Redeem a Free Flight with Credit Card Air Miles

Key Takeaways

• 1. Most credit cards have points or rebates as a reward program – the more you spend using the credit card, the more points you get.
• 2. Beyond airline partners, credit cardmembers may also redeem their miles for loyalty program points or vouchers at hotels and restaurants worldwide.
• 3. There are many frequent flyer programs in Singapore, such as KrisFlyer, Asia Miles, and Skywards. The conversion of credit card points to miles is different for each airline partner.

When frequent flyer programs were introduced in the late 1970s, earning air miles was deceptively easy. Either fly long distances or often enough on a single chosen air carrier. The name of the game was to rack up enough miles to redeem a free or discounted air ticket to a destination of your choice.

However, travellers these days can accumulate miles even before boarding a flight. One of the easiest ways is with credit cards, especially those designed to maximise the accrual of miles.

What is a Miles Credit Card?

Most credit cards have points or rebates as a reward program – the more you spend using the credit card, the more reward points you get. For example, when you spend on the Citi PremierMiles Card, you get rewarded with Citi Miles. One Citi Mile is equivalent to one air mile on a participating frequent flyer program^*.

Most miles credit cards offer other features, such as miles that don’t expire (before you convert it to airline miles), complimentary travel insurance, and complimentary access to participating lounges at airports. Beyond airline partners, credit card members may also redeem their miles for loyalty program points or vouchers at hotels and restaurants worldwide.

Consider Using the Citi PremierMiles Card

For travel enthusiasts, the Citi PremierMiles Card is an attractive option.

Earn 1.2 Citi Miles for every S$1 spent locally and 2 Citi Miles for every S$1 of foreign currency spent. Cardholders will also receive 10,000 Citi Miles every year upon renewal of the annual membership and payment of the annual fee! Please refer to the link set out above for more details and applicable terms and conditions.

These miles earned on your Citi PremierMiles Card do not expire, and cardholders can choose from 14 frequent flyer transfer partners. This way, cardholders can transfer their Citi Miles to a partner offering the best rates for the intended destination.

Transfer partners include:

• Asia Miles
• AirFrance & KLM
• British Airways
• Etihad
• Eva Air
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas
• Qatar
• Singapore Airlines
• Thai Airways
• Turkish Airlines

Additionally, cardholders can enjoy complimentary travel insurance with coverage of up to S$1 million+ in certain events, when their airfare is charged to their card.

While you’re shopping and earning miles, Citi cardholders can enjoy worldwide privileges on a wide range of deals on shopping, lifestyle, hotels, and dining partners. Citi PremierMiles Card also gives you two complimentary visits annually to participating airport lounges^*.

Which Frequent Flyer Partner to Choose?

There are many frequent flyer programs in Singapore, such as KrisFlyer, Asia Miles, and Skywards. The conversion of credit card points to miles is different for each airline partner. Other than the obvious, such as whether the airline flies to your destination, there may be additional terms to look out for, such as minimum conversion amounts, conversion fees, and whether the converted miles can be used towards trips.

Although it is usually straightforward to convert credit card points to miles by filling in an online form, it may take days or weeks for the miles to show up in your airline’s account. It is better to plan early and not assume you can redeem a flight ticket to go on a last-minute trip.

How Many Points and Miles are Needed to Redeem a Full Trip?

This depends on the desired destination and airline partner. Prices can deviate significantly seasonally and between airlines. You can use the Citi Miles Calculator to help explore the Citi miles redemption needed for different destinations.

Let’s assume an airline’s frequent flyer program advertises that 50,000 miles are needed to redeem a full economy ticket from Singapore to Melbourne. Theoretically, to accumulate this many miles, you’ll need to make eligible spend of approximately S$3,500 locally every month over 12 months or S$1,750 over 24 months on your Citi PremierMiles Card.

What are Some Ways to Earn Miles?

One of the easiest ways to earn miles is to use your miles credit card for your purchases. Take note that miles may not be earned for certain Merchant Category Codes.

Don’t forget that renewing your Citi PremierMiles card and paying the Annual Fee, as well as using it for overseas spend can help ramp up miles earned.

Whether you’re picking up a big ticket item, making online purchases, bringing out a special someone on a lovely dinner, or just spending daily groceries, diligently using a credit card designed for miles can earn you that free flight ticket to a dream holiday destination.

Sign up for the Citi PremierMiles Card today to enjoy attractive welcome bonus and gifts if you are new to Citi credit cards. Terms and conditions apply.

Travelling soon? Here’s how you can keep your cards safe.

Disclaimers

^*Terms and conditions apply for the Citi PremierMiles Card.

+ Up to S$1,000,000 coverage in the event of death or permanent disablement, arising from an accident in a common carrier. For trips commencing before or on 31 December 2022, the complimentary travel insurance is underwritten by AXA Insurance Pte Ltd (now known as HSBC Life (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.). For full set of policy terms and exclusions please click here. (For claims, call HSBC Life hotline +65 6880 4888, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, excluding public holidays). For trips commencing on or after 1 January 2023, the complimentary travel insurance will be underwritten by HL Assurance Pte Ltd. Full terms and policy, please click here.

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