KrisFlyer SBI Card APEX Review: The Premium Singapore Airlines Card for Frequent Flyers
The KrisFlyer SBI Card APEX earns up to 10 KrisFlyer Miles per ₹200, offers 16 Priority Pass lounge visits a year, and can unlock KrisFlyer Elite Gold status through spend. Here's the full breakdown.
The KrisFlyer SBI Card APEX is the premium co-branded credit card from SBI Card and Singapore Airlines. It sits above the standard KrisFlyer SBI Card in the lineup, with higher earn rates, more lounge visits, and one benefit that really sets it apart: a path to KrisFlyer Elite Gold status through card spend alone.
It runs on the American Express network, costs ₹9,999 a year with no waiver option, and earns KrisFlyer Miles directly into your linked KrisFlyer account. If you fly Singapore Airlines regularly from India, this is the card built specifically for you.
Fees, Welcome Benefit, and What You Pay
| Joining fee | ₹9,999 + GST |
| Annual fee (from year 2) | ₹9,999 + GST |
| Fee waiver | None |
| Add-on card fee | Free |
| Welcome benefit | 10,000 KrisFlyer Miles |
The welcome benefit of 10,000 KrisFlyer Miles kicks in after you pay the joining fee and make your first transaction within 60 days of card issuance. Miles get auto-credited to your KrisFlyer account on the next statement date.
There is no renewal benefit, and there is no spend-based fee waiver. This is a ₹9,999 + GST commitment every year. Whether that's worth it depends entirely on how much value you extract from the miles and the lounge access.
How You Earn KrisFlyer Miles
| Category | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore Airlines Group | 10 miles per ₹200 | Bookings with SQ group merchants |
| International spends | 8 miles per ₹200 | All transactions outside India |
| Everything else (eligible) | 6 miles per ₹200 | All other eligible retail purchases |
Miles are automatically credited to your linked KrisFlyer account on each statement date. No manual transfers, no conversion steps. They show up in your KrisFlyer balance as soon as your statement generates.
There are no earning caps mentioned on any of these tiers.
Worth noting: KrisFlyer Miles expire 3 years from the month they're earned, and there is no activity-based reset. So you need to have a redemption plan, not just accumulate indefinitely.
What Does NOT Earn Miles
Not every swipe earns you miles. Several common spending categories are excluded:
| Category | MCC Codes | Earns Miles | Counts for Milestones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash advance | ✗ | ✗ | |
| EMI / Balance Transfer | ✗ | ✗ | |
| Wallet loads | 6540, 6541 | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fuel | 5541, 5542, 5983 | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rent | 6513 | ✗ | ✓ |
| Utilities | 4900 | ✗ | ✓ |
| Government | 9211, 9222, 9223, 9311, 9399, 9402, 9405 | ✗ | ✓ |
| Encash / Cashback | ✗ | ✗ |
The important detail here: wallet loads, fuel, rent, utilities, and government spends don't earn miles, but they do count toward milestone thresholds. So if you're chasing the ₹5 lakh or ₹10 lakh milestone, these categories still help you get there.
Milestone Benefits
This is where the APEX card gets interesting.
| Spend Threshold | What You Get | Period |
|---|---|---|
| ₹5 lakhs | 10,000 KrisFlyer Miles | Anniversary year |
| ₹7.5 lakhs on Singapore Airlines | KrisFlyer Elite Gold status | Anniversary year |
| ₹10 lakhs | 3,000 bonus KrisFlyer Miles | Anniversary year |
The ₹5 lakh milestone is straightforward and valuable. 10,000 bonus miles on top of what you already earned through regular spending.
The ₹7.5 lakh milestone is the standout feature. Spend ₹7.5 lakhs specifically on Singapore Airlines (booked through the SQ app or website), and you get upgraded to KrisFlyer Elite Gold. That's a Star Alliance Gold equivalent, which means lounge access, priority boarding, extra baggage, and priority check-in across all 26 Star Alliance airlines. You don't need to fly a single qualifying mile for it.
The ₹10 lakh milestone adds another 3,000 miles. Nice, but the real prize is the Elite Gold at ₹7.5 lakhs.
How to Use Your Miles
This is a direct co-brand card. Miles go straight to your KrisFlyer account on each statement date. There are no transfer partners and no intermediate currency.
| Channel | Details |
|---|---|
| KrisFlyer Redemptions | Award flights on Singapore Airlines and Star Alliance partners, cabin upgrades, KrisPay wallet, KrisShop retail |
You redeem through singaporeair.com. The value you get depends on how you use them. Award flights in premium cabins on Singapore Airlines tend to offer the best value per mile. And if you time it right, KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes can stretch your miles 30% further on select routes.
