Fast track to KrisFlyer Elite Gold with just $5k spend on the Amex Ascend card

American Express has a great promotion for new or existing Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend credit card holders, with a generous fast track offer if you have S$5,000 of spending to make over the next month, unlocking KrisFlyer Elite Gold status for a year plus 3,000 bonus KrisFlyer miles.

APPLY HERE

Usually Amex SIA KrisFlyer Ascend credit card holders need to spend S$15,000 on eligible purchases at singaporeair.com within their first 12 months to achieve KrisFlyer Elite Gold status for a year, which is quite a big ask and only really applies to very regular travellers or those booking for their whole family.

Furthermore, this bar has been nearly impossible to attain lately, given the global travel restrictions due to COVID-19, so American Express and Singapore Airlines have come up with an alternative offer.

Fast track to Elite Gold status

For a one-month period, this KrisFlyer Elite Gold Upgrade Offer allows you to secure this popular frequent flyer status tier much more easily and far more quickly than usual.

From 28th January to 28th February 2021, new and existing American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card Members who charge a minimum of S$5,000 to their credit card will be upgraded to the KrisFlyer Elite Gold Membership tier and earn 3,000 bonus KrisFlyer miles.

The general spend of S$5,000 must include a minimum spend of S$300 at SIA Group websites (yes, just S$300!).

This new offer, requiring only a third of the normal total spend and allowing the vast majority of it to be on non-SIA Group transactions, is a great improvement on the regular deal.

It’s also significantly better than the offer Amex and SIA ran back in 2019, requiring $3,000 of a reduced $12,000 spend over four months to be with Singapore Airlines to unlock Gold status, with no bonus miles thrown in.

Note that existing KrisFlyer Elite Gold members cannot use this promotion to extend their membership for another year (Singapore Airlines is doing that for you anyway at the moment), nor is the promotion applicable to PPS Club members.

S$300 in SIA Group spend

Unlike previous fast track offers, which required spending to be made at singaporeair.com, with this promotion you can also meet your S$300 spend at flyscoot.com or the KrisShop, which makes it significantly easier to achieve.

2 mpd

1.2 mpd

2 mpd

If you elect to make some or all of your S$300 SIA Group spend at at the Singapore Airlines or Scoot website, do be aware that eligible ticket purchases are for travel originating from Singapore only and must be purchased in Singapore Dollars.

For example, a SIN-HKG or SIN-HKG-SIN booking would be eligible, but a HKG-SIN booking would not.

Don’t forget: Singapore Airlines has extended its complimentary rebooking for tickets issued by 28th February 2021, allowing you some flexibility for a future ticket.

Remaining general spend

For the remaining spend of up to S$4,700 to trigger this offer, you’ll be able to make any eligible general transaction using your Ascend card during the promotion period.

The Amex Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend card earns a relatively average 1.2 miles per dollar on general spend, so assuming you will make the minimum SIA Group purchase of S$300 at KrisShop, for example, and the rest on other spending, here’s how your total miles earning will look.

Category	Spend	Mpd	Miles
General Spend	S$4,700	1.2	5,640
KrisShop	S$300	2.0	600
Bonus Miles			3,000
Total	S$5,000		9,240 (1.85 mpd)

Inclusive of the 3,000 bonus miles, you’ve earned an equivalent of 1.85 mpd on your S$5,000 spend in this example, plus you’ve secured KrisFlyer Elite Gold status for a year!

This more than overcomes the ‘opportunity cost’ of diverting your spending away from cards earning more for general spend, even up to 1.6 mpd levels (e.g. Citi ULTIMA).

Spend exclusions

Eligible transactions on the Amex SIA KF Ascend card for this promotion are all retail purchases including recurring payments, with the exception of:

• Charges processed and billed prior to the Enrolment Date or charges prepaid on any Card Account prior to the first billing statement for that Card Account following the Enrolment Date;
• Cash Advance and other cash services;
• Express Cash;
• American Express Travellers Cheque purchases;
• Charges for dishonoured cheques;
• Finance charges – including Line of Credit charges and Credit Card interest charges;
• Late Payment and collection charges;
• Tax refunds from overseas purchases;
• Balance Transfers;
• Instalment plans;
• Annual Card fees;
• Amount billed for purchase of KrisFlyer miles to top-up your miles balance;
• Purchase and top-up charges for EZ-Link Cards using American Express Cards;
• Bill payments and all transactions via SingPost SAM kiosks and mobile app;
• Payments to insurance companies (except payments made for insurance products purchased through American Express authorized channels);
• Payments to Singapore Petroleum Company Limited (SPC) service stations;
• Payments for the purpose of GrabPay top-ups;
• Payments to utilities merchants (with effect from 12 February 2021);
• Charges at merchants or establishments that are excluded by American Express at its sole discretion and notified by American Express to you from time to time.

Important exclusions to remember here are bill payments, insurance payments, petrol at SPC stations and GrabPay top-ups. Payments to utilities merchants will also be excluded from 12th February 2021.

