Best credit card conversion rate to Asiamiles (HK) - 2014 and prior
 

Thanks to percysmith for the wiki post and welcome offers and I shall keep them updated - for time required to transfer miles from banks, please see here.
On-going offers

Please refer to above wiki post.

HK miles/hotel points earning ability
OT really, but for completeness to sum up credit card deals wrt miles/hotels in Hong Kong, I thought of qualitatively summarise what miles opportunity each bank offers in HK (or cards, if applicable)

AMEX: CX, BA, CI, MH, AY, VS, SQ, TG, Hilton, Sirius, SPG
BOC: CA, MU, CZ, CX
Bank of Communications: CX, CA, MU, CZ
Bank of East Asia (HKBEA): CX
China Construction Bank (CCB): CX
Citibank: CX, SQ, TG, DL, BA, MH, BR, EY, GI, Priority Club, Hilton
Dah Sing Bank: UA, NH, BA
DBS: CX, CA, MU
Fubon: CX
HSBC: CX, SQ & BA(Premier only)
HSB: JL
ICBC: CA, HX, UO, HU, CZ
Shanghai Commercial Bank: CX
Standard Chartered: CX, SQ
Wing Lung Bank: CX

Welcome Offers
 

**note fixed up the links, ones from before didn't open. :) **

Finally I can apply for my CX Elite Amex and BEA with some good offer! no more foreign transaction charges on my current CDN credit cards! :D:D:D

Credit card points to Asia Miles transfer times
 

I did a sxxtload of transfers from my credit cards to my Asia Miles accounts so I have a great load of data to work with:

(note the request date is the date the request was keyed into bank website/faxed - the MPO Activity Date is ignored)

(update 11 Nov 11) DBS: Black Bazaar redemptions - online submission 21 Oct, credited 11 Nov (21 calendar days, 15 working days)
Fax request:Dunno how long
(update 25 Nov 13) BEA: phone keyed in Mon 18 Nov, activity date Mon 18 Nov, credited Fri 22 Nov (4 calendar days)
(update 8 May 13) Wing Lung: faxed Wed 24 Apr, credited Wed 1 May (7 calendar days)
(update 21 Jun 12) Citi: My Way auto transfer Fri 14 May, credited Fri 21 May (7 calendar days)
Phone request : same day (Thu 21 Jun)
CX Amex Elite: auto transfer Thu 20 May, credited Sat 22 May (2 calendar days)
(update 13 Oct 14) Bankcomm: faxed Fri 3 Oct, activity date Fri 3 Oct, credited Mon 6 Oct (4 calendar days, 2 working days)
(update 29 May 11) BoCHK: faxed Mon 24 May, credited Sat 29 May (5 calendar days)
(update 16 Feb 11) Fubon: faxed Mon 14 Feb, credited Wed 16 Feb (2 calendar days)
(update 25 Nov 13) SCB: online submitted Mon 18 Nov, activity date Mon 18 Nov, credited Mon 25 Nov (7 calendar days)
(update 12 Jul 11) Amex: online submitted Tue 5 Jul (ignored), follow up call Sat 9 Jul, credited Tue 12 Jul (3 calendar days) (but this is for Virgin Flying Club)
(update 26 Jun 12) Amex: phone request Tue 26 Jun 12, credited Fri 29 Jun 12 (3 calendar days)
(Asia Miles) phone request Tue 26 Jun, credited Fri 29 Jun (also 3 calendar days)
(update 25 Nov 13) HSBC: enrolment applied Fri 15 Nov, enrolment successful Sat 16 Nov (next day)
[minor mistake with the first transfer]
Subsequent transfer: online submitted Fri 22 Nov, activity date Fri 22 Nov, credited Mon 25 Nov (every Monday)
(updated 13 Oct 14) CCB: faxed Fri 3 Oct, activity date Fri 3 Oct, credited Mon 6 Oct (4 calendar days, 2 working days)
(update 22 Dec 12) Shacom: faxed Fri 14 Dec, credited Sat 22 Dec (8 calendar days)
(update 29 Dec 12) Shacom: faxed Fri 28 Dec, marked "please process today if possible", credited Sat 29 Dec (1 calendar day)

Can we have the old thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...l#post17803891 blocked from further posting?

I pass the CCB card for tax thingy as it's too much of a hassle. At the end, I settled all my tax using ShaComm. Although it's not a great offer but hey, I am now earning some miles...better than before for sure.

