Which Rewards Cards Can Help Me Fly Singapore First Class?
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
TPG reader Joe tweeted me with this question about Singapore Airlines:
@thepointsguy– "What would be the best card strategy to save up for Singapore first class?"
I recently flew Singapore Airlines First Class SFO-ICN, and it was an awesome experience even though it wasn't on their A380 Suites Class, which is rumored to be even more amazing. The only tough part of the flight was deciding which champagne I wanted!
Singapore Airlines typically only releases first class award availability to its own frequent flyers (KrisFlyer) even though the airline is a member of the Star Alliance. Luckily, Singapore KrisFlyer is a 1:1 direct transfer partner of the four main transferable points programs:
- American Express Membership Rewards
- Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Citi ThankYou Rewards
- Starwood Preferred Guest
Knowing this, a good card strategy would involve obtaining travel rewards credit cards that bank into these programs and offer high sign-up bonuses or category bonuses.
Right now, the Ink Plus Business Card is offering 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. That bonus alone gives you more than enough points to fly in Singapore Suites Class from JFK to Frankfurt or vice versa. Citi is also offering some great sign-up bonuses: The Citi Premier Card is offering 50,000 ThankYou points after you make $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Beyond the sign-up bonuses, you'll also want to think about which cards will give you the best earning rate for everyday spending. While you only earn 1 point per dollar spent on the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express, you can transfer 20,000 points over to 25,000 KrisFlyer miles. That's like having a built-in 25% bonus, so that card is a good option for purchases that don't earn a bonus otherwise.
Most of the other cards in these programs offer hefty category bonuses, including the ones mentioned above. The Chase Ink Plus card earns 5 points per dollar on office supplies (you can buy a lot of things at office stores besides pens and pencils), and you also earn 5 points per dollar spent on telecommunications services like cable and internet. There are also a lot of 3x categories on cards such as the Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express. Spending in these bonus categories can really help you rake in points and miles quickly!
As always, the TPG To Go App (available on Apple or Android) helps you maximize every dollar you spend by telling you which card offers the most valuable rewards, and the TPG Maximizer can give you some recommendations for which cards to get based on how you spend your money.
For more info on how to get into Singapore's premium cabins, check out this post on How to Fly Singapore Airlines First Class (Almost) Free. Hopefully with these tips you'll soon be flying in style!
If you have any other questions, please tweet me @thepointsguy, message me on Facebook, or send me an email at info@thepointsguy.com.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees