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Best credit card conversion rate to Asiamiles (HK) - 2015

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Old Jan 3, 2015, 1:24 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: percysmith
This is a continuation of this previous thread which contains discussion from 2014 and prior: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...es-hk-164.html

For time required to transfer miles from banks, please see here.
On-going offers

Beginner's recommendation (rates quoted before other short term promotions):
1. BEA Flyer World Master - 1 mile per $5 for local purchases / overseas purchases / Octopus / Bill Payment (Excluding the following categories: Education, Insurance and Tax) (no fee)
2. [From 4 Jan 2016] HSBC Visa Signature for 9X (6X: select one category only below, 1 mile per $4.16 under this promotion, cap at $100,000; plus 3X on all categories, 1 mile per $6.25 cap at $100,000 - total $1 mile per $2.78), and all other seasonal promotions. ($300 fee for a year's worth of redemption) [to 31 Dec 2016]

Credit Cards that are by Invitation Only or Applied in lieu with an Account:

1. WLB Luxe Visa Infinite - 1 mile per $2.4 for overseas airline / travel / hotel / dining; $4/mile on local airline / travel / hotel / dining ($50/5,000 miles min $50 max $500) (Need to be Wing Lung Private Banking customers)
2. BoC Wealth Management Visa Infinite - 1 mile per $15 for local / overseas / octopus AAVS / bill payment, 1 mile per $5 for overseas spending / local dining, 1 mile per $2.5 for overseas spending / local dining if that month's accumulated spending is over $15000 ($50/5,000 miles min $100 max $300) (Need to be BoC Wealth Management (中銀理財) customer)
3. HSBC Premier World Master for 6X (select one category only below, 1 mile per $4.16 from 4 Jan 2016. Under this promotion, cap at $100,000), and all other seasonal promotions. ($300 fee for a year's worth of redemption) [to 31 Dec 2016] (Need to be HSBC Premier customer)
4. BoC Enrich World MC - 1 mile per $15 for local / overseas / octopus AAVS / bill payment, 1 mile per $5 for dining/travel/dept store, 1 mile per $3 for dining/travel/dept store if that month's accumulated spending is over $15000 ($50/5,000 miles min $100 max $300) (Need to be BoC Enrich (智盈理財) customer)
5. HSBC Advance Platinum Visa for 6X (select one category only below, 1 mile per $4.16 from 4 Jan 2016. Under this promotion, cap at $100,000), and all other seasonal promotions. ($300 fee for a year's worth of redemption) [to 31 Dec 2016] (Need to be HSBC Advance customer)
5. Citibank Ultima card - 1 mile per $4 for local / overseas / octopus (no fee) (Need to be Citigold Private Client customer AND by Invitation only)
6. SCB Priority Banking Visa Infinite - $7.5 per mile for local spending ($15 per mile for Insurance Spending (NOT BILL PAYMENT)) and Octopus, $5 per mile overseas spending ($300 flat redemption fee) (Need to be SCB Priority Banking customer) Note 2
7. BEA Supreme Gold World Master - 1 mile per $5 for local /overseas / Octopus / Bill Payment (Excluding the following categories: Education, Insurance and Tax) (no fee) (Need to be BEA Supreme Gold (顯卓理財) customer) Note 3
8. Shacom World Master - 1 mile per $8 local purchases / overseas / octopus ($10 per 1,000AM min $100 max $500) (Need to be Shacom SMART Banking (慧通理財) customer)
9. CCB HK Visa Infinite - 1 mile per $8 spent for Local Spending / Overseas Spending / Octopus / Bill payment ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100) (Need to be CCB Premier Banking (貴賓理財) / Premier Select (貴賓晉裕) customer)

Full list:

