Yahoo Finance The Best Singapore Credit Card Promotions for Flights, Hotels & Travel Booking Sites (2018)
Unless you’re a time-traveller from 1995 or an auntie who exclusively travels on Chan Brothers guided tours led by your favourite MediaCorp celebrity, you probably already know you can save a lot of money by making your travel bookings online. What you might NOT be doing, however, is using the RIGHT credit card to book your hotels and flights. With these credit card promotions, you can save 10% on every booking you make.
Many of Singapore’s favourite airlines – like Cathay Pacific – often offer pretty impressive online-exclusive discounts and promotions. The same is true for travel booking aggregators like Agoda, Expedia and Booking.com and others too.
Typically, in order to score the discount (or miles), you will need to book through the dedicated landing page stated. When you get to the payment page, enter the promo code (if any). Don’t forget to double check that your booking falls within the stipulated travel period.
Okay, with that PSA out of the way, let’s jump into the best credit card promotions for the top airlines and hotel booking sites.
P.S. As an added bonus, we’ve added in the current promo codes for travel-related booking sites Klook and ChangiWiFi too!
Best Singapore Credit Card Promotions for Airlines
Currently, Cathay Pacific is the only top airline with several promotions with local credit cards. Other popular carriers like Scoot, Singapore Airlines, and Jetstar also often have tie-ups with banks – just not at the moment. If you prefer those airlines, do bookmark the page and check back for the latest updates.
Cathay Pacific Promotions 2018
Credit card | Discount | Book by | Travel by |
Special Two-to-Travel Fares to selected destinations via DBS/POSB landing page | 22 May 2018 | 31 March 2019 | |
Special fares to selected destinations via OCBC landing page | 30 Jun 2018 | 31 July 2018 | |
HSBC Premier Mastercard | Exclusive SGD1* child/infant fare (2 adults + 1 child per booking) to selected Asia destinations via HSBC landing page | 30 Jun 2018 | — |
The promotional airfares are unique to the banks, and change from time to time. As such, which card (DBS/POSB or OCBC) to use really depends on your preferred destination country. However, if you’re travelling with children, the HSBC Premier Mastercard discount is the best – your child can fly for just $1 (with 2 accompanying adults)!
Winner: It’s a tie for DBS/POSB and OCBC credit cards; but if you’ve children, choose HSBC.
Scoot Promotions 2018
There are currently no credit card promotions for Scoot.
Singapore Airlines Promotions 2018
There are currently no credit card promotions for Singapore Airlines.
Jetstar Promotions 2018
There are currently no credit card promotions for Jetstar.
Best Singapore Credit Card Promotions for Hotel Booking Sites
Typically, in order to score the discount (or miles), you will need to book through the dedicated landing page stated. When you get to the payment page, enter the promo code (if any). Don’t forget to double check that your booking falls within the stipulated travel period.
Okay, with that PSA out of the way, let’s jump into the best credit card promotions for Agoda, Expedia, Zuji, et. al.
Agoda promotions 2018
Credit card | Discount | Book by | Travel by |
HSBC | Additional 5% off via www.agoda.com/hsbcsg | 31 Dec 2018 | — |
UOB | 6% – 8% off hotels via www.agoda.com/uob | 31 May 2018 | 30 Jun 2019 |
OCBC | 5% – 8% off hotels via www.agoda.com/ocbc | 31 May 2018 | 31 Jun 2018 |
American Express | 5% – 8% off hotels via www.agoda.com/amex | 20 May 2018 | 30 Jun 2019 |
Citibank | 7% – 8% off hotels via www.agoda.com/citispecials | 31 Dec 2018 | — |
Maybank | 5% – 8% off hotels via www.agoda.com/maybanksg | 31 Dec 2018 | 31 Mar 2019 |
Agoda is probably the most popular booking site out there, which explains why the credit card promotions are very competitive, and are capped at 8%. The 8% off applies to selected destinations that change monthly from bank to bank, so in this sense, there is no “best” card – it depends on your preferred travel destination.
Winner: HSBC, UOB, Amex, Maybank, Citibank, OCBC credit cards
Expedia promotions 2018
Credit card | Discount | Book by | Travel by |
HSBC | 15% off with promo code HSBC15 via www.expedia.com.sg/hsbcsale | 31 May 2018 | 30 Jun 2018 |
Maybank | 10% off with MAYBANKHOL via www.expedia.com.sg/maybankhol | 31 Dec 2018 | 31 Mar 2019 |
$25 off flight + hotel package with promo code MAYBANKPKG via www.expedia.com.sg/maybank | 31 Dec 2018 | 31 Mar 2019 | |
Citibank | 10% off with promo code CITIEXPHOL10 via www.expedia.com.sg/citibank | 31 Dec 2018 | 31 Mar 2019 |
OCBC | 10% off with promo code OCBC10HOL via www.expedia.com.sg/ocbc | 31 Jan 2019 | 30 Apr 2019 |
DBS/POSB | 10% off with promo code DBS10EXP (min. 2 nights) via www.expedia.com.sg/dbs | 31 Jan 2019 | 30 Apr 2019 |
UOB | Additional 10% off via www.expedia.com.sg/uob | 31 Mar 2019 | 30 Jun 2019 |
Almost every bank in Singapore has a credit card tie-up with Expedia so you can easily get 10% off on your hotels. The current best promotion is HSBC’s 15%, but it’s only until the end of May.
