The grind and hustle never ends; it’s always good to take a break now and then to treat ourselves to a staycation, pamper ourselves with a spa or massage, or partake in a nice meal. But the ultimate treat for many that enables us to gain new experiences is travel — even more so if we can get the best bang for our buck while doing so.
Now that travel is back in full swing, we’re eager to embark on new adventures and explore the world beyond our doorstep. But what if we could take it a step further?
Beyond earning miles to redeem reward flights, how about exploring a whole new world of tailormade rewards, privileges and experiences…alongside worldwide investment opportunities that’ll help you fulfil your ambitions and build your legacy?
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Elevate your smart home experience with OCBC VOYAGE Apply for a VOYAGE Card by 30 June 2023 and get the new Apple HomePod Mini when you charge at least S$2,500 Qualifying Spend to your Card in a single transaction within 30 days from card account opening date. Alternatively, get the new Apple HomePod (worth S$429) when you also sign up for an OCBC Securities Basic Trading account and perform 1 trade during the qualifying period. *No cap for OCBC VOYAGE applicants. Capped at the first 200 Premier VOYAGE applicants. Terms and conditions, fees and charges apply. |
Briefly, here are some benefits of having an OCBC Securities account:
- Discover investment opportunities worldwide
- Access to a suite of tools and services that enhance your trading experience via iOCBC — OCBC Securities’ award-winning trading platform
- Access to a dedicated Trading Representative
- Trade online across 15 global exchanges, comprising Singapore and 14 foreign markets
- Trade in 31 exchanges via a Trading Representative
- Access to Securities, Bonds, ETFs, Equity-Linked Notes
Open your OCBC Securities account by 30 June 2023 to get up to a total of S$100 trade commission rebate and a complimentary subscription to London Live Price Feed until 31 December 2023.
Let’s first talk about miles
The OCBC VOYAGE card is a way to get rewarded for your spending and makes it flexible to earn miles, save and redeem them.
Cardholders can earn:
- 2.2 VOYAGE Miles for every S$1 spent in foreign currency
- 1.3 VOYAGE Miles for every S$1 spent in local currency
There’s even a surefire, simple way to earn miles just by paying your card’s annual service fee (ASF). Cardmembers can choose to either pay S$492.50 (GST included) ASF and get 15,000 VOYAGE Miles, or pay a higher ASF charge of S$3,240 to earn 150,000 VOYAGE Miles.
You can exchange VOYAGE Miles for air tickets and hotel accommodation via Travel with OCBC* or VOYAGE Exchange. And they don’t even need to be converted — you can use VOYAGE Miles directly to redeem air tickets. By the way, you can also convert VOYAGE Miles to KrisFlyer miles (just pay a conversion fee of S$25).
Coming soon: VOYAGE Miles will be convertible to loyalty points at 8 airline and hotel partner programmes, including Air France-KLM, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Guest, United MileagePlus, Accor Live Limitless, IHG One and Marriott Bonvoy. Do keep an eye out for the announcement on the OCBC website’s VOYAGE page.
For now, you can redeem your miles for tickets across any airline available via Travel with OCBC! And best of all, VOYAGE Miles never expire and there’s no minimum spend needed!
Here’s how you can quickly accumulate miles to get an air ticket:
For instance, a trip to Bali costs 17,000 miles according to the Singapore Airlines miles calculator. Since VOYAGE Miles convert 1:1 to KrisFlyer miles, all you need to do is use your OCBC Voyage Card to pay for big ticket items such as furniture, appliances, renovations, luxury goods or even give your mum a supplementary card.
Once you’ve collected your VOYAGE Miles, head to internet.ocbc.com/rewards to convert them into KrisFlyer miles. OR you can go to www.travelwithocbc.com and click on the top right corner to select VOYAGE Miles. From there, you can search for flights and use your VOYAGE Miles to redeem them.
Speaking from personal experience (and having just paid for renovation), it’s quite quick to rack up 17,000 VOYAGE Miles (about S$13,077 based on the rate of 1.3 miles per dollar) to redeem that for a return flight to Bali!
By the way, if air miles aren’t your cup of tea or priority at the moment, you can exchange your VOYAGE Miles for cash rebates at a rate of up to 2.3% (based on 2.3 miles earned from foreign currency spend).
