FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
 

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

2015 Discussion: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...2015-a-72.html
Churning and Welcome Offers: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...usly-upda.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):
(Just one for now) 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)

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 2017] (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 2017] (Need to be HSBC Advance customer)
5. Citibank Ultima card - 1 mile per $4 for local / overseas / octopus (no redemption fee, $23,800 non-waivable annual 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. BOC Travel Rewards Visa Signature Card - 8% rebate for each transaction >$500 overseas spending (max $500 per month) (requirement: 1. overseas transaction for that month (any amount per transaction) > $6,000; 2. three times local spending (any amount)) plus 1 mile per $15
2. [to 31 Dec 2016] DBS Eminent - 1 mile per $15 + 6% spending credit rebate (Minimum any spending (overseas spending inclusive) $5,000 per month, maximum rabate $300 (i.e.online spending $5,000) per month) (no fee) - *registration required*
3. BoC Wealth Management Visa Infinite - 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)
4. [to 31 Dec 2017] 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)** ++
5. [to 31 Dec 2017] (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)
6. Citibank Premiermiles (>=$20K per billing cycle) - 1 mile per $3 spent (no redemption fee)** ++ ^
7. Fubon Platinum / Titanium - 1 mile / $3.75 spent ($50/5,000AM min $250 max $500) (plus 133 Sure win miles if txn amt >$600)
Note: 1 mile per $0.75 for TWD spendings in Taiwan (max $5,000/month and $10,000/year), and 1 mile per $1.875 for KRW and JPY spendings in Korea and Japan (Seperate registration needed, max $20,000/month, two months per calendar year max)^
8. Citibank Prestige / Premiermiles (<$20K) - 1 mile per $4 spent (no redemption fee, $2,500 non-waivable annual fee for the Prestige)** ++ ^
9. DBS Black World Master - 1 mile per $4 spent overseas (no fee)^
10. SCB Asia Miles World Master - 1 mile per $4 spent (automatic conversion)
11. Amex CX Elite - 1 mile per $4 spent (automatic conversion)
12. BEA Flyer World Master / Supreme Gold World Master - 1 mile per $5 (no fee)^
13. CCB HK Platinum Visa / Platinum Master - 1 mile per $5 ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100)
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 . [to 31 Dec 2017] 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. [to 31 Dec 2017] 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. [to 31 Dec 2017] 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 2017] (if ONLINE / PAYWAVE) CCB HK eye Card - 1 mile / $3 (inclusive of 5X online bonus, cap at $75000 per calender year ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100)

III. Dining
1. [to 31 Dec 2017] 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. [to 31 Dec 2017] 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. [to 31 Dec 2017] HSBC Visa Signature (did not select Dining category) - 1 mile / $6.25 ($300 fee for a year's worth of redemptions) ** ++
2. SCB Asia Miles World Master - 1 mile per $4 spent (automatic conversion)
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. [to 31 Dec 2017] 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 31 Dec 2016] (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. [to 31 Dec 2017] CCB HK EYE (if online) - 1 mile per $2.14 spent (First $50,000 only) ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100)

V. Other retail spending
1. [to 31 Dec 2016] (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. [to 14 Mar 17] (if online) CCB HK Premier Banking Visa Infinite - 1 mile per $2.67 spent ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100) (first $12.5K spending ONLINE per month only, else $8 per mile)
3. [to 31 Dec 2017] 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)
4. (if online) SCB Asia Miles World Master - 1 mile per $4 spent (automatic conversion) (ONLINE spending ONLY, else $6 per mile)
5. BEA Flyer World Master / BEA Supreme Gold World Master - 1 mile per $5 spent (no fee) Note 3
** 6. SCB WorldMiles AE - 1 mile per $6 spent ($300 flat redemption fee)
** ++ 7. Citibank Prestige - 1 mile per $6 spent (no redemption fee, $2,500 non-waiveable annual fee)
8. Amex CX Elite - 1 mile per $6 spent (automatic conversion)
9. DBS Black World Master - 1 mile per $6 spent (no fee)
10. Fubon Platinum / Titanium - 1 mile per $7.5 spent spending >=$300 on Saturdays and Sundays ($50/5,000AM min $250 max $500) (plus 133 Sure win miles if txn amt >$600 (if NOT ONLINE))
** 11. SCB Priority Banking Visa Infinite - 1 mile per $7.5 spent ($300 flat redemption fee)
** ++ 12. 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)
** ++ 13. Citibank Premiermiles - 1 mile per $8 spent (no fee)
14. 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 $5 spent on bill payment (From July 1st 2017 only 1 mile per 8$ 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. 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)
4. 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)
5. [to 31 Dec 2017] 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. 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. [to 31 Dec 2017] 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 & Master / BoC Platinum Dual Currency Unionpay - 1 mile per $15 spent (Each Card cap at $10,000 per Month) ($50/5,000 miles min $100)
4. 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) !From July 1st 2017 AAVS no longer eligible! Note 3
** ++ 2. Citibank Prestige - 1 mile per $6 spent (no redemption fee, $2,500 non-waiveable annual 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 Asia Miles World Master - 1 mile per $6 spent (automatic conversion)
** 5. SCB Priority Banking Visa Infinite - 1 mile per $7.5 spent ($300 flat redemption fee)
6. CCB HK Visa Infinite - 1 mile per $8 spent ($50 per 5,000 miles AM min $100)
** ++ 7. Citibank Premiermiles - 1 mile per $8 spent (no fee)
8. 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. [to 31 Dec 2017] 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. [to 31 Dec 2016] WLB Plat Unionpay - 1 mile per RMB4 spent on restaurants or hotels (to 15,000AM) ($50 fee per 5,000 miles redeemed)
3. 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)
4. Shacom Diamond UnionPay - 1 mile per $8 spent ($10 per 1,000AM min $100 max $500)
5. 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