Back in April 2022, SIA’s “lifestyle app” Kris+ streamlined its miles earning structure at partner merchants across Singapore, with three simple (and for the most part quite generous) earn rates of 3 mpd, 6 mpd and 9 mpd on a year-round basis, covering over 230 merchants including dining, wellness and retail options.
The deal had first appeared in August 2021, but had then become a “permanent” arrangement.
Unfortunately nothing is forever, and the generosity wasn’t set to last, because Kris+ has now revealed that over 70 merchants that are part of the earning programme will have their accrual rates cut from 1st May 2023.
That’s a shame as Kris+ is a very useful way of topping up your KrisFlyer miles balance throughout the year, but the good news is that 80% of merchants will see no change to their current earning rates.
Reduced earn rates at 71 merchants
There are currently an impressive 398 Kris+ earning merchants across Singapore, with thousands of outlets between them, and the vast majority are not changing their earning rates.
Unfortunately, 71 merchants are moving to a lower earn rate from 1st May 2023, only around 18% of the cohort, but many of them are popular and easy ways to accrue large volumes of miles, so the effect may feel a little more disproportionate than that.
In the process, Kris+ is now adding three new earning rates to its current 9 mpd, 6 mpd and 3 mpd trio:
- 7 mpd
- 5 mpd
- 1 mpd
Here’s a summary of how many merchants will drop into each category from 1st May 2023, compared to now.
Kris+ Earning Rates
| Earn Rate | Merchants | |
| Till 30th April 2023 | From 1st May 2023 | |
| 9 mpd | 179 | 164 |
| 7 mpd | — | 13 |
| 6 mpd | 205 | 165 |
| 5 mpd | — | 11 |
| 3 mpd | 14 | 31 |
| 1 mpd | — | 14 |
| Total | 398 | 398 |
- The average earn rate across all 398 Kris+ merchants will drop from 7.2 mpd to 6.8 mpd from 1st May 2023.
- The average earn rate across the 71 Kris+ merchants cutting their earn rate will drop from 6.0 mpd to 3.7 mpd from 1st May 2023.
Full list: 3 mpd merchants cutting rates
All 14 merchants currently earning 3 mpd are shifting to 1 mpd from 1st May 2023. This includes some major retailers like Audio House, Challenger, Harvey Norman, Parisilk and iStudio.
Arguably this is the biggest hit here – a 67% reduction in earn rate. It’s possible to make some very large transactions at stores like these when purchasing electronic goods like phones and laptops, and since Kris+ earning is uncapped it can therefore be a significant source of miles for many of our readers.
Here’s the full rundown of all 3 mpd merchants suffering reduced earn rates from 1st May 2023.
3 mpd merchant rate cuts
| Merchant | Current rate | New rate |
| ASA Holidays | 1 mpd | |
| Audio House | 1 mpd | |
| Buttrmilk | 1 mpd | |
| Challenger | 1 mpd | |
| CTC Travel | 1 mpd | |
| Harvey Norman | 1 mpd | |
| Mount Faber Leisure (Singapore Cable Car) |
1 mpd | |
| Parisilk | 1 mpd | |
| EU Holidays | 1 mpd | |
| Hong Thai Travel | 1 mpd | |
| iStudio | 1 mpd | |
| L. G. E. Travel | 1 mpd | |
| Super Travels | 1 mpd | |
| UOB Travel | 1 mpd |
* Temporarily 4 mpd till 3rd April 2023
These changes would effectively wipe out the 3 mpd earn rate, but as you’ll see below there will actually be more 3 mpd merchants in future, since over 30 of those currently offering 6 mpd will drop into this category.
Full list: 6 mpd merchants cutting rates
31 out of 204 current 6 mpd merchants in the Kris+ programme are halving their earn rate to 3 mpd, including Adidas, Simmons, G2000 and Fullerton Health, while a further 11 are moving down only slightly with a 17% reduction to a new 5 mpd category, including the Paradise restaurant outlets.
Here’s the full rundown of all 6 mpd merchants suffering reduced earn rates from 1st May 2023.
