Rewards Updates: KrisFlyer devaluation: How the Saver vs Advantage gap will widen

Source:

https://milelion.com/2025/09/05/krisflyer-devaluation-how-the-saver-vs-advantage-gap-will-widen/

ChatGPT:

Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer programme currently offers three award types — Saver, Advantage, and Promo — with Access awards launching on 1 November 2025. For most members, however, the real trade-off remains between Saver and Advantage. Saver awards cost fewer miles but are harder to secure, while Advantage offers better availability and flexibility at a premium.

The November 2025 devaluation significantly widens this premium. Saver awards will rise modestly (Economy: –5% to +5%, Business: +5%, First: +5%, except Zone 10 which sees up to +20%). Advantage awards, however, will climb by 10–15% across cabins. This contrasts with the July 2022 devaluation, which had narrowed the gap by raising Saver more steeply than Advantage.

From November 2025, the Advantage premium in Economy will average ~100% (double Saver), making it largely irrelevant except on monopoly routes or when cash fares spike. Business Class Advantage premiums will return to ~60% above Saver, similar to pre-2022 levels. For long-haul Europe and US routes, premiums jump from 20% to 30% — still tolerable for those seeking certainty, but harder to justify for two-person redemptions. First Class premiums revert to ~80%, with Suites on high-demand routes (e.g., London, Sydney, Frankfurt) virtually Saver-unavailable, making Advantage the only realistic choice for many.

Overall, the widening Saver–Advantage gap reverses recent trends. Travellers unwilling to pay higher premiums will need to be flexible with dates or explore partner programmes like Asia Miles, EVA Infinity MileageLands, or Qatar Privilege Club. For many, Advantage may shift from a reluctant compromise to an increasingly unattractive option.

Opinion:

Nice breakdown — it really shows how complex these changes can be. 

Airline partner programmes are like an art form, constantly shifting and evolving. 

For travellers, the challenge is keeping up with these developments and adjusting strategies accordingly. 

What worked last year may no longer be the best option today, which is why staying informed is just as important as collecting miles in the first place.

Rewards Updates: UOB’s new “2-in-1” cards: What’s with all the sub-caps?

Source:

https://milelion.com/2025/08/31/uobs-new-2-in-1-cards-whats-with-all-the-sub-caps/

ChatGPT:

UOB has introduced “sub-caps” across three of its most popular rewards cards, reshaping how cardholders can maximise bonus miles. Previously, unified caps allowed flexibility, letting users concentrate spend in one category. Now, caps are split, effectively turning each card into a “2-in-1” product with separate limits for each bonus category.

For example, the UOB Lady’s Solitaire’s monthly cap was cut from S$2,000 to S$1,500, split into S$750 per category. The UOB Visa Signature’s cap rose from S$2,000 to S$2,400, but divided into S$1,200 each for overseas spending and petrol/contactless. From October 2025, the UOB Preferred Platinum Visa’s cap increases from S$1,110 to S$1,200, split into S$600 for mobile contactless and S$600 for selected online transactions.

The catch: spending in one category alone will no longer maximise rewards. For Visa Signature, using it solely for overseas spend caps earnings at 4,800 miles monthly, down from 8,000. To unlock the higher cap, cardholders must spend across both categories—challenging if overseas spending isn’t consistent.

Workarounds include using supplementary cards to separate spending categories, or maxing one category early each month (e.g., buying vouchers). Still, the changes add complexity, increasing the likelihood of breakage as casual users underspend or misallocate spend.

While many view this as a nerf, Kovacs-style optimisers could extract slightly more miles than before if they consistently hit both sub-caps. In practice, most won’t. UOB’s move reduces reward costs without slashing earn rates outright, effectively filtering casual users from dedicated optimisers.

In short, UOB’s sub-caps make cards harder to use efficiently. Rewards remain, but only for those willing to track spending closely and jump through extra hoops.

Opinion:

UOB's trying to torture us.

More micro-management required 😓

Wonder if HeyMax app can be updated to allow download or summation of total spent. This will allow easier tracking of category spendings.

Rewards Updates : KrisFlyer devaluation: Should you book speculative awards now?

