Instant and quick ways to top-up a KrisFlyer miles balance

Picture this: after months of fruitless searching, the award space you’ve been hunting for has suddenly opened up. None of this waitlist nonsense; those seats are staring you right in the face, available for immediate confirmation.

Only one problem- you don’t have enough miles. Or rather, you do, but they’re not in your KrisFlyer account. You need those miles, and you need them now. 

Fortunately, there are numerous ways of topping up a KrisFlyer account either instantly, or within 24 hours. 

In this post, we’ll examine the various options available. 

Instant: Kris+ Earning & Points Transfers

Speed	⚡Instant
Transfer Cost	Free
Opportunity Cost	Kris+ merchants: None Bank points: 15% of the miles you’d normally receive

Earning at Kris+ Merchants

While you shouldn’t be spending miles via Kris+ (since you only get 0.67 cents per mile), there’s absolutely nothing wrong with earning them. 

Kris+ now has more than 500 partners across Australia and Singapore, and paying via the app earns you:

• 1-9 mpd from the Kris+ app
• 4 mpd from pairing the right credit card

Miles earned from the Kris+ app can be transferred instantly to KrisFlyer at a 1:1 ratio with no fees or minimum blocks.

This makes Kris+ a very simple way of topping off your account- just find a participating merchant near you and spend the requisite amount. Popular options include Bottles & Bottles, Challenger, Harvey Norman, and Paradise Group.

You don’t even need to leave home to do it. Kris+ also sells vouchers for selected merchants which can be redeemed later on, letting you enjoy the miles upfront. You’ll enjoy the same earn rate as if you were physically at the outlet itself. 

Alternatively, you can shop on KrisShop via Kris+, where again the miles earned can be instantly transferred to your KrisFlyer account. Do note that unlike shopping on the KrisShop.com website, purchases made on KrisShop via Kris+ can only be delivered to Singapore. 

Kris+ Points Transfers

In addition to earning miles at selected merchants, Kris+ also offers instant conversions of points from the following rewards programmes. 

Programme	Transfer Ratio	Min. Transfer
Read More	1 Citi Mile: 0.85 miles 1 ThankYou Point: 0.34 miles	4,000 Citi Miles 10,000 ThankYou Points
Read More	1 DBS Point: 1.7 miles	100 DBS Points
Read More	1 UNI$: 1.7 miles	1,000 UNI$
	26 STAR$: 1 mile	9,880 STAR$

If you’re transferring Citi, DBS or UOB points, do note that the Kris+ transfer rate represents a 15% haircut compared to the number of miles you’d receive if you used the bank’s transfer portal. For example, 100 DBS Points is normally worth 200 miles via the DBS Rewards portal, but only 170 miles via Kris+.

On the plus side, there are no conversion fees via the Kris+ route, conversion blocks are smaller, and your miles are credited instantly. 

So if you’re looking to do a small top up, this could still be a viable option. How small? Well, a S$27.25 transfer fee at 1.5 cents per mile is 1,817 miles. Based on a 15% haircut, anything less than 12,000 miles could make sense.

Instant: LinkPoints

Speed	⚡Instant
Transfer Cost	Free
Opportunity Cost	1.87-2 cents per mile

LinkPoints is the loyalty programme used by NTUC FairPrice, Cheers, Unity Pharmacy, Caltex and other everyday merchants, and it’s been a KrisFlyer transfer partner since April 2022. 

While converting KrisFlyer miles to LinkPoints is a terrible idea, conversions in the opposite direction can sometimes make sense. LinkPoints can be converted to KrisFlyer miles instantly in the following denominations:

Linkpoints	KrisFlyer Miles
100	50
200	100
1,000	500
2,000	1,070
5,000	2,680

100 LinkPoints can be redeemed for a S$1 rebate, so converting LinkPoints to KrisFlyer miles is essentially buying KrisFlyer miles at 1.87 or 2 cents each, depending on the number transferred.

To convert LinkPoints to KrisFlyer miles, login to the Link Rewards Exchange Page and visit the KrisFlyer transfers page. You’ll see the option to link the two accounts (names on both accounts must match), after which you can make transfers. 

Instant: CapitaStars

Speed	⚡Instant
Transfer Cost	Free
Opportunity Cost	2.6 cents per mile

CapitaStar was added as a KrisFlyer transfer partner in April 2021, and members can instantly convert STAR$ into KrisFlyer miles at the following ratio:

STAR$	KrisFlyer Miles
9,880	380

A maximum of 350,000 STAR$ can be converted each calendar year.

STAR$ can be redeemed for eCapitaVouchers at a rate of 5,000 STAR$ = S$5, so converting STAR$ to KrisFlyer miles is essentially buying KrisFlyer miles at 2.6 cents each. I’d argue this is too high a price to pay, unless you’re only transferring a very small amount. 

To convert CapitaStars to KrisFlyer miles, visit the CapitaStar Rewards Conversion page and login to your account. Select the option for KrisFlyer miles transfers, add your KrisFlyer membership number (names and date of birth on both accounts must match), and enter the number of STAR$ you want to convert. 

