UOB PRVI Miles Platinum Card Review

THE UOB PRVI Miles Platinum Card is one of my favourite cards in Singapore. This card is pretty straight forward - it earns you 1.6 miles per S$1 and 2.5 miles per S$1 if billed in a foreign (non-SGD) currency. However, foreign transaction fees are higher on AMEX and therefore you need to decide whether or not it is a good idea to do so for yourself. What's even more exciting for this card is that you get unlimited limousine rides to the airport (not from!) with eligible spend. I don't use it on a daily basis but when I do, I fully maximise the benefits that this card gives. 

The Good

With no minimum spend to hit per month, this card gives you a straightforward method of earning miles. 

When billed in local currency (SGD), you get 1.6 miles (4 UNI$ per S$5) per S$1. Otherwise, you get 2.5 miles (6.25 UNI$ per S$5) per S$1 (after conversion). The only thing to note that is that, similar to other UOB Credit Cards, you earn UNI$ (which can be converted into miles) in multiples of S$5. That is to say that an eligible spend of $2 will earn you zero miles (and zero UNI$). Depending on what you buy (especially for the much smaller purchases), you may be better off using the Citibank PremilerMiles Card for instance. However, the big expenses are the ones that matter. If you spend US$625 (approximately S$781.56 based on current FX rates and assuming there's no transaction fees for the purpose of this example) on this card, you will only earn miles (or UNI$) for S$780 of spend. However, because it was billed in US$, you will receive 4,875 UNI$ which is equivalent to 9,750 miles. 

The second advantage of this card (and the one I utilise the most) is complimentary limousine transport to Changi Airport. To enjoy a complimentary one-way trip to the airport, you simply need to charge a travel-related transaction (e.g. air tickets, hotel bookings or any travel packages) of a minimum amount of S$500 in a single receipt to the card. I have personally utilised this service multiple times and I've been chauffeured in a Mercedes-Benz E Class as well as a black Mercedes-Benz van. The limousine booking form can be accessed easily online. 

The third advantage applies to the higher spenders. If you spend more than S$50,000 per annum, you will receive 20,000 bonus miles (10,000 UNI$) as an incentive. If you do not meet this criteria, paying the annual fee will not award you the bonus miles. 

You may also wish to check out UOB's Mileage Calculator to estimate the number of miles you can earn in a year based on average spending. 

The Bad

There are not many disadvantages that I can attribute to this card (apart from it being an AMEX). Don't get me wrong though, I'm personally a huge fan of AMEX but I know it can sometimes be exasperating because not all businesses take AMEX as a form of payment. 

Casting the AMEX acceptance limitations aside, the first bad point about this card is one that I have previously mentioned -  there are no bonus miles being awarded when you pay the annual fee if you do not meet the S$50,000 spend requirement. However with that being said, most of the people I know with this card do not have trouble waiving the annual fees off as long as you utilise it. 

Like all other credit cards, this card isn't a one stop solution in maximising miles (unfortunately I don't think there is one). It is however a seriously strong contender if you want a card with complimentary limousine transfer service. Plus if you do spend on miscellaneous items that are generally not in the bonus earning list (with 4 miles/S$1) , this card can seriously help to fill those gaps up. 

Eligibility

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age
Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents: Minimum income of S$80,000 p.a.
Foreigners: Minimum income of S$80,000 p.a

Annual fee
Principal Card: S$256.80 p.a. (waived for the first year)
Supplementary Card: S$128.40 p.a. (first two supplementary cards are complimentary for life).