American Express has launched a new welcome offer of up to 36,800 bonus miles for the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend, which runs from now till 30 September 2024.
New-to-AMEX and existing AMEX customers can earn 36,800 bonus miles and 26,800 bonus miles respectively with a minimum spend of S$1,000 in the first 30 days. Cardholders can also look forward to the regular AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend benefits such as an annual free Hilton night certificate and four airport lounge passes.
This promotion is part of American Express’ 30 Million Miles Campaign, which offers a limited-time upsize of welcome offers for the AMEX Platinum Charge, AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend and AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card until the miles pool is exhausted.
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| Campaign Details |
| โ What happens when the miles pool runs dry? |
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In case you’re concerned about what happens when the 30,000,000 miles run out, don’t worry. The campaign doesn’t literally end the moment the miles pool is exhausted. That’s just a signal that it’s time to wrap up the campaign, and I’ll update this article accordingly to reflect the new end date. No update means the campaign is still live! In other words, anyone who submits an application during the promotion period will be eligible for the upsized welcome offer, even if the pool runs out before approval. |
AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend welcome offer
 AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend |
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| Apply Here |
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| New-to-AMEX | Existing | |
| First Spend | 5,000 miles | 5,000 miles |
| Spend S$1,000 (First 30 days) |
31,800 miles | 21,800 miles |
| Base Miles from S$1,000 (@ 1.2 mpd) |
1,200 miles | 1,200 miles |
| Total Spend | S$1,000 | S$1,000 |
| Total Miles | 38,000 miles | 28,000 miles |
| S$343.35 annual fee must be paid |
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American Express is offering two different sign-up offers for the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend, depending on whether you count as a new-to-AMEX or existing AMEX customer.
New-to-AMEX
| โ Definition |
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New-to-AMEX customers are defined as those who:
For avoidance of doubt, there is no โtimeout periodโ for a customer with a recently-cancelled card to be considered new (provided that card is not an AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend). However, all approvals are subject to internal review. The AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend is a distinct product from the AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card, AMEX PPS Club Card and AMEX Solitaire PPS Club Card. |
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, so if youโve held an American Express KrisFlyer cobrand card before, you wonโt receive it a second time.
New-to-AMEX customers who spend at least S$1,000 within the first month of approval (defined as 30 calendar days) will receive 31,800 bonus KrisFlyer miles.
To summarise the offer, by spending S$1,000 in the first 30 days of approval, you’ll receive 38,000 miles, broken down as follows:
- 5,000 bonus miles for first spend
- 31,800 bonus miles for meeting S$1,000 spend
- 1,200 base miles for spending S$1,000 @ 1.2 mpd
Existing customers
| โ Definition |
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Existing customers are defined as those who:
The AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend is a distinct product from the AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card, AMEX PPS Club Card and AMEX Solitaire PPS Club Card. |
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, so if youโve held an American Express KrisFlyer cobrand card before, you wonโt receive it a second time.
Existing customers who spend at least S$1,000 within the first month of approval (defined as 30 calendar days) will receive 21,800 bonus KrisFlyer miles.
To summarise the offer, by spending S$1,000 in the first 30 days of approval, you’ll receive 28,000 miles, broken down as follows:
- 5,000 bonus miles for first spend
- 21,800 bonus miles for meeting S$1,000 spend
- 1,200 base miles for spending S$1,000 @ 1.2 mpd
When will the bonuses be credited?
If you’re 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 bonus of 21,800/31,800 miles will be credited within 10 weeks of the date you meet the spend threshold.
All questions about fulfilment should be directed to American Express.
What spending is eligible?
American Express provides a list of excluded spending categories here, but the key ones to take note of are:
- Donations
- Education
- GrabPay top-ups
- Insurance
- Public hospitals and polyclinics
- SPC transactions
- Utilities
CardUp and private hospitals, and anything else not explicitly stated in the exclusion list will count as eligible spend. Do note there are certain restrictions on AMEX payments with CardUp, as summarised in the article below.
All spending on supplementary cards will pool with principal cards when determining whether the minimum spend has been met.
Is it worth it?
The AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend’s S$343.35 annual fee must be paid, but in return for that you get:
- 26,800/36,800 bonus miles (worth S$402/S$552 at a value of 1.5 cents per mile)
- One-night stay at participating Hilton Hotels across Asia Pacific
- 4x Plaza Premium Lounge passes
For perspective, the new-to-AMEX total haul of 38,000 miles would be enough for a round-trip Economy Class ticket to Taipei, and you can stretch where you go even further if you’re able to travel during Spontaneous Escapes.
Terms & Conditions
Hilton free night certificate
AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend cardholders receive an annual Hilton free night voucher, valid at participating Hilton properties across Asia Pacific.
The list of participating hotels for 2024 features 208 hotels, including the Waldorf Astoria Chengdu, Hilton Garden Inn Kyoto Shijo Karasuma, and Conrad Bangkok. Obviously, you want to get maximum value from your voucher by redeeming as expensive a property as you can find!
AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend releases Hilton free night properties for 2024
Overview: AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend
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| Apply Here | |||
| Income Req. | N/A* | Points Validity | 3 years |
| Annual Fee | S$343.35 |
Min. Transfer |
N/A |
| FCY Fee | 3.25% | 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$343.35, 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.
Frankly speaking, these aren’t the best earn rates on the market, and can be easily bested by other alternatives. This is a card you get for the welcome offer and hotel/lounge perks, not so much for day-to-day spend.
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 Singapore Airlines tickets in the first membership year will receive a fast-track to KrisFlyer Elite Gold status, bypassing the usual qualification requirement.
Spending S$15,000 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.
Conclusion
| AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend |
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| Apply Here |
American Express is now offering up to 36,800 bonus KrisFlyer miles for new AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend Cardholders. Together with the annual Hilton free night certificate and four lounge passes, you should be able to more than cover the first year’s S$343.35 annual fee, and then some.
Since CardUp transactions count as eligible spend, you could easily meet the S$1,000 minimum spend at a cost of just S$26 (given a 2.6% admin fee).
