From 15 September 2025, the UOB PRVI Miles Card will offer 8 miles per dollar (mpd) on Expedia hotel bookings, but reduce the earn rate for flights to 3 mpd. While the earn rate for hotels will increase, the earn rate for airlines will decrease. The new earn rates will apply until 31 March 2026.
Interesting development.
I might try using Expedia to book next time.
I don't mind the mark-ups by Agoda, Expedia for better platform features.
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.
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)
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.
Apple Maps has launched its Detailed City Experience in Singapore, the first country in Southeast Asia to receive the update. The new features include custom 3D landmarks like Gardens by the Bay and Lau Pa Sat, enhanced road markings, clearer navigation aids for drivers and public transport users, and windshield views for complex interchanges. The update also introduces night mode with dynamic lighting. These improvements aim to enhance navigation, safety, and visual clarity for locals and tourists alike.
As of 1 August 2025, Kris+ no longer credits miles instantly for Pelago bookings. Instead, miles will be credited 1 day after the activity is completed, addressing abuse concerns from instant mile redemption and subsequent cancellations.
Key changes:
- Old system: Instant miles crediting via Kris+
- New system: 1-day post-activity crediting
- Pelago website/app: 7-day crediting remains unchanged
Kris+ vs Website/App:
| Feature | Kris+ | Pelago Website/App |
|---|---|---|
| Miles earn rate | Up to 6 mpd (promo-based) | 3 mpd |
| Crediting time | 1 day after activity | 7 days after activity |
| Promo codes | ❌ Not allowed | ✅ Allowed |
| HeyMax/ShopBack | ❌ Not compatible | ✅ Supported |
Reminder: Transfer KrisPay miles to KrisFlyer within 21 days or risk them being stuck and devalued. Use the auto-transfer feature to avoid forgetting.
This change removes a popular fast-track method for redeeming KrisFlyer miles, though higher earn rates still make Kris+ a strong option—if used wisely.
✈️ Top Air Miles Credit Cards in Singapore (2025)
1. Citi PremierMiles
- ⭐ 1.2 mpd (local), 2 mpd (overseas), no expiry.
- ✅ Lounge access, travel insurance, flexible airline/hotel transfers.
- π Welcome gifts via SingSaver (e.g. $400 cash or Dyson Airwrap).
2. DBS Altitude
- ⭐ 1.3 mpd (local), 2.2 mpd (overseas), up to 3 mpd for flight/hotel bookings.
- ✅ No expiry, $1M travel insurance, 2 lounge visits/year.
- π Sign-up perks via SingSaver.
3. OCBC 90°N
- ⭐ 1.3 mpd (local), 2.1 mpd (foreign), bonus with Agoda.
- ✅ No expiry, flexible redemption in 1,000-mile blocks.
- ✅ DragonPass lounge, spa/dining perks.
4. Standard Chartered Journey
- ⭐ 1.2 mpd (local), 2 mpd (overseas), 3 mpd (online transport/food/groceries).
- ✅ Points don’t expire, 2 lounge visits/year, travel insurance.
- π‘ Good for Grab/Deliveroo/RedMart users.
5. Amex KrisFlyer
- ⭐ 1.1 mpd (local), 2 mpd (overseas), 3.1 mpd (Singapore Airlines/Scoot).
- ✅ Miles go directly to KrisFlyer with no manual conversion.
6. UOB PRVI Miles
- ⭐ 1.4 mpd (local), 2.4 mpd (overseas), 6 mpd (online flight/hotel bookings).
- ✅ Uncapped miles, travel insurance, valid for 2 years.
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π§ What to Consider in a Miles Card:
- ✅ High earn rates (at least 1.2 mpd local).
- ✅ No expiry or long validity on miles.
- ✅ Bonus categories: travel, online, dining.
- ⚠️ Watch out for earn caps and foreign currency fees.
- π Use welcome bonuses to jumpstart your miles.
- ✈️ Look for perks: lounge access, insurance, easy redemptions.
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π‘ Tip:
Use rewards cards as pseudo-miles cards by maximizing high-mpd categories and converting points to miles. Always pay full balances to avoid negating rewards.
Best Credit Cards for Hotels (2025 Edition)
By Aaron Wong | July 14, 2025
Hotel bookings can earn up to 10 miles per dollar (mpd) if you use the right credit card — but it depends on how and where you book and pay.
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π Key Factors to Consider:
- Merchant Category Code (MCC): Determines how your transaction is classified
- Direct hotels: MCC 3500–3999 (major chains) / 7011 (others, incl. Airbnb)
- OTAs (Agoda, Booking, etc.): MCC 4722
- Payment Mode:
- Online (prepaid) = likely to earn online bonus
- Offline (pay at hotel) = depends on card/payment method
- Currency:
- Use FCY-friendly cards for overseas stays
- Avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) scams — always pay in foreign currency
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π¨ Best Cards for Direct Hotel Bookings:
Earn up to 4 mpd with:
- UOB Lady’s / Solitaire (choose “Travel” category)
- DBS Woman’s World Card (online only)
- HSBC Revolution
- UOB Preferred Platinum / Visa Signature (check payment method conditions)
- DCS Imperium, Maybank, StanChart, BOC cards — especially for FCY spend
❌ Citi Rewards Card excluded — no bonus miles for travel-related categories.
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π Best Cards for Online Travel Agents (OTAs):
For public OTA pages:
- Same cards as above (e.g., DBS WWMC, UOB Lady’s, etc.)
For special cardholder landing pages:
- Citi PremierMiles: Up to 10 mpd on Kaligo, 7.2 mpd on Agoda
- UOB PRVI Miles: Up to 8 mpd
- OCBC 90°N: Up to 7 mpd
π Be cautious: special pages might have marked-up prices.
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πͺ Buying Hotel Points (via Points.com):
Not coded as hotel spend — use:
- Citi Rewards Card, DCS Imperium, UOB Visa Signature, or similar FCY-optimized cards
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⚠️ Tips & Caveats:
- Agoda (Mastercard payments) charges 1% cross-border fee — avoid with Atome or Visa.
- Some prepaid hotel rates still charge offline — check with the hotel if unsure.
- Bonus caps and rules vary; refer to each card’s T&Cs for limits and payment conditions.
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✅ Bottom Line:
To maximize miles on hotel stays:
- Know how your booking codes (MCC)
- Choose the right card for online vs offline and SGD vs FCY payments
- Compare prices before booking through bonus-miles landing pages — more miles aren’t worth it if you’re overpaying!