| ⚠️ Update: This article is now out of date, as AMEX has revised its sign up bonuses early. Do refer here for the latest sign up offers |
The American Express KrisFlyer cobrand credit cards may not have the highest miles earning rates on the market, but they do have some of the best sign-up bonuses.
The last round of bonuses lapsed on 30 June, and AMEX has announced a new set valid for approvals between 1 July and 30 September 2020.
In summary, the sign-up bonus on the AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card remains the same, but the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend receives the option to spend a further S$10,000 in months 4-6 for an additional 16,000 bonus miles.
Unfortunately, both cards now have slightly worse MGM bonuses, due to AMEX’s decision to devalue the program in early June.
Read on for the full details.
AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card
| Old Offer | New Offer | |||
| Spend | Miles | Spend | Miles | |
| First Spend | Any | 5K | Any | 5K |
| MGM^ | S$1K | 5K | S$2K | 3K |
| Months 1-3 | S$5K | 8K | S$5K | 8K |
| Base Miles | 5.5K (S$5K @ 1.1 mpd) | 5.5K (S$5K @ 1.1 mpd) | ||
| Total Spend | S$5K | S$5K | ||
| Total Miles | 23.5K | 21.5K | ||
| 💡 ^MGM refers to the AMEX member-get-member program. You’ll be eligible for this bonus if you apply through any of the links in this post. |
Apply for the KrisFlyer Credit Card and get 3K bonus miles
The sign-up bonus for the AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card remains the same. However, the total miles received is lower, due to the weakened MGM offer.
Under the previous MGM offer, cardholders who spent S$1,000 within the first 3 months received 5,000 bonus miles. With the new offer, they’ll have to spend S$2,000 to get 3,000 bonus miles.
For what it’s worth, the spending for the MGM bonus double counts towards the spending for the sign-up bonus. In other words, cardholders who spend S$5,000 in the first 3 months will receive a total of 21,500 miles, split into:
- 5,000 miles for their first spend
- 3,000 miles for applying via MGM
- 8,000 miles for hitting the sign-up bonus
- 5,500 miles for the base spend of S$5,000
The complete T&C for this offer can be found here. Bonus miles will be credited approximately 8-10 weeks from the date you reach the spending threshold.
AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend
| Old Offer | New Offer | |||
| Spend | Miles | Spend | Miles | |
| First Spend | Any | 5K | Any | 5K |
| MGM^ | S$1K | 7.5K | S$2K | 7.5K |
| Months 1-3 | S$10K | 16K | S$10K | 16K |
| Months 4-6 | S$10K | 16K | ||
| Base Miles | 12K (S$10K @ 1.2 mpd) | 24K (S$20K @ 1.2 mpd) | ||
| Total Spend | S$10K | S$20K | ||
| Total Miles | 40.5K | 68.5K | ||
| 💡 ^MGM refers to the AMEX member-get-member program. You’ll be eligible for this bonus if you apply through any of the links in this post. |
Apply for the KrisFlyer Ascend Card and get a bonus 7.5K miles
For the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend, cardholders now have the option of spending a further S$10,000 in months 4-6 for a further 16,000 miles. This is only available to new-to-card AMEX cardholders, i.e those who don’t hold a principal American Express card at the time of application.
| 💳 For the avoidance of doubt, existing AMEX cardholders can still earn the Months 1-3 bonus by spending S$10,000; it’s the Months 4-6 bonus they will not receive |
The MGM offer has also been devalued, but the total number of miles remains the same- spend S$2,000 (formerly S$1,000) in the first 3 months to get 7,500 bonus miles.
Cardholders who spend the full S$20,000 will receive 68,500 miles, split into:
- 5,000 miles for their first spend
- 7,500 miles for applying via MGM
- 16,000 miles for meeting the spending in Months 1-3
- 16,000 miles for meeting the spending in Months 4-6
- 24,000 miles for the base spend of S$20,000
The complete T&C for this offer can be found here. Bonus miles will be credited approximately 8-10 weeks from the date you reach the spending threshold.
Which transactions are eligible?
As per AMEX’s master list of exclusions, the following transactions will not count towards your sign-up bonus spending.
| a) Charges processed and billed prior to the Enrolment Date or charges prepaid on any Card Account prior to the first billing statement for that Card Account following the Enrolment Date; b) Cash Advance and other cash services; c) Express Cash; d) American Express Travellers Cheque purchases; e) Charges for dishonoured cheques; f) Finance charges – including Line of Credit charges and Credit Card interest charges; g) Late Payment and collection charges; h) Tax refunds from overseas purchases; i) Balance Transfers; j) Instalment plans; k) Annual Card fees; l) Amount billed for purchase of KrisFlyer miles to top-up your miles balance; m) Purchase and top-up charges for EZ-Link Cards using American Express Cards; n) Bill payments and all transactions via SingPost SAM kiosks and mobile app (with effect from 1 March 2020); o) Payments to insurance companies (except payments made for insurance products purchased through American Express authorized channels) (with effect from 1 March 2020); p) Payments to Singapore Petroleum Company Limited (SPC) service stations (with effect from 1 March 2020); q) Payments for the purpose of GrabPay top-ups (with effect from 1 March 2020); r) Charges at merchants or establishments that are excluded by American Express at its sole discretion and notified by American Express to you from time to time. |
Do note in particular the exclusions for insurance, SPC and GrabPay transactions, which took effect from 1 March 2020. However, charity, hospital, education and utilities payments continue to earn miles, assuming AMEX cards are accepted.
Key Features: AMEX KrisFlyer cards
 KrisFlyer Credit Card |  KrisFlyer Ascend | |
| Income Req. | S$30K | S$50K |
| Annual Fee | S$176.55 (first year free) | S$337.05 |
| Local Spend | 1.1 mpd | 1.2 mpd |
| Overseas Spend | 2.0 mpd (Jun & Dec) | 2.0 mpd (Jun & Dec) |
| Specialized Spend | -2.0 mpd on SIA/Silkair -3.1 mpd on Grab (S$200/ month) | -2.0 mpd on SIA/Silkair -3.2 mpd on Grab (S$200/ month) |
| Transfer Fees | None | None |
The AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card is AMEX’s entry level offering, and doesn’t have any frills to speak of apart from its first year fee waiver.
The AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend, on the other hand, comes with four complimentary lounge passes, Hilton Silver status (great if you’re planning to buy points as you get the 5th night free on redemptions), a complimentary night at selected Hilton properties, and a fast track to KrisFlyer Elite Gold. To enjoy these benefits, you’ll need to pay the S$337.05 annual fee.
Conclusion
If you have big ticket spending coming up in the next 6 months, the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend’s sign-up bonus is worth considering. Do note that you’ll have to pay the non-waivable S$337.05 annual fee, however.
For a full list of all the sign up bonuses currently on the market, refer to our guide here.
Just received an email from CardUp with their “Exclusive Offer” for signing up to Amex cards (KF, KF Ascend, PPS, Solitaire PPS, Platinum). Less KF miles compared to the one above, but requires only $500 spending in first month.
hey Aaron just wanna clarify if the bonus spend for KF Ascend is $8k + $8k (on sidebar), or $10k + $10k (on this post)? AMEX called to welcome me and told me $8k + $8k. They didn’t say anything about $10k + $10k – I even referenced your article.
refer to this post: they have cut the spending requirement- https://milelion.com/2020/08/03/amex-enhances-sign-up-bonuses-for-krisflyer-and-platinum-credit-cards/