AMEX Krisflyer Ascend
Earn 1.2 miles per dollar on local and overseas spends, 2 miles per dollar on Singapore Airlines and Grab spends
AMEX Krisflyer Ascend Card Overview:
The AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend offer solid perks if fly often with Singapore Airlines or Scoot. You’ll earn decent miles on daily spending, enjoy a free night’s stay at Hilton each year, and even get travel insurance. The real highlight? You can get a free hotel stay at a participating hilton properties every year. You can also fast-track your way to KrisFlyer Elite Gold status just by spending, instead of clocking 50,000 Elite miles from flying. That means lounge access, priority check-in, extra baggage, and more. The annual fee is a bit steep, but if you include the free hotel stay cost, the perks could be worthwhile.
Eligibility & Fees:
- Minimum Age: 21 years old
- Minimum Annual Income: Not specified
- Annual Fee: S$397.85
Key Benefits:
- 1.2 miles per dollar on local and overseas spend
- 2 miles per dollar on Singapore Airlines, Scoot, and KrisShop spend
- 2 miles per dollar on Grab transactions, capped at S$200 per calendar month
- No conversion fees
Even though this is not the best cards in terms of earn rate, this card can help you achieve Krisflyer Gold.
How to Best Optimise it:
Best Used on Singapore Airlines, Scoot, and KrisShop
- Earn an uncapped 2 miles per S$1 spent when you make the following eligible transactions:
- Singapore Airlines: Flight bookings originating from Singapore, purchased in SGD directly via singaporeair.com, the SingaporeAir mobile app, or through phone bookings.
- Scoot: Flight bookings originating from Singapore, purchased in SGD directly from Scoot via flyscoot.com or the Scoot mobile app.
- KrisShop: Eligible purchases in SGD made onboard Singapore Airlines flights, or directly online at krisshop.com.
- You will want to note that this is not the highest earn rate possible on Singapore Airlines or Scoot or KrisShop. The highest earn rate would be UOB Krisflyer at the moment. You can check out my review here.
Can be Used on Grab
- Earn 2 miles per dollar on eligible Grab SG transactions (excluding Grabpay top-up), capped at S$200 per calendar month. Although other card like DBS Women’s World Card, Citi Rewards, HSBC Revolution offers higher earn rates on Grab
Get Accelerated to KrisFlyer Elite Gold Status
- This is probably one of the best cards to get fast-track to KrisFlyer Elite Gold when you spend S$15,000 on eligible Singapore Airlines and Scoot flight bookings within the first 12 months of card approval. The upgrade will be effective 6 weeks after meeting the spend criteria.
- Elite miles are normally earned based on the actual distance you fly with Singapore Airlines, Scoot, or Star Alliance partners. Unlike KrisFlyer miles, they cannot be accrued by converting credit card points—you need to take flights to build them up. Under usual circumstances, qualifying for KrisFlyer Elite Gold requires 50,000 Elite miles in a 12-month period. With the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend Card, however, you get a fast-track option. Spend S$15,000 on Singapore Airlines or Scoot bookings within the first 12 months of card approval, and you’ll be upgraded to Elite Gold without needing to fly that distance. Eligible spend covers both commercial tickets and even taxes and surcharges. Importantly, the tickets do not need to be for your own travel—you can book for friends, family, or colleagues and still have the spend count toward the target. There is one key condition: transactions must be charged in Singapore Dollars and made via the Singapore Airlines or Scoot website/app.
- Key Benefits:
- Lounge access for you and your guest:
- KrisFlyer Gold Lounge at Changi Airport
- SilverKris Lounges worldwide when flying SIA
- Star Alliance Gold Lounges worldwide when flying partner airlines
- Priority airport check-in
- Extra baggage allowance
- Gold Track access (priority security and immigration)
- Check out more privileges here
- Lounge access for you and your guest:
- The Elite Gold status is valid for 1 year, after which you’ll need to accumulate 50,000 Elite miles to renew the status.
Make Use of Complimentary Night’s Stay at Hilton Hotel
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As an AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend cardholder (new or existing), you’ll receive one (1) complimentary night’s stay voucher each year at participating Hilton properties.
- The voucher will be issued 10–12 weeks after payment of the annual membership fee.
- New members will receive the voucher in their welcome pack.
- Value depends heavily on location:
- Hilton Singapore Orchard: ~S$350
- Hilton in secondary cities (e.g. China): ~S$100
Tip: Do not assume a flat S$350 value — check room rates before redeeming.
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Additionally, new principal cardholders are eligible to enrol for a complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status included in you welcome pack as long as you register here until the end of the year. You can view the full list of participating hotels here.
Enjoy Complimentary Travel Insurance
- This card comes with a complimentary coverage of up to S$1 million under Chubb Insurance when you charge your entire airfare to the card.
What to Avoid:
Exclusion List:
- 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;
- Bill payments and all transactions via SingPost (e.g. SAM kiosks, mobile app, online portal);
- Payments to insurance companies (except payments made for insurance products purchased through American Express authorized channel);
- Payments to Singapore Petroleum Company Limited (SPC) service stations;
- Payments for public transit in Singapore, including transactions on public trains and buses, and all transactions bearing the merchant description “BUS/MRT”;
- Payments for the purpose of stored value card purchase / load / top-ups and/or the topping-up or loading of currency (or equivalent) for digital wallets, including but not limited to GrabPay and ShopeePay (with effect from 30 September 2025);
- Payments to utilities merchants;
- Payments to public/restructured hospitals, polyclinics and other public/restructured healthcare institutions and facilities;
- Transactions relating to education and other non-profit purposes (including charitable donations);
- 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.
Is it Worth it:
Advantages:
- Fast track to KrisFlyer Elite Gold status
- Free Hilton hotel stay yearly
- No conversion fees
Disadvantages:
- Non-waivable annual fee
- Weaker earn rate
Frequently Asked Questions:
- When do KrisFlyer miles expire
- KrisFlyer miles earned with the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend are valid for three years and will expire at the end of the same month they were credited
- If I cancel my AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend, will I lose my miles?
- Cancelling the card will not affect any KrisFlyer miles that have already been credited to your KrisFlyer account but uncredited miles may be forfeited.
Final Thoughts:
The AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend is packed with travel perks—fast-track to KrisFlyer Elite Gold, Star Alliance lounge access, a free Hilton night’s stay each year, and up to S$1 million travel insurance. Add in solid earn rates on SIA, Scoot, and KrisShop with no conversion fees.
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