For Singapore's "mileage enthusiasts," Standard Chartered's three premium credit cards — Visa Infinite, Journey, and Beyond — have become popular choices among frequent travelers, thanks to their differentiated mileage accumulation strategies and global travel benefits. This article, combined with the latest 2025 policies, comprehensively breaks down how to choose the right Standard Chartered card from income thresholds, annual fee costs, mileage efficiency to hidden perks, making spending easily convertible into "free flights" and premium experiences.

I. 4 Core Dimensions for Choosing the Right Standard Chartered Miles Card

1. Income Requirements and Annual Fee Value

• Entry-level (Journey): Singapore residents with an annual income of SGD 30,000 can apply, with an annual fee of SGD 194.40 (usually waived for the first year) — ideal for new职场 travelers.
• Mid-tier (Visa Infinite): Annual income of SGD 30,000–150,000 (lower threshold for Priority Banking clients), with an annual fee of SGD 599.50, balancing benefits and costs.
• Premium (Beyond): Annual income of SGD 200,000, with an annual fee of SGD 1,500, offering luxury benefits like unlimited lounge access for high-net-worth individuals.

2. Mileage Earning Efficiency (per SGD spent)

3. Must-Check Unique Benefits

• Lounge access (Lounge visits): Beyond (unlimited) > Visa Infinite (6/year) > Journey (2/year).
• Welcome miles: Visa Infinite (50,000) > Journey (45,000) > Beyond (no public data, inquire for details).
• Travel insurance: Visa Infinite covers SGD 500,000; Beyond upgrades to SGD 1,000,000, including emergency medical evacuation.

4. Suitable Spending Scenarios

• Frequent overseas spending: Choose Beyond (8 miles/SGD) or Journey (zero fees).
• Local spending on selected categories (e.g., dining/shopping): Journey's 3 miles/SGD is more favorable.
• Pursuing comprehensive benefits: Visa Infinite offers the best value with 6 lounge visits + high welcome miles.

II. In-Depth Reviews of Standard Chartered's Three Miles Cards

1. SC Visa Infinite: Mid-Tier "Value for Money King"

• Core advantages:
  • Low threshold with high returns: Eligible with annual income of SGD 30,000, 40% lower than similar premium cards (e.g., UOB PRVI Miles).
  • Flexible mileage strategy: 1.4 miles locally + 3 miles overseas; bonus rates activated with monthly spending of SGD 2,000, suitable for moderate spenders.
  • Practical benefit package: 6 airport lounge passes (covering Changi T3 SilverKris Lounge) + 50,000 welcome miles (earned with SGD 2,000 spending in 2 months).
• Case study: Ms. Zhang spends SGD 1,500 locally + SGD 500 overseas monthly. Annual earnings: (1,500×1.4×12) + (500×3×12) = 25,200 + 18,000 = 43,200 miles. Adding 50,000 welcome miles, she easily exceeds 90,000 miles in the first year — enough for 2 economy class tickets from Singapore to Tokyo.

2. SC Journey: "Fee Killer" for Overseas Spending

• Exclusive highlights:
  • Zero foreign transaction fees: Traditional cards charge 3.5%, but Journey waives this — ideal for daigou (proxy shoppers) or users spending over SGD 1,000 monthly on overseas shopping (saving ~SGD 420 annually).
  • High local rates: 3 miles/SGD on dining, shopping, etc., 114% higher than Visa Infinite.
  • Light travel friendly: 2 lounge passes + basic travel insurance, meeting short trip needs.
• Note: Only 2 miles/SGD for non-specified overseas spending. For large expenses, combining with Beyond is recommended.

3. SC Beyond: "Sky Palace" for High-Net-Worth Individuals

• Premium benefit matrix:
  • Mileage acceleration: 8 miles/SGD for overseas spending, 4-6x that of regular cards (e.g., SGD 10,000 overseas spending = 80,000 miles, enough for 1 business class ticket to Europe/US).
  • Luxury experiences: Unlimited Priority Pass lounge access + 10 airport transfers + Michelin birthday dining (e.g., Restaurant Odette in Singapore).
  • Exclusive services: 24/7 personal concierge to assist with booking limited-edition concert tickets or popular hotel suites.
• Suitable for: Business owners or executives with annual spending over SGD 100,000, 80% of which is overseas.

III. Complete Guide to Mileage Redemption

1. Conversion Paths and Costs

• Supported platforms: SIA KrisFlyer, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, shopping vouchers (e.g., Lazada), cashback.
• Fees: SGD 27.25 per conversion. It’s recommended to accumulate 10,000+ miles before redeeming (to spread costs).
• Processing time: 3-5 business days. For peak seasons, redeem 2 weeks in advance.

2. Optimal Redemption Scenarios

• Short-haul flights: Singapore-Kuala Lumpur economy class requires 8,000 miles (Journey's 45,000 welcome miles can redeem 5 trips).
• Business class upgrades: Beyond users can upgrade Singapore-Sydney segments with 50,000 miles + small cash (valued at ~SGD 3,000) via exclusive channels.
• Voucher deductions: 10,000 miles = SGD 180 Lazada voucher, suitable for non-frequent travelers.

3. Hidden Tips

• Combined conversion: Miles from multiple Standard Chartered cards can be merged into the 360 Rewards account; redeem once reaching 10,000 miles.
• Spending targets: Visa Infinite requires monthly spending of SGD 2,000 to activate high mileage rates. It’s recommended to concentrate payments for rent/insurance.

IV. Scenario-Based Card Recommendations

V. Notes

1. Annual fee waiver conditions: Journey/Visa Infinite waive the first-year fee; subsequent years require annual spending of SGD 12,000–30,000 (check bank notifications for details).
2. Mileage validity: Standard Chartered miles are valid for 2 years. It’s recommended to check accounts quarterly to avoid expiration.
3. Foreign transaction fee trap: Only Journey waives fees; other cards incur 3.5% costs for overseas spending (e.g., Beyond’s 8 miles need to cover fees, resulting in a net gain of ~6.5 miles).

Conclusion

Standard Chartered's three miles cards precisely cater to different needs: Journey is ideal for low-cost overseas spending, Visa Infinite balances benefits and thresholds, and Beyond offers luxury experiences for premium users. It’s recommended to choose based on annual income (SGD 30k/SGD 30k+/SGD 200k+) and spending structure (local/overseas ratio).