An interesting Singapore Airlines transfer bonus can get you elite status
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Back in April, Singapore Airlines has launched a very interesting promotion – you can earn status, all the way up to Gold, by transferring American Express Membership Rewards points to its KrisFlyer programme.
In fact, it is broader than this.
As you can see here, until February 2022, all non-flying points earned in the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer scheme will also earn elite status miles.
This means that transfers from, say, hotel reward schemes will also count. For UK residents, transfers from Heathrow Rewards count. HSBC Premier credit card points will also count.
This is how it works:
- you receive 1 elite status mile for every 5 redeemable miles you earn from non-flying methods
- you need 25,000 elite miles for KrisFlyer Silver (Star Alliance Silver)
- you need 50,000 elite miles for KrisFlyer Gold (Star Alliance Gold)
This means:
- 250,000 HSBC Premier points gets you 125,000 Singapore Airlines miles and Silver status
- 500,000 HSBC Premier points gets you 250,000 Singapore Airlines miles and Gold status
- 187,500 UK American Express Membership Rewards points gets you 125,000 Singapore Airlines miles and Silver status
- 375,000 UK American Express Membership Rewards points gets you 250,000 Singapore Airlines miles and Gold status
More interestingly (based on £1 to $1.35):
- 92,600 UK American Express Membership Rewards points gets you 125,000 International Dollar Card Amex MR points which gets you 125,000 Singapore Airlines miles and Silver status
- 185,200 UK American Express Membership Rewards points gets you 250,000 International Dollar Card Amex MR points which gets you 250,000 Singapore Airlines miles and Gold status
If you have no idea what I am talking about with the final two points above, read this article about how you can arbitrage Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer by getting an International Dollar Card from American Express.
To find out more about this offer, read the article we published in April.
A transfer bonus now makes this an even better deal
Until 22nd November, Singapore Airlines is running a transfer bonus when you transfer bank points into KrisFlyer:
- get a 12% bonus when you transfer points worth 10,000 to 49,999 KrisFlyer miles in one transaction
- get a 15% bonus when you transfer points worth 50,000+ KrisFlyer miles in one transaction
The bonus should earn status miles, which means that the offer of ‘free’ Singapore Airlines status gets even better.
Details of the transfer bonus are here. Remember that only ‘bank’ points (HSBC or American Express if you live in the UK) count. Details of the ‘get status for transfers’ deal are here.
For clarity, I don’t recommend transferring points to KrisFlyer purely to get status – it is terrible value on that basis. However, if you have firm plans to use the KrisFlyer points for a Singapore Airlines or partner redemption – some of our best KrisFlyer redemptions are here – getting status on top is a good extra bonus.
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How to earn Star Alliance miles from UK credit cards (April 2025)
None of the Star Alliance airlines currently have a UK credit card.
There is, however, still a way to earn Star Alliance miles from a UK credit card.
The route is via Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty points convert to over 40 airlines at the rate of 3:1.
The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is via the official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card. It comes with 20,000 points for signing up and 2 points for every £1 you spend. At 2 Bonvoy points per £1, you are earning (at 3:1) 0.66 airline miles per £1 spent on the card.
There is a preferential conversion rate to United Airlines – which is a Star Alliance member – of 2 : 1 if you convert 60,000 Bonvoy points at once.
The Star Alliance members which are Marriott Bonvoy transfer partners are: Aegean, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines.
You can apply here.
Marriott Bonvoy American Express
20,000 points for signing up and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review
