UOB PRVI Miles VISA Card, Mastercard & AMEX Review (2024): Optimising Overseas Spend For Entry-level Privy Travellers

Take your pick from American Express, Visa or MasterCard, and rack up a generous serving of bonus miles when booking on travel sites with the UOB PRVI miles credit card.

The UOB PRVI Miles Card is ideal for the frequent traveller who wants to rack up miles quickly, and not necessarily only with Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program.

With an industry-leading 1.4 miles per S$1 local spend and 2.4 miles per S$1 on overseas spend, UOB PRVI Miles Card even offers 6 miles per $1 spend (8 miles per S$1 spend till 31 July 2023!) on major airlines and hotels via Agoda, Expedia and UOB Travel. 

This miles credit card by UOB can also make your travel smooth and seamless through complimentary airport transfers (only for UOB PRVI Miles American Express cardholders) and a dedicated hotline for comprehensive travel assistance (e.g. hotel, flight, insurance and car rental booking). However, a major drawback is that the UNI$ Rewards points earned (through which you can redeem your air miles) expire after two years.

Read on for our honest review to see if the UOB PRVI Miles Credit Card is what’s missing from your wallet.

How many miles can I earn with the UOB PRVI Miles Card?

How much is the UOB PRVI Miles Card’s annual fee?

What the UOB PRVI Miles Credit Card can do for you

UOB PRVI Miles AMEX Card

The UOB PRVI Miles American Express Card stands out with its additional perks from complimentary airport transfers to exclusive local dining, retail, and entertainment deals, as well as discounted car rentals and special offers when travelling to selected destinations.

UOB PRVI Miles Visa Card

The UOB PRVI Miles Visa Card offers a plethora of benefits to cardholders, including complimentary travel insurance and eCommerce purchase protection, ensuring a safe and secure shopping experience.

UOB PRVI Miles MasterCard

The UOB PRVI Miles MasterCard complements the trio with its unique benefits, including Identity Theft Protection to secure your online shopping transactions.

UOB PRVI Miles Card product summary:

UOB PRVI Miles AMEX Card	UOB PRVI Miles Visa Card	UOB PRVI Miles Mastercard
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• Local spend: 1.4 miles per $1 spend / UNI$3.5 per S$5 spend
• Overseas spend: 2.4 miles per $1 spend / UNI$6 per S$5 spend
• Bonus miles: Up to 6 miles per $1 spend on flights, hotels, and travel bookings with UOB Travel
• Up to S$500,000 complimentary travel insurance coverage
• Annual fee: S$261.60 (First year waived)
• Annual income requirement: S$30,000 (Singaporeans/PRs), S$40,000 (Foreigners)
• Minimum age: 21

Advantages and Disadvantages of the UOB PRVI Miles Card

Pros ✅

#1: High miles per dollar earn rate

Despite the higher annual fee of S$261.60 (first-year waiver), which cardholders can avoid paying by spending at least $50,000 (combined principal and supplementary cards spending) on or before the card anniversary date, UOB PRVI Miles is one of the best miles credit cards due to its generous earn rates of 1.4 miles per S$1 on local spend and 2.4 miles per S$1 on overseas spend.

To put things into perspective, other miles cards typically earn a lower miles rate than the UOB PRVI Miles – with the HSBC TravelOne Card being the only competitor on par.

• DBS Altitude
• Citi PremierMiles
• Standard Chartered Journey
• HSBC TravelOne
• OCBC 90ºN

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DBS Altitude Card product summary

Local spend	1.2 mpd
Foreign spend	2 mpd
Bonus spend	3 mpd on online flights and hotel transactions (capped at S$5,000 per month)
	Up to 10 mpd on Kaligo bookings
	Up to 8 mpd on Expedia bookings
Airport lounge access	2 complimentary visits per year
⭐ Complimentary Mr & Mrs Smith Silversmith membership for AMEX version only

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Citi PremierMiles Card product summary

Local spend	1.2 mpd
Foreign spend	2 mpd
Bonus spend	Up to 10 mpd on Kaligo bookings
	Up to 7 mpd on Agoda bookings
Airport lounge access	2 complimentary visits per year
Travel insurance	Up to S$1 million complimentary coverage

