The easiest first business class ticket from Singapore is a KrisFlyer Saver award to Bangkok or Vietnam for 25,000 miles one way. Japan or Korea is 54,500 miles, and Europe is 108,500. With one general miles card and one 4 mpd card, S$2,000 a month of spending earns that in about five months. But miles are only worth chasing if you have big-ticket items or big monthly spending, because tracking it all takes effort.
How We Flew Suites to Switzerland on Miles
In 2018, we flew Singapore Airlines Suites to Zurich for our honeymoon, paid for with miles. We didn't earn them from flying: they came from spending we had to do anyway, our wedding and our home renovation. Big one-off bills like these add up to a lot of miles when they go on the right card, which is how we went straight past business class to Suites. Read about the flight in our A380 Suites review, Singapore to Zurich.
Is Collecting Miles Worth It? Our Honest Take
I don't recommend chasing miles unless you have big-ticket items coming up or big spending every month. It isn't easy to keep track of all your spending: which card earns bonus miles for which category, when you've hit each card's monthly cap, and which transactions don't count. Get it wrong and you earn far fewer miles than you planned.
Miles worked for us because of our wedding and renovation. If your spending is small and steady, a simple card you don't have to think about, or buying tickets in a sale like Singapore Airlines' Time To Fly travel fair, may suit you better. If you do have large spending ahead, the steps below are how to make it count.
Business class at a glance (KrisFlyer Saver, one way from Singapore)
| Bangkok, Vietnam, Philippines | 25,000 miles |
|---|---|
| Japan, Korea | 54,500 miles |
| Europe (e.g. London) | 108,500 miles |
| You still pay | Airport taxes and fees in cash |
| Miles expire | 3 years after you earn them, so plan around a real trip |
The plan
- How we flew Suites to Switzerland on miles
- Is collecting miles worth it? Our honest take
- Pick your first business class route
- Open a KrisFlyer account
- Use the right two cards
- Do the maths for your own spending
- Transfer points at the right time
- Book a Saver award, or save 30% with Spontaneous Escapes
- Avoid the mistakes that cost miles
1. Pick Your First Business Class Route
Start with the destination, not the card. Short flights cost far fewer miles, so your first business class ticket can come much sooner than you think. These are KrisFlyer Saver prices for one way in business class, from the award chart in effect since 1 November 2025.
| From Singapore to | Business Saver (one way) | Why it's a good first redemption |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila | 25,000 miles | Reachable in months, and a short taste of business class |
| Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Busan | 54,500 miles | Overnight flights where a flat bed really matters |
| London, Paris, Zurich | 108,500 miles | The big goal: a 13-hour flight in a bed |
Japan and Korea are the sweet spot for families: the flights are long enough to enjoy a flat bed, and the miles are within reach in about a year. See our tips for flying with a baby if you're bringing little ones.
2. Open a KrisFlyer Account
KrisFlyer is Singapore Airlines' free frequent flyer programme, and it's where your miles will end up. Sign up on the Singapore Airlines website, and add your KrisFlyer number every time you fly SIA or Scoot. You can also earn miles with partners through the Kris+ app.
3. Use the Right Two Cards
Most people earn the bulk of their miles from everyday spending. The simplest set-up is two cards: a 4 mpd card for online and contactless spending, and a general miles card for everything else.
The cards we use
These are the cards I personally use for overseas spending today. I explain how I pair them in our guide to the best credit cards for overseas spending.
- Standard Chartered Beyond: for dining and general overseas spend (a higher-tier card with a hefty annual fee, best if you hold Priority banking status)
- Citi Rewards with Amaze: 4 mpd for most other overseas spend (excluding travel), up to S$1,000 per statement month. Only use Amaze overseas—it charges a 1% fee (minimum S$0.50) on local SGD spend.
- UOB Lady's Solitaire: 4 mpd on two categories I pick each quarter, such as travel and dining, capped at a strict S$750 per category each month (S$1,500 total)
- Trust Cashback Card: for anything else once I hit my monthly caps, with no foreign transaction fee
Pairing rules like Citi Rewards with Amaze and category caps have changed before, so always check the latest terms before a big trip.
