2017 Guide to the Best Credit Cards in Singapore for Earning Miles

As 2016 comes to an end, it is important to look ahead in the new year and plan for your mileage accrual (and redemption!) next year. Miles are worth a lot - especially when you use them wisely and redeem them in premium cabin classes. Obviously, there are people in the market that prefers cash backs over miles for instant gratification and sometimes I feel like no amount of convincing can sway them over but in all honestly, we need them. We can't have the whole Singapore fighting to redeem those premium cabin seats all at once! So here it is, the list of the best credit cards in Singapore to get in order to earn maximum miles.

Click HERE to find out what you can do with Miles!

1. DBS Woman's World MasterCard

DBS Woman's World MasterCard | Photo Credit: DBS

Apply for the DBS Woman's World MasterCard here!

This is perhaps Singapore's most public secret (in the credit card market anyway) - the DBS Woman's World MasterCard (which men can apply and get approved for as well!) earns you 4 miles per dollar on all eligible online transactions. While the terms and conditions have been made a little stricter over the year, it is still a fantastic card to have if you tend to purchase things online (e.g. shopping, flights, hotels or even subscriptions for services). Also, if you are a fan of loyalty programs, this is an excellent card to get SPG Gold for whole of 2017 with just one eligible stay. 

Caveat(s): Be sure to apply for the World MasterCard (and not the MasterCard) version. DBS Points are issued in intervals of S$5 and you will only receive maximum miles on up to S$2,000 worth of eligible spending each month. DBS Points also expire in 12 months so it's definitely Earn and Burn for this card. 

2. UOB Preferred Platinum Visa Card

UOB Preferred Platinum Visa Card | Photo Credit: UOB

Apply for the UOB Preferred Platinum Visa Card here!

I know of people who hate UOB with a vengeance and I guess I do not blame them for it. With that being said, banks are a business organisation after all and obviously one of the ultimate goals for a business is to make a profit - so you really can't blame them for clamping down on benefits! The UOB Preferred Platinum Visa Card is a great card if and only if you know what exactly is included to earn you 10X UNI$ (which also equates to 4 miles per dollar of eligible spend). As a rule of thumb, maximum miles and points are issued on online shopping, entertainment as well as Visa payWave transactions. 

Caveat(s): UOB UNI$ are issued in blocks of S$5 spend - therefore spending S$4.99 will give you nothing at all. The 10X UNI$ for online and Visa payWave transactions is capped at UNI$24,000 per calendar year. Various categories of online transactions are excluded from earning the bonus UNI$. 

3. OCBC Titanium Rewards Card

OCBC Titanium Rewards Card | Photo Credit: OCBC

Apply for the OCBC Titanium Rewards Card here!

This World MasterCard has got to be OCBC's best card so far - sure the Frank Card used to be decent as a cash back card (especially when you stack it with various Zuji promotions) and the beautiful OCBC VOYAGE Card is actually not that fantastic after all. The newly refreshed OCBC Titanium Rewards Card however, is a very much welcomed change - hey you even get to choose blue or pink for the colour of your card! You will earn 4 miles per dollar when you make eligible spend (online and offline) on clothing, shoes, bags, department stores, electronics and gadgets as well as babies' and children's wear. In fact, you will also earn maximum miles on Personal Care products as well as Apple Pay or Android Pay transactions until 31 December 2016 to celebrate the launch of this card.

Caveat(s): Earn up to 120,000 OCBC$ (equivalent to S$12,000 of eligible spending in bonus categories) per card anniversary - this is not based on calendar year so be weary of that. 

4. UOB Visa Signature Card

Apply for the UOB Visa Signature Card here!

UOB Visa Signature Card | Photo Credit: UOB

If you spend at least S$1,000 in a foreign currency per statement period in online or offline transactions, the UOB Visa Signature Card is for you. Once you have spent at least S$1,000 in equivalent foreign currency, you will earn 10X UNI$ (4 miles per dollar) on that eligible amount (up to S$2,000). Alternatively, if you spend at least S$1,000 in local currency (SGD) on Visa payWave and Petrol (with the exception of Shell) transactions, you will also earn 10X UNI$ (4 miles per dollar) on those spend. 

Caveat(s): Note the minimum S$1,000 spending requirement and S$2,000 spending maximum in each statement period. UOB UNI$ are issued in blocks of S$5 spend - therefore spending S$4.99 will give you nothing at all. 

5. Citibank Rewards Card

Earn up to 8 Miles per Dollar with Citibank Rewards Card | Photo Credit: Citibank 

Apply for the Citibank Rewards Card here!

If spending on Amazon is your mantra then the Citibank Rewards Card is your best friend - you will receive 20X Citi Dollars (which is equivalent to a whooping 8 miles per dollar!) on eligible transactions made on Amazon. The maximum amount of Citi Dollars that each Eligible Cardholder can earn under this Promotion is capped at 20,000 Citi Dollars per statement cycle. Otherwise, this card will also earn you 10X Citi Dollars (4 miles per dollar) when you shop for clothes, bags and shoes or at departmental stores or online shopping websites.

Caveat(s): 10X Rewards capped at maximum of 120,000 Rewards points (equivalent to S$12,000 of bonus spending) per card anniversary year. Apply for both Visa and World MasterCard versions if you intend to spend more than S$12,000 on bonus categories. 

Final Thoughts

Obviously this is not an exhaustive list to the credit cards that you should be applying for or carrying in your wallet but these five cards right here are a great way to start collecting miles and putting them towards free premium cabin travel - check out my experience in Business Class on Singapore Airlines and ANA!