On a side note, I just received the HSBC CUP Card e-Welcome Pack through email today despite only sending in my application form just 4 days ago on Tuesday ^ Not bad...so I can use it over the CNY Holiday!

Citi Rewards 200,000pts (13,333 miles) welcome gift
 

Although dated 1 Jan, we believe it must have been updated on 7 Jan or later:

http://www.citibank.com.hk/global_do...dc-master.html
http://www.hongkongcard.com/forum/fo...ow.php?id=6441

Need to spend 12K for the welcome offer. Since it's not Premiermiles, need to pay $50 conversion fee per 5,000 miles.

For those who already have Citibank card e.g. Premiermiles, wait til you get targeted offer before applying (targeted offer for existing cardholders allow existing cardholders to earn welcome offer again).

Premiermiles 9,000 miles welcome offer reinstated
 

http://www.citibank.com.hk/global_do...dc-master.html

Citibank PremierMiles Visa Card

Up to 9,000 Miles (108,000 Points)
Enroll e-Statement Delivery Service AND; Accumulative spending of HK$12,000 or above within the first 2 months from the date of card issuance.


But this time,
Online application does not entitle you to 500 miles
Neither does e-statement enrolment entitle you to another 500 miles (became part of the 9,000 miles rather than additional award).

The cards that I used now:
I. Overseas Spending
i. SCB AE - I find this the most attractive card to use while overseas, the conversion rate is even lower than HSBC! ($2.5/mile)

ii. HSBC Plat Visa - I opt for the 5x Bonus Rewards Cash Promo (up to Aug 2012). Will only use this ONLY IF AE is not allowed. ($2.78/mile)

Some examples during my trip to NZL on Dec 2011:
Transaction on same date (17 Dec 2011)
SCB AE - NZD 64 = HKD 384.13 (rate = 6.002)
HSBC Plat Visa - NZD 78 = HKD 472.43 (rate = 6.057!!)

iii. Citibank Premiermiles or DBS Black - not used at the moment ($4/mile), esp with the HSBC promo. Will be used again perhaps once the HSBC Promo expires?

II. Designated travel agents - SCB AE ($2.5/mile)

III. Dining - Shacom Plat Visa ($6/mile)

IV. Other retail spending
i. DBS Black ($6/mile)
ii. BankComm Diamond CUP (for transaction >$300, $6/mile)
ii. Citibank Premiermiles (if AE is not allowed, $8/mile)

V. Bill payments - Shacom Plat Visa ($8/mile)

VI. Octopus AAVS - Bankcomm Diamond Dual Currency Card (for recharge of $500, $6/mile)

The conversion rate for BankComm Diamond CUP should be $6/mile wef 1 Jan 2012 onwards. Effectively the same rate as DBS Black. But there are some places in which Black Card is not accepted, whereas CUP is.

sorry- i must have meant winglung diamond CUP... $4/mile till october

HSBC earning miles (via RewardCash) from CCB confirmed
 

http://www.hongkongcard.com/forum/fo...hp?id=6349&p=5

Remember to log in and cut e-statement for HSBC Unionpay if you still want hard copy
 

HSBC enrolled us into e-statements by default and without asking. We have to print out statements at our own cost. It costs us nothing to receive hard copy credit card statements from them.

Would anyone know how many asia miles you can get witih 1 $DBS point with the black card?

I know its $6/1AM but I don't remember the new DBS point system.

Thanks!

DBS$48 from Black Card (or is it DB$48) = 1,000 miles
$250 black spending = DBS$2


If not Black, DBS$60 per 1,000 miles and $250 spending = DBS$1

Question
 

Hey guys, I've noticed you guys seem to be using multiple credit card for different purchases and payments. I've just recently got my HK credit card (before I kept using my Canadian credit card every time I was in HK and finally got fed up with paying foreign charge fee) but I'm still a little confused as to how come you guys would need to split different purchases/payments to different cards?

Card that I'm using: 1. AMEX CX Elite 2. BEA Platinum Visa

I've been using my AMEX card the most for all my purchase and most of my bill payments. Only use the BEA at places that does not accept AMEX and to pay my utility gas and electricity bill (since the amex doesn't credit AM on those transaction)

Am I missing out on potentially gaining more AM by just using two credit cards? I'm trying to limit the amount of credit cards I keep in my wallet...
For Canada I only have 1 credit card that I put all purchases on since its $1 for 1 AM but HK seems to be a bit different and have more restrictions on certain transaction that won't be crediting AM.

