KrisFlyer adds double dipping at Esso; earn up to 2 miles per litre (plus credit card points)

Singapore Airlines and Esso have always enjoyed a close relationship. The Esso Smiles rewards program offers conversions to KrisFlyer miles, and Esso was a launch partner for the KrisPay digital blockchain wallet (now known as Kris+). 

It looks like the two companies are planning to further deepen their partnership, with double dipping on selected Esso fuels, and conversions from KrisFlyer to Esso Smiles coming online next year. 

Double dip on Esso Synergy Supreme+

Esso currently offers four grades of fuel (from most pricey to least):

• Synergy Supreme+
• Synergy Extra
• Synergy Regular
• Synergy Diesel

Esso Smiles members currently earn 1 Esso Smiles point for every litre of Synergy fuel pumped, regardless of grade. These points can be converted to KrisFlyer (or Asia Miles) at the following rates:

	Flexi-Conversion	Auto-Conversion
	150 points = 100 miles	100 points= 100 miles
	150 points = 100 miles	150 points= 100 miles
Flexi-Conversion= ad-hoc conversions between Esso Smiles to airline frequent flyer program Auto-Conversion= Esso Smiles points are automatically deducted (in minimum blocks) and airline frequent flyer program on regular basis

Effective 16 December 2020, customers who pump Synergy Supreme+ will earn both Esso Smiles points and KrisFlyer miles, at a rate of 1 litre= 1 KrisFlyer mile. In other words, you were previously earning the equivalent of 1 KrisFlyer mile per litre of Synergy Supreme+ (assuming auto-conversion); this will now be doubled to 2 KrisFlyer miles per litre. 

Registration is required, and can be done via this link (Smiles members who registered for auto-conversion before December 2020 will be automatically enrolled in this offer). 

Bonus KrisFlyer miles will be credited one business day after each Synergy Supreme+ transaction. No bonus will be awarded for purchases of mart items, even if you clock them on the same receipt as your petrol.

T&Cs and FAQs can be found at this link. 

Triple dip with your credit card miles

Once you factor in the miles from your credit card, you’re basically looking at a triple dip.

Miles collectors seeking to stack discounts and miles should remember that Esso Smiles members already receive a base discount of 10% on all fuel purchases, with additional discounts available to the following banks:

Bank	Additional Discount
Link	+6%
Link	+4%*
Link	+4%^
*DBS Esso cardholders receive an additional 8% discount ^NTUC/OCBC Plus! Visa Cards and OCBC 365 Credit Card receive an additional 6% discount

Unfortunately, Citi/DBS/OCBC do not have cards which earn 4 mpd at petrol stations, so the best you could do is use a general spending card with 1.2-1.6 mpd. 

Do note that quadruple dipping is not possible, since Kris+ does not award miles for Esso transactions (you can spend KrisPay miles at Esso, but not earn them). 

What are the best credit cards for petrol?

Convert KrisFlyer miles to Esso Smiles points

From “early 2021”, it will be possible to convert KrisFlyer miles to Esso Smiles points, at a rate that’s yet to be announced. 

I highly doubt this will represent good value though, so I wouldn’t hold my breath. To give you an idea of how much an Esso Smiles point is worth, you can get S$30 off fuel with 750 Esso Smiles points, or 4 cents per point. Based on this, my prediction is we’ll see a rate of 5 KrisFlyer miles= 1 Esso Smiles point. 

Let’s see.

Conclusion

Esso Synergy Supreme+ is the most expensive grade of petrol, so unless you’re the sort who believes higher octane is worth it, you might not see too many incremental benefits out of this. 

That said, I’d be interested to see what rate is given for cashing out KrisFlyer miles to Esso Smiles points. While it’s unlikely to be earth shattering, it could present an opportunity for those who are able to buy miles at a really low cost (e.g 0.8 cents with the occasional Citi Prestige promotion).