American Express has launched a new KrisFlyer Elite Gold fast track offer with the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend, and it’s the easiest route I’ve seen to date.
During the one-month campaign period, AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend members who spend at least S$5,000 (of which S$300 must be with the Singapore Airlines Group) on eligible purchases will receive an upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Gold, valid for 12 months.
KrisFlyer Elite Gold Fast Track
Both new and existing AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend cardholders who charge at least S$5,000 of eligible purchases to their card between 28 January to 28 February 2021 (both dates inclusive) will receive an upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Gold, plus 3,000 bonus KrisFlyer miles.
| If you don’t already have an AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend card, you can get an extra 7,500 miles by signing up through this MGM link. You’ll still receive all the regular sign up bonuses as per normal |
The S$5,000 spend must include a minimum of S$300 at any of the following:
- singaporeair.com
- flyscoot.com
- KrisShop
Eligible purchases refer to everything except the usual rewards exclusion categories. The key ones to highlight for the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend are:
- GrabPay top-ups
- Insurance premiums (unless purchased through AMEX authorized channels)
- SPC transactions
- Utilities (from 12 Feb 2021)
Should you meet the minimum spend, your KrisFlyer account will be upgraded to Elite Gold and the 3,000 bonus miles credited within 8-10 weeks after the campaign ends on 28 February 2021, i.e by 9 May 2021 at the latest.
KrisFlyer Elite Gold status earned through this route is valid for 12 months from the date of upgrade. Subsequently, you’ll need to requalify via the regular route (accrue 50,000 elite miles in a 12 month membership year), or hope that Singapore Airlines grants another status extension (see below).
Is it worth it?
For the sake of perspective, here’s how the current KrisFlyer Elite Gold fast track offer compares to the evergreen one, as well as the limited-time one we saw back in February 2019.
| Total Spend | of which Singapore Airlines spend must be… | |
| Evergreen Offer | S$15K in 12 months | S$15K1 |
| Feb 2019 Offer | S$12K in 3 months | ≥S$3K1 |
| Current Offer | S$5K in 1 month | ≥S$3002 |
| 1. singaporeair.com only 2. singaporeair.com, flyscoot.com or KrisShop |
||
The current offer represents the lowest spending threshold we’ve ever seen, and it helps that 94% of your spend can be on non-SIA Group transactions. I highly doubt that anyone will be buying Singapore Airlines or Scoot tickets right now, but KrisShop continues to hold regular sales events, and I’m sure you could spend S$300 if you were determined enough.
The AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend earns 1.2 mpd on local general spending, so in terms of opportunity cost you’re looking at 11,000 miles foregone, assuming your alternative card would have earned you 4 mpd.
| AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend | Alternative Card (assume 4 mpd) |
|
| Spend | S$5,000 | S$5,000 |
| Miles | 6,000 | 20,000 |
| Bonus Miles | 3,000 | N/A |
| Total Miles | 9,000 | 20,000 |
| 💡 Remember: the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend earns 2.0 mpd on foreign currency spend only in June and December, so during the promotion period you’ll earn 1.2 mpd regardless |
The bigger question is whether you’ll realistically be able to enjoy the benefits of KrisFlyer Elite Gold membership over the next 12 months.
Let’s say your KrisFlyer Elite Gold upgrade comes at the start of May 2021. Do you see yourself traveling from May 2021 to April 2022? I’m personally hoping that travel bubbles will open up for Singapore, once we get a sizeable proportion of our population vaccinated, but who really knows?
| ✈️ Didn’t SQ extend elite status for all members? |
| At the start of this year, Singapore Airlines announced that it was extending elite status for all members with status expiring between March 2021 to February 2022. However, your fast tracked KrisFlyer Elite Gold will come too late to take advantage of that. |
That said, the odds are good that if travel doesn’t open up in any meaningful way, Singapore Airlines will grant another status extension for 2022. I don’t see any reason why they’d draw a distinction between those who qualified for Elite Gold via fast track and those who qualified through the traditional route, so…
Terms & Conditions
Here’s the T&C for this offer:
1. Offer is only valid from 28 Jan – 28 Feb 2021.
2. American Express® Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card Members who
charge S$5,000 or more on eligible purchases from 28 Jan – 28 Feb 2021 will be
upgraded to the KrisFlyer Elite Gold membership tier.