Thanks for the help!

You're potentially missing out on the following (assuming you never had these cards before):

(I) Overseas: 33% more miles on Fubon Plat ($3/mile) over CX Elite ($4/mile)
(II) Designated travel agents (Lotus, Priceline, Zuji etc): 188% more miles on HSBC 5X* ($2.78/mile)
(III) Supermarket, Dept Store: 167% more miles on Citibank Rewards ($3/mile) over CX Elite or BEA ($8/mile)
(IV) Dining: 100% more miles on Shacom Plat ($4/mile) over CX Elite or BEA ($8/mile)
(V) Other spending: Either 100% more miles on WLB Unionpay ($4/mile) or 33% more miles on DBS Black or Fubon Plat at or over $300 on weekends ($6/mile) over CX Elite or BEA ($8/mile)
(VI) Bill payment (bills you usually pay through PPS - not the autopays I think you're doing with your CX Elite): 33% more miles on Fubon Plat at or over $300 on weekends ($6/mile) over CX Elite or BEA ($8/mile)
(VII) Octopus AAVS: 33% more miles on Bankcomm Diamond Unionpay over BEA ($8/mile)

*HSBC 5X $2.78/mile can also be applied to (I) Overseas, (III) Supermarket/Dept Store or (IV) Dining (non-hotel only) on enrolment (select one only).


Of course you incur more fees for each card you enrol:

Fubon Plat: $150 flat fee/redemption
Citibank Rewards: $50/5,000 miles (min $50)
Shacom Plat: $10/1,000 miles (min $100)
HSBC: $300 for unlimited redemptions in one year
WLB Unionpay: $50/5,000 miles (min $50)
Bankcomm Unionpay: $100 flat fee/redemption
(DBS Black has no fees)

You've got pretty good coverage with the BEA+CX Elite combo for earning miles. Whether you go for the higher earning cards depends on whether your spend will justify the fee you pay. E.g. for me, a higher-earning dining card really pays for itself.

i'd say, barring from purchase protection on the CX AMEX, CX/CX holiday bonus, and promotions that's only for "AMEX" (not from other banks, like DBS), the DBS AMEX trumps it on almost everything,...

HSBC Unionpay - Card issued ~22 Dec, spending target accomplished 24 Dec, 300RC received yesterday.

The CX Amex is for the Priority Pass, and the $1/mile welcome offer.

You don't use it afterward the welcome offer.

Okay maybe one exception - we need "clean" cards to trick Apple Store online that we've never purchased iPhone4S before. All the useless earn rate cards (Bankcomm Plat, BoC Plat, HSBC Gold) are becoming very useful these two months. They got to be capable of being processed online so Unionpay cards don't count. CX Elite is good for this.

HSBC Diamond CUP card - applied last Tuesday, received today.

Will use the card over the weekend and will probably get the Welcome Offer on the next statement cycle.

Thanks guys for your input~ I've applied for the DBS black since I think I will only use the CX Elite for ticket purchase now and just use DBS for everything else. And also a Standard Charter Titanium (just for the mastercard as back up. Yes I know there are not miles for this one but it looked fancy and only using this in case something happens to the visa/amex)
I don't know how you guys do it but keeping 3 credit cards in my wallet and other misc cards is already too much for me!

Welcome to HKG, where u have one card dedicated for one thing (eg: dining) and another card for other thing (eg: travel agents for tickets purchase:)

It would be great if someone designed a smartphone app to keep track of all these offers, so you could input which credit cards you have (i.e. CX Amex + Citibank Premiermiles + HSBC), and when you're in the queue for the cashier/getting the bill at a restaurant, you could check with the app what the best card is for racking up miles.

Surely there's a developer out there who can do that! Please!

just for clarity regarding HSBC 5x reward cash ($2.78/mile) promo. The maximum limit is 100k HKD/year base spending on this promotion. I'd use HSBC all the time if they removed this cap but all my spending going back elsewhere. :rolleyes:

Did you find erratic bonus reward cash appearing on your HSBC CUP card? All my 3500 HKD spending was in HK as HKD, but for some of my spending it was registered as "overseas" spending (and I have 5x overseas promotion registered) such that I actually got a 5x bonus rewards as well for 2800 hkd worth of purchase.

I'm sure it's a system bug but I'm not going to ask HSBC why... I just want to figure out discreetly to how I got those extra bonus points and maybe continue to use CUP card for HKD spending at those merchants.