(FYI, the HSBC Premier Mastercard has an unbeatable 15% off on Expedia, plus Expedia+ Gold Membership. But I’m omitting it as it’s for high-income Premier banking customers only.)
Winners: HSBC, Maybank, Citibank, OCBC credit cards
Booking.com promotions 2018
Credit card | Promotion | Book by | Travel by |
American Express | 10% off with 1-year GENIUS Membership via www.booking.com/amexgeniussg | 31 Mar 2020 | — |
Citibank | Up to 6% off with Shopback | 31 Dec 2018 | — |
If you like using Booking.com, American Express credit cards have a pretty good deal – you can get a year’s worth of GENIUS Membership (Booking.com’s loyalty programme) which gives you 10% off hotels plus exclusive deals.
Winner: Amex credit cards
Hotels.com promotions 2018
Credit card | Promotion | Book by | Travel by |
Standard Chartered | 10% off with promo code SCBSG10, min. spend $350 required via www.hotels.com/scb | 31 Dec 2018 | 31 Mar 2019 |
All Visa cards | 8% off with promo code VISA8 via www.hotels.com/visa | 31 Dec 2018 | 31 Mar 2019 |
All Mastercard | 8% off with promo code MASTERCARD via www.hotels.com/mastercard | 31 Dec 2018 | 31 Mar 2019 |
Citibank | Up to 6% off with Shopback | 31 Dec 2018 | — |
No matter what credit card you use – unless it’s an American Express – you can always get an 8% discount on Hotels.com.
Standard Chartered credit cards give you a marginally better 10%, but only if you hit a minimum spend of $350. (The premium Standard Chartered Visa Infinite gives you 12% off, min. spend $500.)
Winner: Standard Chartered credit card if you can meet the minimum spend
Zuji promotions 2018
Credit card | Promotion | Book by | Travel by |
Maybank | 10% off with promo code MAYBANK10HOTEL via www.zuji.com.sg/maybank | 31 Dec 2018 | 30 Jun 2019 |
OCBC | 10% off with promo code OCBCHOLIDAY15 via www.zuji.com.sg/ocbc | 31 Jan 2019 | — |
Citibank | Up to 6.5% off with Shopback | 31 Dec 2018 | — |
Only 2 banks work with Zuji, and both give the same 10% discount with their respective promo codes for bookings made on the landing page.
Winners: Maybank, OCBC credit cards
Airbnb promotions 2018
Credit card | Promotion | Book by | Travel by |
HSBC Premier Mastercard | 5% off if you book via Airbnb landing page | 30 Jun 2018 | — |
Unfortunately, Airbnb doesn’t really work with credit cards these days. The only card that gives you a discount is the HSBC Premier Mastercard – even then, it’s only a measly 5%. Besides, if you qualify for this top-tier credit card, that few bucks you save is hardly going to matter.
Winner: HSBC Premier Mastercard
Best Singapore Credit Card Promotions for other travel-related booking sites 2018
As an added bonus, we’ve added in the current promo codes for travel-related booking sites Klook and ChangiWiFi too. After all, you’ll be trying to book overseas attraction tickets and day tours after settling your flights and accommodation. There are several promotions for ChangiWiFi too, in case you need to stay connected while overseas.
Klook promotions 2018
Credit card | Promotion | Book by | Travel by |
OCBC | 5% off with promo code OCBC2018 via www.klook.com/promo/ocbc (capped at $8) | 31 Dec 2018 | 31 Dec 2018 |
Changi Recommends / ChangiWiFi promotions 2018
Credit card | Promotion | Book by | Travel by |
AMEX KrisFlyer | 7% off ChangiWiFi router rentals with various promo codes | 31 Dec 2018 | — |
HSBC | 7% off ChangiWiFi router rentals with various promo codes | 31 Dec 2018 | — |
UOB | 7% off ChangiWiFi router rentals with various promo codes | 31 Dec 2018 | — |
Standard Chartered | 10% off with selected attraction tickets and tours with promo code SC10OFF | 31 Dec 2018 | — |
ChangiWiFi is more or less Changi Recommends’ hero product, and is an affordable way to get overseas internet connection. The ChangiWiFi promotions are all the same though, at 7% for Amex, HSBC and UOB. Standard Chartered, is the only bank to have discounts on Changi Recommends’ other products.
Winner: Amex, HSBC and UOB for ChangiWiFi, but Standard Chartered for everything else.
Which credit cards have the best travel discounts?
Travel booking promotions like these are an excellent way to save money if you don’t travel very frequently – especially if you don’t travel often enough to warrant getting an air miles credit card.
The best credit cards for travel promotions are HSBC, Maybank, Amex and OCBC credit cards, which are very aggressive on the travel front. Other banks like Citibank, Standard Chartered and DBS/POSB aren’t as competitive.
Alternatively, you can consider using an online shopping credit card. Just make sure that the online spending categories include travel bookings, and that you have no trouble meeting the minimum spend if any.
Related Articles
Should You Book Hotels Through Third Party Sites Like Booking and Agoda?
Travel Agents vs Direct Purchase: Which is More Cost Effective?
The Best Travel Insurance in Singapore – 2018 Review
Which credit card do you use to make travel bookings? Let us know in the comments!
The post The Best Singapore Credit Card Promotions for Flights, Hotels & Travel Booking Sites (2018) appeared first on the MoneySmart blog.
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