I. Overseas
** ++ 1. [From 4 Jan 2016] HSBC - 1 mile / $2.78 (HSBC Visa Signature) / $4.16 (other HSBC Credit Cards INCLUDING HSBC Premier World Master) spent (select Overseas Spending category ONLY) / $6.25 (HSBC Visa Signature) spent (DO NOT select Overseas Spending category) ($300 fee for a year's worth of redemptions)
2. [to 30 April 16] (if online) DBS Eminent - 1 mile per $15 + 6% spending credit rebate (Minimum any spending (online spending inclusive) $5,000 per month, maximum rabate $300 (i.e.online spending $5,000) per month) (no fee) - *registration required*
3. [to 31 Dec 16] (if ONLINE / PAYWAVE) CCB HK eye Card - 1 mile / $2.14 (inclusive of 5X online bonus, cap at $75000 per calender year and (2X extra overseas bonus, cap at $75000 per membership year ) ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100)
^ 4. [to 29 Feb 16] Fubon Platinum / Titanium - 1 mile / $3 spent ($50/5,000AM min $250 max $500) (plus 167 Sure win miles if txn amt >$600)
Note: 1 mile per $0.6 for TWD spendings in Taiwan (max $10,000/year), and 1 mile per $1.5 for KRW and JPY spendings in Korea and Japan (Seperate registration needed, max $20,000/month, two months per calendar year max)
** ++ ^ 5. Citibank Prestige / Premiermiles - 1 mile per $4 spent (no fee)
^ 6. DBS Black World Master / Amex - 1 mile per $4 spent overseas (no fee)
** ++ 7. Amex CX Elite - 1 mile per $4 spent (automatic conversion)
^ 8. BEA Flyer World Master / Supreme Gold World Master - 1 mile per $5 (no fee)
9. CCB HK Platinum Visa / Platinum Master - 1 mile per $5 ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100)
** 10. [from 2 May 14] SCB Priority Banking Visa Infinite - 1 mile per $5 spent ($300 flat fee redemption)

^: DO NOT Award points for DCC Transactions

II. Supermarket, dept store, Telecommunications bills on autopay:
** ++1A . [From 4 Jan 2016] HSBC - 1 mile / $2.78 (HSBC Visa Signature)/$4.16 (other HSBC Credit Cards INCLUDING HSBC Premier World Master) spent# (select Home Spending category ONLY) ($300 fee for a year's worth of redemptions)
** ++1B. [From 4 Jan 2016] HSBC - 1 mile / $2.78 (HSBC Visa Signature)/$4.16 (other HSBC Credit Cards INCLUDING HSBC Premier World Master) spent# (select Lifestyle Spending category ONLY) ($300 fee for a year's worth of redemptions)
** ++1C. [From 4 Jan 2016] HSBC - 1 mile / $2.78 (HSBC Visa Signature)/$4.16 (other HSBC Credit Cards INCLUDING HSBC Premier World Master) spent# (select Entertainment Spending category ONLY) ($300 fee for a year's worth of redemptions)
** ++2. Citibank Rewards - 1 mile / $3 spent ($50 fee per 5,000 mile redeemed) (on first $12,500 spending per statement month) Note 2
3. [to 31 Dec 16] (if ONLINE / PAYWAVE) CCB HK eye Card - 1 mile / $2.14 (inclusive of 5X online bonus, cap at $75000 per calender year and (2X extra overseas bonus, cap at $75000 per membership year ) ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100)

III. Dining
** ++1. [From 4 Jan 2016] HSBC - 1 mile / $2.78 (HSBC Visa Signature) / $4.16 (other HSBC Credit Cards INCLUDING HSBC Premier World Master) spent# (select Dining Spending category ONLY) ($300 fee for a year's worth of redemptions)
** ++1b. [From 4 Jan 2016] HSBC (non-Visa Signature, INCLUDING HSBC Premier World Master) (select Dining category) - 1 mile / $4.16 ($300 fee for a year's worth of redemptions)
** ++1c. [From 4 Jan 2016] HSBC Visa Signature (did not select Dining category) - 1 mile / $6.25 ($300 fee for a year's worth of redemptions)
2. DBS Platinum (Excluding ALL Co-Branded cards and Compass Cards) / Eminent - 1 mile / $5 ($50 per 5,000 miles redeemed, max $300)
3. BEA Flyer World Master - 1 mile / $5 (no fee)
Note: Restaurants in hotels sometimes are regarded as "Hotel" under V/M classification and thus ineligible for any dining promotions, using CUP can usually (but not always) get around this problem

IV. Travel agents:
** ++1. [From 4 Jan 2016] HSBC - 1 mile / $2.78 (HSBC Visa Signature) / $4.16 (other HSBC Credit Cards INCLUDING HSBC Premier World Master) spent# (select LifeStyle Spending category ONLY)/ $6.25 (HSBC Visa Signature NOT selecting LifeStyle Spending category)($300 fee for a year's worth of redemptions)
2. [to 30 April 16] (if online) DBS Eminent - 1 mile per $15 + 6% spending credit rebate (Minimum any spending (online spending inclusive) $5,000 per month, maximum rabate $300 (i.e.online spending $5,000) per month) + 4%selected rebate (with HK Airline, HK Express, Zuji, Priceline) (no fee) - *registration required*
3. CCB HK EYE (if online) - 1 mile per $2.14 spent (First $50,000 only) ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100)2. [to 31 Dec 16]