6 mpd merchant rate cuts
| Merchant | Current rate | New rate |
| 800 Degrees Woodfired Pizza | 3 mpd | |
| Adidas | 3 mpd | |
| Ardennes Health | 3 mpd | |
| Benjamin Barker | 3 mpd | |
| Blimpie | 3 mpd | |
| Cali | 3 mpd | |
| Camberley Pre-School | 3 mpd | |
| Cath Kidston | 3 mpd | |
| D’Cuisines | 3 mpd | |
| Famous Amos | 3 mpd | |
| Fatburger & Buffalo’s | 3 mpd | |
| Fish Market Sakuraya | 3 mpd | |
| Fullerton Health | 3 mpd | |
| Fusion Medical | 3 mpd | |
| G2000 | 3 mpd | |
| GRT Jewellers | 3 mpd | |
| Honolulu Cafe | 3 mpd | |
| JINJJA Chicken | 3 mpd | |
| Joo Bar | 3 mpd | |
| Lamalolly | 3 mpd | |
| Le Petit Society | 3 mpd | |
| Minmed Group | 3 mpd | |
| Overscoop | 3 mpd | |
| Phoenix Medical Group | 3 mpd | |
| Ryan’s Kitchen | 3 mpd | |
| Simmons | 3 mpd | |
| Social Place | 3 mpd | |
| Sunday Staples | 3 mpd | |
| The Chinese Wedding Shop | 3 mpd | |
| The Green Capsule | 3 mpd | |
| WatchBox | 3 mpd | |
| Beauty in The Pot | 5 mpd | |
| Canton Noodle & Congee House | 5 mpd | |
| Canton Paradise | 5 mpd | |
| Le Shrimp Ramen | 5 mpd | |
| LeNu Chef Wai’s Noodle Bar | 5 mpd | |
| Paradise Classic | 5 mpd | |
| Paradise Dynasty | 5 mpd | |
| Paradise Hotpot | 5 mpd | |
| Paradise Teochew | 5 mpd | |
| Seafood Paradise | 5 mpd | |
| Taste Paradise | 5 mpd |
Full list: 9 mpd merchants cutting rates
Two of 176 current 9 mpd merchants are cutting their earn rate to 6 mpd, a 33% reduction, while 13 others at this top earning rate are moving into a new 7 mpd category, which represents a 22% cut.
Here’s the full rundown of all 9 mpd merchants suffering reduced earn rates from 1st May 2023.
9 mpd merchant rate cuts
| Merchant | Current rate | New rate |
| Anglo Indian Cafe & Bar | 6 mpd | |
| PHS Hairscience | 6 mpd | |
| Dancing Crab | 7 mpd | |
| Douraku Sushi | 7 mpd | |
| Duckland | 7 mpd | |
| Lao Beijing | 7 mpd | |
| LingZhi Vegetarian | 7 mpd | |
| QIN Restaurant & Bar | 7 mpd | |
| Slappy Cakes | 7 mpd | |
| Tong Le Private Dining | 7 mpd | |
| Tung Lok Peking Duck | 7 mpd | |
| Tung Lok Seafood | 7 mpd | |
| Tung Lok Signatures | 7 mpd | |
| Tung Lok Teahouse | 7 mpd | |
| USHIO Sumiyaki & Sake Bar | 7 mpd |
There’s still a month to take advantage
One bit of good news regarding this cut to Kris+ merchant earning is that you can still enjoy the current rates for purchases made through the Kris+ app at these stores, restaurants and ticket merchants right through to 30th April 2023.
This might be of particular interest to those looking to make a big-ticket electronics purchase like a new laptop or TV at outlets including iStudio, Challenger and Harvey Norman.
Indeed Kris+ is currently offering an uncapped additional 1 mpd at Harvey Norman, for 4 mpd total earning, before your credit card points are accounted for.
This applies for in-store purchases made with in-app Kris+ payment between now and Monday 3rd April 2023, so there are a few more days to take advantage before the rate drops to 3 mpd, then down to 1 mpd from 1st May 2023.
How to earn miles with Kris+ when purchasing
Since September 2021, in-app payments have been the only way to earn Kris+ miles when purchasing in-store at an earning partner.
The process is straightforward, just scan the merchant’s QR code and make payment using Apple Pay or Google Pay with your linked credit card.
The app then credits your miles instantly, which you should then transfer immediately to your KrisFlyer account (you only have seven days to do so, before the miles are stuck in KrisPay with a paltry 0.67 cents rebate value against future purchases).
Over 320 merchants keep the same earn rate
The other good news regarding this unfortunate earning reduction at many merchants is that the vast majority – 82% – will be unscathed and continue to earn at their current 3 mpd, 6 mpd or 9 mpd rates, even after 1st May 2023.
If your favourite merchants are on this list – there’s no need to worry as nothing will be changing for you. Click the list below to expand and see for yourself.
Credit card points of up to 6 mpd are still in addition
Another thing that’s not changing about Kris+ is that you’ll still accrue points or miles on your credit card for the spend made for in-app payment transactions, in some cases adding up to 6 mpd to the maximum 9 mpd Kris+ is dishing out, for up to 15 mpd total earning.
This depends on the credit card you hold and the merchant category (MCC code) of the retailer.
Where possible, you’ll want to be using a credit card offering a 6 mpd or 4 mpd bonus rate when making payment at these merchants, which you’ll then earn separately and in addition to up to 9 mpd through Kris+.
The following cards will earn at their bonus rates of between 3 mpd and 6 mpd for spend in the specific MCCs listed. You can check the MCC with the merchant in advance of your payment if you are unsure, though some are obvious (like restaurants – 5812).
| Card | Earn Rate |
Notes / MCCs | |
 UOB Lady’s
|
6 mpd | Capped at S$1,000 per month (Lady’s) or S$3,000 per month (Lady’s Solitaire). Subject to your specified quarterly bonus category, including: |
|
| Dining: | MCC 5499 MCC 5812 MCC 5814 |
||
| Beauty: | MCC 5977 MCC 7230 MCC 7297 MCC 7298 |
||
| Fashion: | MCC 5621 MCC 5651 MCC 5661 MCC 5691 MCC 5699 MCC 5948 |
||
 HSBC Revolution(see our review) |
4 mpd | On contactless or mobile wallet payments at specific outlets by MCC, capped at S$1,000 per calendar month. |
|
| MCC 3501 MCC 5045 MCC 5441 MCC 5462 MCC 5499 MCC 5621 MCC 5651 MCC 5661 MCC 5691 MCC 5699 MCC 5732 |
MCC 5734 MCC 5812 MCC 5814 MCC 5944 MCC 5945 MCC 5947 MCC 5948 MCC 5992 MCC 5999 MCC 7011 MCC 7997 |
||
 DBS WWMC(see our review) |
4 mpd | On on up to S$2,000 of online spend per calendar month, including when paying at a merchant using Apple Pay or Google Pay via the Kris+ app. |
|
 OCBC TR(see our review) |
4 mpd | On shopping transactions in specific MCCs, capped at S$12,000 per card membership year. | |
| MCC 5621 MCC 5651 MCC 5661 |
MCC 5691 MCC 5699 MCC 5732 |
||
 Maybank Horizon VS(see our review) |
3.2 mpd | On all local dining transactions (single MCC only) with a total spend in any category of at least S$300 in the same calendar month. | |
| MCC 5812 | |||
 KrisFlyer UOB(see our review) |
3 mpd | On all Kris+ spend, with no minimum and no upper cap. | |
UOB Lady’s SolitaireDon’t use your Citi Rewards card to make payment with Apple Pay or Google Pay on Kris+, since online transactions using this card specifically exclude mobile wallet payments and will therefore earn at the basic rate of 0.4 mpd.
Unsure?
If you’re not sure whether your bonus miles credit card is eligible for the merchant of your choice, our advice is to use your best card for general spend miles accrual, especially if the transaction is substantial.
For smaller amounts you may wish to take the chance, but remember most bonus category spend credit cards earn just 0.4 mpd when you make transactions that the bank decides don’t qualify.
Stacking example
Let’s say you make an S$80 purchase at Bottles&Bottles, a 6 mpd merchant with Kris+, and pay in-app using your DBS WWMC card.
Total earning for the transaction will be:
- 480 KrisPay miles (S$80 x 6) awarded instantly
- 16 DBS Points awarded when the transaction posts (~ 3 days)
- 144 DBS Points awarded around the middle of the following month
The 160 DBS Points you’ll accrue in total are equivalent to 320 KrisFlyer miles, and the 480 KrisPay miles can be instantly converted 1:1 into KrisFlyer miles, for a total effective earning of 800 KrisFlyer Miles for this S$80 purchase (10 mpd).
Summary
Kris+ is cutting earn rates at 71 merchants from 1st May 2023, in some cases by as little as 17% (those moving from 6 mpd to 5 mpd), but in the worst cases by 67% (those moving from 3 mpd to just 1 mpd).
It’s also those high-ticket spend partners like Harvey Norman, Audio House and iStudio that see the worst cut in percentage terms, which can make a big difference to your bottom-line miles earning when picking up goods like laptops or new TVs.
The good news is that there’s still a full month to take advantage of current earn rates before the cuts take effect, so you should scan through the full list above and plan any purchases you need by 30th April 2023 at these retailers if possible.
In other good news, over 320 Kris+ merchants (4 out of 5) aren’t changing their earn rates at all, and this list includes some of our personal favourite eating, drinking and shopping outlets, like Southbridge, LeVel33, Perch, Cole Haan, Bottles & Bottles and Superdry.
While this is an unfortunate cut in earn rates at many partners, ultimately Kris+ has been offering significant generosity since increasing these a year ago, especially at electronics stores where large purchases must have been resulting in some significant miles accruals and associated costs for retailers like iStudio.
Even these outlets will still earn 1 mpd from 1st May 2023, on top of your credit card points, and any miles are better than no miles provided the goods are no more expensive than they would be elsewhere!
In the meantime happy shopping until 30th April 2023 (at least) and never forget the golden rule – transfer your KrisPay miles straight into your KrisFlyer account after each purchase!
(Cover Photo: Harvey Norman)
Famous Amos nooooooooooooo!! I was happily munching my way to a J saver to PER haha, but my waistline will be relieved I suppose.