KrisFlyer UOB credit card extends sign-up bonus and ‘fast track to Silver status’

UOB has extended its 10,000 miles sign-up bonus for its KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card, provided you’re a new UOB credit card holder or haven’t held one of the bank’s credit cards during 2020. The ‘fast track’ (slow track) to KrisFlyer Elite Silver status for those spending S$5,000 on the card in the first year has also been given a one-year extension.

Sign-up bonus (for all)

Whether you’re an existing UOB credit card holder or not, you’ll get a 3,000 miles welcome bonus provided you spend at least $5.00 on the card within 30 calendar days of the card opening date (yes, just $5).

These miles will be credited directly into your Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer account, as this card is directly linked to your KrisFlyer membership.

Unlike many UOB promotions, this element is not capped. Everyone is eligible, so if you play by the (fairly simple) rules, the bonus miles will be credited.

Additional sign-up bonus (for new members)

In addition to the sign-up bonus for all customers applying for this card outlined above, if you’re a new UOB credit card customer you are eligible for an additional 7,000 miles when you spend a minimum of $1,500 within the first 30 days of the card account opening date.

As is typical with UOB promotions, to be eligible for this additional welcome bonus you must be among the first 400 new-to-UOB cardmembers who successfully apply online from 1st July to 31st August 2020 and meet the spend criteria.

If you’re familiar with our advice on these UOB ‘promotions’ – don’t count on this part. You may or may not qualify for this 7,000-miles conditional element.

If you do qualify, these 7,000 KrisFlyer miles will be credited directly into your KrisFlyer account by 30th November 2020.

Full terms and conditions are available here.

Fast Track to KrisFlyer Elite Silver Status

The KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card offers a fast track option to achieve KrisFlyer Elite Silver status, with a minimum spend of S$5,000 on Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, Scoot or at the KrisShop during your first card membership year.

Originally that offer was for card accounts opened before 22nd April 2020, however this has been extended by a year and now covers all card accounts opened before 30th April 2021.

If you have already finished your first year of card membership it’s now too late to participate, however everyone else should be eligible.

Rather obviously, the benefit is not applicable to those who already hold KrisFlyer Elite Silver, Elite Gold or PPS Club status.

Here’s what you get as a KrisFlyer Elite Silver member:

Unfortunately as you can see KrisFlyer Elite Silver doesn’t really get you much. No priority check-in, no complimentary lounge access, no priority boarding, no extra baggage allowance…

The Amex KrisFlyer Ascend card comes with a more attractive ‘accelerated upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Gold’ status, when you spend above $15,000 on eligible purchases made at singaporeair.com within the first 12 months of card approval.

It’s not fast

UOB is being quite misleading by describing the Silver status offer as ‘fast’. Ignore the fact for a moment that KrisFlyer Elite Silver status is basically useless, and concentrate instead on the term “Fast Track”. If you want it, it can happen quickly, right?

Wrong. You’ll have to wait for up to six weeks after the end of your first card membership year to get the upgrade.

That means even if you make the qualifying S$5,000 spend in your very first week of card membership, let’s say by mid-July 2020, you will have to wait until at least July 2021 and possibly late August 2021 before you see that shiny silver card (which doesn’t really get you anything, and you don’t even get a physical card anymore anyway).

It’s really quite misleading, let alone worth your while.

If you do go for it, your Elite Silver status (when you finally get it) will be valid for one year from the date of upgrade, after which time requalification is based on the standard KrisFlyer terms.