How I Chase Miles As Someone Who Doesn't Exclusively Fly Singapore Airlines

I fly quite often, both for work and for holidays. And if there's one thing I've learnt over the years, it doesn’t pay to stay loyal to just one airline (as much as I want to be patriotic!).

Sure, Singapore Airlines is the crème de la crème, but I make it a habit to compare with other carriers before booking. Sometimes another airline has a much cheaper fare. Sometimes the flight timings fit my itinerary better. And occasionally, I'm just curious to experience flying with other airlines (Emirates and Qatar Airways are not too shabby either!).

The problem? Most miles-based credit cards in Singapore are geared towards earning KrisFlyer miles, which can feel a little limiting if you don't exclusively fly Singapore Airlines.

Here's how I play the miles game without locking myself into KrisFlyer.

Look for credit cards that offer a broad selection of airline partners

When I first started collecting miles, I didn’t know that there are cards that allow redemption of miles to frequent flyer programmes beyond KrisFlyer.

The truth is, most cards only let you transfer your rewards into a very limited number of airline programmes. Instead, I specifically looked for cards that partner with multiple frequent flyer programmes.

For example, banks like HSBC and Citibank let you convert your points into several airline loyalty programmes instead of just KrisFlyer. Think Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific and Oneworld Alliance airlines) or Avios (Qatar Airways, British Airways, Finnair). And just like that, the possibility of redeeming a free flight to many more cities is available to you (since SQ doesn’t fly to every major city).

I don't transfer my points immediately. I leave them sitting in my credit card account (tip: check your miles validity date) until I know exactly which airline I'm redeeming with. That way, I'm not stuck with orphan miles in a programme that I may not use for years.

Keep an eye out for transfer promotions

Airlines occasionally run promotions that give you bonus miles just for transferring points from your bank. Qatar Airways is one airline that regularly does this.

Instead of receiving the normal conversion rate, you might receive an additional 10%, 20% or even more bonus Avios simply by transferring miles during the promotional period.

That's basically free miles for doing something I was already planning to do, eventually.

These promotions don't happen every week, but they appear often enough, as often as twice a year that it's worth waiting if your travel plans aren't urgent. Just waiting a little bit longer can stretch your points much further.

Have you met....HeyMax?

Meet your new favourite app, HeyMax.

If you've never heard of it before, think of it as a booster to whatever miles you’re already earning from spending on your credit card.

Depending on where you're shopping, booking or dining, you can earn Max Miles on top of whatever your credit card already gives you. It quietly rewards spending I was already going to make anyway. And…it’s free of charge.

Those extra miles may not seem like much initially, but over the course of a year, they really start to add up. Over the course of one year, I’ve accumulated 20,000 miles on HeyMax by paying for hotel bookings on Agoda, shopping online at Uniqlo, and spending on Grab rides.

The best part? HeyMax supports transfers to multiple airline programmes instead of only KrisFlyer. For instance, you even get to transfer to airlines such as Japan Airlines or Xiamen Air, which are not typically available through credit cards.

Even "excluded" spending can earn rewards

Certain types of spending usually don't earn credit card rewards. Things like insurance premiums, school fees, and hospital bills are excluded from earning miles.

Which feels a bit painful when those are often some of the biggest expenses we pay.

One workaround I've started exploring is using the Chocolate Finance debit card together with HeyMax.

Depending on the transaction and the latest programme terms, this combination allows me to earn points on some spending categories that traditional credit cards usually don't reward.

Just remember to check the latest eligibility rules before making payment, since these programmes can change over time.

IMAGE: UNSPLASH

Don't forget your hotel loyalty points

Before my recent trip to Italy, I became slightly obsessed with researching hotels. That’s when I found out: Some hotel loyalty programmes also allow you to convert points into airline miles.

Marriott Bonvoy is probably the best-known example.

You can earn Bonvoy points from hotel stays, promotions or even certain credit cards, then transfer those points to a surprisingly long list of airline programmes around the world.

Accor Live Limitless (ALL) also partners with selected airlines, although the conversion options work a little differently.

Personally, I still prefer redeeming hotel points for hotel stays because I usually find better value there. But I like knowing that the option exists. And hey, who knows if you might be in a situation where you fall short of only a few thousand miles before you can redeem your dream business class flight to Paris? Having this backup miles bank might just do the trick.

For the latest updates on Wonderwall.sg, be sure to follow us on TikTok, Telegram, Instagram, and Facebook. If you have a story idea for us, email us at [email protected].