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SCB Journey Card product summary

Local spend	1.2 mpd
Foreign spend	2 mpd
Bonus spend	3 mpd on selected local transport, grocery, and food delivery merchants (capped at S$1,000 spend per month)
Airport lounge access	2 complimentary visits per year
Travel insurance	Up to S$500,000 complimentary coverage
⭐ S$10 off Grab ride for Changi Airport transfers (capped at first 2,000 redemptions)

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HSBC TravelOne Card product summary

Local spend	1.2 mpd
Foreign spend	2.4 mpd
Airport lounge access	4 complimentary visits per year
Travel insurance	Up to US$100,000 complimentary coverage (including COVID-19)
⭐ No conversion fee for air miles and hotel points redemption until 31 Dec 2023

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OCBC 90ºN Card product summary

Local spend	1.3 mpd
Foreign spend	2.1 mpd
Bonus spend	Up to 7 mpd on accommodations booked on Agoda (in foreign currency)
	Up to 6 mpd on accommodations booked on Agoda (in local currency)
Airport lounge access	US$32 per person per visit
⭐ 90ºN Miles never expire

#2: Good for internet natives for online travel bookings

Through its partnership with the major online travel booking sites, UOB PRVI Miles card holders earn up to 6 miles per S$1 spend on travel purchases made via Agoda, Expedia and UOB Travel.

Under UOB Travel, there are over 700,000 participating hotels worldwide, more than 175 car rental companies, and over 500 major airlines such as Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Eva Air, Finnair, and more.

#3: Complimentary travel insurance to boost protection (and other benefits)

Despite the absence of complimentary airport lounge access, car rental program membership or golf green fee discounts, the UOB PRVI Miles Card presents cardholders with other advantages including: 

• Being a credit card with complimentary travel accident insurance worth up to $500,000.
• Offering emergency medical assistance, evacuation and repatriation coverage worth $50,000.
• Savings on travel insurance fees, especially if you’re a frequent flyer!

Speaking of ease of travel, you can also enjoy S$20 off Grab rides to or from Changi Airport with minimum S$1,200 spend on major airlines, hotels, and/or travel service transactions with their UOB PRVI Visa or MasterCard versions. 

See also: What's the Difference Between Regular Travel Insurance vs Credit Card Travel Insurance?

#4: Your air miles aren’t exclusively redeemable for flights 

While most travel credit cards offer limited air miles redemption options, the UOB PRVI Miles Card offers you the freedom to choose how you want your air miles to be redeemed. You can redeem your air miles for partner airlines, convert them to cash to offset your spending, or redeem exclusive reward vouchers or travel packages. How you want to redeem your air miles — it’s your prerogative.

Cons ❌

#1: Slightly above-average annual fees

Although the UOB PRVI Miles Card isn't particularly notorious for the most expensive annual fees to exist (see: metal credit cards), it still weighs in at a hefty fee of S$261.60 each year. 

To be fair, this value isn't a far cry from the typical S$196.20 annual fee that most regular credit cards come with – but it's an above-average yearly price tag nonetheless.

So unless the card benefits stand out or you have other convincing reasons to get the UOB PRVI Miles Card, we understand why the annual fee may be too much to consider.

On the bright side, it does come with a first-year waiver on its fee, so that's not too bad at all.

Other fees for the UOB PRVI Miles Card to keep in mind include:

• Annual fee: S$261.60 (First year waived)
• Minimum payment: 3% of current balance or S$50, whichever is higher plus any overdue amounts
• Overlimit fee: S$40
• Late payment charge: $100
• Interest on purchases: 27.8% per annum, calculated daily from the date each transaction is posted to your card account until full payment is received
• Interest on cash advance: 28.5% per annum will be charged upon the withdrawal date until the withdrawal amount and the relevant fees are paid in full
• Cash advance fee: 8% of cash advance amount, subject to minimum S$15 fee
• Foreign transaction fee: 3.25% 
• Dynamic currency conversion fee: 1% 

See also: Credit Card Annual Fee Waiver Guide By Banks

#2: No complimentary airport lounge access

Another downside worth noting about the UOB PRVI Miles Card is its lack of complimentary airport lounge access. Although this isn't the worst miles card crime, it's definitely a "Debby Downer" considering that its other peers like DBS Altitude, Citi PremierMiles, and HSBC TravelOne offer a number of free airport lounge visits per year. That said, it does offer access to lounges worldwide via LoungeBuddy, so you can make your airport journey smoother and more luxurious than ever before.

