โ ๏ธUpdate: The last day to enjoy the S$200 cashback offer is 15 June 2021, so apply quickly if you want to enjoy both the miles and cashback. Your application must be approved by 30 June 2021 |
Back in April, American Express launched a new set of sign-up bonuses for the AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card and the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend. In addition to the usual bonus miles, cardholders could also earn a free staycation at the Conrad Centennial or Shangri-La Singapore respectively.
Since the Conrad Centennial has reverted to a SHN-only facility until at least September, American Express has replaced the AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card’s staycation with a S$200 statement credit instead, while keeping the spending requirement the same. You can stack this with The Milelion’s 10,000 miles bonus offer too, for some really good value.
AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card acquisition offer
Customers who apply by 15 June 2021 and receive approval by 30 June 2021 for an AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card will receive the following:
Apply Here | ||
Spend | Miles | |
First Spend Bonus | Any | 5K |
Special Milelion Bonus | S$1.5K | 10K |
Months 1-3 Bonus | S$3K | 5K + S$200 |
Base Miles | 3.3K (S$3K @ 1.1 mpd) |
|
Total Spend | S$3K | |
Total Miles | 23.3K + S$200 |
All first-time American Express KrisFlyer cobrand cardholders will enjoy a bonus of 5,000 miles on their first spend of any amount.
Milelion readers will enjoy a further bonus of 10,000 miles (be sure to apply via this link) when they spent S$1,500 in the first 3 months. Should they spend a further S$1,500 (i.e S$3,000) total, they’ll receive:
- Existing customer: 5,000 bonus miles
- New customer: 5,000 bonus miles + S$200 statement credit
โ ๏ธ American Express defines new customers as those who do not hold any American Express consumer credit cards now, or in the past 12 months. Supplementary cards and corporate cards do not count. |
This means your total haul could be 23,300 miles and S$200 for S$3,000 of spend. Assuming you value a mile at 1.8 cents each, the miles alone are worth about S$420. This, stacked with the S$200 statement credit, works out to an average rebate of about 20% on S$3,000 of spend. Just for good measure, you’ll also get a S$20 Dairy Farm voucher if you apply via SingPass MyInfo.
The AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card’s first year annual fee of S$176.55 is waived.
๐ณ Alternative offer: S$280 cashback |
If you just want to maximize your statement credit, the other option is to apply for the AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card via the MGM program. Cardholders who apply via the MGM program will receive an additional S$80 statement credit when they spend S$2,000 in the first 3 months of approval. By spending a further S$1,000 (i.e S$3,000 total), they will receive the S$200 statement credit mentioned above for a total of S$280. Your total haul will be 13,300 miles + S$280. The choice is basically between S$80 (MGM) or 10,000 miles (Milelion offer) |
What spending is eligible?
The minimum spend can be met with any purchases of eligible goods or services which post to your account within the first 3 months after approval. AMEX has a list of excluded spending categories here, but the key ones to note are:
- GrabPay top-ups
- Insurance
- SPC transactions
- Utilities
For the avoidance of doubt, hospital transactions, donations, and anything else not explicitly stated in the exclusion list will count as eligible spend.
Conclusion
Given that a room at the Conrad Centennial can go for as low as S$230 nett when on sale, I’d personally rather take a S$200 statement credit than a staycation voucher. If you can spend S$3,000 within 3 months, then taking 23,300 miles + S$200 for your troubles is a very tidy hall indeed.
Once again, your application needs to be approved by 30 June 2021 to enjoy this offer, so don’t leave it too late if you’re interested.
Hi Aaron, in the application link you have provided.
The first bullet point in the application page
Milelion Offer:
Receive 10,000 KrisFlyer Miles upon S$1,500 spend in the first 3 months of Card approval. For new to Amex applicants who apply and receive approval by 31 March 2021.
I assume 31 March 2021 is a typo, suppose to be 30 June 2021 ?
yes, I am getting them to update this. you can see in the blue box that the milelion exclusive offer has been updated properly (showing 30 june 2021)
Aaron, any mention about existing cardholders, what’s the annual fee perks for the Ascend card?
don’t understand your qn- if you mean what do existing cardholders get for signing up for an amex kf ascend, it’s 1 night shangri-la as stated here: https://milelion.com/2021/04/01/new-amex-krisflyer-credit-card-sign-up-gifts-conrad-or-shangri-la-staycation/
What I meant was existing Amex KF cardholders, especially the Ascent, every renewal used to come with 4 plaza premium passes as well as a free hilton voucher. Has that changed as well?
same same.
I read the exclusions list and it’s strange that Amex only exclude GrabPay top-ups from the eligible spend. Does that mean Amex cards can earn miles on stuff like other prepaid card top-ups like Revolut and Youtrip?
correct me if i’m wrong, but youtrip etc don’t accept amex cards for top ups
You’re right, my bad. I can confirm that all the common prepaid wallets in Singapore (Youtrip, Revolut, Crypto.com) and Malaysia (Bigpay, TNG eWallet) accept Visa and MC only.
Hi Aaron, just a general question. Do you have a sense of how long Amex takes to process an application and provide a card? Reason am asking is because I have a big ticket item due next week so wondering whether I can get the card in time.
if all documents in order, it can be very fast like 3-4 days. but you also have to budget time for card delivery
Hi Aaron, I clicked on your website’s link to apply for the card but it routed me to the AMEX website. How does it capture that I access via Milelion’s link hence eligible for the further bonus of 10,000 miles?
if you apply via this link you will receive the bonus: https://www.americanexpress.com/sg/campaigns/milelion-kfcc.html
$80 doesn’t seem as worth as 10k miles
Hi, “Milelion readers will enjoy a further bonus of 10,000 miles (be sure to apply via this link) when they spent S$1,500 in the first 3 months.” does it include existing amex card holder applying to KF card?
this is for new cardholders only.