V. Other retail spending
1. [to 30 April 16] (if online) DBS Eminent - 1 mile per $15 + 6% spending credit rebate (Minimum any spending (online spending inclusive) $5,000 per month, maximum rabate $300 (i.e.online spending $5,000) per month) (no fee) - *registration required*
2. CCB HK eye Card - 1 mile per $3 ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100) (ONLINE or PAYWAVE Spending ONLY, else $15 per mile)
3. BEA Flyer World Master / BEA Supreme Gold World Master - 1 mile per $5 spent (no fee) Note 3
** 4. SCB WorldMiles AE - 1 mile per $5 spent ($300 flat redemption fee)
** ++ 5. Citibank Prestige - 1 mile per $6 spent (no fee)
6. Amex CX Elite - 1 mile per $6 spent (automatic conversion)
7. DBS Black World Master - 1 mile per $6 spent (no fee)
8. [to 28 Feb 16] Fubon Platinum / Titanium - 1 mile per $6 spent spending >=$300 on Saturdays and Sundays ($50/5,000AM min $250 max $500) (plus 167 Sure win miles if txn amt >$600 (if NOT ONLINE))
** 9. SCB Priority Banking Visa Infinite - 1 mile per $7.5 spent ($300 flat redemption fee)
109. CCB HK Premier Banking Visa Infinite - 1 mile per $7.5 spent ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100)
** ++ 11. Amex (Gold grade and higher) - 1 mile per $7.5 spent (to $160,000), $200 flat redemption fee). (1 mile per $3 spent for 5x shops and 1 mile per $1.5 spent for 10x shops)
** ++ 12. Citibank Premiermiles - 1 mile per $8 spent (no fee)
13. Shacom World Master / Platinum / Titanium / Diamond UnionPay - 1 mile per $8 spent ($10 per 1,000AM min $100 max $500)

VI. Bill payments (Excluding Tax or any payment to IRD)
VI A. General Bill Payments (EXCLUDING Insurance and Education)
1. BEA Flyer World Master / BEA Supreme Gold World Master - 1 mile per $5 spent on bill payment (Excluding the following categories: Education, Insurance) (no fee) Note 3
2. CCB HK Visa Infinite - 1 mile per $8 spent ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100)
3. Fubon Platinum / Titanium - 1 mile per $12 spent ($50/5,000AM min $250 max $500) (pre-registration required w.e.f. 15 Apr 2014)
4. CCB HK Platinum Visa / CCB HK Platinum Master / CCB HK Platinum Dual Currency UnionPay - 1 mile per $15 spent (Each Card Membership Year cap at 12 times of credit limit)
6. BoC Wealth Management Visa Infinite/BoC Platinum Visa/BoC Dual Currency Unionpay - 1 mile per $15 spent (Each Card cap at $10,000 per Month) ($50/5,000 miles min $100)
7. [From 4 Jan 2016] HSBC Platinum Visa / Advance Platinum Visa / Premier World Master / Visa Signature / Green Card - 1 mile per $25 spent
VI B. Education Bill Payments
1. CCB HK Visa Infinite - 1 mile per $8 spent ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100)
2. Fubon Platinum / Titanium - 1 mile per $12 spent ($50/5,000AM min $250 max $500) (pre-registration required w.e.f. 15 Apr 2014)
4. CCB HK Platinum Visa / CCB HK Platinum Master / CCB HK Platinum Dual Currency UnionPay - 1 mile per $15 spent (Each Card Membership Year cap at 12 times of credit limit)
5. BoC Wealth Management Visa Infinite/BoC Platinum Visa/BoC Dual Currency Unionpay - 1 mile per $15 spent (Each Card cap at $10,000 per Month) ($50/5,000 miles min $100)
6. [From 4 Jan 2016] HSBC Platinum Visa / Advance Platinum Visa / Premier World Master / Visa Signature / Green Card - 1 mile per $25 spent
VI C. Insurance Bill Payments
1. CCB HK Visa Infinite - 1 mile per $8 spent ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100)
2. CCB HK Platinum Visa / CCB HK Platinum Master / CCB HK Platinum Dual Currency UnionPay - 1 mile per $15 spent (Each Card Membership Year cap at 12 times of credit limit)
3. BoC Wealth Management Visa Infinite/BoC Platinum Visa/BoC Dual Currency Unionpay - 1 mile per $15 spent (Each Card cap at $10,000 per Month) ($50/5,000 miles min $100)
4. [From 4 Jan 2016] HSBC Platinum Visa / Advance Platinum Visa / Premier World Master / Visa Signature / Green Card - 1 mile per $25 spent

