KrisFlyer is one of the best overseas-based frequent flyer programs for Australian travellers. Especially so when looking to book Business or First Class with Singapore Airlines and its Star Alliance partners. Earning KrisFlyer miles from credit card spend is also a key way for many KrisFlyer members to earn their points.
KrisFlyer has a broad number of credit card partnerships in Australia. These span American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard and Visa. If you use an eligible credit card, there are some excellent points-earning opportunities out there.
We’ve updated our list of the highest KrisFlyer-earning cards on the market. We’ve included an overview table so you can assess the cards that are out there, versus those you may have in your wallet. Some of the current sign-up bonuses for eligible new card applicants are noted as well.
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer-earning credit cards
| Card | Offer | KrisFlyer Miles earn rate / $ spent | Points Cap | Annual Fee | Our Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Diners Club Card + World Mastercard | 1 mile on Diners 0.375 miles on Mastercard | uncapped | $299 | Read Here |
 HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card ↓ | 0.8 miles up to $3,000 per statement period, and 0.4 miles thereafter, uncapped | uncapped | $450 | Read Here |
 American Express Velocity Platinum ↓ | 0.80 miles on general spend 0.32 miles at government bodies 1.45 miles with Virgin Australia | uncapped | $375 | Read Here |
 American Express Platinum Card ↓ | 0.75 miles on all eligible spend, and 0.33 miles on spend at government bodies | uncapped | $1,450 | Read Here |
 American Express Platinum Business Card ↓ | 0.75 miles on all eligible spend, and 0.33 miles on spend at government bodies | uncapped | $1,750 | Read Here |
 American Express Explorer ↓ | 0.66 mile, and 0.33 miles on spend at government bodies | uncapped | $395 | Read Here |
 American Express Business Explorer ↓ | 0.66 mile, and 0.33 miles on spend at government bodies | uncapped | $149 | Read Here |
 ANZ Rewards Black ↓ | 0.66 miles up to $5,000 per statement period, and 0.33 miles thereafter uncapped | uncapped | $375 | Read Here |
 St.George Amplify Signature Visa ↓ | 0.5 miles | uncapped | $279 | Read Here |
 Westpac Altitude Black ↓ | 0.41 miles | uncapped | $295 | Read Here |
 Citi Prestige Mastercard | 0.4 miles on general spend 0.8 miles at major petrol stations, supermarkets and retailers 1.2 miles at major restaurants, airlines and international spend | uncapped | $700 | Read Here |
 American Express Platinum Edge ↓ | 0.33 miles on general spend including utilities and ATO 0.66 mile on overseas spend 1 miles at supermarkets and petrol stations | uncapped | $195 | Read Here |
 Commbank Ultimate Awards Card | 0.33 miles on general spend 0.66 miles at major supermarkets, department stores and petrol stations 1 mile on international spend | $10,000 per statement period | $35/month | Read Here |
How to analyse this list
For all the cards and offers listed on this page, we are only touching on the ‘effective earn rate’. Unfamiliar with that term? It’s when points in the parent bank / credit card rewards program are transferred to KrisFlyer. It’s also a way to compare the specific points earn rates for each card, even though they may differ across various credit card rewards programs.
This helps get through the weeds, as we’re crunching the numbers behind each card’s headline earn rates and transfer rates to frequent flyer programs.
Each card has other benefits, too. For instance, being able to earn points with other, competing airlines. Annual fees and terms and conditions can also very between cards, so be sure to check out the full guide for each one.
There’s also the signup bonus of a card to consider. A large signup bonus may help to offset a lower earn rate on a card, so bear that in mind. The amount spent via your credit card each month can also play a role. So too can how long you plan to keep the card for.
Each card offer, with bonus, fee and other offer information on this page will be correct at the date of publication. However, please note that we update offers over time – and not necessarily instantaneously when a bank changes their deal.
Transferring to KrisFlyer through Velocity
One of the unique things about Singapore Airlines’ partnership with Virgin Australia is that you can immediately transfer points/miles between the two programs. This happens at a rate of 1.55 points/miles in one program = one point/mile in the other.
For example, 1.55 Velocity Points can become one KrisFlyer mile. Converting in the opposite direction, 1.55 KrisFlyer miles can become one Velocity Point. (Yes, there is a bit of a value ‘haircut’ every time you convert – so don’t send them back and forth repeatedly).
What does this mean for credit card choice? Well, this opens up any Velocity-linked card to KrisFlyer transfers. You’ll need at least 5,000 points in Velocity to be able to transfer. It’s a very useful way to earn KrisFlyer miles from a broader range of credit cards.
This partnership is also why we’d be surprised to see a KrisFlyer-branded credit card in the market again here in Australia. Westpac used to issue one, but it’s no longer open to new applicants.
As a result, we’ve included Velocity-branded cards in this KrisFlyer round-up. For the points earned, we’ve specified their effective earn rate per dollar after transferring points to KrisFlyer.
Some current offers for key Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer-earning credit cards
Many other credit cards with lower annual fees are also linked to KrisFlyer, but with lower points earn rates too. Check out the cards table for the list.
I read that one can convert the Gold status to 40,000 points. Is this an option for all or for those that hold gold status at the time. Web travel business so don’t really need the Gold status but the extra 40000 points will make a difference. Thank you for the thoroughness of your articles.
Any thoughts on the NAB Rewards signature card for Krisflyer redemption?
For the American Express Platinum Edge card, how do you arrive at 1.125 Krisflyer miles per $1? Shouldn’t it be 1.5 Krisflyer miles per $1
Our guide states the following regarding the Platinum Edge card:
0.5 point on general spend including utilities and ATO
1 points on overseas spend
1.5 points at supermarkets and petrol stations
As long as you keep transferring points to your Krisflyer before reaching the 100,000 limit you can consider this card also uncapped.
However the points are bonused on earning them, not on transferring them. You can see this on your points activity statement – you’ll see double, up until the point at which you earn 100,000. After that they earn at 1 point per dollar. The transfer rate to KrisFlyer doesn’t change though, so the card does have a cap for the 2 points per $ earn rate – but you do keep earning after the cap (points don’t drop down to 0).
I didn’t factor in the St. George birthday bonus into the earn rate – people should if they intend to keep the card year on year, but firstly if you don’t keep the card until that point then the earn rate is 0.75, and secondly, just like most of the cards on the list – they could devalue their earn rates or take away that feature at any time, so I chose not to factor it in given it’s a long-term benefit.
Any thoughts on the NAB Rewards signature card for Krisflyer redemption?
The DJs Amex would give:
1.5 miles at supermarkets and fuel
1 mile at DJs
0.5 miles on everything else
The Platinum DJs Amex would give:
1.5 miles at supermarkets and fuel
2 miles at DJs
0.5 miles on everything else
Unless you shop a lot at DJs the regular card looks like a good deal for supermarkets and fuel (especially for only a $99 annual fee).