American Express has launched a new welcome bonus for the AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend card, offering up to 45,000 bonus miles for applications approved by 31 January 2027. While the total mileage is 50% higher than the previous 29,800-mile offer, the company has increased the minimum spend to S$8,000 and doubled the waiting period for new customers.
How do the new requirements compare to previous offers?
The updated offer introduces several changes to the card’s sign-up structure. According to American Express, the maximum bonus for “new-to-AMEX” customers has risen to 45,000 miles, compared to the previous 29,800 miles. However, the minimum spend requirement has increased eightfold to S$8,000.
The criteria for being considered a “new-to-AMEX” customer have also tightened. Applicants must not currently hold a principal or supplementary American Express card—excluding DBS/UOB-issued or HighFlyer cards—and must not have cancelled a principal or supplementary card in the past 24 months. This is a doubling of the previous 12-month waiting period.
What are the conditions for receiving the bonus miles?
The welcome bonus is split into two separate tranches. For “new-to-AMEX” customers, the breakdown is as follows:
- 5,000 miles: Awarded on the first spend of any amount.
- 20,000 miles: Awarded after spending S$8,000 within 180 days of approval and paying the first year’s S$397.85 annual fee.
- 20,000 miles: Awarded after making a spend in the 15th month of membership and paying the second year’s S$397.85 annual fee.
Existing customers—defined as those who have not cancelled a principal AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend in the past 24 months—receive a different structure. They can earn 5,000 miles on their first spend, 10,000 miles after meeting the S$8,000 spend requirement, and another 10,000 miles upon paying the second year’s annual fee.
What spending does not count toward the minimum requirement?
American Express has identified several categories that are excluded from the S$8,000 minimum spend requirement. These include:
- Bus and MRT rides
- Donations
- Education expenses
- GrabPay top-ups
- Insurance payments
- Public hospitals and polyclinics
- SPC transactions
- Utilities
Spending on supplementary cards will be pooled with the principal card to determine if the minimum spend has been met.
What other benefits are available with the card?
The AMEX KrisFlyer Ascend carries an annual fee of S$397.85. Cardholders earn 1.2 miles per dollar (mpd) on local and foreign currency spend. Rates increase to 2 mpd for spending with Singapore Airlines, Scoot, KrisShop, and Pelago, as well as up to S$200 of Grab spend per month.
Additionally, cardholders who spend at least S$15,000 by 16 December 2026—with at least S$5,000 spent on Singapore Airlines, Scoot, KrisShop, or Pelago—may be fast-tracked to KrisFlyer Elite Gold status.
What may happen next?
The higher spending threshold and the 24-month eligibility window for new customers could result in a smaller pool of qualified applicants. The requirement to pay a second annual fee to access the final 20,000 miles may also influence how consumers weigh the long-term cost of the card against the total miles earned.
