Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
Part of Cathay / Asia Miles hub · KrisFlyer hub
GUIDE
KrisFlyer vs Asia Miles: programme rules compared
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Cathay Asia Miles are the loyalty currencies of two Asia-Pacific airline groups: KrisFlyer earns and spends miles across Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Star Alliance carriers and non-airline partners [1], while Asia Miles is earned and redeemed on Cathay Pacific, all oneworld airlines and more than 800 travel and lifestyle partners [2]. The clearest published difference is status: KrisFlyer sets fixed levels of 25,000 Elite miles for Elite Silver and 50,000 for Elite Gold within 12 consecutive months [6], while Cathay awards Status Points for flying Cathay Pacific or oneworld airlines and describes higher totals as unlocking more benefits [2].
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Both programmes pay for flying and for everyday spending: KrisFlyer across Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Star Alliance carriers, KrisShop and Pelago [1], and Asia Miles across Cathay Pacific, all oneworld airlines and more than 800 travel and lifestyle partners [2].
- KrisFlyer publishes fixed thresholds of 25,000 Elite miles for Elite Silver and 50,000 for Elite Gold, each within 12 consecutive months and each lasting 12 months [6].
- KrisFlyer caps non-flight Elite miles at 20% of the requirement — 5,000 miles for Elite Silver and 10,000 for Elite Gold — and tier or promotional bonuses do not count as Elite miles [6].
- Cathay keeps two balances: Asia Miles for rewards and Status Points for status, with Status Points earned on Cathay Pacific and oneworld flights [2].
How do you earn miles in each programme?
Both programmes pay miles for flying and for spending on the ground [1] [2]. KrisFlyer publishes fare-class multiples that decide how many Elite miles a Singapore Airlines flight produces, as checked on 18 October 2026 [6].
| Cabin | Booking classes | Earning rate |
|---|---|---|
| Suites / First | F, A | 200% |
| Business | Z, C, J | 150% |
| Business | U, D | 125% |
| Premium Economy | S, T | 125% |
| Premium Economy | R, L, P | 100% |
| Economy | Y, B, E | 100% |
| Economy | M, H, W | 75% |
| Economy | Q, N, V, K, G | 50% |
Elite miles are calculated from actual miles flown plus any applicable booking-class bonus [6], and KrisFlyer miles for flight transactions follow the distance travelled, measured with the great circle formula and counted sector by sector on connections [5]. On Scoot, members earn 2.5 Elite miles for every KrisFlyer mile [6]. No miles are awarded on industry or agency discount tickets, award or redemption tickets, infant fares, charter flights, or codeshare flights marketed by Singapore Airlines and operated by a non-KrisFlyer partner [5].
On the ground, KrisFlyer awards miles at KrisShop and Pelago [1], plus KrisPay miles with Kris+ partners, convertible at 1 KrisPay mile to 1 KrisFlyer mile within 21 days [1]. Cathay earns Asia Miles on flights, hotels, shopping, dining and wellness with more than 800 partners, and on all oneworld airlines [2].
How do the elite tiers compare?
Elite Silver and Elite Gold. KrisFlyer publishes its thresholds, each measured over 12 consecutive months and each lasting 12 months [6].
| Tier | Elite miles needed | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Elite Silver | 25,000 within 12 consecutive months | Earn at least 25,000 again during the membership period [6] |
| Elite Gold | 50,000 within 12 consecutive months | Earn at least 50,000 again during the membership period [6] |
Upgrades can take up to one day to process, and Elite miles earned before the upgrade do not count toward the next renewal [6]. Elite miles come from flying and from spending at Kris+, KrisShop and Pelago, though non-flight miles can cover no more than 20% of the requirement [6]. Tier bonuses and promotional bonuses are not Elite miles, and Elite miles cannot be redeemed for awards or airfares [6]. They reset to zero at the end of a 12-month membership year starting from the date of upgrade or renewal [5].
Elite Silver adds a 25% bonus on KrisFlyer miles, discounted service fees and priority reservation waitlisting; Elite Gold adds access to more than 1,000 lounges worldwide, priority check-in and extra baggage [6]. Above these tiers, PPS Club entry is tracked with PPS Value, earned only on Singapore-dollar spend in Suites, First Class and Business Class and not on Premium Economy or Economy [5].
