KrisFlyer Miles Guide: How to Earn, Redeem & Maximize

For many Filipinos who love flying abroad, KrisFlyer Miles can make every trip more rewarding. This is the frequent flyer program of Singapore Airlines and Scoot, and it is one of the most popular mileage programs in Asia. Whether you fly often for work or just travel once or twice a year for vacation, joining KrisFlyer can help you save on flights and enjoy extra perks.

What Is KrisFlyer?

KrisFlyer is the frequent flyer program of Singapore Airlines and Scoot. Think of it as a loyalty program that rewards you every time you fly, shop, or use partner services. Instead of just buying a ticket and forgetting about it, you actually get something back in the form of miles.

These miles are like travel points you can collect and later use for:

• Free or discounted flights
• Seat upgrades (like moving from Economy to Business Class)
• Hotel bookings, car rentals, or shopping with partner brands

For Filipinos, KrisFlyer is especially useful because Scoot flies directly to Manila, Cebu, and Clark, and Singapore Airlines connects you to hundreds of destinations worldwide. So whether you are visiting family, traveling for work, or exploring new countries, every trip can help you earn rewards for your next adventure.

✈️ How to Earn Miles

Flights & Promos

Earn miles every time you fly with Singapore Airlines, Scoot, or Star Alliance. Higher classes like Business and First earn more. Elite members get 25% bonus miles, and special promos sometimes give extra miles.

Credit Cards

Filipinos can transfer reward points from banks like BPI, BDO, Metrobank, EastWest, RCBC, Citibank, and Amex directly to KrisFlyer Miles.

Everyday Spending

Use the Kris+ app in Singapore to earn up to 3 miles per S$1 spent. You can also earn miles when renting cars with Hertz, Avis, or Budget.

Best Credit Cards to Earn KrisFlyer Miles (Including EastWest Bank)

If you want to earn KrisFlyer miles from your everyday spending in the Philippines, here’s a practical look at credit cards that can help:

✨ Citi PremierMiles Card

• Earn 1 KrisFlyer-convertible mile per ₱30 spent locally, 1.5 miles per ₱30 when you spend abroad
• Miles don’t expire
• Complimentary airport lounge access
• Annual fee ~ ₱5,000 (often waived first year)

✨ BPI Signature Card

Sources: bpi.com.ph

• Earn 1 point per ₱35 spent
• Points can be transferred to KrisFlyer and other airline programs
• Comes with travel insurance and lounge access
• Annual fee ~ ₱6,000

✨ BDO Platinum Mastercard

• Earn 1 point per ₱50 spent
• Points convertible to KrisFlyer and other frequent flyer programs
• Travel and purchase protections included
• Annual fee ~ ₱4,500

✨ RCBC Bankard Visa Infinite

Sources: rcbccredit.com

• Earn 1 point per ₱36 spent
• Points transferable to KrisFlyer
• Includes travel insurance, lounge access, and other perks
• Annual fee ~ ₱6,000

✨ Metrobank Travel Platinum Visa / World Mastercard / Travel Signature Visa

Sources: metrobank.com.ph

• Earn points on every spend and convert them to KrisFlyer miles.
• Conversion rate: as low as 2.5 to 1.5 points = 1 mile (depending on the card).
• Minimum redemption: 10,000–12,000 points.
• Includes travel perks like free lounge access and insurance.
• Annual fee: starts at around ₱5,000.

Why it’s good: Flexible redemption and strong travel benefits. Ideal if you want both local spending power and international travel perks.

✨ EastWest Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Cards

Sources: eastwestbanker.com

EastWest is the only Philippine bank with co-branded KrisFlyer credit cards, which means you earn KrisFlyer miles directly with no conversion needed.

Options:

• EastWest Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer World Mastercard
• • Earn 1 mile for every ₱12 spent on Singapore Airlines, Scoot, KrisShop, Pelago, travel, and overseas transactions.
  • Comes with 10 free airport lounge passes per year, ₱20 million travel insurance, and a lower foreign currency conversion fee (1.7%).
  • Annual fee: ₱5,000.
• EastWest Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Platinum Mastercard
• • Earn 1 mile for every ₱15 spent on Singapore Airlines, Scoot, KrisShop, Pelago, travel, and overseas transactions.
  • Includes 4 free lounge passes, ₱20 million travel insurance, and the same 1.7% FX conversion fee.
  • Annual fee: ₱4,000.

✅ Which Card Is Best for You?

🌏 Where You Can Use Your Miles

Your KrisFlyer Miles are more flexible than you might think. They are not only for flights with Singapore Airlines. Here are the ways you can use them:

✈️ Flights Worldwide

You can redeem miles with Singapore Airlines, Scoot, and all the airlines under Star Alliance. This gives you access to destinations in Asia, Europe, America, and even Africa. Many Filipino travelers use their miles for family trips to Japan, Korea, or the United States because it saves a lot of money.

💺 Seat Upgrades

If you booked an Economy ticket, you can use your miles to upgrade to Premium Economy, Business Class, or even First Class. This is popular among Filipinos who want extra comfort on long flights without paying the full fare.

🏨 Hotels and Car Rentals

Miles can be used to book hotel stays and car rentals through KrisFlyer partners. This is very useful when traveling to countries where accommodations are expensive such as Australia or Europe.

🛍️ Shopping and Experiences

KrisFlyer Miles can be redeemed for shopping vouchers, dining, and even KrisShop products. Some travelers use this option when they have a small balance of miles that is not enough for flights.

🎁 Lifestyle Rewards

Your miles can also be spent on wellness, entertainment, and other lifestyle rewards offered by KrisFlyer partners. This gives you more choices even if you are not planning to fly soon.

Tips on How to Use KrisFlyer Miles

If you’re a Filipino traveller collecting KrisFlyer Miles, the big question is always this: How do you make the most out of them? Since miles don’t last forever, knowing when and how to use them can save you money and give you better travel experiences.

✈️ 1. Prioritize Flights and Seat Upgrades

The best value for your KrisFlyer Miles is almost always flights or seat upgrades.

• A Manila–Singapore flight with Scoot or Singapore Airlines can be partly or fully paid with miles.
• If you already have an Economy ticket, use your miles to upgrade to Premium Economy or Business Class. It costs fewer miles than buying a higher class ticket in cash.

👉 Example: Flying long haul to Europe or Australia? Upgrading with miles can make the trip more comfortable without spending thousands of pesos.

📅 2. Redeem Early

Seats for mileage redemption are limited. Book your flights or upgrades as early as possible, especially during peak travel months like December or Holy Week.

• Redeeming early gives you more choices for flight times and routes.

💰 3. Watch Out for KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes

Singapore Airlines sometimes offers 30% off miles on selected destinations.

• Check the Spontaneous Escapes promo page monthly.
• Filipinos flying from Manila, Cebu, or Clark can grab great deals if travel dates are flexible.

🏨 4. Use Miles for Hotels and Car Rentals

Through KrisFlyer’s partners, you can redeem miles for hotel bookings or car rentals. This is a good option if your miles are not enough for a flight but you still want to save on travel expenses.

🛍️ 5. Don’t Forget Lifestyle Rewards

If you often go to Singapore, you can use KrisFlyer Miles at KrisShop or on the Kris+ app for dining, shopping, or even transport.

• It may not always be the best value, but it’s handy if your miles are close to expiring.

📌 Quick Tips for Filipinos

1. Always check the expiry date of your miles (usually 3 years).
2. Combine cash + miles if your balance is short.
3. Focus on high-value redemptions like long-haul flights or upgrades.
4. Track promos from Singapore Airlines to stretch your miles further.