Easier KrisFlyer Elite Gold: Fast-track With Amex KrisFlyer Ascend

If you want to get KrisFlyer Elite Gold – and there are good reasons too – you can do so more easily with Amex KrisFlyer Ascend. Until 31st May 2024, the card is offering a fast-track to Singapore Airlines’ third-highest status tier with a reduced S$12,500 spend.

KrisFlyer Elite Gold is fairly difficult to get for mere mortals

KrisFlyer Elite Gold requires 50,000 Elite miles within 12 months and these are miles that can normally only be earned by paying for flights with cash. I find it quite a difficult task to achieve even for people who fly pretty frequently. Someone who books an Economy Lite/Value return flight to Taipei will earn only 2,002 Elite miles for it, meaning 25 such journeys are required within a year.

Even a long and very pricey Business Class trip to and fro New York gets only 23,834 Elite miles or barely half the requirement. If you run the numbers you’d start to see how unattainable this status tier is for mere mortals who aren’t travelling really, really often on their company or sugar parent’s dime.

It’s a useful status tier to have especially for mere mortals

Ironically, it is ordinary people who travel at our own cost who would likely find the benefits useful. I’ve had the tier for about 2 years now and among the perks that KrisFlyer Elite Gold offers, here are some I find more notable:

• Priority check-in
• Priority boarding
• Priority baggage
• Additional 20kg baggage
• Lounge access
• Status match to other loyalty programmes

The Gold tier accords quite a few Business Class benefits while you travel in Economy Class with Singapore Airlines or other Star Alliance airlines such as priority check-ins, baggage, and lounge access. Getting to cut the lines at check-in is something that one extra appreciates when airports get busy because it means being able to get to the airport lounge quicker.

Boarding the plane first is usually reserved for passengers in higher cabin classes, but it isn’t actually that important for Business or First Class passengers who can take their time to saunter into their spacious, isolated booths. Being one of the first few in Economy Class, however, means I get to the overhead stowage sooner than everyone else and can comfortably nestle in my seat way before the crowds jostle into the cabin.

Finally, KrisFlyer Elite Gold is a good way to springboard to other loyalty programmes’ higher tiers, so stay subscribed for more on this as I’ll explore KrisFlyer benefits in greater detail soon.

Easier way to get Elite Gold

While the way I got my KrisFlyer Elite Gold is a thing of the pandemic past, Amex KrisFlyer Ascend’s fast-track has been a highlighting feature of the card.

Its usual offer has been a spend requirement of S$15,000 on Singapore Airlines tickets. Spending this much on flights is pretty difficult unless you have multiple friends and relatives who are willing to let you book their tickets for them.

Until 31st May 2024, the spend requirement has not only been reduced to S$12,500, only S$2,500 needs to be spent on Singapore Airlines. This means you can clock the bulk of the spend requirement on other things like your daily expenses or even CardUp transactions. It’s a lot easier this way since CardUp allows you to use your credit card towards a variety of bill payments and vendors that don’t normally accept credit cards.

It’s a pretty rare chance to be upgraded, so if you are able to take advantage of this offer and foresee the benefits coming in useful, you may want to hop on it soon.

Amex promos

There is currently an American Express flash deal for its credit cards until 27th March 2024 so check it out if you wish to apply.

Conclusion

With a great sign-up offer with the Amex KrisFlyer Ascend and an easier way to get fast-tracked to KrisFlyer Elite Gold, it’s a good time to pick up the Ascend card if you want to make your travels more comfortable.

Stay subscribed for more great deals and updates!

Seth Wee was a licensed financial adviser representative from 2009 to 2025, with over 16 years of experience in Singapore’s financial advisory industry.

He started Sethisfy.com in 2019 to share practical insights on credit cards, banking products, and miles strategies, helping readers identify financial products that deliver the best value. Seth has been featured in CNA, Channel 8, Today, and a host of other publications. In 2025, he was also part of a panel at CPF’s Ready For Life festival.

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