You can check the latest updated list of excluded transactions for KrisFlyer miles earning at amex.co/SGexclusions.

Consider CardUp

One useful eligible spend category for both miles earning and for the purposes of this fast track status offer is with CardUp, for payments like property rent, helper’s salary, insurance and education fees.

The card payments provider currently has a competitive deal for a one-time payment using an American Express card for a payment of S$500 to S$7,000.

At the 1.6% fee level for new customers, it’s the equivalent of ‘buying’ miles for 1.31 cents each using this card, or 1.55 cents each for an existing customer.

CardUp’s usual 2.6% fee for payments using American Express cards would result in an unattractive cost per mile of 2.11 cents each, in case your account is not targeted.

Full terms and conditions for these CardUp offers are available here.

What are the benefits?

It probably seems like a strange time to strive for KrisFlyer Elite Gold membership, while travel remains almost impossible, however with continued COVID-19 vaccine rollout around the world there is still hope for travel starting to progressively open up, especially in the second half of 2021.

Only today we’ve been reporting about Thailand’s plan to allow vaccinated travellers to visit quarantine-free from Q3 2021.

Here’s the full suite of applicable benefits for the ‘KFEG’ tier.

Here are our picks of the highlights.

Seat selection benefits

Before you’ve even stepped out of your home for your trip, Singapore Airlines will allow you to choose any available ‘Forward Zone’ and ‘Standard’ seats in Economy Class for free as a KrisFlyer Elite Gold member, saving you up to US$35 per flight on the airline’s longest services.

You’ll also get a 15% discount on the selection fees for Extra Legroom Seats in both Economy and Premium Economy Class. This also applies to ‘Solo’ seats in Premium Economy on non-stop Airbus A350ULR flights to and from the USA.

Your travelling companions on the same booking will also get a 10% discount on seat fees, even if they are not KrisFlyer members.

Additional baggage allowance
Priority check-in

An extra 20kg of baggage allowance, or an extra piece of luggage up to 23kg on USA flights, can be a very useful benefit of KrisFlyer Gold status.

This lifts your check-in limit to at least 50kg in Economy Class, 55kg in Premium Economy, 60kg in Business Class and 70kg in First Class or Suites.

You will also benefit from priority check-in across the SIA network, which in our experience varies from being a dedicated desk, or a shared KrisFlyer Gold / Premium Economy or Business Class desk, depending on the airport.

When flying on a Star Alliance carrier, you’ll also be eligible to use the dedicated Star Alliance Gold check-in desk, where available.

Lounge access

The primary benefit of KrisFlyer Elite Gold status, which is equivalent to the Star Alliance Gold tier, is lounge access when flying in Economy or Premium Economy Class with Singapore Airlines, SilkAir or a Star Alliance carrier.

Note that the KrisFlyer Gold lounge at Changi Airport is currently closed due to COVID-19. Eligible KrisFlyer Elite Gold members are instead invited to the SilverKris Business Class lounge during this period.

Unfortunately the overseas SilverKris lounge network has already been trimmed from 13 to 10 due to COVID-19, with SIA’s lounges in Adelaide, Delhi and Kuala Lumpur now permanently closed.

Priority security and boarding

At several airports worldwide, Star Alliance Gold status entitles you to use the ‘Gold Track’ priority security clearance lanes.

You’ll also get priority boarding when travelling in Premium Economy or Economy Class, which can be useful for securing prime overhead locker space on busy flights.

Priority baggage handling

As your trip comes to an end, you should find your checked baggage is prioritised to reach the reclaim belt in one of the first batches as a KrisFlyer Elite Gold member, though actual experience with this does vary!

Other benefits

• Shangri-La Golden Circle Gold status, with fast track to Jade membership when you stay for one night (on a qualifying rate) at any Shangri-La Hotel and Resort, Kerry Hotel, Traders Hotel or Hotel Jen worldwide.
• Complimentary upgrade from Standard Class to Business First Class on Heathrow Express trains.
• Waived or discounted service fees, including changing your redemption nominees for free.

When do the perks kick in?

If you meet the spend requirements for this offer, you will be upgraded to KrisFlyer Elite Gold membership tier 8-10 weeks after the campaign ends, which is between 25th April 2021 and 9th May 2021.

Your status tier will be valid for one year from the date of upgrade, which will take you through to the end of either April or May 2022.

The bonus 3,000 KrisFlyer miles will be credited to your account within 8-12 weeks from the end of the promotion, which is by 23rd May 2021.

About the card

Since this offer is available to new cardholders, here are the key facts about the American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card for those interested in applying to take advantage of the fast track deal.

