rewarded for every S$1 spent overseas. Click here to Apply Now and we will direct you to the official card issuer's website.

UOB PRVI Miles Platinum American Express Card gives you 1.6 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 of local spend and 2.5 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 of overseas spend. A further 20,000 KrisFlyer miles will be awarded for S$50,000 spent in a year. Charge a min of S$500 on air tickets, hotel or package within 3 months prior to date of travel and get unlimited limousine rides to the airport. However, points expire in 2 years and minimum income qualification is S$80,000 per annum. Click here to Apply Now and we will direct you to the official card issuer's website.

The American Express KrisFlyer Gold Credit Card is good if you always buy your air tickets from Singapore Airlines. 5,000 bonus miles are awarded the first time you charge to the card. It rewards based on tiered spending. Earn 1 KrisFlyer mile for every S$1.60 spent on all your purchases in Singapore and abroad with your American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold Credit Card.
Earn 2 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1.60 spent on selected Singapore Airlines tickets purchased at singaporeair.com. You can accelerate your earn rate with the 50% + 50% KrisFlyer bonus miles programme. Simply charge S$5,000 or more to your Card in a calendar year and receive 50% more KrisFlyer miles. Earn an additional 50% KrisFlyer miles by increasing your spend to S$12,000 in a calendar year. This is equivalent to 1.25 KrisFlyer miles (or 2.5 KrisFlyer miles for purchases on SQ online) per S$1 spent. Enjoy hassle-free conversion as all KrisFlyer miles earned with the American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold Credit Card are conveniently credited directly into your KrisFlyer account. Click here to Apply Now and we will direct you to the official card issuer's website.

With The American Express KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card, you get to earn 1 KrisFlyer mile for every S$1.20 spent on all your eligible purchases with your Card and receive a bonus of 5,000 KrisFlyer miles the very first time you charge to your Card. Earn 2 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1.20 (1.67 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 spent) spent on selected Singapore Airlines tickets purchased at singaporeair.com and when you shop at KrisShop, in-flight or online. Spend a minimum of S$1,000 in a calendar month, and receive a bonus of 300 KrisFlyer miles for every additional S$500 you spend in the same month, with no cap to what you can earn. This is very attractive for those who intend to use this card as their main spending card. This card also allows you 4 complimentary access each year to any participating SATS Premier Lounge in Singapore and Plaza Premium Lounge around the world and rewards you with a complimentary night each year at one of over 80 participating Millennium Hotels and Resorts properties worldwide. Your KrisFlyer miles are transferred to your account directly with no conversion fees or charges.

Full Fee Offer ¹
- Pay an annual fee of S$256.80
- Earn 15,000 Bonus KrisFlyer miles when you spend S$5,000 in the first 3 months upon Card approval OR Earn 35,000 Bonus KrisFlyer miles when you spend S$10,000 and above in the first 3 months upon Card approval

First Year Fee Waiver Offer²- Get First Year Fee Waiver worth S$256.80
- Earn 3,000 Bonus KrisFlyer miles when you spend S$3,000 in the first 3 months upon Card approval OR Earn 6,000 Bonus KrisFlyer miles when you spend S$5,000 and above in the first 3 months upon Card approval

Click here to Apply Now and we will direct you to the official card issuer's website.

DBS Altitude American Express Card gives you 1.2 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 of local spend and 2 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 of overseas spend. Points never expire and there is no cap on spendings. The only gripe I have of the DBS programme is that it requires a minimum of 10,000 DBS Points to be converted to 20,000 KrisFlyer points which means a minimum spending of S$5,000 before any conversion is possible. That is, if you are looking to convert to KrisFlyer miles. Otherwise, the DBS points can be redeemed for shopping vouchers. The annual conversion fee of $42.80 allows you to make an unlimited no. of conversions in one year. Click here to Apply Now and we will direct you to the official card issuer's website.

Citi PremierMiles Visa Card has the same rewards as the DBS Altitude Amex Card but lower income qualifications of S$50,000 per annum versus S$80,000 for the latter. The PremierMiles card allows conversion at $25 at a minimum of 500 miles which makes it a lot more flexible than DBS. Citi Miles can be converted at over 70 airlines under KrisFlyer, Asia Miles, Royal Orchid Plus, SkyMiles, Executive Club, Enrich, Infinity MileageLands, Garuda Frequent Flyer and Etihad Guest frequent flyer programmes. You get 10,000 miles upon renewal of the card by paying annual fees of $192.60. If you wish to request for waiver of card fees, you will not get the bonus miles. Click here to Apply Now and we will direct you to the official card issuer's website.

 

The Maybank Horizon Visa Platinum Card promises 2 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 spent on air tickets / travel packages and on overseas spend. On other spend, 0.4 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1 is earned. Conversion from points to miles is free. However, points are only valid for one year. There is free airport lounge access with a minimum of S$400 spent on air tickets / travel package a single transaction. Click here to Apply Now and we will direct you to the official card issuer's website.

In conclusion, the UOB PRVI Miles Platinum American Express Card is a big winner on both local and overseas spend, especially if you are a big spender. Otherwise, if income qualifications is a constraint, the Maybank Horizon Visa Platinum Card will work just as well for your occasional indulgence of a well deserved once a year overseas trip. If you do not mind holding 2 or more cards, you might be able to make use of the strengths of each card to your best advantage, bearing in mind the conversion charges that you have to incur on each conversion.

If you are planning the purchase of big ticket items like a car, home renovations or holding a wedding banquet, no harm considering the above and see which are the cards most suitable for your needs. In the process, you might end up with free air tickets for a holiday with your loved ones.