Points Guru: How to earn points overseas by shopping and dining

Travelling overseas can be expensive, but if you’re savvy with where you spend your dollars, you can earn points along the way.

Being a tourist can be expensive. Between seeing the sights, dining out and picking up souvenirs, it all adds up.

While you may know the ins and outs of collecting points at Kmart and Dan Murphy’s, many don’t know you can earn points overseas, and we’re not talking in the airline’s online store either. 

Satay with a side of points

Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer awards program has the Kris+ app, which allows members to earn and spend miles at participating outlets in Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and South Korea (and in Sydney and Melbourne, in case you didn’t know). 

Singapore Airlines has a list of participating outlets and deals online. As Singapore is the airlines’ home, Kris+ the biggest range of outlets in the Lion City. Offers include a cheeky free glass of wine, two for one deals or a discount off total bills in restaurants, deals for massages and activities, and offers in stores like Birkenstock, La Senza, Superdry and Cole Haan. 

To earn rewards, first you need to be a KrisFlyer member – you can sign up to Singapore Airlines’ loyalty program for free online. You’ll also need to have Apple Pay or Google Pay on your phone. Find the Kris+ app from the app store and login in with your KrisFlyer membership. 

As Singapore is the airlines’ home, Kris+ the biggest range of outlets in the Lion City.

Once you’re set up, use the Kris+ app to pay at participating outlets and earn up to three miles for every dollar spent. You can either choose to redeem your miles to offset your spend or transfer your miles from Kris+ to your KrisFlyer account. 

For partners who award miles, KrisPay miles will be automatically awarded for every dollar paid by card through the Kris+ app. The rate is one mile for one KrisFlyer mile. The app features limited-time offers and deals can change, so check the app before you pick somewhere to eat or go for a shop. 

Etihad allows tourists to earn points through its Miles on the Go program at restaurants, stores and theme parks in Abu Dhabi.

Thrills, smiles and miles in Abu Dhabi’s theme parks

Etihad allows tourists to earn points through its Miles on the Go program at restaurants, stores and theme parks in Abu Dhabi. Similar to Singapore Airlines, you need to be a member of Etihad Guest – it’s free to sign up online. You need the Etihad Guest app to your phone and link the account to a Visa credit card. The earn rate is one Etihad Guest Mile for every three Emirati dirhams (AED), and one Etihad Guest Tier Mile for every three dirhams. 

You can earn points at participating stores at shopping centres including Yas Mall, Al Hamra Mall, and WTC Mall; through UberEats’ equivalent called Talabat and the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr and Yas Plaza Hotels. 

The best hack for travellers is the miles you can earn if you’re hitting Abu Dhabi’s theme parks like Ferrari World.

But the best hack for travellers is the miles you can earn if you’re hitting Abu Dhabi’s theme parks like Ferrari World, Warner Bros World, Yas Waterworld, CLYMB and the National Aquarium. Generally, this includes the tickets, food and drinks bought on the ground above 50 AED. 

Like Singapore, Etihad Guest also runs promotions through the app and online. Miles usually come through within 24 hours for food, adventure activities and movie theatres, and 15 days for other merchants. 

You can pick up some Skywards points for Emirates by shopping at participating stores at Dubai Mall. 

If you travel to Dubai, you can also pick up some Skywards points for Emirates by visiting the aquarium, dining and shopping at participating stores at Dubai Mall. 

With all these programs, all transactions require a credit card, so be mindful of any fees for overseas purchases. It’s a nice way to make your travel dollars go that little bit further.

Have a question about points? Drop Sabine an email at [e-mail]. Personal replies are unfortunately not possible.

Originally published as Points Guru: How to earn points overseas by shopping and dining