A 4 mpd card for online and contactless spend
These earn about three times more than a general card on the categories they cover, up to a monthly cap.
| Card | Earns | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| HSBC Revolution | 4 mpd on eligible online and contactless spend (3.33 mpd for KrisFlyer) | Capped at S$1,000 a month; KrisFlyer converts at 30,000 points to 10,000 miles, so you get 3.33 mpd for SIA (or the full 4 mpd for partners like Asia Miles and Avios) |
| Citi Rewards | 4 mpd on online spend | Capped at S$1,000 per statement month; travel spending is excluded |
A general miles card for everything else
| Card | Local spend | Overseas spend | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| UOB PRVI Miles | 1.4 mpd | 2.4 mpd (3 mpd in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam) | Strong for regional trips |
| HSBC TravelOne | 1.2 mpd (1.0 mpd for KrisFlyer) | 2.4 mpd (2.0 mpd for KrisFlyer) | Simple, no cap and free instant transfers, though KrisFlyer converts at a lower rate than other airlines |
| DBS Altitude | 1.3 mpd | 2.2 mpd | DBS points don't expire |
| Citi PremierMiles | 1.2 mpd | 2.2 mpd | Citi Miles don't expire |
| KrisFlyer UOB | 1.2 mpd (3 mpd on SIA bookings) | 2.4 mpd | Best if you book SIA flights often; some bonus rates need S$1,000 of SIA spend a year |
Not sure which suits you? Compare miles cards and current sign-up gifts on SingSaver. Sign-up bonuses can be worth thousands of miles, which can cut months off your goal.
mpd means miles per dollar. A card that earns 1.2 mpd gives you 1,200 miles for S$1,000 of spending. Rates and caps above are from November 2026 and change often, so check the bank's terms before you apply.
4. Do the Maths for Your Own Spending
Here's an example for a household spending S$2,000 a month, split evenly:
| Spending | Card | Miles a month |
|---|---|---|
| S$1,000 online and contactless | 4 mpd card | 4,000 |
| S$1,000 everything else | General miles card at 1.3 mpd | 1,300 |
| Total | 5,300 |
At 5,300 miles a month, you'd reach 25,000 miles for Bangkok in about 5 months, and 54,500 miles for Japan or Korea in about 10 months. On a general card alone at 1.3 mpd, the same spending earns 2,600 miles a month, so the Japan ticket would take almost two years. Pairing the two cards roughly doubles your pace.
Big one-off expenses: this is how we earned our Suites miles. If you have a wedding, renovation or other large bill coming up, ask your vendors whether they accept credit cards and whether they add a card surcharge. A 2% to 3% surcharge can cost more than the miles are worth. Also check your card's exclusions and whether a large payment counts as eligible spend, and only charge what you can pay off in full.
Overseas spend: general miles cards earn more abroad (2.2 to 3 mpd), but banks charge a foreign currency fee of about 3.25%. You're effectively paying for those miles, so only put overseas spending on the card if you'd spend it anyway.
5. Transfer Points at the Right Time
Most cards don't give you KrisFlyer miles directly. You earn bank points, then transfer them to KrisFlyer, usually for a small conversion fee. Some cards, like the KrisFlyer UOB, credit miles straight to KrisFlyer.
Don't transfer too early. KrisFlyer miles expire three years after you earn them, while DBS and Citi miles cards' points don't expire. Keep points in the bank until you've found award seats, then transfer what you need. Pool your transfers into fewer, larger ones to save on fees.
6. Book a Saver Award
Saver awards are the cheapest, but seats are limited. Search on the Singapore Airlines website or app with "Redeem flights" switched on, and be flexible by a few days.
Book as early as you can. Singapore Airlines opens bookings 355 days in advance, and that's the best time to find Saver seats. If you're travelling as more than two people, plan ahead: there are only a few Saver seats on each flight, so finding three or four together on the same flight gets much harder closer to the date, especially in the school holidays.
Tip: count 355 days back from your travel date and put a reminder in your calendar, so you can search the day the seats open.
You'll still pay airport taxes and fees in cash. A business class ticket also gets you into the lounge before your flight, like the SilverKris Lounge at Incheon. If you're waiting for the next Singapore Airlines sale to pay cash for some legs instead, see our Time To Fly travel fair guide.
Flying with a baby on miles: children under 2 sitting on your lap don't use miles, but you pay 10% of the adult fare in cash. You can't add a lap infant when you book online, so book your own award seats first, then call Singapore Airlines directly to add your baby. For more on flying with little ones, see our first time flying with a baby guide.
