It’s one of those weeks: card perks are shrinking, airfares might spike, but hey—there’s cashback, cheap flights, and even Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular to look forward to. DBS is trimming its Woman’s World Card bonus cap, YouTrip’s dishing out cashback (and prizes) for contactless taps, and Standard Chartered’s Bonus$aver is raising the bar for high-interest savers.
In travel: Jetstar Asia’s departure (see what I did there?) could shake up regional airfares, but Skyscanner’s got wallet-friendly summer escapes if you know where to look. Oh, and Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular is coming to Singapore in 2026—with early access perks if you’ve got the right card.
From airline closures to credit card nerfs, here are 8 stories worth your scroll this week. Let’s get into it.
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Jetstar Asia to shut down by end-July—here’s what it means for flyers
Jetstar Asia will officially wind down operations on 31 Jul 2025, affecting over 500 employees. The closure comes as part of a strategic overhaul by parent company Qantas. Retrenched staff will receive 4 weeks’ salary for every year of service, plus a bonus payment for the financial year.
While unions are working to support affected staff, including job-matching with SIA Group and other aviation employers, customers will want to know what this means for their travel plans—and their wallets.
Have a flight after 31 Jul 2025?
- Jetstar Asia will contact you directly with refund or rebooking options, using the email provided at booking.
- Those who booked via travel agents or partner airlines should reach out to them instead.
- Depending on availability, alternative flights may be offered—especially for travellers heading to/from Australia, Bali, Manila, or Osaka.
- Income Insurance will fully cover affected eligible customers who purchased Income Travel Insurance with pre-trip cancellation cover (for both eligible single trip and annual plans) before 11 June 2025, 8 a.m., and who booked a Jetstar Asia flight after 31 July 2025. Customers can claim for unused and prepaid expenses—such as accommodation, travel packages, local tours, amusement park tickets, and transport (including land transfers), excluding Jetstar air ticket expenses—if they fail to obtain a refund from their service providers. Claims will be reimbursed within the stipulated policy limit, in accordance with the travel insurance policy terms and conditions.
Could airfares go up?
Industry watchers say short-term price hikes are likely as passengers scramble for alternatives, especially on popular routes like Bangkok, KL, and Jakarta. But in the longer term, other airlines are expected to ramp up capacity, which could bring prices back down to normal.
DBS Woman’s World Card cuts 4 mpd cap again—now just $1,000 a month
- on Online Purchases
- S$5 = 10 DBS Points (equivalent to 4 Miles per S$1)
- on Overseas Purchases
- S$5 = 3 DBS Points (equivalent to 1.2 Miles per S$1)
- on all Other Purchases
- S$5 = 1 DBS Point (equivalent to 0.4 Miles per S$1)
Another nerf is coming for miles chasers. Starting 1 Aug 2025, the DBS Woman’s World Card will reduce its monthly cap for 10X DBS Points (or 4 miles per $1) on online spend—from $1,500 to $1,000. That’s the second cut in 2 years, following a previous drop from $2,000 to $1,500 in Mar 2024.
Here’s what still holds:
- Online spend: 10X DBS Points (4 mpd), now capped at $1,000/month
- Overseas spend: 3X DBS Points (1.2 mpd)
- All other spend: 1X DBS Point (0.4 mpd)
For savvy cardholders who time big-ticket online buys—think electronics, flights, or staycations—this lower cap may sting. If you regularly max out the card’s bonus tier, it might be time to split spend across a second card or rethink your miles strategy.
SC hikes Bonus$aver interest rates
- Base Interest Rate
- 0.05% p.a.
- Max. Interest Rate
- Up to 8.05% p.a.
- Min. Balance
- S$3,000
Standard Chartered has given its flagship savings account a boost. As of 1 Jun 2025, the Bonus$aver account now offers higher bonus interest rates across spending, salary credit, investment, and insurance activities—bumping the potential max rate from 6.05% to 8.05% p.a. on your first $100,000.
Here’s a quick comparison of what’s changing:
- Card spend: +1.0% p.a. (now 1.5% p.a.)
- Salary credit: +1.0% p.a. (now 1.5% p.a.)
- Invest: +2.0% p.a. (now 2.5% p.a.)
- Insure: +2.0% p.a. (now 2.5% p.a.)
To unlock the full rate, you’ll need to hit all criteria: spend at least $1,000/month, credit your salary via GIRO/PayNow/FAST, invest $20,000 or more in eligible products, and buy an eligible insurance policy with $12,000+ annual premium. That is a pretty tall order.
More realistically, most of us will only be able to hit the card spend and salary credit requirements. That means we’ll take home an interest rate of 3.05% on your first $100,000. You can still earn higher interest (3.30$ p.a.) on the UOB One savings account, even though it got nerfed last month. Read more in our review of the best savings accounts in Singapore.