Cathay Status Points. Asia Miles pay for rewards, while Status Points are earned whenever a member flies with Cathay Pacific or any oneworld alliance airline, and higher totals unlock more benefits and move the member toward the next status [2]. Status also brings access to more than 600 premium airport lounges worldwide [2].
What do the account rules allow?
KrisFlyer. Membership is open to individuals aged two and above, with parental or guardian consent for members aged 2 to 16, and the enrolment fee is waived until further notice [5]. One account per person, no joint accounts, and no pooling of miles or status credits [5]. Miles cannot move to another member's account or to another programme, except that a minor's miles can go to a linked parent or guardian account once linking requirements are met and the relevant service fees are paid [5].
An account with no recorded activity for 45 consecutive months, or no activity for 24 months from the start of membership, may be closed without prior notice, and recorded activity means earning KrisFlyer miles [5]. Members may take credit in only one frequent flyer programme per flight or transaction, and claiming the same flight twice forfeits the miles [5].
Cathay. Membership is free to join and described as lifelong [2], and Cathay asks members to verify their mobile number, set up a passkey and add their membership number to every booking to protect the account and its Asia Miles [2].
How do redemptions work?
KrisFlyer. Miles can be spent on award tickets and upgrades with Singapore Airlines, Star Alliance and other partner airlines; against fares, taxes and selected ancillaries booked on singaporeair.com; on Economy Class awards on selected Scoot flights; at KrisShop; on hotel and car rental bookings at krisflyervrooms.com; and on conversions into partner programme points or KrisPay miles [5]. A member can redeem for their own travel or for up to five redemption nominees [5], but miles cannot pay for tickets bought through travel agents or airline ticket offices, corporate or group fares, or any fare that includes a segment not operated by Singapore Airlines [5].
Asia Miles. Asia Miles can be redeemed on all oneworld airlines and against flights, hotels, shopping, dining and wellness through Cathay's partner network [2].
Exceptions and limits
- Tickets paid wholly or partly with KrisFlyer miles earn miles only in proportion to the cash paid by credit or debit card, leaving out components such as airport taxes, e-visa, travel insurance and Scoot Protect [5].
- The type of credit, charge or debit card a member holds has no bearing on status and does not entitle the member to lounge access or Star Alliance or Singapore Airlines benefits [5].
- Conversions of KrisFlyer miles into partner programme points cannot be reversed, and KrisPay miles must be moved to KrisFlyer within 21 days of the earning transaction [5] [1].
- Elite miles are earned only when the flight or transaction is credited to a KrisFlyer account, so fares that do not accrue miles produce no Elite miles [6].
- Cathay's Status Points attach to flights with Cathay Pacific and oneworld airlines, while Asia Miles also accrue from non-flight partners, so the two balances grow at different rates [2].
Frequently asked questions
How many Elite miles do you need for KrisFlyer Elite Silver?
25,000 Elite miles within 12 consecutive months; Elite Gold requires 50,000 over the same window [6].
Can you earn KrisFlyer Elite miles without flying?
Yes. Kris+, KrisShop and Pelago spend earns Elite miles, but non-flight miles can count for at most 5,000 miles toward Elite Silver and 10,000 toward Elite Gold [6].
Can KrisFlyer miles be transferred to another member?
No. Miles stay with the member who earned them, apart from a minor's miles moving to a linked parent or guardian account once linking requirements are met and fees are paid [5].
Do award tickets earn KrisFlyer miles?
No miles are earned on award or redemption tickets, and a ticket paid partly with miles earns only on its cash portion [5].
Which airlines accept Asia Miles redemptions?
Asia Miles can be earned and redeemed on all oneworld airlines, and redeemed against flights, hotels, shopping, dining and wellness with Cathay's partners [2].
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. The comparison covers Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Cathay Asia Miles only; other Asia-Pacific programmes, including Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, ANA Mileage Club and Malaysia Airlines Enrich, are not covered.
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer programme page, checked 18 October 2026
- Cathay membership page, checked 18 October 2026
- KrisFlyer terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026
- KrisFlyer Elite Silver and Elite Gold qualification, checked 18 October 2026