Note 1: Other issuers in Hong Kong DO NOT award bonus points for bill payment

VII. Octopus Automatic Add-Value
1. BEA Flyer World Master / BEA Supreme Gold World Master - 1 mile per $5 spent (no fee) Note 3
** ++ 2. Citibank Prestige - 1 mile per $6 spent (no fee)
3. Bankcomm Diamond Dual Currency Card - 1 mile per HK$6 spent for $500 recharges, 1 mile per HK$12 spent for $250 recharges ($100 flat redemption fee)
** 4. SCB Priority Banking Visa Infinite - 1 mile per $7.5 spent ($300 flat redemption fee)
5. CCB HK Visa Infinite - 1 mile per $8 spent ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100)
** ++ 6. Citibank Premiermiles - 1 mile per $8 spent (no fee)
7. Shacom World Master / Platinum / Titanium / Diamond UnionPay - 1 mile per $8 spent ($10 per 1,000AM min $100 max $500)

VIII. China Unionpay RMB spending

** ++1. [From 4 Jan 2016] HSBC Dual Currency Unionpay card - 1 mile per RMB4.16 spent (select China Spending category ONLY) ($300 fee for a year's worth of redemptions)
2. Bankcomm Diamond Dual Currency Card - 1 mile per RMB6 spent for restaurants or hotels spending >= RMB300, 1 per RMB12 spent other categories ($100 flat redemption fee)
3. BoC Dual Currency Unionpay Card - 1 mile per RMB15 spent ($50/5,000 miles min $100)

Note 2:
** can opt for Krisflyer miles in lieu
++ can opt for BAEC AVIOS in lieu
For HSBC, ONLY Premier World Master holders are able to opt for BAEC Avios and KrisFlyer Miles

Note 3:
BEA Supreme Gold World Master cardholders need to register in advance for the "BEA Mileage Reward" scheme during application (Supreme Gold account opening), or else pay $1800 penalty to register thereafter.

HK miles/hotel points earning ability
Refer to here
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Best credit card conversion rate to Asiamiles (HK) - 2015

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Old May 27, 2015, 2:55 am
  #466  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: BA
Posts: 392
Whats a good credit card which also gives out priority pass?
Is the Citi Prestige Card the best one?
hakzai is offline  
Old May 27, 2015, 2:59 am
  #467  
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,799
hakzai - yes if you don't have a wealth management account giving you a VI.
percysmith is offline  
Old May 27, 2015, 6:48 am
  #468  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 37
Originally Posted by percysmith
Flyer World in the first instance.

Tho there's no downside to having both - Flyer World (as is most cards other than the Citi Ultima, Prestige, Amex Centurion, Plat Charge and Plat Credit) are fee free and has best earn rate Asia Miles-wise for local non specific-category spending.

Prestige isn't fee free but consider the $2,500 a 25,000 mile (first year)/30,000 mile (subsequent years) mile purchase @ $0.1 / $0.083 per mile.
Just a bit confused on your remark, so in other words:
Do you recommend either Citibank PremierMiles Card or BEA Flyer world?
Also is the Prestige card annual fee not waiveable?

Thanks
ramelec is offline  
Old May 27, 2015, 6:49 am
  #469  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 37
Originally Posted by svellmann
Why not HSBC VISA Signature? Annual fee yes, but waived easily. 4.17 HKD / mile in any category, 1.85 HKD / mile in one category such as dining and 1.19 HKD / mile in that category on Fridays. IMO one of the best cards to carry right now if you're not looking to collect mileage currencies other than Asia Miles.
Yes I have HSBC Visa Signature but I do not want to pay the fee for the conversion points
ramelec is offline  
Old May 27, 2015, 8:43 am
  #470  
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,799
Originally Posted by ramelec
Just a bit confused on your remark, so in other words:
Do you recommend either Citibank PremierMiles Card or BEA Flyer world?
Also is the Prestige card annual fee not waiveable?