YouTrip is giving you $5 cashback for making 10 contactless payments
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From 10 Jun to 10 Jul 2025, YouTrip users can earn $5 cashback simply by making 10 mobile contactless payments using their YouTrip card via Apple Pay or Google Pay—no minimum spend required. Think: daily rides on public transport, kopi runs, or supermarket hauls.
But there’s more than cashback on the table. YouTrip is also hosting a leaderboard contest for the campaign’s most active tappers. Here’s what’s up for grabs:
- iPhone 16 Pro (256GB)
- DJI Osmo Pocket 3
- Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones
The leaderboard will refresh every Friday at 12 pm on Instagram and the campaign page, so you’ll know where you stand.
To join:
- Tap the Promo banner in your YouTrip app and hit Join now
- Complete 10 mobile contactless transactions (Apple Pay or Google Pay)
- Be among the first 7,000 users to get that sweet $5 cashback
Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular hits Singapore in 2026—UOB cardholders get first dibs
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Heads up, musical fans! Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular is storming into Singapore in March 2026, and if you’ve got a UOB credit card, you can unlock 20% off priority access tickets ahead of the crowd.
Here’s how it breaks down:
| Sale Phase | Dates and times | Discount | Access |
| UOB Priority Sale | 23–30 Jun, 10 am–1159 pm | 20% | Via Klook (All categories & performances) |
| UOB Pre-sale | 24–30 Jun, 10 am–1159 pm | 20% | Via MBS, SISTIC, Klook |
| Waitlist Pre-sale | 24–30 Jun, 10 am–1159 pm | 15% | All channels (for waitlist registrants) |
| Public Sale | 26 Jun–31 Jul, 10 am–1159 pm | 10% | Early bird pricing via all major ticketing sites |
| Always On | From 1 July, 10 am onwards (UOB only) | 15% | UOB cardmembers via MBS, SISTIC, Klook |
The waitlist is now open until 22 Jun 2025.
The Arena Spectacular is a large-scale reinvention of the hit West End concert version, complete with an international cast, full orchestra, and fresh set design tailored for big venues like the Sands Theatre. Expect the drama, the anthems, and goosebumps—on an arena scale.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to the revolution, this is your cue to jump in. Just make sure that UOB card’s ready.
Skyscanner reveals best cheap getaways under $300 this summer
A new Smarter Summer Report by Skyscanner says 77% of Singapore travellers would rather explore lesser-known destinations than elbow through tourist-packed hotspots this July and August. To help, Skyscanner’s curated 5 cheapest alternative getaways—all under $300 round trip.
- Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia – $182
- Iloilo, Philippines – $195
- Surabaya, Indonesia – $243
- Guiyang, China – $259
- Hat Yai, Thailand – $278
Want to stretch your dollar even more? Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly, and the best deals fall during the week of 28 July–3 August.
Prefer fan favourites instead? Bali, London, and Perth still top the charts—though you’ll need to dig a little deeper into your pocket. But clever travellers are eyeing alternatives like Labuan Bajo, Chongqing, and Almaty for more budget-friendly adventures.
Plus: Skyscanner highlights Langkawi and Penang for June school holidays, and Kuching and Guiyang for September breaks. Parents, pin these spots.
A Labubu doll just sold for nearly $200,000
A human-sized Labubu doll—yes, the toothy gremlin-like character from Pop Mart—sold for a jaw-dropping 1.08 million yuan (S$193,000) at a Beijing auction on 10 Jun. It was the priciest piece in a first-of-its-kind Labubu auction that racked up 3.73 million yuan in total sales.
The character, created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, has developed a near-cult following, with collectors queuing for hours and some willing to pay sky-high premiums. Even celebs like Rihanna and BLACKPINK’s Lisa have been spotted with Labubu in tow.
Investor buzz is strong too:
- Pop Mart’s shares have soared over 180% this year
- Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley both raised their price targets, citing growth and global appeal
- The Labubu-led Monsters series alone brought in over 3 billion yuan in sales last year
And just how intense is the hype? A 9-month-old “bought” a doll for 32,000 yuan—yes, via their parents. That’s how young the fandom is starting.
Fascinated by collectors? Don’t miss Priced Possessions, our series that spotlights quirky collectors in Singapore and puts a price on their most prized possessions.
That’s it for this week! Stay tuned for next week’s What’s Happening This Week to keep up with the latest in finance, business, and beyond.
About the author
Vanessa Nah likes her finance articles the way she likes her sitcoms—light-hearted, entertaining, and leaving people knowing a little more about life. She believes money—like life—should be made simple. Outside of work, you’ll find Vanessa attending dance classes, fingerpicking a guitar, and fulfilling her life mission to make her one-eyed cat the most spoiled kitty in the world.
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