3. Spend of $5,000 can include general spend but must include a minimum spend of
S$300 at singaporeair.com, flyscoot.com or KrisShop. For non-eligible spend, please
visit amex.co/SGexclusions for full list of non-eligible purchases or transactions, which
is non-exhaustive and is subject to changes from time to time.
4. Eligible ticket purchases at singaporeair.com and flyscoot.com are for travel originating
from Singapore only and must be purchased in Singapore Dollars.
5. Bonus 3,000 KrisFlyer miles will be awarded 8-12 weeks after campaign ends on 28
February 2021.
6. Card Members who meet the promotion criteria will be upgraded to KrisFlyer Elite Gold
membership tier 8-10 weeks after the campaign ends on 28 February 2021.
7. This benefit will not be applicable to Card Members who are existing PPS Club or
KrisFlyer Elite Gold members.
8. The KrisFlyer Elite Gold status is valid for one (1) year from date of upgrade only.
Requalification is based on standard requalification terms under the KrisFlyer
programme. For information on the benefits of being a KrisFlyer Elite Gold member and requalification into KrisFlyer Elite Gold status, please visit:
singaporeair.com/en_UK/ppsclub-krisflyer/KrisFlyer_EliteGold/KrisFlyer
9. Offers cannot be exchanged for cash or in-kind, and is not applicable in conjunction with
other offers, promotions, discounts and loyalty program, unless otherwise stated.
10. KrisFlyer and Singapore Airlines’ Terms and Conditions apply. The provision of services,
activities or benefits stated is the responsibility of merchant. American Express acts
solely as a payment provider and is not responsible or liable in the event that such
services, activities or benefits are not provided or fulfilled by the merchant.
11. American Express and merchant reserve the rights to amend the Terms and Conditions
listed or terminate the Offer and/or replace the Offer with another offer of similar value
without prior notice.
Conclusion
If you plan to take back to the skies the minute leisure travel opens up, then this is one of the easiest ways to get KrisFlyer Elite Gold I’ve ever seen. There’s an 11,000 miles opportunity cost, but I imagine most of us are pretty well-stocked with miles at the moment.
I lost my Elite Gold in early 2019, but because I tend to redeem Business Class tickets, I haven’t really felt the pinch. However, should I be able to rustle together a S$5,000 expenditure during this window, I just might go for this.
Fast track offer: yay or nay for you?
Hi Aaron, I am curious where are the terms and conditions for this offer? and is expenditure on 28 Jan 2021 inclusive? Thank you
Yes 28th Jan included. T and c I will add shortly
T&C added.
Hi Aaron,
Does this mean that utilities paid before 12th Feb 2021 will be included as part of the eligible spending?
yup.
if i’m already KF gold, will this challenge add 1 year to my membership?
No, not applicable to those who are already KF gold.
Do. you reckon this will work for CardUp / IPM for taxes and fees?
Of course
Are you aware if there’s any promo code for Cardup applicable for AMEX card? Noticed recent CNY 1.8% and other Cardup promo have explicitly exclude Amex cards.
Tempting….might bite
hi Aaron, would you mind sharing, where is this Amex KrisFlyer Elite Gold Fast Trackwrite up extracted from, as i could not find it anywhere in AMEX website? thank you
They sent me a press release. For whatever reason the website is not updated yet
They have emailed me..so worthwhile checking if you are an existing card member
Yes this seems like an task that is not too challenging to meet, especially if you already had a big ticket item in mind. Why not go for this?
I have a KFB but not KFA. Would I still be eligible for this campaign if I sign up for a KFA now (understand my KFB would be canceled)? Any other sign up / spend bonus I am eligible for if I go that route?
yes, both new and existing customers are eligible. you can get MGM bonus: https://www.americanexpress.com/sg/campaigns/milelion.html
Does this still match to Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade status? If yes, i think it could still worth some value even if we dont get to fly.
the infinite journeys partnership is still active, yes.
Hi Aaron,
Are hospital bills eligible for this $5k spend promo? Thank you.
Hi Aaron, does cardup topups qualify for first 4.7k?
of course
How about donations? That might make it easy to hit..
Great promotion! Any ideas what to get in Krisshop?
Hi Aaron, can this S$5,000 spend requirement be stacked with the other KF miles offer for AMEX cards (spend S$500 by 31 March 2021)? Thanks!
Just curious, has anyone got the KF Gold upgrade yet ?
Just received it today.
Just got mine today!
Just got mine too. So let’s hope travel bubble comes up soon !