Miles vs Cashback: Choose your side and earn up to 34,000 bonus miles plus gifts

Back in 2019, The MileLion and friends banded together to take down the nefarious Budget Babe and her dark forces in SingSaver’s Miles vs Cashback showdown. 

But had you stayed for the post-credits scene, you’d know that the fight wasn’t over yet- I mean, how else would we make sequels otherwise?

And so it’s come to pass that five years later, a new Avengers-level threat has emerged, and once again the battle lines have been drawn. For the next few weeks, Team Miles (captained by yours truly) will do battle with Team Cashback (captained by Naomi Neo, no really) in a contest that is perhaps the best preview of the November 2024 election: you just hope both teams have fun and the world doesn’t end in the process.

I’ll be honest with you. My 2024 bingo card did not have “face-off with Naomi Neo” on it, but who am I to argue with the fates?

How it works

From 8 May to 4 June 2024, Team Miles and Team Cashback will go head to head in a two-round contest, where the winning team for each round is the one with the highest number of applications. 

• Round 1: 8-21 May 2024
• Round 2: 22 May to 4 June 2024

Every application will count as one point, whether submitted by a new-to-bank or existing customer. 

New-to-bank customers will be eligible for regular & team gifts and the lucky draw, while existing customers will only be eligible for the lucky draw. 

Regular & team gifts

New-to-bank applicants will be eligible for SingSaver’s regular gifts, including Apple iPads, Dyson Supersonic hairdryers, and eCapitaVouchers. 

On top of this, new-to-bank applicants will receive an additional team gift ranging from 3,000 to 10,000 Max Miles per card if Team Miles racks up a higher score than Team Cashback in Round 1 (Round 2’s team gift has yet to be announced).

Card	Sign-Up Gifts (Pick One)
Citi PremierMiles Card Apply Review	Apple iPad 9th Gen 10.2″ WiFi 64GB Dyson Supersonic S$350 eCapitaVoucher S$300 cash If Team Miles wins… +10,000 Max Miles
HSBC Revolution Apply Review	Dyson AM07 Tower Fan Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S10 S$250 eCapitaVoucher 15,000 Max Miles If Team Miles wins… +10,000 Max Miles
SCB Journey Card Apply Review	Sony SRS-XB100 and up to 45,000 bonus miles* Apple AirTag and up to 45,000 bonus miles* S$50 cash and up to 45,000 bonus miles* If Team Miles wins… +8,000 Max Miles *First year fee must be paid. If you want a first year fee waiver (same SingSaver gifts, but only 25,000 miles*), apply via this link instead
Citi Rewards Apply Review	Dyson Supersonic Apple iPad 9th Gen 10.2″ WiFi 64GB Dyson V8 Slim Fluffy S$400 eCapitaVoucher S$300 cash If Team Miles wins… +8,000 Max Miles
HSBC TravelOne Card Apply Review	Dyson AM07 Tower Fan Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S10 S$250 eCapitaVoucher 15,000 Max Miles If Team Miles wins… +3,000 Max Miles
Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Apply Review	Samsonite ENOW Spinner 69/25 EXP* Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) with Lightning Charging Case* 10,000 miles* S$200 cashback* If Team Miles wins… +3,000 Max Miles
UOB Lady’s Card Apply Review	Michelin-star dining experience for 2 (⚠️ First 150 only!)* If Team Miles wins… +3,000 Max Miles
*Fulfilled by bank. All other gifts are fulfilled by SingSaver

Do note that the regular gifts shown are accurate as of 9 March 2024, and may subsequently change as the promo period progresses (team gifts are fixed). Clicking on the links will send you to the landing page with the most current offers. 

Here’s a reminder of the definition of new-to-bank for each of the respective banks.

A minimum spend requirement also applies to all cards, as stated below.

