American Express has launched a new sign-up bonus for the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend which runs from now till 30 June 2022.
New cardholders who apply via The MileLion and spend S$3,000 will receive 16,100 miles and a 1-night stay at the Hilton Singapore Orchard. They will also receive a further 1-night Hilton Singapore Orchard stay by paying the first year’s S$377.05 annual fee, on top of the standard 1-night Hilton voucher redeemable at 256 hotels across Asia Pacific.
| ❓ Who is eligible? |
| This offer is open to anyone who has not cancelled an AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend card in the past 12 months. If you currently hold other AMEX cards, you will still be eligible. |
New AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend offer
 Apply Here |
||||
| Old Offer (till 31 Mar 22) |
New Offer (from 1 Apr 22) |
|||
| Spend | Miles | Spend | Miles | |
| First Spend | Any | 15K | Any | 5K |
| Milelion Bonus (Months 1-3) |
S$2K |
7.5K | S$2K |
7.5K |
| Sign-Up Bonus |
S$5K (mo. 1-3) |
1N Sofitel | S$3K (mo. 1) |
1N Hilton |
| Base Miles | 6K (S$5K @ 1.2 mpd) |
3.6K (S$3K @ 1.2 mpd) |
||
| Total Spend | S$5K | S$3K | ||
| Total Miles | 28.5K + Sofitel | 16.1K + Hilton | ||
All first-time American Express KrisFlyer cobrand cardholders will enjoy 5,000 miles on their first spend of any amount. This is a once per lifetime bonus.
Cardholders will receive a one-night stay at the Hilton Singapore Orchard upon paying the S$337.05 annual fee. This is in addition to the annual 1-night hotel stay at participating Hilton properties across Asia Pacific.
Cardholders who apply via The MileLion and spend S$2,000 in the first 3 months of approval will receive 7,500 miles. If they spend a further S$1,000 (i.e. S$3,000 total) within the first month, they will receive a further one-night stay at the Hilton Singapore Orchard.
I recently stayed at the Hilton Singapore Orchard and was rather impressed by the improvements that have taken place since its Mandarin Orchard days. Everything is new and shiny, and the F&B venues are well worth a visit too.
To summarise the offer, by spending S$3,000 in the first 3 months of approval, you’d receive up to 16,100 miles and three hotel nights, broken down as follows:
- 5,000 miles (first spend bonus)
- 1N Hilton Singapore Orchard stay (from annual fee)
- 1N Hilton Asia Pacific stay (from annual fee)
- 1N Hilton Singapore Orchard stay (from sign-up bonus)
- 7,500 miles (MileLion bonus)
- 3,600 miles (base miles earned for S$3,000 spend @ 1.2 mpd)
The T&C of the sign-up offer can be found here. The T&Cs for the 7,500 bonus miles for MileLion readers can be found here.
What spending is eligible?
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.
Overview: AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend
| Apply Here |
|||
| Income Req. | S$50,000 p.a. | Points Validity | 3 years |
| Annual Fee | S$337.05 |
Min. Transfer |
N/A |
| Miles with Annual Fee |
None | Transfer Partners |
|
| FCY Fee | 2.95% | Transfer Fee | None |
| Local Earn | 1.2 mpd | Points Pool? | N/A |
| FCY Earn | 2.0 mpd (Jun & Dec) |
Lounge Access? | Yes |
| Special Earn | 2 mpd on SIA and KrisShop, 3.2 mpd for Grab | Airport Limo? | No |
| Cardholder Terms and Conditions | |||
The AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend has an annual fee of S$337.05, which includes:
- 4x lounge passes to participating Plaza Premium Lounges worldwide (including SATS Premier Lounge in Singapore)
- One-night stay at participating Hilton Hotels across Asia Pacific
- Hilton Silver status (that may not sound like a lot, but allows you to enjoy the 5th night free on award redemptions- very valuable if you’re buying Hilton points)
Cardholders earn 1.2 mpd on all Singapore dollar spending, and 2 mpd on foreign currency spending in June and December (1.2 mpd otherwise). Grab Singapore transactions earn 3.2 mpd, capped at S$200 per calendar month.
Cardholders who spend at least S$15,000 on eligible purchases at singaporeair.com within the first 12 months of approval will be automatically upgraded to KrisFlyer Elite Gold. This upgrade is valid for one year, after which they will need to requalify through regular means.
Spending S$15,000 on eligible purchases on singaporeair.com between 1 July to 30 June of the following year also gives a double miles accrual voucher, which can be applied to a booking to earn up to 5,000 bonus miles.
A further 500 bonus miles can be enjoyed for making a first telco recurring bill payment at participating merchants.
Conclusion
New AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend members who spend S$3,000 and pay the first year’s S$337.05 annual fee can get 16,100 miles and up to two nights at the Hilton Singapore Orchard, plus one night at participating Hiltons across Asia Pacific. While my personal preference is for sign up bonuses in miles rather than hotel stays, this would probably be of interest to someone looking to do more staycations.
These offers are valid till 30 June 2022, and remember to apply via the links in this article to claim your bonus 7,500 miles.
Hello, if I use this card via Cardup for insurance/income tax payment, does it count towards the $3000 eligible spend?
Yes
I read the mileloon tnc state that the offer is not applicable to “
• Have an existing personal American Express® Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card Account.”
So if i have the blue amex krisflyer card i wont be eligible?
Sorry the url is wrong. Will get it updated. This offer is valid so long as you don’t hold an ascend already (blue is ok)
Ascend voucher for Hilton Singapore staycation – wouldn’t qualify for Diamond benefits (lounge access, free breakfast, etc.) correct?
Nope
For current AMEX Platinum CC holders what is the best way to leverage on this offer?
This card is terrible. You have to pay the annual fee to get any of the benefits. You’re effectively buying those hotel stays and you still have to spend.
On the list of participating properties, both Conrad and Hilton Orchard are denoted as “until 30 June 2022”. Does it mean these two properties will soon no longer be eligible for Ascend redemptions?
Subject to extension
sneaky amex removed hilton orchard from the list. and now it’s only left with Hilton Garden Inn for Singapore
https://www.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/sg/benefits/AscendHiltonHotelsList.pdf
thanks for the heads up. looks like it was just removed yesterday. will update this post.
Spend 3k in one or three months? Article says three. But T&C says one.
Cardholders who apply via The MileLion and spend S$2,000 in the first 3 months of approval will receive 7,500 miles. If they spend a further S$1,000 (i.e. S$3,000 total) within the first month, they will receive a further one-night stay at the Hilton Singapore Orchard.
Any experience of asking for a bigger room (2 adults 1 infant 1 kid) using the voucher, with some cash top up? Thanks
If we sign on with this card, are we obliged to continue and pay the first year annual fee, or can we make the required initial spending, get the points and then cancel the card?