Fast Facts Annual fee: $337.05/yr EIR: 26.9% Sign-up bonus: Up to 15,000 miles Local earn rate: 1.2 miles per $1 Overseas earn rate: 1.2 miles per $1* Foreign transaction fee: 2.95% Minimum Age: 21 Minimum income: $50,000/yr (Singaporean / PR) Minimum income: $60,000/yr (Foreigner) * 2 miles per $1 spend during the months of June and December. APPLY HERE

Benefits include:

• Complimentary one night stay each year at selected Hilton properties
• 4 complimentary SATS / Plaza Premium airport lounge access passes each year
• 500 bonus KrisFlyer miles on your first Grab booking
• 3.2 mpd on the first S$200 of monthly Grab rides or GrabFood/GrabMart orders
• 2 mpd on ticket purchases made on singaporeair.com, SingaporeAir mobile app and general purchases at KrisShop (in-flight and online)

Further details are available at our full review of this card.

Unfortunately the annual fee of S$337.05 for the Amex SIA KrisFlyer Ascend credit card is not waivable in the first year, so this fee will be included on your first statement if you sign up now.

If your only reason for signing up for the card is to take advantage of the fast track status offer, and you won’t use any of its other perks, you’ll have to consider this a ‘cost’ of the one-year gold tier.

SIA has been extending status

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore Airlines has been extending the validity of KrisFlyer and PPS Club status tiers.

The most recent reprieve for members came earlier this month, including a one-year extension for KrisFlyer Elite Silver and Elite Gold status holders with membership years ending between March 2021 and February 2022.

While there is optimism for a gradual relaxation of travel restrictions over the next 12 months as vaccines are rolled out, further status extensions are not out of the question if travel remains highly restricted.

That means you could even find your newly-gifted Elite Gold status ends up lasting more than 12 months without necessarily reaching the usual requalification threshold.

Sign-up bonus

New applicants for the Amex SIA KrisFlyer Ascend card are currently being offered a pair of Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 2.0 wireless earbuds as a welcome gift, with a minimum spend of S$5,000 in the first three months of card membership.

APPLY HERE

That will be easily achieved for those signing up now in order to take advantage of the Gold status fast track offer, which requires S$5,000 spending by 28th February 2021, however it is only for applications approved by 31st January 2021.

A new sign-up offer is likely to come into play for applications approved from 1st February 2021, so we’ll update this section once we have details of that.

Terms and conditions

Here are the full terms and conditions for this offer.

1. Offer is only valid from 28 Jan – 28 Feb 2021.
2. American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card Members who
   charge S$5,000 or more on eligible purchases from 28 Jan – 28 Feb 2021 will be
   upgraded to the KrisFlyer Elite Gold membership tier.
3. Spend of $5,000 can include general spend but must include a minimum spend of
   S$300 at singaporeair.com, flyscoot.com or KrisShop. For non-eligible spend, please
   visit amex.co/SGexclusions for full list of non-eligible purchases or transactions, which
   is non-exhaustive and is subject to changes from time to time.
4. Eligible ticket purchases at singaporeair.com and flyscoot.com are for travel originating
   from Singapore only and must be purchased in Singapore Dollars.
5. Bonus 3,000 KrisFlyer miles will be awarded 8-12 weeks after campaign ends on 28
   February 2021.
6. Card Members who meet the promotion criteria will be upgraded to KrisFlyer Elite Gold
   membership tier 8-10 weeks after the campaign ends on 28 February 2021.
7. This benefit will not be applicable to Card Members who are existing PPS Club or
   KrisFlyer Elite Gold members.
8. The KrisFlyer Elite Gold status is valid for one (1) year from date of upgrade only.
   Requalification is based on standard requalification terms under the KrisFlyer
   programme. For information on the benefits of being a KrisFlyer Elite Gold member and requalification into KrisFlyer Elite Gold status, please visit this link.
9. Offers cannot be exchanged for cash or in-kind, and is not applicable in conjunction with
   other offers, promotions, discounts and loyalty program, unless otherwise stated.
10. KrisFlyer and Singapore Airlines’ Terms and Conditions apply. The provision of services,
    activities or benefits stated is the responsibility of merchant. American Express acts
    solely as a payment provider and is not responsible or liable in the event that such
    services, activities or benefits are not provided or fulfilled by the merchant.
11. American Express and merchant reserve the rights to amend the Terms and Conditions
    listed or terminate the Offer and/or replace the Offer with another offer of similar value
    without prior notice.

Summary

A year of KrisFlyer Elite Gold status may not seem worth chasing at the moment with travel still in lockdown, but we’ve never seen an easier way to attain it.

This deal also comes with 3,000 bonus KrisFlyer miles, so if you can achieve the S$5,000 spend, the vast majority of which can be on general purchases, you’ll net upwards of an equivalent 1.85 miles per dollar for doing so.

Even if travel doesn’t really pick up until the latter part of the 2021, you should still hopefully have six months or so of Gold tier benefits to enjoy between then and April 2022, plus there remains the possibility that Singapore Airlines will provide renewal support or another blanket status extension.

APPLY HERE

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(Cover Photo: Star Alliance)