Alternatively, you can also transfer CapitaStars via the Kris+ app, as mentioned previously.

Instant: Virgin Australia Velocity Points

Speed	⚡Instant
Transfer Cost	Free
Opportunity Cost	2.7 cents per mile

You probably won’t have a Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer account, since membership is only available to those with a mailing address in selected markets like Australia and New Zealand.

But in the off chance you have one, then you can transfer Virgin Australia Velocity Points instantly to KrisFlyer miles at a rate of 1.55 Velocity Points = 1 KrisFlyer mile. A minimum transfer of 5,000 Velocity Points is required. 

You will need to link your Velocity and KrisFlyer accounts, which can be done by logging into Velocity > Link & Transfer > Airline Points Transfer. Your name and date of birth must match between Velocity and KrisFlyer.

Once accounts are linked, you can proceed with the transfer. 

Unfortunately, such transfers will almost certainly be value negative; Points Hacks Australia values Velocity Points at 1.8 Australian cents apiece (1.73 SG cents), so you’re paying nearly 2.7 SG cents per KrisFlyer mile.

Instant: Buying from Singapore Airlines

Speed	⚡Instant
Transfer Cost	US$40 per 1,000 miles
Opportunity Cost	N/A

Whoever said “for the best prices, go to the source” obviously never bought KrisFlyer miles before. 

Members who have at least 50% of the miles required for an award ticket may purchase the remaining balance from Singapore Airlines. The offer will be made automatically during the online redemption booking process, and miles awarded instantly. 

The cost will be added to the booking summary, and paid along with the usual taxes and fees. 

While this is extremely low-effort, you’ll pay for the convenience. How much? A whopping US$0.04 per mile (S$0.054)!

Because of the high price, this should only be used as an absolute last resort, such as when you need to confirm the seats immediately (even so, you could just as well buy a voucher from Kris+ and get miles instantly without leaving the house!).

Instant: HSBC rewards points

Speed	⚡Instant
Transfer Cost	Free
Opportunity Cost	Whatever you’d have otherwise redeemed with those points

HSBC is currently the only bank in Singapore which offers instant conversions to KrisFlyer. This can be done via its new rewards platform, which was previously exclusive to TravelOne Cardholders but has now been rolled out to all its cards.

HSBC Transfer Partners

✈️ HSBC TravelOne Airline Partners
Frequent Flyer Programme	Conversion Ratio (HSBC : Partner)
	50,000 : 10,000
	40,000 : 10,000
	35,000 : 10,000
	35,000 : 10,000
	35,000 : 10,000
	35,000 : 10,000
	35,000 : 10,000
	30,000 : 10,000
	25,000 : 10,000
	25,000 : 10,000
	25,000 : 10,000
	25,000 : 10,000
	25,000 : 10,000
	25,000 : 10,000
	25,000 : 10,000
	25,000 : 10,000
	25,000 : 10,000

🏨 HSBC TravelOne Hotel Partners
Hotel Programme	Conversion Ratio (HSBC : Partner)
	30,000 : 10,000
	25,000 : 5,000
	25,000 : 10,000
	25,000 : 10,000

All conversion fees are waived. A minimum conversion block of 25,000 HSBC points (10,000 KrisFlyer miles) is required, but subsequently you can make transfers in intervals of just 5 HSBC points (2 KrisFlyer miles). 

So this is basically a no-cost way of transferring miles, though as always, consider whether other transfer partners might offer you better value for the route you’re considering. 

Instant: HighFlyer points

Speed	⚡Instant
Transfer Cost	Free
Opportunity Cost	Whatever you’d have otherwise redeemed with those points

This won’t be an option for everyone, but if you have an AMEX HighFlyer Card, you can instantly convert HighFlyer points into KrisFlyer miles at a 1:1 ratio, in blocks of 1,000 points with no conversion fees. 

Conversion to KrisFlyer
HighFlyer Points	➤	KrisFlyer Miles
1,000		1,000

• Each KrisFlyer account can now receive a maximum of 100,000 miles from HighFlyer points per calendar year, up from the previous limit of 30,000 miles
• There is no longer any limit to the number of nominee accounts that can be paired with a HighFlyer account (although if you want to link more than 15, you’ll need to write in to customer service)
• There is no longer any limit to the number of KrisFlyer miles you can convert from a HighFlyer account per calendar year

To convert HighFlyer Points to KrisFlyer miles, login to your Corporate Travel Manager account, click on Travellers > Add New Traveller. 

Once you’ve added the details, click on Use Points > Convert into KrisFlyer miles. You’ll be able to see how many more points each corporate traveller is eligible to receive for the rest of the year. 

Select the traveller you want to convert points for, as well as the number of points you wish to convert. All conversions will be processed instantly. 

