DBS Amex better than Citibank?
 

DBS Amex seems to be offering one mile for HK$6 spent and one mile for every HK$4 spent abroad. This seems to be better than Citibank's HK$8 for each mile.

Apart from it being an Amex anyone see any other pitfalls with it?

Same as Citibank CX Preferred, but Citibank CX can direct credit mileages to MPC without extra charges.

yes, I think DBS Amex is the best for most of my local spendings.

This in fact is already not as good as before - before Sep 1, 2007, it's HKD 4 = 1 mile for all local HK spendings on Fri/Sat/Sun, but HKD 12 = 1 mile otherwise. that's why I used to always have my tickets issued on Friday every week.

now, it's HKD 6 = 1 mile for all local spendings, and so I use it for most situations, except for local "dining" spendings, I used DBS Plat Visa (not sure if classic/Gold Visa is the same) which gives HKD 4 = 1 mile.

btw, on charges to convert points to Asia Miles, in fact it's FREE for DBS Amex as well, and, better yet, the points are valid indefinitely. so it's in fact better because for Citibank CX cards, since it's converted automatically, it's valid for 3 years only...while for DBS Amex the points don't expire and you can convert (for free) just when you need them. I have some 10M+ points sitting with my DBS cards earned in the past ~3 years...if they're converted automatically it would be a big trouble for me using the miles.

Is there an annual fee for the Amex?

seems to be a perpetual fee waiver.

Guys,

The DBS card is NOT the cheapest way to accrue in Hong Kong! The Standard Chartered American Express is by FAR the best! $3/Mile. Although there's a transfer fee, but $3/mile vs $6/mile is worlds apart.

Consider this : I need $120000 to accrue 20000 Miles with the DBS Black,
with the Standard Chartered, all i need is $60000.

Annual fee is 0 for the standard chartered as well.. Only caveat is that $3/mile applies to the first $120K you spend in any year.

I think the Standard Chartered AMEX card has a limit on the amount of points you can earn at the higher rate. Does the DBS card also have a limit?

First HKD 120K spending would reward triple points (HKD 3=1AM). After that,it should be HKD12=1AM.

DBS AMEX HKD6=1AM should be applied on unlimited amount of spending,how about is it a lifetime benefit or just promotion? As well as DBS Plat Visa Card,local dining spending HKD4=1AM,is it only a promotion?

Also I couldn't find the adminstration fee of converting points into AM at the Standard Chartered website,is it free?

Diners Club's accumulation rate is HK$6=1AM, lifttime benefit and no annual fee. But AMEX/VISA/MSTR are more popular in HK since the commission is lower than Diners.

I haven't used an AMEX but I am going to register one with DBS.

IMO,there are still many shops and restaurants in HK not accepting AMEX due to higher commission than VISA. I would say VISA is the most popular one in HKG. Moreover,AMEX would charge more than VISA while spending overseas.

NY911,

The Standard Chartered Conversion Fee is 50HKD per 5000 Miles. Capped at a whopping $600.. Since the max you can accrue with $3/mile is 48000 miles per year, the cap is a bit of a moot point... But its definitely better than the DBS in terms of earning miles. miles better than any card in fact.

The DBS Plat Visa Promo for $4/Mile at all dining is a promotion until 2008 only. But milk it while you can, since the best Visa Card offer is at $8/mile...


yeah HK is kinda bad when it comes to Amex acceptance, but at most larger places, its accepted..

I will go with AMEX although they have annual fee.

AMEX normal give better deal with credit card.

But if you have account in citibank

just end of July they offer a promotion.

If you more than 1M HK dollar in account(cash,stock,funds etc).

Citi will give you 20000 miles every month.

Now...this promote is gone lol.

this promotion has been extended quite a few times already, that I'd in fact consider it more like a standard feature already.

Duplicated