Source: 

https://milelion.com/2025/08/28/krisflyer-devaluation-should-you-book-speculative-awards-now/

ChatGPT: 

Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer programme will raise the cost of most awards and upgrades from 1 November 2025, prompting many to consider speculative bookings. Awards redeemed by 31 October 2025 follow the old chart, while waitlists clearing after 1 November use the new rates. Saver awards will rise about 5% on average (with Zone 10 hit hardest), while Advantage awards will jump 15–20%, making premium cabin redemptions pricier.

That said, the actual savings from early bookings are often modest. For instance, Business Saver to Japan rises just 2,500 miles, and Perth just 2,000 miles. The biggest hit is Zone 10 (Africa, Middle East, Turkey), where Singapore–Cape Town in Business jumps from 56,500 to 68,500 miles. Advantage awards see steeper increases: First Class to Europe costs 34,000 miles more, and Business Class to the US rises 19,500–21,500 miles.

However, speculative redemptions come with risks. Change and cancellation fees (US$25–75) can easily outweigh the few thousand miles saved. Expiring miles are another pitfall—once attached to a booking, they cannot be refunded after expiry, limiting flexibility to date changes only.

While instant refunds now reduce the problem of tying up miles, the main takeaway is caution. Unless you’re certain of your travel plans, speculative bookings may not be worth it. For Saver awards, the increases are minor, and FOMO shouldn’t drive decisions. But for Advantage awards or Zone 10 routes, locking in now may make sense.

Bottom line: Book if your plans are firm or involve high-cost routes, but don’t waste cash and flexibility chasing small mileage savings.

Opinion:

Nice article.

Thinking if someone can make a miles tracker app that notifies you on expiry, fees, etc.

Might not be easy to work with the banks on integrations though.

Rewards Updates : Nerfed: UOB Preferred Platinum Visa splits bonus cap into two sub-caps

Source : 

https://milelion.com/2025/08/27/nerfed-uob-preferred-platinum-visa-splits-bonus-cap-into-two-sub-caps/

ChatGPT : 

From 1 October 2025, the UOB Preferred Platinum Visa (PPV) will split its monthly bonus cap into two sub-caps: S$600 for mobile contactless and S$600 for selected online transactions (shopping, food delivery, supermarkets, entertainment). This replaces the current unified cap of S$1,110, which allowed all spend to be channelled into one category.

On paper, this looks like a slight enhancement. The total monthly cap rises from S$1,110 to S$1,200, allowing maximum earnings of 4,800 miles (vs. 4,440 previously). However, unless cardholders carefully split their spending, most will earn fewer miles. For example, someone who currently spends S$1,110 exclusively on mobile contactless will see earnings fall by 40%, since only S$600 will qualify for 4 mpd, with the remainder earning just 0.4 mpd.

The change also adds significant complexity. UOB does not track caps by category for customers, meaning users must manually separate and monitor online versus mobile contactless transactions. One workaround is using a supplementary card to assign each category separately, simplifying tracking. Another strategy is pre-purchasing S$600 worth of vouchers each month under the online category, leaving the rest for mobile contactless.

Separately, from 28 August 2025, the PPV will recognise SimplyGo transactions as contactless spend, awarding 4 mpd on bus and MRT rides when tapped with a mobile wallet (not the physical card). Fare accumulation rules mean riders will generally earn points despite most fares being under S$5.

Verdict: The PPV’s earning ceiling is technically higher, but the split cap is a net nerf for most users, especially those who relied solely on contactless payments. UOB gains by making optimisation harder, while cardholders face more hassle to avoid reduced returns.

Opinion : 

UOB changes means apps like https://www.dobin.io/ will receive more attention.

Because such budgeting apps get your bank transactions and you can add custom tagging to the purchases.

Still requires manual work but reduces time by using budgeting apps.

Rewards Updates : Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer devaluation coming on 1 November 2025

Source :

https://milelion.com/2025/08/25/singapore-airlines-krisflyer-devaluation-coming-on-1-november-2025/

ChatGPT : 

Singapore Airlines has announced a KrisFlyer devaluation effective 1 November 2025, its first since 2022. The changes are relatively modest compared to other frequent flyer programmes, where redemptions often rise 30–50%.

