New AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend welcome offer: 28,100 bonus miles & Samsonite luggage

American Express has launched a new welcome offer for the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend, which runs from now till 31 October 2023.

New customers who apply via The MileLion and spend S$3,000 in the first 60 days will receive up to 28,100 bonus miles, plus a Samsonite Red TOIIS C Spinner 75/28 Exp (S$420 retail value).

Interestingly enough, we’re also seeing an offer for existing customers too, who upon spending S$2,000 in the first 60 days will receive up to 18,100 bonus miles. 

Either way, you’ll enjoy the standard AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend benefits such as a 1-night Hilton voucher redeemable at 75 hotels across Asia Pacific and four airport lounge passes.

New AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend sign-up offer

AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend
Apply Here
	New Customers	Existing Customers
Spend S$2,000 (Mo. 1-2)	28.1K	18.1K
Base Miles from S$2,000 (@ 1.2 mpd)	2.4K	2.4K
Spend further S$1,000 (Mo. 1-2)	Samsonite luggage
Base Miles from further S$1,000 (@ 1.2 mpd)	1.2K
Total Spend	S$3K	S$2K
Total Miles	31.7K + Samsonite luggage	20.5K
S$340.20 annual fee must be paid

American Express is offering two different sign-up offers for the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend, depending on whether you count as a new or existing customer.

New customers

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; if you’ve held an American Express KrisFlyer cobrand card before, you won’t receive it a second time.

New customers who sign-up via The MileLion will receive 23,100 miles when they apply by 31 October 2023, receive approval by 14 November 2023, and spend S$2,000 within the first 60 days of approval. 

If they spend a further S$1,000 (i.e. S$3,000 total), they will receive a Samsonite Red TOIIS C Spinner 75/28 Exp luggage, which retails for S$420.

To summarise the offer, by spending S$3,000 in the first 60 days of approval, they will receive:

• 5,000 bonus miles for first spend
• 23,100 bonus miles for meeting S$2,000 spend
• Samsonite RED TOIIS C Spinner 75/28 Exp for meeting S$3,000 spend
• 3,600 base miles for spending S$3,000 @ 1.2 mpd

Existing customers

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; if you’ve held an American Express KrisFlyer cobrand card before, you won’t receive it a second time.

Existing customers who sign-up via The MileLion will receive 13,100 miles when they apply by 31 October 2023, receive approval by 14 November 2023, and spend S$2,000 within the first 60 days of approval. 

To summarise the offer, by spending S$2,000 in the first 60 days of approval, they will receive:

• 5,000 bonus miles for first spend
• 13,100 bonus miles for meeting S$2,000 spend
• 2,400 base miles for spending S$2,000 @ 1.2 mpd

When will bonus miles be credited?

If you are eligible for the 5,000 miles bonus for first-time AMEX Singapore Airlines cobrand cardholders, these will be credited to your KrisFlyer account after the month of approval and first spend.

The remaining bonuses of 23,100 miles + Samsonite luggage/13,100 miles for new/existing  customers will be credited within 12 weeks of the date you meet the spend threshold. 

All questions about fulfilment should be directed to American Express.

Terms & Conditions

• 5,000 bonus miles (first spend offer)
• 23,100 miles + Samsonite luggage / 13,100 miles

What spending is eligible?

American Express provides a list of excluded spending categories here, but the key ones to take note of are:

• GrabPay top-ups
• Insurance
• Public hospitals and polyclinics
• SPC transactions
• Utilities

CardUp, private and non-profit hospitals, education, donations and anything else not explicitly stated in the exclusion list will count as eligible spend. Do note that both education and donations will no longer count as eligible spend from 1 October 2023, however.

All spending on supplementary cards will pool with principal cards when determining whether the minimum spend has been met.

Is it worth it?

Compared to the previous offer, the current offer doubles the minimum spending requirement to S$3,000. However, the payoff is higher as well, with the Samsonite Red TOIIS C Spinner added to the equation.

If you’re an existing American Express cardholder, this is a rare opportunity to get a sign-up bonus too, with a return of up to 18,100 miles for S$2,000 of spend. 

Overview: AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend

Apply Here
Income Req.	N/A*	Points Validity	3 years
Annual Fee	S$340.20	Min. Transfer	N/A
Miles with Annual Fee	None	Transfer Partners	SIA
FCY Fee	2.95%	Transfer Fee	None
Local Earn	1.2 mpd	Points Pool?	N/A
FCY Earn	2 mpd (Jun & Dec)	Lounge Access?	Yes
Special Earn	2 mpd on SIA and KrisShop, 3.2 mpd for Grab	Airport Limo?	No
*AMEX no longer publishes income requirements for the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend. All applications are subject to internal review. For reference, the last published income requirement was S$50,000 p.a.
Cardholder Terms and Conditions

The AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend has an annual fee of S$340.20, which must be paid in the first year (it can be waived from the second year onwards at AMEX’s discretion).

Cardholders earn 1.2 mpd on local spend, and 2 mpd on foreign currency spend in June and December (1.2 mpd otherwise). An uncapped 2 mpd is offered on Singapore Airlines and KrisShop transactions year-round, as well as 3.2 mpd on Grab, capped at S$200 per calendar month.

Key card benefits include: 

• 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 (which allows you to enjoy the 5th night free on award redemptions- very valuable if you’re buying Hilton points)

Cardholders who spend at least S$15,000 on eligible Singapore Airlines tickets 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.

Complete Guide: KrisFlyer Elite Gold benefits

Spending S$15,000 on eligible purchases on Singapore Airlines tickets 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. 

Don’t forget to check out my full review of the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend below. 

Review: AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend

Conclusion

Apply Here

The latest AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend welcome offer gives new customers 28,100 bonus miles and a Samsonite luggage for S$3,000 of spend, and existing customers 18,100 bonus miles for S$2,000 of spend.

While you will need to pay the S$340.20 annual fee, these welcome gifts, plus the Hilton hotels voucher and four complimentary lounge passes, should ease the sting for the first year. 

Remember to apply by 31 October 2023 if you’re interested.