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.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.