Saver awards see small adjustments: most First and Business Class routes increase by about 5%, while Economy within Asia and South West Pacific actually drops up to 6%. However, flights to Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey (Zone 10) face sharp hikes—10% in Economy, 20% in Business, and 10% in First, removing one of KrisFlyer’s best sweet spots. Routes to Europe and the U.S. increase by around 5%.

Advantage awards rise more steeply, with 10–15% increases across most regions, and up to 18% for Zone 10 Business Class. While these are higher, they remain far below the severe devaluations seen elsewhere.

A new Access award type will also be introduced, adding dynamically priced redemptions on top of Saver and Advantage inventory. These won’t replace current buckets but effectively mark the start of dynamic pricing, with cost tied to demand.

Importantly, members have over two months’ notice. Awards ticketed by 31 October 2025 will retain old pricing, regardless of travel date, and can be booked up to 355 days ahead (with an extra 10-day extension possible through date changes). Waitlists not ticketed before 1 November will be charged new rates.

While no one welcomes a devaluation, this one is comparatively mild. The biggest loss is the Zone 10 bargain, long considered exceptional value. Members are advised to lock in bookings early to avoid higher costs, particularly for long-haul premium cabins.

Opinion : 

Bad news but not too bad.

In the earlier news, the addition of Scoot redemptions is great. 

Particularly for large families like mine that finds it hard to achieve business class for all members.

Rewards Updates : PSA: You can extend your KrisFlyer Milestone and PPS Rewards!

Source : 

https://milelion.com/2025/08/24/psa-you-can-extend-your-krisflyer-milestone-and-pps-rewards/

ChatGPT : 

Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer Milestone Rewards and PPS Rewards, long thought to be non-extendable, can actually be prolonged by three months with a simple click. Typically valid for 12 months, these rewards range from small perks like 1,000 KrisPay miles to major benefits such as 50,000 miles off a redemption.

While browsing his KrisFlyer account, Aaron Wong discovered an “Extend Validity” button next to an expiring reward. Expecting a fee similar to extending KrisFlyer miles, he was surprised that the process was free and immediate. The option appears only within a certain window before expiry, though exact timing remains unclear. Some users even reported success extending already expired rewards, though this is not guaranteed.

Interestingly, the official T&Cs still insist that no extensions are allowed, and there is no mention on SIA’s website. This suggests the feature may be quietly offered and subject to removal anytime.

Members can view eligible rewards under “Rewards and Vouchers” in their KrisFlyer accounts. If you have rewards nearing expiry, it’s worth checking now—you may gain three extra months of valuable benefits at no cost.

Opinion : 

Good to know.

Rewards Updates : Get S$50 CDC Vouchers just for walking

Source : 

https://sethlui.com/extra-cdc-vouchers-walking-trails-singapore-aug-2025/

ChatGPT : 

Walking Trails@CDC is a new initiative by Singapore’s five Community Development Councils (CDCs) and GovTech Singapore to encourage fitness and community bonding. Participants can earn up to S$50 CDC vouchers by completing five walking trails, each offering S$10 rewards.

The tasks are simple: finish all checkpoints on a trail to earn S$5, and collect five digital Ollie mascots for another S$5. Completing all five trails unlocks the full S$50 in RedeemSG vouchers, usable at participating supermarkets.

The programme is open to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents aged 15 and above. To join, participants must log in with SingPass, set up a CrowdTaskSG account, and access the Walking Trails@CDC site via mobile.

Each trail spans about 4–5 km across different districts: Central (Kreta Ayer Square to Fort Canning), North East (Punggol Waterway to Digital District), North West (Cashew MRT to Bukit Timah Railway), South East (Fort Tanjong Katong to Siglap Canal), and South West (Beauty World MRT to Little Guilin).

This initiative combines exercise, exploration, and rewards—making it a fun way to stay active while enjoying quality time with family and friends.

Opinion : 

Nice initiative.

Challenging to obtain the rewards though.