Don't forget the KrisFlyer birthday bonus either. Up to 2,000 free miles just for being a member during your birthday month.
If you're planning a longer trip through Singapore, the Singapore Airlines Stopover programme lets you add a free stopover in Singapore on award tickets.
Lounge Access
| Type | Complimentary Visits | Provider |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 2 per quarter (8/year) | Priority Pass |
| International | 2 per quarter (8/year) | Priority Pass |
That's 16 complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits per year. Only the primary cardholder is eligible, so add-on cardholders don't get their own Priority Pass.
The complimentary Priority Pass membership is valid for 2 years. Once you exhaust your quarterly quota, additional visits are charged at up to $27 + taxes per visit.
Insurance and Protection
| Type | Cover |
|---|---|
| Baggage loss / delay | ₹1 lakh |
| Fraud loss | ₹10 lakhs |
Both come with specific activation requirements detailed in the card's terms and conditions.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver
| Waiver | 1% fuel surcharge |
| Transaction range | ₹500 to ₹4,000 |
| Cap | ₹250 per statement cycle |
| Where | All petrol pumps across India |
Standard SBI Card fuel surcharge waiver. Fuel spends don't earn miles, but you at least save on the surcharge.
Other Surcharges to Know About
| Category | Fee | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 1% + GST | Total utility payments exceed ₹50,000 in a billing cycle |
| Education (via third-party apps) | 1% + GST | Payments through CRED, Cheq, MobiKwik, etc. Direct payments to institutions are exempt. |
| Wallet loads | 1% + GST | Per transaction exceeding ₹1,000 |
| Rent | ₹199 flat + GST | Per transaction |
These surcharges are in addition to the fact that these categories don't earn miles. So you're paying extra and getting nothing back on these spends.
Forex and International Use
The foreign currency markup is 3.5%, which is the standard SBI Card rate. Dynamic Currency Conversion is also charged at 3.5%.
On the earning side, international spends get the accelerated 8 miles per ₹200 rate. So you do earn well on international transactions, but the 3.5% forex markup eats into that value.
For comparison, some premium SBI cards like the AURUM (1.99%) and ELITE (2%) have significantly lower forex rates. If international spending is a big part of your card usage, the forex cost is worth factoring in.
Eligibility and How to Apply
You need to be an Indian resident, aged 18 to 65. SBI Card does not publicly disclose minimum income requirements for this card. You will need a KrisFlyer membership number before applying, since miles are credited directly to your KrisFlyer account.
Documents required: PAN card or Form 60, income proof (payslip, Form 16, or IT return), and address proof.
Support: Phone at 1860 180 1290 or 39 02 02 02 (prefix your city's STD code). The SBI Card app and website are also available, along with the ILA chatbot on sbicard.com.
The Verdict
The KrisFlyer SBI Card APEX makes a strong case for anyone who flies Singapore Airlines from India regularly. The 10 miles per ₹200 rate on SQ spends is the highest in the SBI co-brand lineup, and the path to KrisFlyer Elite Gold through card spend is genuinely unique. You're getting Star Alliance Gold without needing to fly qualifying segments, which opens up lounge access and priority treatment across 26 airlines.
The 16 Priority Pass visits per year are generous, and the base earn rate of 6 miles per ₹200 on everyday spending keeps miles flowing even when you're not booking flights.
But it's not for everyone. The ₹9,999 annual fee comes with no waiver option, so this is a recurring cost you need to justify through usage. The American Express network limits where you can use it in India, so this realistically works best as a companion card alongside a Visa or Mastercard for everyday acceptance. And the 3.5% forex markup, while offset by the higher international earn rate, is notably higher than what SBI's own premium cards charge.
Get this card if you fly Singapore Airlines multiple times a year, want to build KrisFlyer miles on all your spending, and value the Elite Gold status pathway.
Skip it if you rarely fly internationally, need wide merchant acceptance in India, or want a card that pays for itself through fee waivers.
How does this compare to the standard KrisFlyer SBI Card?
If the APEX feels like too much commitment, the standard KrisFlyer SBI Card runs on Visa, costs ₹4,999 a year, and earns at lower rates (4 miles per ₹200 on SQ, 2 on everything else). It doesn't offer the Elite Gold pathway or as many lounge visits, but it gives you wider acceptance in India and a lower annual fee. Worth checking if you're on the fence.
You can browse all card options and compare earn rates on the Magnify app.
Not sure the APEX premium is worth it? See our detailed comparison with the standard KrisFlyer SBI Card.