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

Re fakecd - lucky u. I've heard of cases where ppl have been under-awarded 5x on HSBC Unionpay (household category) http://www.hongkongcard.com/forum/forum_show.php?id=6379&p=1, your case is the first case of 5x over-awarding.

Then again HSBC is encountering a lot of issues with its Unionpay rollout, anything could happen.

Macau - the good (Westin), the bad (Planet Payment!) and the beautiful (Global Paymnt
 

Quick summary of DCC in Macau, if you're going there and enjoying Visa card earn rate/discount offers:

1. "Mark[x] Transaction Currency" may be safe (Westin Macau)
2. But some banks are not (BNU/Planet Payment)
3. Surprisingly, Global Payments is safe to use in Macau even if it's not in PRC and Taiwan

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...l#post17894974

Bankcomm (Dual Currency) referral offers
 

Besides the normal Welcome offers (5000/4000AM for Diamond or Gold card holder), now there's a 1000AM/referral... and a 5000AM bonus for 5-9 referals or 20000AM bonus for 10 referrals. I've gotten the application form but it took them a while to find it at the branch (so far the form is not readily available in the branch or online)

I'm sure Percysmith or myself will be willing to refer you - PM us if you want some kick start.

The offer T&C is here: http://www.bankcomm.com.hk/mediafile...f_11203_en.pdf
The form is here: http://www.bankcomm.com.hk/mediafile...f_11202_en.pdf
Hongkongcard.com also has a thread on this here http://www.hongkongcard.com/forum/fo...ow.php?id=6477

Full disclosure though - if new customers applied direct http://www.asiamiles.com/am/en/earn/...0007d21c39RCRD they will get 6,000AM...applying through this offer only gets them 5,000AM (referrer gets min 1,000AM, max 30,000AM).

The referrer must somehow compensate the new customer for the miles foregone by using the referral form.

kaka - I'm reading clause 10 of the T&C "10. Referrer choosing Asia Miles will get 1,000 Asia Miles for each successful Referee referred" - referrer earns the basic 1,000AM - my comprehension correct?

mmh you're right. i take it i missed it when i was taking the bus...

anyway, how long does it take fubon to charge the 150 admin fee for converting asiamiles? seems to take quite a while!

Amex Centurion:

1 mile per HKD 4.00 overseas spend ^ No limit/cap. (200 HKD "admin fee" per transfer).
1 miles per HKD 6.00 domestic spend. (not qualifying to be in this thread IMHO :td: )

Same rates as DBS Black (as long as you want Asia Miles).

So why do it? You don't need to maintain status with the Centurion through spending once you've qualified for Centurion. Unless they give you some spending target for rewards, I've heard this happens with the IDC Centurion but not sure about the HKD.

No spending incentive on HKG Cent. Amex premium (Plat/Cent) cards aren't very good value in HKG I find. But for completeness sake I just wanted to throw in the Centurion2AsiaMiles numbers.

Fair enough but list not intended to cover every HKG AM-earning card. Argurably the foreskin card (Standard Chartered Platinum) also earns Asia Miles but it gets whacked around by every other card as if it has the Clap.

With the CNY Promo that had ended yesterday, I think all of us are eagerly awaiting HSBC's next Promo (which could well start tomorrow) :)

Naah typically card cos go quiet in February. Everyone's more or less with Christmas/CNY shopping and are going to pay/have paid some pretty large tax bills. Promos don't come back on in March.

Seems like a good idea I re-applied for a couple of cards in Jan.

i wouldnt add it in because i do not think many HK Centurion members/users would be bothered by the difference in asiamiles by using any other cards (and the fact that i'm lazy as heck)
It's not any better nor worse than DBS Black, but it really doesnt matter and affects few ppl...

Centurion/DBS Black is not a direct comparison, cos Centurion earns Amex MR points which can be used to get Virgin (me me me), SPG, HHonors and other hotel points http://www.americanexpress.com/hk/en...ards/ftr.shtml .

Also although you can argue you can redeem BA with AM and TG with KF, there may be a slight advantage redeeming for the carrier's own miles cos that gets you access to upgrades (that's why I stayed away from KF - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...club-2.html#23 )

for clarification - does Centurion have a lower conversion rate to AM (only), or it has a better earn rate than the other AMEXs(so conversions to other programs are also better)?

anyway, for the discussion of this thread, I thought we only talk about AM here- afterall i try real hard not to talk about AMEX to SPG/PC/HHonors...