Kris+ cutting earn rates at selected merchants from May 2023

From 1 May 2023, popular Kris+ merchants like Harvey Norman, Audio House and Challenger will have earn rates cut to 1 mpd.

Back in August 2021, Singapore Airlines went all-in on Kris+ by launching a mega promotion with up to 9 mpd on merchants across the platform. This offer was originally intended to run for just four months, but was later extended till 31 March 2022, and then indefinitely until further notice. 

S$5 for new Kris+ Users
Get S$5 (in the form of 750 KrisPay miles) when you sign-up with code W644363 and make your first transaction

Well, “further notice” has finally come. From 1 May 2023, Kris+ will cut the earn rates at ~70 merchants, including popular ones like Harvey Norman, Audio House, Challenger and iStudio.

Fortunately, it’s not a wholesale nerf as other merchants have gone unscathed (for now at least!). 

Kris+ earn rates cut from May 2023

Kris+ users currently earn up to 9 mpd at merchants across Singapore, which represents a significant buff to the usual earn rates. 

Earn Rate
(Pre-Aug 2021)
Current Earn Rate
>1 mpd  9 mpd 
1 mpd  6 mpd 
<1 mpd  3 mpd 

Sadly, from 1 May 2023 several merchants will be reducing their earn rates. While the list below isn’t comprehensive, it gives you a picture of who’s affected:

  Current Earn Rate Revised Earn Rate
(From 1 May 23)
Dancing Crab 9 mpd 7 mpd
Douraku Sushi 9 mpd 7 mpd
Duckland 9 mpd 7 mpd
Lao Beijing 9 mpd 7 mpd
LingZhi Vegetarian 9 mpd 7 mpd
QIN Restaurant & Bar 9 mpd 7 mpd
Tung Lok Group 9 mpd 7 mpd
USHIO Sumiyaki & Sake Bar 9 mpd 7 mpd
Anglo Indian Cafe & Bar 9 mpd 6 mpd
PHS Hair Science 9 mpd 6 mpd
Paradise Group Restaurants 6 mpd 5 mpd
Famous Amos 6 mpd 3 mpd
Phoenix Medical Group 6 mpd 3 mpd
Fusion Medical 6 mpd 3 mpd
Minmed Group 6 mpd 3 mpd
Ardennes Health 6 mpd 3 mpd
Fullerton Health 6 mpd 3 mpd
Harvey Norman 4 mpd 1 mpd
iStudio 3 mpd 1 mpd
Audio House 3 mpd 1 mpd
Parisilk 3 mpd 1 mpd
Challenger 3 mpd 1 mpd
ASA Holidays 3 mpd 1 mpd
CTC Travel 3 mpd 1 mpd
UOB Travel 3 mpd 1 mpd
Hong Thai Travel 3 mpd 1 mpd
EU Holidays 3 mpd 1 mpd

There doesn’t seem to be a discernible pattern as to which merchants were impacted. At first it was thought that this was an electronics-specific nerf, since Harvey Norman, Audio House and Challenger were all cut. But we’re also seeing cuts to Famous Amos and PHS Hair Science (I know because I buy it…for a friend). 

Thankfully, it’s not a wholesale nerf because other popular merchants like Bottles & Bottles (6 mpd) and Bacha Coffee (9 mpd ) retain their upsized earn rates- for now.

What card should you use for Kris+?

As a reminder, Kris+ only supports in-app payments with Apple Pay or Google Pay. They also follow the underlying merchant’s regular MCC, so in other words, simply use whatever credit card you’d normally use at that particular merchant. 

Here’s my suggestions for two popular categories: dining and shopping. 

๐Ÿด Best Cards for Kris+ Dining
Card Earn Rate Remarks
UOB Lady’s Card
Apply
6 mpd Max. S$1K per c. month. Must choose dining as 10X category
UOB Lady’s Solitaire
Apply
6 mpd
Max. S$3K per c. month. Must choose dining as 10X category
Citi Rewards + Amaze
Apply
4 mpd Max. S$1K per s. month. Do not use Citi Rewards Card alone- no bonuses
DBS WWMC
Apply
4 mpd Max. S$2K per c. month
HSBC Revolution
Apply
4 mpd Max. S$1K per c. month
UOB Pref. Plat. Visa
Apply
4 mpd Max. S$1.1K per c. month
Maybank Horizon
Apply
3.2 mpd Min. S$300 spend per c. month on any category. Capped at ~S$4.2K per month
KrisFlyer UOB Card
Apply
3 mpd No cap
C. Month= Calendar Month | M. Year= Membership Year
๐Ÿ›๏ธ Best Cards for Kris+ Shopping
Card Earn Rate Remarks
UOB Lady’s Card
Apply
6 mpd Max. S$1K per c. month. Must choose fashion as 10X category
UOB Lady’s Solitaire
Apply
6 mpd Max. S$3K per c. month. Must choose fashion as 10X category
Citi Rewards + Amaze
Apply
4 mpd Max. S$1K per s. month. Do not use Citi Rewards Card alone- no bonuses
DBS WWMC
Apply
4 mpd Max. S$2K per c. month
HSBC Revolution
Apply
4 mpd Max. S$1K per c. month
OCBC Titanium Rewards
Apply
4 mpd Max. S$13,335 per m. year
KrisFlyer UOB Card
Apply
3 mpd No cap
C. Month= Calendar Month | S. Month= Statement Month | M. Year= Membership Year

Conclusion

Kris+ will be scaling back some of its generous earn rates from 1 May 2023, so if you’re planning any big ticket purchases at the affected merchants, you’re going to want to bring them forward.

It remains to be seen if the rest of the rates make it through 2023 unscathed, but you know, make hay and all that. And don’t forget to transfer any miles earned via Kris+ to your KrisFlyer account immediately! Wait longer than seven days (or spend any portion of them via Kris+), and they’re stuck in Kris+ forever. 

Aaron Wong
Aaron Wong
Aaron founded The Milelion to help people travel better for less and impress chiobu. He was 50% successful.

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Lim Y T

Best cards for shopping. Regarding UOB Krirflyer CC, did you forget to add that its’ only for online shopping?

Vince

I have a very noob question, not sure if you can advise? If I go to a restaurant like Canton Paradise and pay using Krispay, does that clock as a an SIA group purchase and also qualify for 3mpd? (Basically I don’t know if Krispay payments are the same as Kris+ payments). Would appreciate greatly if you don’t mind answering. Thank you in advance!

unkown

wish i see this post earlier. Spent quite some money on Kris+ with CRMC only but didn’t receive bonus.

Tony

Good things does not last forever. Like what Aaron have said before…make hay while the sun is shinning.

E C

How do you use the CitiRewards card with Amaze in Kris+? By paying directly with Amaze in Kris+? And the Citirewards card is linked to Amaze.

However I thought Kris+ does not allow payments through cards directly but only through the Apple Pay mobile wallet?

The Citirewards card wont earn points if it is used through the Apple Pay mobile wallet no?

bt tan

I think some merchants allow to “Pay at Store” option.
And Google Pay. Amaze does work on google pay, I believe.

Last edited 1 year ago by bt tan
E C

Thanks Aaron! But I thought that the Citirewards card cannot earn on online spending if done through a mobile wallet, like Google Pay.

From the T&C (10x-rewards-promotion-terms-and-conditions-2020.pdf (citibank.com.sg)): “a Qualifying Charge made at an online retail merchant, excluding mobile wallet and travel-related transactions*. These refer to Qualifying Charges made via the internet or mobile applications, which is determined by system indicators reflecting that it is an online transaction and which are processed by the respective merchants/acquirers as an online transaction through Visa/Mastercard networks. These indicators are decided by the relevant merchant and/or their acquirer and are not determined by Citibank. “

Anthony

For dining, the UOB Pref. Plat. Visa is listed as 4mpd. I thought that the UOB Pref. Plat. Visa won’t get bonus points for in-app payments? (which was mentioned in an old article i found here https://milelion.com/2021/11/29/kris-extends-up-to-13-mpd-mega-miles-promo-until-march-2022/ )

kwt

would UOB Preferred Platinum earn 4 miles for in-app?

Last edited 1 year ago by kwt
Jack

Previous ML article seems to suggest that in app payments are not covered.

Oysterbay

On a similar but separate note – Kris+ check-in bonus has also cut back from the measly $0.50 to now only $0.20!

dizzydee

Hi hi โ€“ where can one find a list of all the Kris+ merchants and their respective mpd? I tried searching via Google but could not findโ€ฆ

Robin

Hi, if i link amaze + citi rewards to gpay and link gpay to kris+. i will be earning 7mpd (under kris+) at duckland + another 4mpd (under citi rewards)? did i understand it to be this way?