CX to Cut AMEX [confirmed], SCB Cards; New Replacement Bank TBD
Apr 14, 2020, 4:00 am
#16
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Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
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Based on HongKongCard's database, Dah Sing has the most airline co-brand card partners - BA, NH, and UA. When Dah Sing can get that many, there is something that Dah Sing has been doing right to attract many.
The chance with HSBC HK is very slim, given that HSBC HK has not been able to obtain an airline co-brand card partner since UA has left decades ago.
Also, credit card partners are location-specific. So just because HSBC Taiwan may have a better relationship with CX does not mean CX will have to pick HSBC HK. Specifically, in Canada and the U.S., CX co-brand cards are not issued by both AMEX and HSBC, but RBC and Synchrony Bank respectively.
Apr 14, 2020, 4:05 am
#17
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
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In fact the Citi-CX co-brand link is not taken down yet in Taiwan apparently: https://www.citibank.com.tw/TWGCB/AP.../cc_cpvisa.htm
Apr 14, 2020, 4:15 am
#18
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: CX Life Time,TG,
Posts: 265
If my memory is correct, way back in the mists of history HSBC owned 30% of CX.
Apr 14, 2020, 4:27 am
#19
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Umm I first heard of this card in early 2000s in Taiwan. I was underage then. Not too sure when it was introduced in Taiwan, although I know in Hong Kong it was in circulation even when Citi was still called 萬國寶通 instead of 花旗銀行 (the current Chinese name), and the name change happened in 2002. ĐÂŔËÍř_Éú»îżŐĽä_ĐÂÎű¨µŔ indicates the card was around already in 1999. Is it possible the card predated Asia Miles and was linked to Passages before?
In fact the Citi-CX co-brand link is not taken down yet in Taiwan apparently: https://www.citibank.com.tw/TWGCB/AP.../cc_cpvisa.htm
In fact the Citi-CX co-brand link is not taken down yet in Taiwan apparently: https://www.citibank.com.tw/TWGCB/AP.../cc_cpvisa.htm
Apr 14, 2020, 4:27 am
#20
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,775
2004
SG: May https://www.citibank.com.sg/global_d.../pr/060504.pdf
HK: same or at least no later than Nov https://www.citibank.com.hk/global_docs/pdf/CX_Form.pdf
SG: May https://www.citibank.com.sg/global_d.../pr/060504.pdf
HK: same or at least no later than Nov https://www.citibank.com.hk/global_docs/pdf/CX_Form.pdf
Apr 14, 2020, 4:30 am
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,342
My guess is Dah Sing.
Based on HongKongCard's database, Dah Sing has the most airline co-brand card partners - BA, NH, and UA. When Dah Sing can get that many, there is something that Dah Sing has been doing right to attract many.
The chance with HSBC HK is very slim, given that HSBC HK has not been able to obtain an airline co-brand card partner since UA has left decades ago.
Also, credit card partners are location-specific. So just because HSBC Taiwan may have a better relationship with CX does not mean CX will have to pick HSBC HK. Specifically, in Canada and the U.S., CX co-brand cards are not issued by both AMEX and HSBC, but RBC and Synchrony Bank respectively.
Based on HongKongCard's database, Dah Sing has the most airline co-brand card partners - BA, NH, and UA. When Dah Sing can get that many, there is something that Dah Sing has been doing right to attract many.
The chance with HSBC HK is very slim, given that HSBC HK has not been able to obtain an airline co-brand card partner since UA has left decades ago.
Also, credit card partners are location-specific. So just because HSBC Taiwan may have a better relationship with CX does not mean CX will have to pick HSBC HK. Specifically, in Canada and the U.S., CX co-brand cards are not issued by both AMEX and HSBC, but RBC and Synchrony Bank respectively.
Apr 14, 2020, 6:14 am
#22
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
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Posts: 19,775
Dah Sing would desperately need this to boost their business. They have been suffering for years now, and with the introduction of virtual banks it looks like their days are numbered. Cornering the market for airline co-branded cards would certainly be a nice niche to have, whether to survive / expand or to sell off to another buyer.
Apr 14, 2020, 6:29 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: AAdvantage Asia Miles Air China
Posts: 870
BOAC/BA owned I think it was 15% of Cathay Pacific but sold it to Swires in the early 1980s when John King was asked by Maggie to prepare BA for flotation. When CX went public this was essentially the shares they used.
Jardines and BA/BOAC have had a relationship going back to the 1920s, and when Swires took over the old Hong Kong Airways which BOAC had a stake in, they got 15% in CX in return. Also thats how Jardines became a shareholder in HAECO.
Apr 14, 2020, 7:12 am
#24
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Beside, if Dah Sing is really bad for airlines, UA will definitely jump ship. Instead, UA and Dah Sing has a product refresh and get the distance closer to Chase UA Explorer. If you tell me that Dah Sing is not good in this, I don’t believe Dah Sing can score 3 major airlines for its Hong Kong market.
Apr 14, 2020, 7:13 am
#25
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,342
I have no idea about Dah Sing as I've actually never used any of their products or services. But they seem out of place in HK, as one of the last family-owned banks, and has no real positioning or market niche... if they score CX / AM, it would be a massive boost to them.
Apr 14, 2020, 8:04 am
#26
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
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Like most BAEC members in HK, I use BA Dah Sing cc and quite happy with it. Maybe security is a bit on the lax side.
Apr 14, 2020, 8:06 am
#27
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,775
Beside, if Dah Sing is really bad for airlines, UA will definitely jump ship. Instead, UA and Dah Sing has a product refresh and get the distance closer to Chase UA Explorer. If you tell me that Dah Sing is not good in this, I don’t believe Dah Sing can score 3 major airlines for its Hong Kong market.
Last edited by percysmith; Apr 14, 2020 at 8:13 am
Apr 14, 2020, 8:08 am
#28
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
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I've better ways to redeem Avios (namely, redeem them off HSBC when they have 20-50% bonuses).
But I can't burn that many as the only use for them is to redeem short-haul non-HKG partner segments like MEL-HBA, ZQN-SYD or MAD-LHR (then burn AM for long haul to/from HKG)
Apr 14, 2020, 9:20 am
#29
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Gold, QF Bronze
Posts: 735
how about BEA, Hang Seng?
Apr 14, 2020, 9:57 am
#30
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 946
If this is true, and if it's an existing player, BEA or Hang Seng make sense to me. A CX/Asia Miles product could help create buzz when the new virtual banks are otherwise sucking up the air in retail banking (to the extent that anyone in the real world cares about this). Alternatively, one of the new virtual banks could also be logical.
On the other hand, this could all just be wrong or it could just be a negotiating ploy by CX. I'll keep watching this space
On the other hand, this could all just be wrong or it could just be a negotiating ploy by CX. I'll keep watching this space