Cashing Out Orphan Points from the OCBC Titanium Rewards Credit Card - What Can You Do With Them?

Last year, OCBC was offering a really generous sign-up bonus for both new and existing customers with the OCBC Titanium Rewards Credit Card (which is seriously one of the best credit cards in Singapore for miles - especially if you have big-ticket expenses coming up). As an existing OCBC customer, I simply had to apply for the OCBC Titanium Rewards Credit Card and spend S$100 within 30 days of card approval to receive a 14,400 bonus OCBC$ (equivalent to 5,760 miles). I spent S$100 exactly on Shopee and earned 1,000 OCBC$ (equivalent to 400 miles) which is great since 4 miles per dollar is the sweet spot that you should typically operate at.

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Now a few months have passed and I have not actually utilised my OCBC Titanium Rewards Credit Card at all - especially since I am no longer a new homeowner and do not have any major expenses apart from travel coming up. While I still have a few more months before the annual fee will be charged, I want to know what can I do exactly with 15,400 OCBC$ in the event that I do not spend anything else on this card. Converting OCBC$ into KrisFlyer Miles must be done in blocks of 25,000 OCBC% and there will also be an administrative fee of S$25. Therefore, converting my 15,400 OCBC$ into KrisFlyer miles is completely out of the question.

Photo Credit: OCBC

Thankfully, OCBC$ is one of many reward currencies on STACK (a digital loyalty platform that alows you to convert and combine rewards points across various reward programmes) and I can therefore convert them into other reward currencies including those from OCBC (e.g. VOYAGE Miles).

Option 1: Convert into VOYAGE Miles

Unfortunately, the conversion rate between OCBC$ and VOYAGE Mile is absurd, and 15,400 OCBC$ (worth 6,160 miles) will only convert into 3,209 VOYAGE Miles (which convert into KrisFlyer Miles at a 1:1 ratio). Now VOYAGE Miles are worth a little bit more since they do not expire and you may also use them for things like a limousine transfer (for just 3,000 VOYAGE Miles which I think is a steal) but losing almost 50% of its value cannot be justified.

Last month, OCBC finally unveiled the conversion rates of eight new airline and hotel partners on the STACK platform - cardholders now have the option to convert their OCBC reward currencies into the following eight programmes and the S$25 transfer fee is also waived through 31 October 2023:

OCBC Conversion Rate on STACK
Program	OCBC$
Accor Live Limitless (ALL)	10,000 → 2,000
IHG One Rewards	10,000 → 4,000
Marriott Bonvoy	10,000 → 4,000
Air France/KLM Flying Blue	10,000 → 4,000
British Airways Executive Club	10,000 → 3,600
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles	10,000 → 2,900
Etihad Airways Etihad Guest	10,000 → 3,600
United Airlines MileagePlus	10,000 → 2,800

Option 2: Convert into Frequent Flyer Miles

Apart from the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program, OCBC cardholders can also convert their reward currencies into five different airline partner programmes (some at a less favourable rate). Since I do not have a healthy balance in these five programmes (and honestly, the last thing I want is to convert my orphan points into orphan miles), this option is also not for me at this time.

Photo Credit: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Option 3: Convert into Hotel Loyalty Points

Update (5 August 2023): OCBC is currently offering 50% on Marriott Bonvoy point conversions until 31 August 2023.

Finally, there is the option to convert my OCBC$ into one of three hotel loyalty program - the Marriott Bonvoy programme is great since I spend more than 75 nights each year with the chain to keep my Titanium Elite status. Based on my own valuation of Marriott Bonvoy points which is derived from a series of good-value redemptions that I have actually utilised, Marriott Bonvoy points are worth around 1.5 cents each and therefore, 4,000 points are worth S$60 ). 4,000 IHG One Rewards points are worth even lesser and honestly even as a Diamond Elite member in the program, you do not really get any real benefit apart from free breakfast. The final option is the Accor Live Limitless (ALL) program - 2,000 ALL points are worth €40 (S$58) which is not great but decent enough for me to consider (especially since I am tempted to do a mattress run for Platinum with 40 status nights in the bag from my Accor Plus membership this year).

It is extremely likely that I will be converting my 15,600 OCBC$ into either Marriott Bonvoy Points or ALL Points since they are worth approximately S$60. While miles can easily achieve a 2-4 cent per mile value, I am sitting on quite a bit of it and I am also cautious about devaluations. Besides, most of us have been acquiring miles at $0.01 per mile with the Citi PayAll promotion so I am currently not in need of anymore miles.