Best credit card coversion rate to Asiamiles in 2009? (For FTers based in HK)
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
Is that cakculation correct? From my understanding of the scb infinite card, you earn 2 points per dollar spent so that would be $120k to earn 240k points?
#92
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: CXDM, SQ Gold, SPG, HHonors and Shangri-La
Posts: 551
from my research (as of a few months ago), if I remember right, SCB Visa Infinite is the only card I found that gives HKD 6 = 1 mile consistently for all local spendings, including internet bill payment (which most gives HKD 12/15 = 1 mile only, or even nothing - I think Citibank?), Octopus AAVS (most cards also only give HKD 12/15 = 1 mile), and payment by instalment (all other cards would just "secretly" give you normal HKD 12/15 = 1 mile only, in some small fonts in the T&C for instalment).
but, the key downside with SCB is the conversion fee, with no cap.
(in fact, my "analysis/findings" were actually posted here in some thread as well if I remember right...)
but, the key downside with SCB is the conversion fee, with no cap.
(in fact, my "analysis/findings" were actually posted here in some thread as well if I remember right...)
I treat it as an option to "buy" the miles at super low price. I always accumulate 240K points before I convert them into miles.
So effectively I am doing 40K HKD Transaction + HKD 200 to get 20K miles
Alternatively, if you use CX Amex / DBS Amex / DBS Plat, for 40K HKD transaction you get 10K miles
so effectively you pay HKD 100 for 10K miles, which works out way cheaper than what AM charge you.
Miles are the one that you cannot buy cheap so I am OK with it ....
So effectively I am doing 40K HKD Transaction + HKD 200 to get 20K miles
Alternatively, if you use CX Amex / DBS Amex / DBS Plat, for 40K HKD transaction you get 10K miles
so effectively you pay HKD 100 for 10K miles, which works out way cheaper than what AM charge you.
Miles are the one that you cannot buy cheap so I am OK with it ....
#93
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BA Gold, JGC Sapphire, OZ Diamond, AF Silver, CX GR, Marriott Lifetime SL
Posts: 3,598
Actually I have a mis-calc in my reply, which should work out, regardless it means 10K miles for 200 HKD when you do similar spending pattern
For 2 point per HKD local transaction, I suggest you to skip all the trouble to go straight ahead with DBS amex which gives you the same at no fee, or when compared with Citibank
SCB Visa Infinite : 120K Spending = 240 K points = 20K miles (+200 HKD)
Citi PremierMiles : 120K Spending = 180 K points = 15K miles
So effectively you are paying 200 HKD for 5K miles ..
Which Asiamiles.com charge you 60 USD / 480 HKD for 2K miles for top-up or
So the maths is quite easy. I will go for the 200 HKD for 5K miles deal if I am using it for long haul upgrade. If I am doing short haul TPE trip in Y I will save my money at bank
For 2 point per HKD local transaction, I suggest you to skip all the trouble to go straight ahead with DBS amex which gives you the same at no fee, or when compared with Citibank
SCB Visa Infinite : 120K Spending = 240 K points = 20K miles (+200 HKD)
Citi PremierMiles : 120K Spending = 180 K points = 15K miles
So effectively you are paying 200 HKD for 5K miles ..
Which Asiamiles.com charge you 60 USD / 480 HKD for 2K miles for top-up or
So the maths is quite easy. I will go for the 200 HKD for 5K miles deal if I am using it for long haul upgrade. If I am doing short haul TPE trip in Y I will save my money at bank
#94
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
Update post-Nov 09: new SCB redemption is $15 spending per mile and $300 fee per conversion with no limit.
So SCB Visa Infinite will now be : 120K Spending = 240 K points = 16K miles (+300 HKD)
So you're only getting 1K for 300 HKD now. Even compared to the CX top-up offer it's not worth it (I never thought the top-up offer was value for money anyway).
So SCB Visa Infinite will now be : 120K Spending = 240 K points = 16K miles (+300 HKD)
So you're only getting 1K for 300 HKD now. Even compared to the CX top-up offer it's not worth it (I never thought the top-up offer was value for money anyway).