Won't be participating.

Rewards Updates : What’s the best card to use with Amaze?

Source : 

https://milelion.com/2025/08/23/whats-the-best-card-to-use-with-amaze/

ChatGPT : 

Amaze has faced setbacks — a 1% fee on SGD transactions, reduced InstaPoints, and banks restricting rewards — but it remains useful for overseas spending. Since Amaze codes all spending as online and bills in SGD, it can be paired with selected Mastercards to earn 4 mpd (miles per dollar).

The Citi Rewards Card is the best overall partner, giving 4 mpd on all online spend (except travel), capped at S$1,000 per statement month. Paired with Amaze, it earns 4 mpd almost everywhere, while also bypassing Citi’s restrictions on in-app mobile wallet payments.

The Maybank XL Rewards Card offers 4 mpd on dining, shopping, travel, and entertainment with a minimum monthly spend of S$500, capped at S$1,000. For FCY transactions, pairing with Amaze reduces FX fees to ~2% while retaining 4 mpd.

The OCBC Rewards Card earns 4 mpd on shopping categories (clothes, bags, shoes, department stores), capped at S$1,110 per calendar month, making it best for overseas shopping and duty-free outlets.

In conclusion: Citi Rewards > Maybank XL > OCBC Rewards. Beyond these, it’s usually better to use other strong standalone cards instead of Amaze.

Opinion : 

Citi Rewards FTW!

Rewards Updates : #HuntTheMouse & DBS Launch SG60 Special Edition with $120,000 Hidden in the Heartlands

Source : 

https://alvinology.com/2025/08/21/huntthemouse-dbs-launch-sg60-special-edition-with-120000-hidden-in-the-heartlands/

ChatGPT : 

The popular cash hunt game #HuntTheMouse has returned with a special SG60 edition, launched in partnership with DBS Bank to celebrate Singapore’s 60th year of nation-building. Running from 14 August to 25 September 2025, the game features 200 silver DBS Heartland coins hidden across Singapore’s neighbourhoods, each worth S$600, amounting to a total prize pool of S$120,000.

Organised by Sqkii, the event aims to encourage Singaporeans to explore the heartlands, discover hidden gems, and support local merchants while enjoying an interactive and family-friendly activity. New features have been added to enrich gameplay. A “Places of Interest” function provides historical, cultural, or future-focused insights about nearby locations. “Hunting Stops” at selected bus stops and zones let players earn in-game rewards such as Crystals and power-ups, even without actively searching for coins. Power-ups include Circle Shrink (narrowing search zones), Coin Sonar (scanning for coins), and Metal Detector (turning phones into detectors).

Daily hints are released at 6pm on Sqkii’s social media, with a real-time map offering visual clues. The game is free-to-play and emphasises community safety, respect for property, and fair play.

Opinion : 

Tough game to win, considering the weird weather these days.

Winners should be die hard fans of this genre.

Travel Updates : New Scoot award chart: Redeem flights from just 1,500 KrisFlyer miles

Source : 

https://milelion.com/2025/08/13/new-scoot-award-chart-redeem-flights-from-just-1500-krisflyer-miles/

Apple Intelligence : 

Scoot has introduced a new award chart for KrisFlyer members, allowing fixed-price redemptions starting from 1,500 miles each way. The chart offers two award types: Saver and Advantage, with Saver requiring fewer miles but having limited availability. Award tickets are non-refundable, but date changes are permitted with additional fees.

Scoot has introduced a new award chart for KrisFlyer members, allowing them to redeem flights at fixed rates. This new option complements the existing Miles + Cash system, where the number of miles required varies with the airfare. While the award chart offers better value, availability is limited to a subset of seat inventory.

Excited to redeem KrisFlyer miles for Koh Samui flights again, especially for budget travellers who prefer Scoot.

Opinion : 

The killer for me is still the limited selection of available seats.

Need to sit together for practical reasons with a family of 6 people (3 adults, 3 young kids)

Rewards Updates : UOB Lady’s Cards: Which bonus categories should you choose?