See also: Cheap & Free Ways to Gain Entry to Changi Airport Lounges

#3: UNI$ expire after two years

Unfortunately, UNI$ don't last forever either. They have a validity period of 2 years from the last day of each quarter (UNI$ period) before they expire. Thus, you'd need to put in some consideration in tracking your UNI$ earned and mindfully redeeming them for miles or rewards before their time is up.

Honestly, this isn't a huge disadvantage compared to point systems from other banks e.g. HSBC Rewards Points have a shorter validity period of 37 months. Just remember to do some simple tracking on your Notes app or an excel sheet and you should be good to go.

Summary of Pros and Cons

Compare Best Travel Insurance

 

How do I maximise the number of miles I earn using the UOB PRVI Miles Card?

1) Sign-up Bonus

UOB PRVI Miles Amex Card Welcome Offer: Get up to 50,000 miles when you make a min. spend of S$1,000 per month for 2 consecutive months from card approval date plus annual fee payment and SMS enrolment. Valid till 30 June 2024. T&Cs apply.

UOB PRVI Miles Visa Card Welcome Offer: Get up to 50,000 miles when you make a min. spend of S$1,000 per month for 2 consecutive months from card approval date plus annual fee payment and SMS enrolment. Valid till 30 June 2024. T&Cs apply.

UOB PRVI Miles World Mastercard Welcome Offer: Get up to 50,000 miles when you make a min. spend of S$1,000 per month for 2 consecutive months from card approval date plus annual fee payment and SMS enrolment. Valid till 30 June 2024. T&Cs apply.

Alternatively, get 30,000 miles when you apply with first-year annual fee waiver and make a min. spend of S$1,000 for 2 consecutive months from card approval date (capped at first 50 eligible cardmembers monthly). Valid till 30 June 2024. T&Cs apply.

2) Be a new-to-UOB Credit Cardmember

First-time UOB credit card users have a unique advantage when signing up for the UOB PRVI Miles Credit Card. They can earn 30,000 miles by applying with a first-year annual fee waiver and meeting the minimum spending requirement of S$1,000 for the first two consecutive months post-card approval.

3) Be aware of where the payment gateway is

Understanding where the payment gateway is located can be crucial in maximising your miles and optimising your reward redemptions. Be aware of UOB’s terms and conditions regarding overseas transactions to ensure you're earning the maximum miles possible, and always use the specific landing pages for partner sites like Agoda or Expedia (if available) to ensure your cardholder privileges are applied.

4) Earn bonus miles when booking via online travel agencies (OTAs)

Agoda

Earn up to 6 miles per S$1 spend when you book airline and hotel tickets worldwide via Agoda.

Expedia

Earn up to 6 miles per S$1 spend when you book selected airline and hotel tickets worldwide via Expedia.

UOB Travel

Earn up to 6 miles per S$1 spend when you book selected airline and hotel tickets worldwide via UOB Travel merchants.

5) Purchase from UOB$ Merchants

Shopping with UOB$ merchants is another excellent way to accumulate more miles. You can earn miles on everyday purchases, from groceries to dining, enhancing the overall value of your UOB PRVI Miles card.

Everything you need to know about UNI$

How many miles can I earn with the UOB PRVI card?

You can earn between 1 to 6 mpd with the UOB PRVI Miles card. 

What is the difference between UNI$ and miles?

UNI$ are part of a unique loyalty programme offered by UOB to all UOB Cardmembers, including UOB PRVI Miles card holders. UNI$ can be converted to a range of loyalty rewards including miles, dining vouchers, entertainment passes and tickets, and more.

When are UNI$ points credited?

All UNI$ are credited at the start of the following calendar month, unless otherwise stated.

How are UNI$ calculated?

UOB PRVI Miles card holders can earn UNI$6 for every S$5 in overseas spend in foreign currencies, (equivalent to 2.4 mpd), where the payment gateway is outside of Singapore. For regular transactions in SGD, the conversion rate is UNI$3.5 for every S$5 (equivalent to 1.4 mpd).

