Originally Posted by
melampus83
There is a Cathay bank EVA card that is supposedly better, but the key part is if you're a foreigner it's extremely difficult to get a credit card in Taiwan in general. With Amex they can take your US/other country previous Amex credit history into account and give you a taiwan credit card. This last part was the key factor for me.
There are several EVA co-brands in Cathay United, the top one is ridiculously expensive for what it is and IMO not worth it, unless you fly EVA in Economy many times, but without *A Gold status, and have loads of cash, since yearly fee is 20k TWD (which is a strange combination). You get free access to EVA own lounges with it and DragonPass lounges.
I am having EVA Visa Infinite and IMO this is the best deal on the market, especially if you spend on it outside of Taiwan (1 mile for 10 TWD, roughly 3 miles per dollar spent!). Yearly fee is very moderate and is partly offset by complementary miles package, but no free lounges included. Got it as a foreigner, but you are generally right, it's difficult in Taiwan.
Lower versions of the card have worse earnings.
P. S. I am having Russia-issued BAEC Amex and still wonder if that may somehow help me get an Amex in Taiwan.