Source : 

https://milelion.com/2025/08/11/uob-ladys-card-which-bonus-categories-should-you-choose/

ChatGPT : 

UOB Lady’s Cards give 4 mpd on selected bonus categories (Dining, Family, Fashion, Transport, Travel, Entertainment, Beauty/Wellness) but only 1 category for Lady’s Card (S$1K/month cap) or 2 for Lady’s Solitaire (S$750/category cap, S$1.5K total). Categories can be changed quarterly.

Best picks depend on spend patterns and other cards you own. Dining is broad but has MCC gaps; Family is mainly supermarkets; Transport suits high taxi/petrol spend; Travel caps limit big-ticket use; Entertainment/Beauty are niche. Fashion is powerful via HeyMax vouchers (MCC 5311), covering many merchant types indirectly.

Author’s choice: Dining + Fashion, splitting across principal/supplementary cards to manage caps.

Opinion : 

UOB Lady's Card for the win!

Shopee purchases are included too.

Rewards Updates : Terrible Twos: What now for family travel?

Source : 

https://milelion.com/2025/08/10/terrible-twos-what-now-for-family-travel/

ChatGPT : 

When a child turns two, they must have their own airline seat, ending the cheap 10% infant fare. Child fares are much higher—often 75–80% of adult prices—and full miles are needed for award seats, with few exceptions (Air France-KLM, TAP Portugal). Aaron Wong outlines four travel options:

1. All in Business Class – costly, rarely worth it for toddlers.

2. All in Economy – cheaper, but harder on long-hauls.

3. Split family seating – one parent in Business, others in Economy.

4. Avoid flying – opt for cruises or regional trips instead.

Opinion : 

Didn't know Milelion guy had a kid.

1 kid is easy to manage. 3 kids are when the real challenge is 😜

I've to opt economy for family of 6 travellers (3 adults, 3 kids). 

Just makes sense financially.

It's not so much about the airline experiences anymore, but the memories you create with your loved ones.

Rewards Updates : PSA: HealthHub and Health Buddy now coding as MCC 9399 on some cards

Source : 

https://milelion.com/2025/08/10/psa-healthhub-and-health-buddy-now-coding-as-mcc-9399-on-some-cards/

ChatGPT : 

HealthHub and Health Buddy payments with Citi Rewards Mastercard/Visa are now coding as MCC 9399 (Government Services), making them ineligible for rewards. Previously, they coded as MCC 8099 (Medical Services), allowing up to 4 mpd. DBS Woman’s World Card transactions still code as 8099, with points awarded, and NUHS app remains unaffected for all cards. The MCC change may be issuer-specific, so other cards can still earn 1.2–2 mpd. Users are advised to check MCC before paying, using tools like HeyMax, Instarem, or DBS Digibot.

Opinion : 

MCC code management is such a chore.

We're so high tech in many areas.

We need transparency of this through the apps.

Rewards Updates : Nerfed: Chocolate Finance Drops Top-up Programme Rate to 2.5% and 2.2% p.a. on First S$50,000 From 1st September 2025

Source : 

https://sethisfy.com/nerfed-chocolate-finance-drops-rate-1st-september-2025/

ChatGPT : 

From 1 September 2025, Chocolate Finance will cut interest rates on its Top-up Programme for the third time this year:

Balance Tier	Current Rate (till 31 Aug)	New Rate (from 1 Sep)
First S$20,000	3.0% p.a.	2.5% p.a.
Next S$30,000	2.7% p.a.	2.2% p.a.
Above S$50,000	Target 2.7% p.a.	Target 2.2% p.a.

- Effective yield will drop to around 2.32% p.a. on S$50,000.

- The Top-up Programme will still run until 31 Dec 2025 or S$1.5B AUM.

- Chocolate Finance tops up returns to meet guaranteed rates if fund performance is lower. If fund returns exceed the set rate, the firm keeps the excess.

- Bond funds, which back the programme, are expected to do well as interest rates fall.

This follows similar rate cuts by UOB One, OCBC 360, and other digital banks.

Opinion : 

Every "safe" product interest rate is falling...

2.5% ain't that bad. But it doesn't beat inflation.

Diversify across riskier assets.