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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 Aug 5, 2015, 8:08 pm
  #706  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
Originally Posted by LchChester
Citi do award points for online purchases. They only not award points for overseas transactions billed in HKD (e.g. HKD spending at Expedia / Hotels.com / ba.com)
Are you sure that is the case? Or have I got my wires crossed?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/25108852-post637.html

http://www.hongkongcard.com/forum/fo...?id=11968&p=12 (post 119).
theworld is offline  
Old Aug 5, 2015, 8:11 pm
  #707  
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
Originally Posted by bmtsang
Called HSBC CS but told me to wait for my statement
HUACA. HSBC staff can definitely see MCC for all posted transactions. They are reluctant to give out exact four-digit MCC code but can definitely tell you dining or not.

And a statement won't show transaction type anyway so the CS is BSing to high heaven. Actionable even - if you took the name and extension of the staff this is cause for complaint - email or fax HSBC Customer Relations http://www.hkma.gov.hk/media/eng/doc...ns.pdf#page=10

Just as a hint if the transaction is on a Mastercard then the authorisation code for a dining merchant printed on the card slip will be F12345 rather than 123456. But I'm not whether this is consistent for all dining merchants.

Last edited by percysmith; Aug 11, 2015 at 11:54 pm
percysmith is offline  
Old Aug 11, 2015, 9:38 pm
  #708  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX MPC
Posts: 592
Is this per card? (i.e. we can run up $12K on each of our CCB cards, as long as they're registered for Instant Travel Club). Or is it per account holder (given that all CCB cards usually share the same credit limit)?
dannyhk is offline  
Old Aug 12, 2015, 12:13 am
  #709  
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
Per Instant Travel Club-registered card, playing separately.
percysmith is offline  
Old Aug 13, 2015, 11:07 pm
  #710  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,689
Just got my BEA World Flyer.

Also comes with a UnionPay Platinum card that has a HKD credit limit and a separate RMB credit limit attached. What's the earn like on this card and is it useful at all (apart from visits to China)?
Isochronous is offline  
Old Aug 13, 2015, 11:25 pm
  #711  
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
BEA Unionpay doesn't earn miles <-- that in itself should be sufficient to assign it foreskin status.
percysmith is offline  
Old Aug 14, 2015, 3:00 am
  #712  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,689
Originally Posted by percysmith
BEA Unionpay doesn't earn miles <-- that in itself should be sufficient to assign it foreskin status.
I didn't ask for this card, so why did they even give it to me?
Isochronous is offline  
Old Aug 14, 2015, 3:19 am
  #713  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
Originally Posted by Isochronous
I didn't ask for this card, so why did they even give it to me?
Cause banks in HK have a hard on for Union Pay.
theworld is offline  
Old Aug 14, 2015, 4:08 am
  #714  
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
It's compulsory for all post-9 Feb 15 applicants.

Settlement is clumsy. You can't set up PPS or other e-banking bill payment in RMB, so you either have to:

1. Start a RMB account in BEA;

2. Create a Direct Debit Authorisation on a RMB account in another HK bank;

3. Find the RMB rate in BEA https://mobile.hkbea-cyberbanking.co...Key=BAK_RAT_EX , work out the HKD at sell rate (right now it's 1.21760000), settle the HKD into the RMB account via PPS, and add a dollar or two for safety

Personally I use Bankcomm Diamond on the limited occassions I have to travel to the PRC. The overseas earn rates are not worth the foreign currency conversion fee savings foregone and the DCC clobbering I have to do to make merchants charge RMB properly up north.

Last edited by percysmith; Aug 14, 2015 at 4:22 am
percysmith is offline  
Old Aug 14, 2015, 6:52 pm
  #715  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 93
Originally Posted by percysmith
It's compulsory for all post-9 Feb 15 applicants.

Settlement is clumsy. You can't set up PPS or other e-banking bill payment in RMB, so you either have to:

1. Start a RMB account in BEA;

2. Create a Direct Debit Authorisation on a RMB account in another HK bank;

3. Find the RMB rate in BEA https://mobile.hkbea-cyberbanking.co...Key=BAK_RAT_EX , work out the HKD at sell rate (right now it's 1.21760000), settle the HKD into the RMB account via PPS, and add a dollar or two for safety

Personally I use Bankcomm Diamond on the limited occassions I have to travel to the PRC. The overseas earn rates are not worth the foreign currency conversion fee savings foregone and the DCC clobbering I have to do to make merchants charge RMB properly up north.
Can you pay by RMB at the bank counter or move it from your RMB account at the same bank? Or is there a fee to do this?
alan945 is offline  
Old Aug 14, 2015, 7:53 pm
  #716  
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
Originally Posted by alan945
Can you pay by RMB at the bank counter or move it from your RMB account at the same bank? Or is there a fee to do this?
Over the counter $40

Same bank account ok (must be own name)
percysmith is offline  
Old Aug 18, 2015, 9:02 am
  #717  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 7
oops, I also got the Union Pay card with my Flyer world card. I handed in the BEA Union Pay card back at the branch today and cancelled it since I never applied for it. Hope it doesn't affect my Flyerworld card!
zzsp23 is offline  
Old Aug 18, 2015, 9:03 am
  #718  
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
Originally Posted by zzsp23
oops, I also got the Union Pay card with my Flyer world card. I handed in the BEA Union Pay card back at the branch today and cancelled it since I never applied for it. Hope it doesn't affect my Flyerworld card!
Err they may charge you a fee

I was mistaken. No fee.

Err see #720

Last edited by percysmith; Aug 18, 2015 at 10:24 am
percysmith is offline  
Old Aug 18, 2015, 10:19 am
  #719  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 7
Originally Posted by percysmith
Err they may charge you a fee

I was mistaken. No fee.
Good!
zzsp23 is offline  
Old Aug 18, 2015, 10:24 am
  #720  
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
Err I've been given two explanations (typical BEA CS service). I don't know which is right.

CS #1: No fee for cutting the BEA Plat Unionpay - only if you cut the Flyer World. I prefer this interpretation, it appears to be supported by a literal reading of the Welcome Offer T&Cs http://www.hkbea.com/pdf/en/credit-c...-en_201502.pdf and fee schedule http://www.hkbea.com/pdf/en/bank-cha...0EN.pdf#page=5 .

CS #2: The $500 admin fee applies to both the Flyer World and Unionpay. Advise to keep Unionpay 12 months before cutting.

CS #1 appears to be a slam dunk, but unfortunately I've heard the explanation from CS #2 twice - once when I had mum's card confirmed, and on a second call today.

zzsp23: since you've already cut your card, do you mind checking your final Unionpay statement for the fee and reporting back? Thanks.
percysmith is offline  


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