The team prize is only awarded to new-to-bank customers, and the maximum team prize you could win is 34,000 Max Miles, broken down into:

• Citi PremierMiles (10,000 Max Miles)
• HSBC Revolution (10,000 Max Miles)
• StanChart Journey Card (8,000 Max Miles)
• Maybank Horizon Visa Signature (3,000 Max Miles)
• UOB Lady’s Card (3,000 Max Miles)

Lucky draw

All applications for participating cards, whether from new-to-bank or existing customers, will be eligible for a lucky draw with the following grand prize:

• Round 1 (8-21 May 2024): 320,000 Max Miles
• Round 2 (22 May to 4 June 2024): TBD

Here’s how you earn chances:

• 1x chance for each application for a participating product (from either team)
• Bonus 1x chance for each application for a participating product (for the winning team)
• Bonus 10x chances for completing the following:
  • Follow @singsaver_sg
  • Post a story using SingSaver’s IG game and tag @singsaver_sg
  • DM @singsaver_Sg your application number

Application steps

1. From 8 May 2024 (5 p.m) to 4 June 2024 (11.59 p.m), apply for a participating product via any of the links in this article
2. Follow the link in the email sent to you and submit your Rewards Redemption Form within 14 days of application
3. Complete the specific requirements for the type of product applied for
4. You will be automatically entered into the draw if you apply for an eligible product

Lucky draw winners will be announced on SingSaver’s contest winners page by 12 November 2024.

Which team should I pick?

You really have to ask?

Well, let me put it this way: here’s a comparison of the team gifts for Team Miles and Team Cashback

The trade-off is 1 Max Mile for 1 cent (with the exception of StanChart cards), so unless you value a Max Mile at less than 1 cent, Team Miles is the one to join. 

But there’s no reason to value a Max Mile at less than 1 cent anyway, because Max Miles can be redeemed for gift cards with Amazon, Best Denki, Deliveroo, Grab, Lazada, TADA, TANGS and many other merchants at a rate of 100 Max Miles= S$1

See what I’m getting at here? I’m not advocating for you to redeem Max Miles for gift cards, because you can get much higher value redeeming them for airline or hotel points, but even if you decide to, you won’t be any worse off than if you chose Team Cashback. 

👍 1,000 Max Miles joining bonus

Sign up for a HeyMax account and get up to 1,000 Max Miles as a welcome bonus

1,000 bonus Max Miles

Max Miles can be transferred to more than 20 airline and hotel loyalty programmes at a 1:1 ratio, without any fees. 

My personal preference is to cash out Max Miles for World of Hyatt points, which would cost me upwards of 1.8 US cents (2.4 SG cents) otherwise. You can stay at the Hyatt Place Bangkok Sukhumvit, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu, Alila Bangsar Kuala Lumpur or the Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka from the equivalent of just 3,500 Max Miles.

Alternatively, consider the following redemption opportunities:

• Singapore to Koh Samui on Bangkok Airways, redeemed via Qatar Privilege Club: 6,000 Max Miles
• Singapore to Bangkok or Phuket on SIA, redeemed via Air Canada Aeroplan: 8,000 Max Miles
• Singapore to Tokyo on Japan Airlines, redeemed via JAL Mileage Bank: 12,000 Max Miles

I’ve written a detailed guide covering your Max Miles redemption options, which you can find below.

What’s the best use of Max Miles?

Can I join both teams?

I already know what you’re thinking, kiasu Singaporean.

“Can I sign up for both miles and cashback cards so that I win something regardless of the outcome?”

You most certainly can, Quisling, but remember: you only count as new-to-bank for the first card you apply for, and the winning team gifts are only for new-to-bank customers.

Here’s an example:

• Vidkun applies for 1x Citi Cash Back Card and 1x Citi PremierMiles Card
• Citi Cash Back Card is approved first, Citi PremierMiles Card is approved second
• Team Miles wins the contest (obviously)
• Vidkun will only receive the regular gift for new-to-bank customers for the Citi Cash Back Card, because he counts as an existing customer for the purposes of the Citi PremierMiles Card application
• If Vidkun’s Citi PremierMiles Card has been approved first, he would receive the regular gift for new-to-bank-customers for the Citi PremierMiles Card and the team gift of 10,000 Max Miles following Team Miles’ win

So if you’re applying for two cards from the same bank, the order of approval will determine which team you’re rooting for.

Conclusion

The Miles vs Cashback showdown is back again, with up to 34,000 bonus miles on offer if when Team Miles emerges victorious. There’s also a lucky draw with a further 320,000 miles up for grabs, so be sure to submit your applications and fill out those rewards redemption forms. 

May the best team win!

Miles, obviously.