Next, up the ante on travel experiences
In addition to just earning air miles and the fantastic sign-up offer, OCBC VOYAGE cardholders enjoy an array of travel perks as the OCBC VOYAGE card is designed to help cardholders embark on exceptional and hassle-free travel journeys.
There are some perks that make the lesser-seen hassles of travelling that much more enjoyable and comfortable. For example, getting from the airport to your hotel with large luggage, waiting around in the airport for your flight, and even navigating the shopping/dining/transportation system in a foreign country.
Cardholders are eligible for complimentary airport transfer up to twice a quarter if they spend at least S$12,000 per quarter in local or foreign currency. Download the OCBC Pay Anyone app and click “Rewards Exchange” to book your ride.
It’s also time to make good use of airport lounges — for free! Plus you get unlimited visits too! Take your pick from over 130 VIP lounges (in Partnership with Plaza Premium Lounge) around the world for both yourself and the supplementary cardmember.
If you need any help with your travel, dining or shopping needs, the VOYAGE Exchange concierge can help make the necessary arrangements. You can call (6593-9999) or email ([email protected]) any time as it’s open daily, 24 hours.
Travellers can also take advantage of exclusive benefits on Etihad Airways (valid till 30 November 2023). Get up to 25% off on Business Class fares when you fly with Etihad Airways — great for those flying long haul to Europe or the US. Bonus: If you’re heading to the US, you get seamless immigration clearance if you fly on Etihad via Abu Dhabi.
Why not plan a stopover in the luxurious capital of the UAE for a few days as well? With OCBC VOYAGE, you’ll get up to 40% off stopover packages at Abu Dhabi’s premium hotels for up to four nights.
Then, amp up your lifestyle
Besides travel, OCBC VOYAGE cardholders have access to a range of exceptional gastronomical, entertainment, and wellness experiences, often out-of-the ordinary and made for those who appreciate the finer things in life. This includes access to some of the most coveted and unique events and venues in town and abroad.
With the card, you can take advantage of exclusive dining deals curated for two and experience a new gourmet experience every month at Michelin-starred restaurants.
For a night out, head to famed nightclub Marquee at Marina Bay Sands that regularly hosts events with some of the hottest dance music DJs. Your OCBC VOYAGE card allows priority reservations for Marquee’s Grandstand table (for up to 10 guests), or the Grandstand table that’s centre stage in the club for a fantastic view of the dance floor and DJ booth.
Last but not least, level up your everyday
Besides unique experiences, the OCBC VOYAGE card is widely applicable for wider use in everyday life, offering convenience and advantages, including deals that help cardholders get the most out of their everyday needs, such as:
- Up to 23% off on fuel spending at Sinopec
- 19% off on fuel spending at Caltex
- 14% off on fuel spending at Esso
This means when you shuttle your little ones to school, drive to work or head out on family day, you’re also racking up those miles for your next vacay! But if you’re not a driver…
Maximise your rewards more with CardUp!
Another way to earn more miles is when you pay bills that typically don’t offer rewards such as income taxes, insurance, school fees, car loans, and more. Simply sign up for CardUp, choose a payment category and enter your payment details. The payment will then be charged to your OCBC VOYAGE Card.
With this, you stand to receive up to 1.6 VOYAGE Miles (for OCBC Premier VOYAGE Credit Card, OCBC Premier Private Client VOYAGE Credit Card and Bank of Singapore VOYAGE Credit Card only or 1.3 for OCBC VOYAGE) with every S$1 spent on your VOYAGE Card. There’s a one-off admin fee of 1.5% for new CardUp members, and 1.8% for existing CardUp members.
With so many perks and rewards available, the OCBC VOYAGE Card sure comes in handy for when you’re ready to give yourself a treat. Find out more about the rewards available.
OCBC VOYAGE is just the card that gains you miles while rewarding you with unparalleled access to life’s finest experiences. Find out more or sign up here.
*Travel with OCBC is developed, operated and maintained by a third party provider. All products and services made available through Travel with OCBC are provided by third parties. Travel with OCBC terms and conditions apply. Investments are subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
This post was written in collaboration with OCBC. While we are financially compensated by them, we nonetheless strive to maintain our editorial integrity and review products with the same objective lens. We are committed to providing the best information in order for you to make personal financial decisions with confidence. You can view our Editorial Guidelines here.