Singapore Airlines will be discontinuing its tie-up with the TapForMore program from 1 July 2021, calling time on a six-and-a-half year partnership that started in January 2015.
From July, there will be no more conversions of KrisFlyer miles into TapForMore points (and vice versa). What’s unfortunate is that unlike most points transfer partnerships like CapitaStar or Esso, this was one you might actually have been interested in.
How do TapForMore transfers to KrisFlyer work?
TapForMore points are linked to your PAssion EZ-link Card, and earned at a rate of S$1= 1 point for spending at Cold Storage, Market Place, Jasons, Giant, or Guardian. You collect them by tapping your PAssion Card at check-out, hence the name “tap for more”.
Points can be used to offset purchases in these stores at a rate of 150 points= S$1, which works out to be a 0.67% rebate. Alternatively, you can transfer them to KrisFlyer at a ratio of 2.3 points= 1 KrisFlyer mile.
 |  | |
| 2.3 points (Min. 300 points) | ⇒ | 1 mile |
| Maximum of 80,000 TapForMore points can be converted per calendar year | ||
Since 1 KrisFlyer mile is worth about 1.8 cents, you get about 0.78 cents per TapForMore point when you opt for miles conversion, versus 0.67 cents when you spend points in-store.
To put it another way, converting TapForMore points to KrisFlyer represents an incremental 0.43 mpd, on top of whatever credit card miles you earn. Someone with a HSBC Revolution Card, for example, would be able to earn a grand total of 4.43 mpd on groceries- none too shabby.
TapForMore points transfers to KrisFlyer are instant, and while no one’s ever going to earn a First Class flight through this alone, there’s no transfer fee involved in conversions. This makes it a good, quick option for small top-ups.
How do KrisFlyer transfers to TapForMore work?
KrisFlyer miles can also be converted to TapForMore points, but trust me, you don’t want to do this.
| | |
| 1 mile (Min. 3,000 miles) | ⇒ | 1.1 points |
| Maximum of 80,000 KrisFlyer miles can be converted per calendar year | ||
The transfer rate is 1 mile= 1.1 points, which yields a value of 0.73 cents per mile. While this isn’t the worst way of spending your miles, it says more about how bad the other options are than anything else.
| Options for Spending KrisFlyer Miles | ||
| Redemption Option | Value per mile | |
| ✈️ | Award flights | 2-6 cents |
| 🏨 | Shangri-La Golden Circle conversion | 1.4 cents* |
| ✈️ | Pay for flights with miles | 1.02 cents |
| 🚘 | KrisFlyer vRooms | 0.8 cents |
| 🛍️ | KrisShop | 0.8 cents |
| 🛒 | TapForMore conversion | 0.73 cents |
| 🏬 | CapitaStar conversion | 0.7 cents |
| 📱 | Kris+ | 0.67 cents |
| 🎡 | Pelago | 0.67 cents |
| ⛽ | Esso Smiles conversion | 0.33- 0.67 cents |
| *Assumes you have GC Jade/Diamond status and use points for F&B at 10 GC points= US$1.25. If you’re a regular member, 10 GC points= US$1, i.e 1.1 cents/mile | ||
I doubt anyone will mourn the loss of the transfer partnership in this direction, at least.
Conclusion
Sadly, the cessation of this partnership also means that the PAssion POSB Debit Card will cease to be the useful tool it once was. Cardholders at one time could have racked up 2.6 mpd on groceries; a very good haul for those who didn’t qualify for regular credit cards.
If you’re holding on to a stash of TapForMore points, you’ll want to move them over to KrisFlyer before 1 July 2021, or at least redeem them in some way, because any points earned in 2020 will expire on 30 June 2021.