Thanks
Flyer World
Yes
percysmith is offline  
Old May 27, 2015, 8:54 am
  #471  
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
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Originally Posted by ramelec
Yes I have HSBC Visa Signature but I do not want to pay the fee for the conversion points
Penny wise pound foolish

If you spend more than a mere $8,823.53 this year on your 6X category (making it 9X or $1.85/mile with VS) you already earn 3,000 more miles over the $5/mile fee-free Flyer World, thus recouping your $300 fee using a $0.1/mile valuation.
percysmith is offline  
Old May 27, 2015, 10:11 pm
  #472  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 37
Originally Posted by percysmith
Flyer World
Yes
Why would you say BEA flyer world is better? I did comparison but cannot find much difference on Citibank PremierMiles Card..unless there is some information that i am not aware of? Thanks a lot.
ramelec is offline  
Old May 27, 2015, 10:22 pm
  #473  
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,799
Originally Posted by ramelec
Why would you say BEA flyer world is better? I did comparison but cannot find much difference on Citibank PremierMiles Card..unless there is some information that i am not aware of? Thanks a lot.
Because BEA Flyer World has a 1.6X promo starting from 9 February 2015 and going on indefinitely.

Its basic earn rate is same as Premiermiles' basic earn rate but Premiermiles does not have a indefinite 1.6X.
percysmith is offline  
Old May 28, 2015, 11:47 pm
  #474  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX MPC
Posts: 592
Tiramisu card from CCB

Originally Posted by percysmith
Just for completeness you got the AIA Plat Visa also? I missed that one til recently.

So the four are CCB Plat Visa, CCB Plat MC, eye and AIA Plat Visa.
Looks like CCB have got yet another platinum card now. A Tiramisu (!) credit card, whatever that is. A promo for the card has just appeared on their Web site, although no indication that I can see of how to get your tiramisu.
dannyhk is offline  
Old May 29, 2015, 12:36 am
  #475  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 755
It is a very old card that has stopped accepting new application years ago
LchChester is offline  
Old May 29, 2015, 1:09 am
  #476  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX MPC
Posts: 592
Originally Posted by LchChester
It is a very old card that has stopped accepting new application years ago
Yet, funnily enough the promo suggests (perhaps due to sloppy wording) that they're still accepting new applications:

"This promotion is only applicable to tiramisu Credit Cards issued on or before May 31, 2015."
dannyhk is offline  
Old May 29, 2015, 3:18 am
  #477  
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,799
They haven't issued cards since whenever. I've a friend who applied for the card when all these cards were still issued by AIG Finance. I told her to dust the card and use it for 939.
percysmith is offline  
Old May 31, 2015, 9:44 am
  #478  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: DUS
Posts: 318
Gonna need to make a ~13k USD payment through PayPal soon and trying to decide which card will be the best to settle this between HSBC VISA signature, citi PM and CX Amex. Apart from the earn rate which is almost the same (4.17$ vs 4$ vs 4$) my major consideration is forex charge and exchange rate. Which of the three should I use? Or would a Dah Sing Bank VISA card be any better, for that matter?
svellmann is offline  
Old May 31, 2015, 10:02 am
  #479  
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,799
Originally Posted by svellmann
Gonna need to make a ~13k USD payment through PayPal soon and trying to decide which card will be the best to settle this between HSBC VISA signature, citi PM and CX Amex. Apart from the earn rate which is almost the same (4.17$ vs 4$ vs 4$) my major consideration is forex charge and exchange rate. Which of the three should I use? Or would a Dah Sing Bank VISA card be any better, for that matter?
Awww I wish I can do it for you. I have the HSBC HK USD Visa before they stopped accepting applications and I can do it at the 7.75 mid rate (any of the cards you've just listed will charge you 7.90-7.91) - avoid the 1.95% fee entirely.

And my (mum's) overseas spending has 6X.


But out of your own cards I will do it out of Citi PM:

1. In case of refund, Citi has a good (weird) history of refunding any exchange differences
http://www.hongkongcard.com/forum/fo...ow.php?id=6982
http://www.hongkongcard.com/forum/fo...p?id=12793&p=5 #47

2. Citi points don't have to be used on Aisa Miles alone - have other choices.

Last edited by percysmith; May 31, 2015 at 8:37 pm
percysmith is offline  
Old May 31, 2015, 8:21 pm
  #480  
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,799
Replaced by post #547

Post #547

Last edited by percysmith; Jun 15, 2015 at 9:07 pm
percysmith is offline  


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