Instant: yuu points transfers

Speed	⚡Instant
Transfer Cost	Free
Opportunity Cost	1.53 cents per point

yuu Rewards Club added KrisFlyer as a transfer partner in 2024, and members can now convert points at a 3.6:1 ratio. 

yuu Points	KrisFlyer miles
3.6 points	1 mile
Min conversion block: 200 yuu Points

Here’s the key points to note:

• Conversions are free of charge
• Conversions are processed instantly
• A minimum conversion block of 200 yuu Points (56 miles) applies, after which conversions are in blocks of 1 mile
• No annual cap on conversions from yuu Points to KrisFlyer miles

To convert yuu points to KrisFlyer miles, open the yuu app, tap on Me > Transfer to KrisFlyer > Transfer Points > Enter KrisFlyer membership > Select points to transfer

Not that it makes that much of a difference, but transfers are rounded up to the nearest KrisFlyer mile, i.e. 209 yuu Points = 59 KrisFlyer miles (rounded up from 58.06).

In terms of opportunity cost, the DBS yuu Card either earns 18% rebates or 10 mpd. On the surface, this appears to be simple maths: the cost per mile is 1.8 cents (18/10).

That’s not quite correct. It would be correct if you were dealing with a cashback card, where the rebate is offset against your monthly bill. But the yuu Card is not a cashback card. It’s a rewards card, where the points need to be offset against future spending.

Here’s a simple illustration. Suppose you spend S$600 on your yuu Card and earn 21,600 points. You now have a choice between:

1. Using those points to offset S$108 of spend at a yuu merchant
2. Converting those points to 6,000 KrisFlyer miles

Choose option 1 implicitly means you forgo the opportunity to earn 1,080 miles on your next transaction at a yuu merchant (because your bill is reduced by S$108, at 10 mpd). Therefore, by choosing the S$108 offset, you’re giving up not 6,000 miles, but 7,080 miles. Based on this, the opportunity cost is 1.53 cents per mile- something much more tolerable. 

Instant: American Express points

Speed	⚡Instant
Transfer Cost	S$20 (waived for all Platinum and Centurion cardholders)
Opportunity Cost	Whatever you’d have otherwise redeemed with those points

American Express Membership Rewards points have a quoted transfer time of one business day, but they reliably show up in KrisFlyer almost instantly, regardless of which day you transfer. 

A S$20 admin fee normally applies, but is waived for all AMEX Platinum Credit Card, Platinum Reserve, Platinum Charge and Centurion cardholders.

The following minimum transfer amounts apply:

• Platinum Charge & Centurion: 400 Membership Rewards Points (250 miles)
• All other cards: 450 Membership Rewards Points (250 miles)

Do note that transfers of miles earned on the AMEX Singapore Airlines co-brand cards like the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend and AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card are not instant. Instead, points are batched and credited to your KrisFlyer account once a month. You can typically expect to see them credited around the end of your statement period. 

<24 hours: Shopping on KrisShop

Speed	⏰ <24 hours
Transfer Cost	Free
Opportunity Cost	N/A

KrisShop is Singapore Airlines’ online retail store, offering fragrances, cosmetics, electronics, clothing, travel accessories, wines and more.

KrisShop normally awards 1.5 mpd on all purchases, but members of the free-to-join KrisShopper programme can earn an additional 0.5-2.5 mpd, depending on tier. 

While the official stance is that miles earned through KrisShop take up to five business days to credit, in practice they reliably come within 24 hours.

The main drawback with KrisShop is that items may be priced higher than competing sites. You should do some comparison shopping and make sure you’re not paying over the odds.

If you’re based in Singapore, consider using KrisShop on Kris+ (mentioned above) for instant miles accrual.

<24 hours: OCBC points

Speed	⏰ <24 hours
Transfer Cost	S$25
Opportunity Cost	Whatever you’d have otherwise redeemed with those points

While OCBC quotes “approximately 21 working days” for miles conversions, in practice, transfers of 90°N Miles, OCBC$ or VOYAGE Miles to KrisFlyer are consistently processed within 24 hours.

Over the past few months, I’ve transferred both OCBC$ and Travel$, and in all cases the miles were credited later that day. 

Transfers of 90°N Miles, OCBC$ or VOYAGE Miles incur a S$25 fee. The following minimum transfer amounts apply:

• 25,000 OCBC$ (10,000 miles)
• 1,000 90°N Miles (1,000 miles)
• 1 VOYAGE mile (1 mile)

Conclusion

If you need an instant recharge of your KrisFlyer balance, the most realistic options would be spending on Kris+, or converting CapitaStars, LinkPoints, HSBC points or yuu points. If all that’s needed is a smaller amount, then it might make sense transferring bank rewards points via Kris+, as the 15% haircut could be offset by the lack of an admin fee. 

Those who are truly desperate could also buy the balance from Singapore Airlines, but given the exorbitant price, this only makes sense if you’re just shy of the number required.

If you’re able to wait a little while longer, or have been granted a few extra days via an award hold, then transfers of AMEX & OCBC credit card points and spending on KrisShop can also be alternatives, with miles usually credited within a day. 

Any other ways to transfer KrisFlyer miles quickly?