What types of transactions do not qualify you for UNI$ miles?

Almost all transaction types qualify you for UNI$ miles, excluding 0% Instalment Payment Plans, charitable/religious organisations, government institutions and services, gambling or trading platforms (including but not limited to websites for trading of shares, foreign currency or cryptocurrency), AXS transactions, all transactions at SPC Service Stations (except for UOB PRVI Miles American Express Card) and Shell Service Stations, payment of funds to prepaid accounts, balance/funds transfers, cash advances, fees, interests, finance charges, late payment charges, annual fee charges, reversals, other financial charges and any other transactions UOB may exclude from time to time without prior notice.

UNI$ will also not be calculated for refunded, disputed, unauthorised or fraudulent transactions. UOB reserves the right to revoke, deduct and/or re-compute cardholders’s UNI$ balances in the event that there is a request to cancel, reverse and/or revise transactions made.

For UOB PRVI Miles card holders, UNI$ will not be awarded on transactions under the UOB$ Programme where UOB$ cashbacks are issued except for UOB PRVI Miles American Express® Cardmembers.

For the full terms and conditions, please refer to the UOB PRVI Miles Card page.

Expiry

UNI$ expire after 2 years, and must be redeemed for vouchers or rewards before their expiry date.

Pooling 

You may pool your UOB PRVI Miles card UNI$ with UNI$ earned from other eligible UOB credit/debit card transactions.

Frequent Flyer Partner Transfers & Fees

The ratio for UNI$ transfers to affiliated UOB PRVI Miles frequent flyer programmes is 1:2, meaning you get 2 frequent flyer miles for every UNI$ redeemed. For each transaction, there is a minimum transfer block of 5,000 UNI$.

Why you should choose the UOB PRVI Miles credit card

UOB PRVI Miles AMEX Card	UOB PRVI Miles Visa Card	UOB PRVI Miles Mastercard
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The UOB PRVI Miles Credit Card is an excellent choice for frequent flyers (or aspiring globetrotters) looking to maximise their overseas spend and earn miles rapidly. With its competitive miles earn rates, flexible redemption options, and added perks like travel insurance, it stands out as a top contender in the travel credit card market. Whether you're a frequent flyer or just starting to explore the world of miles, the UOB PRVI Miles Card offers a comprehensive package that caters to a wide range of travel needs.

UOB PRVI Miles VISA Card, MasterCard & AMEX Credit Card Eligibility Criteria

For Singaporean citizens

• At least 21 years of age
• Minimum annual income for Singapore citizens and PRs: $30,000

For foreigners

• At least 21 years of age
• Minimum annual income for Foreigners: $40,000

How to apply for UOB PRVI Miles Card

Ready to maximise your credit card earnings with the UOB PRVI Miles Card? Simply click on the ‘Apply Now’ button in this article and complete the application form on the SingSaver site to enjoy our exclusive sign-on bonuses. You might need to prepare the following documents for the application process:

• Front and back of NRIC/Passport/Employment Pass
• Salaried employees (Singaporeans/PRs):
  • Fixed monthly salary ≥ S$2,500:
    • Last 12 months' CPF statement
    • Latest original computerised payslip
    • Latest Income Tax Notice of Assessment and last 12 months' CPF statement or latest original computerised payslip
  • Fixed monthly salary < S$2,500:
    • Past 12 months' CPF statement
    • Latest 3 months' computerised payslip
    • Latest Income Tax Notice of Assessment and last 12 months' CPF statement or latest original computerised payslip
  • Length of employment < 3 months: Last computerised payslip, company Letter certifying employment, and monthly salary
• Self-employed: Latest Income Tax Notice of Assessment

Sign up for a UOB PRVI Miles Credit Card today!

According to our comparison of the best starter miles card for first-timers, UOB PRVI Miles should earn a slot in your wallet based on the local miles earn rate alone (1.4 miles per S$1 spend).

Moreover, it's the only miles credit card that offers the full array of Visa, MasterCard, and American Express options. This gives you full autonomy and transparency in choosing which card network to go for based on their perks and privileges, which is always nice.

All in all, it serves as a decent miles card for those beginning their miles journey.