Flexible on dates? Save 30% with Spontaneous Escapes
If you can travel at short notice, Singapore Airlines' monthly KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes promotion is the easiest way to make your miles go further. It takes 30% off Saver award prices on selected flights for travel the following month. We booked our business class flights to Shanghai this way and saved 30% of the miles; read our Spontaneous Escapes post for that trip.
| Business Saver, one way | Usual | With 30% off |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok, Vietnam, Philippines | 25,000 miles | about 17,500 miles |
| Japan, Korea | 54,500 miles | about 38,150 miles |
Routes change every month, so these are examples only: a route is only discounted if it's in that month's list.
How it works:
- Watch for the release around the 15th of each month (the next working day if the 15th is a weekend or public holiday). Seats often appear on the website in the morning, before the announcement.
- Check which routes are included. Discounts are on selected Singapore Airlines flights to and from Singapore, in economy, premium economy and business. Suites and first class aren't included, and some routes are discounted in one direction only.
- Your travel dates must fall in the following month, and blackout dates can apply.
- Book online on the Singapore Airlines website or app, and choose the "Promo" award. You can't book it by phone or mix it with a regular Saver award in the same booking.
- Pay the taxes and fees in cash. The 30% discount only applies to the miles.
The catch: Spontaneous Escapes tickets can't be changed, cancelled or waitlisted, so only book when your dates are certain. Since you can't get your miles back if plans change, it's worth having travel insurance that covers award tickets.
7. Avoid the Mistakes That Cost Miles
- Carrying a balance: card interest of around 26% a year wipes out the value of any miles. Pay your bill in full every month.
- Missing the cap: once you hit a 4 mpd card's monthly cap, switch to your general card for the rest of the month.
- Wrong category: some transactions don't earn bonus miles, such as certain bill payments, insurance and e-wallet top-ups. Check your card's exclusion list.
- Letting miles expire: only transfer points when you're ready to book.
- Applying for too many cards at once: start with two you'll actually use.
FAQ
Is collecting miles worth it?
Only if you have big-ticket items coming up or big spending every month. It isn't easy to keep track of which card earns bonus miles on what, the monthly caps and the exclusions. With small, steady spending, a simple card or a cash fare in a sale may suit you better.
How many miles do I need for business class from Singapore?
On a KrisFlyer Saver award, one way in business class costs 25,000 miles to Bangkok or Vietnam, 54,500 miles to Japan or Korea, and 108,500 miles to Europe, based on the chart in effect since 1 November 2025.
What is the fastest way to earn KrisFlyer miles in Singapore?
Pair a 4 mpd card for online and contactless spend, such as HSBC Revolution or Citi Rewards, with a general miles card for everything else. Sign-up bonuses can add thousands of miles at the start.
Do KrisFlyer miles expire?
Yes. KrisFlyer miles expire three years after you earn them. Points on cards like DBS Altitude and Citi PremierMiles don't expire, so keep them in the bank until you're ready to book.
Can I earn miles from wedding or renovation spending?
Yes, if your vendors accept credit cards without a big surcharge. We earned the miles for our 2018 Suites flights to Switzerland from our wedding and home renovation. Check your card's exclusions and pay the bill in full.
How far ahead can I book a KrisFlyer award?
Singapore Airlines opens bookings 355 days in advance. If you're travelling as more than two people, book as close to that as you can, because there are only a few Saver seats on each flight.
What is KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes?
A monthly Singapore Airlines promotion that takes 30% off Saver award prices on selected flights to and from Singapore, for travel the following month. It's usually released around the 15th of each month. Tickets can't be changed or refunded.
Do I pay anything for an award ticket?
Yes. You pay airport taxes and fees in cash, even when the fare itself is paid with miles.
How do I add a baby to a KrisFlyer award ticket?
Children under 2 sitting on your lap pay 10% of the adult fare in cash instead of miles. You can't add them online: book your own award seats first, then call Singapore Airlines directly to add your baby.
Is it worth earning miles if I carry a credit card balance?
No. Card interest of around 26% a year is far more than the miles are worth. Only chase miles if you pay your bill in full every month.
Award prices, earn rates and caps were checked in November 2026 and change often. Always confirm with Singapore Airlines and your bank before you apply or book.