{"id":62475,"date":"2026-06-21T11:04:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T03:04:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=62475"},"modified":"2026-06-21T11:04:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-21T03:04:58","slug":"amex-krisflyer-ascend-launches-45000-miles-welcome-offer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=62475","title":{"rendered":"AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend launches 45,000 miles welcome offer"},"content":{"rendered":"


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American Express has launched a new welcome bonus for the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend<\/a>, which offers up to\u00a045,000 bonus miles <\/strong>for cards approved by 31 January 2027.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On paper, this looks like a significant improvement, given that it\u2019s 50% higher than the previous offer of 29,800 bonus miles.<\/p>\n

However, that\u2019s where the good news ends. American Express has octupled<\/strong> the minimum spend to S$8,000, while also doubling the waiting period<\/a> required to count as a new-to-AMEX customer. Furthermore, 20,000 of the 45,000 bonus miles will\u00a0only be awarded 15 months later \u2014 after you pay the second year\u2019s annual fee!<\/strong><\/p>\n

AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend welcome offer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend<\/a><\/strong>
<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Apply<\/a><\/span><\/span>
<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/td>\nNew-to-AMEX<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nExisting<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
First Spend<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n5,000 miles<\/span><\/td>\n5,000 miles<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Spend S$8,000
(First 180 days)<\/span>
<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n		20,000 miles<\/span><\/td>\n10,000 miles<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Base Miles from S$8,000
(@ 1.2 mpd)<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n		9,600 miles<\/span><\/td>\n9,600 miles<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pay Second Year Annual Fee<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n20,000 miles<\/span><\/td>\n10,000 miles<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total Spend<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nS$8,000<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nS$8,000<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total Miles<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n54,600 miles<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n34,600 miles<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

American Express is offering two different sign-up offers for the\u00a0AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend<\/a>, depending on whether you count as a new-to-AMEX or existing AMEX customer.<\/p>\n

New-to-AMEX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
\u2753 Definition<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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New-to-AMEX customers are defined as those who:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Do not currently hold a principal or supplementary AMEX card (excluding DBS\/UOB-issued AMEX cards or the AMEX HighFlyer Card), and<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Have not cancelled a principal or supplementary AMEX card in the past 24 months<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    All first-time American Express KrisFlyer cardholders will enjoy 5,000 bonus miles<\/strong> on their first spend of any amount. This is a once per lifetime bonus, so if you\u2019ve held an American Express KrisFlyer card before, you won\u2019t receive it a second time.<\/p>\n

    New-to-AMEX customers who pay the first year\u2019s S$397.85 fee and spend at least S$8,000 within the first 180 days of approval will receive 20,000 bonus miles.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    They will receive a further 20,000 bonus miles<\/strong> for paying the second year\u2019s S$397.85 fee and making a spend of any amount in the 15th month of card membership.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    Existing customers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
    \u2753 Definition<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Existing customers are defined as those who h<\/span>ave not cancelled a principal AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend in the past 24 months.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    All first-time American Express KrisFlyer cobrand cardholders will enjoy\u00a05,000 miles<\/strong> on their first spend of any amount. This is a once per lifetime bonus, so if you\u2019ve held an American Express KrisFlyer cobrand card before, you won\u2019t receive it a second time.<\/p>\n

    Existing customers who pay the first year\u2019s S$397.85 fee and spend at least S$8,000 within the first 180 days of approval will receive 10,000 bonus miles.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    They will receive a further 10,000 bonus miles<\/strong> for paying the second year\u2019s S$397.85 fee and making a spend of any amount in the 15th month of card membership.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    When will the bonuses be credited?<\/h2>\n

    If you\u2019re eligible for the 5,000 bonus miles for first-time AMEX Singapore Airlines cobrand cardholders, these will be credited to your KrisFlyer account after the month of approval and first spend.<\/p>\n

    The first half of the welcome bonus (20,000 bonus miles for new-to-AMEX, 10,000 bonus miles for existing) will be credited 12 weeks after meeting the minimum spend.<\/p>\n

    The second half of the welcome bonus (20,000 bonus miles for new-to-AMEX, 10,000 bonus miles for existing) will be credited 12 weeks after making the first spend of any amount in the 15th month of card membership.<\/p>\n

    All questions about fulfilment should be directed to American Express.<\/p>\n

    What spending is eligible?<\/h2>\n

    American Express provides a list of excluded spending categories here<\/a>, but the key ones to take note of are:<\/p>\n

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    • Bus\/MRT rides<\/li>\n
    • Donations<\/li>\n
    • Education<\/li>\n
    • GrabPay top-ups<\/li>\n
    • Insurance<\/li>\n
    • Public hospitals and polyclinics<\/li>\n
    • SPC transactions<\/li>\n
    • Utilities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      CardUp and private hospitals, and anything else not explicitly stated in the exclusion list will<\/strong> count as eligible spend. Do note there are certain restrictions on AMEX payments with CardUp, as summarised in the article below.\u00a0<\/p>\n

      \n

      Explained: American Express restrictions on CardUp payments<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n