#95
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
Update post-Nov 09: new SCB redemption is $15 spending per mile and $300 fee per conversion with no limit.
So SCB Visa Infinite will now be : 120K Spending = 240 K points = 16K miles (+300 HKD)
So you're only getting 1K for 300 HKD now. Even compared to the CX top-up offer it's not worth it (I never thought the top-up offer was value for money anyway).
So SCB Visa Infinite will now be : 120K Spending = 240 K points = 16K miles (+300 HKD)
So you're only getting 1K for 300 HKD now. Even compared to the CX top-up offer it's not worth it (I never thought the top-up offer was value for money anyway).
#96
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
it's been a while, and i'm wondering if anyone has registered for the double miles promotion for SCB
#97
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
OK, now it seems the best is as follows:
Local spend - DBS Amex @ $6 = 1AM (when no Amex, SCB Visa Infinite @ $7.5 = 1AM + $300 fee or Citibank Visa @ $8 = 1AM)
Local dining - DBS Visa / MC @ $4 = 1AM
AAVS - SCB Visa Infinite @ $7.5 = 1AM + $300 fee or Citibank Visa @ $8 = 1AM
Foreign spend - SCB Amex @ $2.5 = 1AM + $300 fee, with c.2.5-3.5% currency conversion charges for non USD and c.2% conversion charges if USD (when no Amex, DBS Visa / MC @ $4 = 1AM, with c.2% conversion charges)
I think that is correct, obviously let me know if my numbers are off, or I've got the wrong cards.
#98
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
I had a negative points bank at the end of the promotion cos I reversed a pre-promotion transaction during the promotion.
SCB said they will not credit bonus miles to a negative points bank; however, they gave me until 15 April to make good the points bank. I'm almost done (I do have a grudge with them having to make good the points bank in such a short period of time).
I'm waiting for the notification letter (per clause 7 of promotion T&C) to register my AM number (even though the registration site is already up up). Has anyone received that letter?
#99
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 93
I just noticed Bank of Communications has a VISA card with Asia Miles, anyone got this? Never used them before so if anyone has any feedback on them that would be great.
#100
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ PPS, OZ Gold, Marriott Titanium & lifetime Platinum, IHG Diamond
Posts: 174
There had always been promotion on this card too! Last time in Nov - Dec 2009, there was a 5x bonus points promotion so effectively you are earning HK$2.4 = 1 mile. ^^^
#101
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
There is currently a promotion for the Bank of Communications Visa Platinum card. You will earn 3x bonus points on every retail purchase, so effectively HK$4 = 1 miles.
There had always been promotion on this card too! Last time in Nov - Dec 2009, there was a 5x bonus points promotion so effectively you are earning HK$2.4 = 1 mile. ^^^
There had always been promotion on this card too! Last time in Nov - Dec 2009, there was a 5x bonus points promotion so effectively you are earning HK$2.4 = 1 mile. ^^^
They had quite a few promotions since I signed up - a double miles promotion in Sep-Oct 09, the 3X-5X promotion in Mid Nov-Dec 09 and now the 3X promotion from mid-Feb to mid-Mar.
It's been a good card to use so far for promotions. Their T&C are relatively straightforward (unlike SCB's...) and they exclude few items. They didn't even exclude online bill payment for the last two promotions (***but they wised up and are excluding it for the current does exclude***).
However their infrastructure is a bit behind:
1. have to go to branch to get the card
2. internet banking must be set up at the branch. Maybe they'll allow you to set up internet banking at the same time as your card pick-up; however, I wasn't aware of that when I signed up so I took two trips.
3. Unless you have a banking account with Bankcomm (i.e. a normal deposit account), your internet login username is your credit number. They won't let you copy and paste the whole number.
4. Magstripe card still - they still don't have chip cards (but all Amex cards are magstripe - and no one's whinged about that, so maybe it's not a real whinge).
5. (Maybe as a result of (4)) All me and my friends' Bankcomm cards have one year validity only
6. Their customer service hotline is the worst-manned in HK -I've been held for 45 mins without being answered.
6a. There's no lost card emergency option in the hotline to connect you to an operator straight away.
