Moving to Germany: M&M credit card or Payback?
Jan 2, 2019, 11:13 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: Avis - PP, Bonvoy - Plat, BA - Bro, Hilton - Dia, Miles&More - FTL, Skywards - Sil, Sixt - Plat
Posts: 258
This is quite a fascinating thread... I moved to Germany, have an Amex Plat, and am looking for a card for use when Amex isn't accepted. Either one of the PayBack Visas, or the Lufthansa Miles and More card, all look ideal for this.
Because of already having the Amex, I am leaning towards one of the PayBack Visas purely because of cost, but maybe the LH card does deserve a closer look?
Because of already having the Amex, I am leaning towards one of the PayBack Visas purely because of cost, but maybe the LH card does deserve a closer look?
Jan 3, 2019, 3:59 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between DM464 and DM463 on the NAPSA26 RNAV TRANS in EDDM
Programs: this and that
Posts: 1,731
This is quite a fascinating thread... I moved to Germany, have an Amex Plat, and am looking for a card for use when Amex isn't accepted. Either one of the PayBack Visas, or the Lufthansa Miles and More card, all look ideal for this.
Because of already having the Amex, I am leaning towards one of the PayBack Visas purely because of cost, but maybe the LH card does deserve a closer look?
Because of already having the Amex, I am leaning towards one of the PayBack Visas purely because of cost, but maybe the LH card does deserve a closer look?
Jan 3, 2019, 5:23 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: Avis - PP, Bonvoy - Plat, BA - Bro, Hilton - Dia, Miles&More - FTL, Skywards - Sil, Sixt - Plat
Posts: 258
I notice that the LH M&M business card has a 1:1 point/euro ratio rather than the 1:2 of the private card, but am guessing that the applicant has to prove they are a business (full time employee here so I can’t apply for this). This still lags behind the UK BA and Belgian M&M Amex cards with their 1.5:1 ratio though.
Jan 4, 2019, 1:35 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Singapore
Programs: OZ Diamond, BAEC Silver, Marriott Platinum, HH Gold
Posts: 515
I have a Payback visa credit card. Earning rates are not great to be honest, but I use it in Germany in places where I can't pay with amex and so as to actually earn any points (as opposed to have to resort to the boring ec karte). Similarly, this payback card gives you free cash withdrawals in EUR anywhere in Germany in VISA-geldautomaten i.e. virtually all the major banks. I like this feature. Otherwise the card is not too exciting.
Jan 5, 2019, 12:23 pm
#20
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: Avis - PP, Bonvoy - Plat, BA - Bro, Hilton - Dia, Miles&More - FTL, Skywards - Sil, Sixt - Plat
Posts: 258
This is exactly what I am looking for, a points-earning backup card for when Amex isn't accepted ^
Jan 6, 2019, 6:56 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: Avis - PP, Bonvoy - Plat, BA - Bro, Hilton - Dia, Miles&More - FTL, Skywards - Sil, Sixt - Plat
Posts: 258
Just seen there is a UK M&M charge card recently introduced that has 1.25 M&M miles per £1. As I still have a UK address, that's more tempting than 1 point per 2€...
Jan 7, 2019, 7:56 am
#22
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
The downside is that it's Diners Club so there are acceptance issues. The other thing is that the Mastercard that runs alongside it is technically a prepaid version, so you can't use it in Curve or petrol stations or Revolut top-up, etc.
Jan 7, 2019, 10:46 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: Avis - PP, Bonvoy - Plat, BA - Bro, Hilton - Dia, Miles&More - FTL, Skywards - Sil, Sixt - Plat
Posts: 258
But then I think Curve works with Revolut, which is also a top-up card, so maybe the LH UKMC companion card will eventually work with Curve...That's this card shot down for now though. I guess that before moving to Germany, I was spoiled by the redemption value of Avios coupled with the BA Amex paying 1.5 Amex per pound
I still can't believe that in their home country, it's a paltry 1 point per 2 Euro (compared with other Lufthansa Group countries like the Brussels Air Miles and More card paying 1.5 points per Euro) plus for example to fly FRA-LHR/LCY is a much higher MM point outlay than 7500-9000 Avios.
Last edited by Mackle; Jan 8, 2019 at 10:49 pm