Flying business class or even first class / suites is undoubtedly a luxurious experience, one that many of us may not consider paying for out of pocket. However, with a well-thought-out miles strategy, it can become an achievable goal—especially for memorable occasions like a babymoon or a family trip.
For us, our last indulgence in premium class was during our babymoon to New Zealand. By redeeming enough miles, we flew there in business class and returned in the Singapore Airlines Suite. It was an incredibly pampering experience, especially for me in my third trimester.
Fast forward to now with two kids, we’ve realized we need to be more strategic about accumulating miles. We managed to achieve our most recent goal, which was to redeem tickets for a long-haul trip to London before Hengboi2 turned 2, taking advantage of only needing three tickets for my husband, Hengboi, and me. Here’s how we made it happen and some tips for building your own miles strategy.
Everyday Credit Card Strategies to Collect Miles
- Use the Right Credit Card for the Right Spend
- Choose credit cards that reward you generously in miles for everyday expenses. For example, the below strategies awards 4 miles/$:
- Dining out and groceries: Use cards with higher earn rates for local dining or grocery shopping.
- For PayWave purchases, the UOB Preferred Platinum Visa is my go-to. Once I max out the monthly limit of $1.1K, I switch to my UOB Lady’s Solitaire Card, where I’ve selected dining as one of the two bonus categories.
- Online shopping: Some cards offer bonus miles for e-commerce transactions.
- I usually use a DBS Woman’s Card or Citi Rewards Card. Pair the Citi Rewards Card with Amaze to convert offline spending into online spending.
- Travel-related expenses: Book flights, accommodations, and attractions with cards offering extra miles for travel spend.
- I use my UOB Lady’s Solitaire Card, with travel as one of my selected bonus categories.
- Do check out the respective cards’ T&Cs to see what purchases are excluded!
- Dining out and groceries: Use cards with higher earn rates for local dining or grocery shopping.
- Choose credit cards that reward you generously in miles for everyday expenses. For example, the below strategies awards 4 miles/$:
- Pay Big Bills with Your Card
- Whenever possible, use your credit card to pay for large expenses like insurance premiums, income tax, or hospital bills. These payments can often be converted to miles using services like CardUp or PayAll.
- For a limited time, you can get up to $ 200 off on your 1st payment with my cardup referral link.
- Thanks to the HexMax x Chocolate Card partnership, starting February, all transactions—including insurance payments and hospital bills—can earn 2 Max Miles per dollar. Read our post here for more details. Sign up for heymax and chocolate card!.
- Maximize Bonus Categories
- Certain cards offer bonus miles in specific spending categories like dining, petrol, or overseas spending. Take note of these categories and align your spending accordingly.
- Keep an Eye on Promotions and Sign up Bonuses
- Watch out for promotions offering accelerated miles or bonus miles when you are a new customer or hit a spending target. These can help you fast-track your accumulation.
- Shop Through Airline Portals
- Some airlines, including Singapore Airlines, have online shopping portals like kris+ that allow you to earn miles for every dollar spent at partner merchants. Use my referral code when you sign up, we’ll both get SGD 5 after your first SGD 5 payment on Kris+.
Promotion for purchases that usually don’t earn rewards
Recently, I found the perfect way to maximize miles on insurance premiums—something that usually doesn’t earn any rewards. Thanks to the HexMax x Chocolate Card partnership, starting February, all transactions—including insurance payments and hospital bills—can earn 2 Max Miles per dollar.
I had an annual insurance premium due soon, a four-figure amount that would have otherwise been deducted via GIRO, earning me absolutely nothing. But with this new partnership, I can now pay my premiums and maximize my miles effortlessly.
If you also have insurance premiums, hospital bills, or government payments coming up, don’t miss out on this opportunity. Here’s how to start:
- Sign up for HexMax using my referral link to access the partnership. Get 250 max miles when you have completed the onboarding.
- Apply for the Chocolate Card with my referral link to enjoy the best miles-earning rate. Get $5 upon signing up via my referral link.
- Use your Chocolate Card via HexMax to pay for transactions that previously earned no rewards.
- Watch your miles accumulate effortlessly and redeem them for flights, hotel stays, or travel perks!
Check out this post for more details on the Heymax x Chocolate Card partnership.
Our Secret Tips for Redeeming Miles
- Plan in Advance: Award seats, especially for premium cabins, are in high demand. Book as early as possible to secure your preferred flights. For Singapore Airlines, redemption booking opens 355 days in advance of departure day.
- Book Singapore Airlines Spontaneous Escape: Snag miles at great discount. Usually only possible for couples or families with pre-schoolers and below who do not have fixed school holidays. Read more in this post.
- Choose Long-Haul Flights: Miles offer the best value when redeemed for long-haul business or first-class tickets. For instance, our recent redemption to London ensured maximum bang for our buck.
- Know When to Add an Infant Ticket: For trips with an infant, it’s best to add their ticket over the counter rather than by phone. We found heading down to ION Orchard SQ Counter to handle this was the most seamless option.
Why We Love Flying on Miles
Redeeming miles for business class allows us to experience the luxury we’d otherwise skip. The spacious seats, gourmet meals, and impeccable service make long flights enjoyable. It’s also a treat to have priority boarding and lounge access, especially with kids in tow.
With our recent awesome experience on our long haul flight to London with the boys to , we’re determined to keep up with our miles game. By incorporating these strategies into your daily life, you too can elevate your travel experience without stretching your budget. Happy earning and bon voyage!