#102
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
Their "normal" offer is pretty standard - $12:1 mile.
No conversion fees until 31 Mar, and $20 flat fee per conversion thereafter (that's right, twenty, not three hundred that SCB/HSBC charges).
But with the promotions, they beat even the DBS Black/DBS Platinum/Citi Premiermiles "combo" above. The Bankcomm is best for paying everything - both dining and non-dining Visa, and all AE spending.
Now that there's a promotion, my wallet's gotten so much lighter as I can put the "combo" away.
No conversion fees until 31 Mar, and $20 flat fee per conversion thereafter (that's right, twenty, not three hundred that SCB/HSBC charges).
But with the promotions, they beat even the DBS Black/DBS Platinum/Citi Premiermiles "combo" above. The Bankcomm is best for paying everything - both dining and non-dining Visa, and all AE spending.
Now that there's a promotion, my wallet's gotten so much lighter as I can put the "combo" away.
#103
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: American Express Centurion
Posts: 131
Their "normal" offer is pretty standard - $12:1 mile.
No conversion fees until 31 Mar, and $20 flat fee per conversion thereafter (that's right, twenty, not three hundred that SCB/HSBC charges).
But with the promotions, they beat even the DBS Black/DBS Platinum/Citi Premiermiles "combo" above. The Bankcomm is best for paying everything - both dining and non-dining Visa, and all AE spending.
Now that there's a promotion, my wallet's gotten so much lighter as I can put the "combo" away.
No conversion fees until 31 Mar, and $20 flat fee per conversion thereafter (that's right, twenty, not three hundred that SCB/HSBC charges).
But with the promotions, they beat even the DBS Black/DBS Platinum/Citi Premiermiles "combo" above. The Bankcomm is best for paying everything - both dining and non-dining Visa, and all AE spending.
Now that there's a promotion, my wallet's gotten so much lighter as I can put the "combo" away.
Percysmith: Do you still find your Bankcomm Visa is the best for paying everything? What promotions do they have now?
#104
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
Any update to this thread? I notice that CX has a number of credit card tie-ins with numerous credit card issuers - both big and small. Are there any lucrative sign up bonuses or ongoing promotions at the moment w/ any of these banks? Are the popular issuers like AE, DBS, and Bankcomm still the most attractive?
Percysmith: Do you still find your Bankcomm Visa is the best for paying everything? What promotions do they have now?
Percysmith: Do you still find your Bankcomm Visa is the best for paying everything? What promotions do they have now?
(I am risking potential FT treason here but) I've been going for a Bank of East Asia 4% cash back offer of late: http://www.hongkongcard.com/discussi...8&bank_id=0008. My threshhold is only HK$1,500 and I get 4% plus normal points on any spending over that in "eligible categories" (which includes dining, supermarket, department store, non-HKD - this covers most of my spending except medical!).
I'm also going for the Fubon "Sure Win Spending Rewards" if the transaction is slightly above $500 cos I get 2X normal points + a min 2,000 point one-off reward (meaning a $500 transaction in any category would guarantee 250 miles http://www.fubonbank.com.hk/web/html...isald01_e.html). But only if the transaction is between $500-$600 is the Fubon offer better than the BEA offer.
#105
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
Not sacrilege as far as I am concerned - I'm definitely open to cashback/rebate offers as well - 4% is pretty good - I wish I'd seen that earlier. Although I am loath to have more than about 4 credit cards in my wallet.
I'm waiting to see if Citibank will waive my annual fee when it becomes due shortly on the PremierMiles card - if not them I'll be looking for a new Visa card. Regrettably the BEA offer closes about the time I'll find out. Is anyone aware of any Visa cards with good offers (cash or miles) which run to, say, the end of 2010?
I'm waiting to see if Citibank will waive my annual fee when it becomes due shortly on the PremierMiles card - if not them I'll be looking for a new Visa card. Regrettably the BEA offer closes about the time I'll find out. Is anyone aware of any Visa cards with good offers (cash or miles) which run to, say, the end of 2010?