7 Common Air Miles Mistakes in Singapore (and How to Avoid Them)

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Air miles are one of the best ways to turn your credit card spending into travel perks, but most people aren’t maximising their rewards.

Here are seven mistakes I made and the lessons that helped me transform the way I earn miles.

1. Not aiming for 4 miles per dollar (mpd) on discretionary spending

If you’re earning less than 4 mpd on your discretionary expenses (think dining, online shopping, etc.), you’re leaving miles on the table. That’s the baseline you should be targeting for miles-earning cards. Exclude unavoidable expenses like rent, mortgages, and school fees from this calculation as miles cards never award 4mpd on them.

2. Believing heavily marketed cards are the best

The most advertised miles cards are often poor performers when it comes to rewards. Banks prioritize promoting cards with low miles-per-dollar rates because they generate more revenue. Instead, focus on researching niche cards with competitive earn rates.

3. Not understanding my own spending habits

Earning 4 mpd isn’t about using any card; it’s about using the right card for your lifestyle. Many cards offer 4 mpd for specific spending categories like dining, online transactions, or transport. Track your monthly expenses and align your card choices with those patterns.

4. Ignoring how banks pool points

Some banks, like DBS, UOB, and HSBC, let you combine points across multiple cards into one pool, which can then be converted into miles for a single fee. Others, like Citi, keep points separate across cards, forcing you to pay multiple conversion fees. This can be a hidden cost for miles collectors when converting their points into air miles.

5. Buying into the hype around $120k segment cards

Credit cards marketed to high-income earners often have mandatory annual fees and poor earn rates for miles on your spend. Unless you can genuinely take advantage of their niche perks, these cards rarely justify their costs.

6. Thinking “women’s cards” are exclusive to women

Some of Singapore’s best air miles cards, like the UOB Lady’s Card or DBS Woman’s World Card, are labelled as “women’s cards” but are actually open to all genders. These cards offer customisable categories (spending on dining or shopping, online spend etc.) that let you earn 4mpd on specific types of spending.

7. Not using the right cards for overseas spend

Many cards let you earn 4 mpd on foreign currency transactions, which can significantly boost your miles while travelling. Examples include the UOB Preferred Platinum Visa (PPV), which is 4mpd on Apple Pay/Google Pay transactions globally, making it an excellent choice for frequent flyers.

Maximise Your Air Miles Today

Building an air miles strategy requires effort, but these insights can help you optimise your spending and get more value from your rewards.