DBS Black World Mastercard and American Express Explorer are the top players when it comes to travelling credit cards. But which travelling credit card does a better job earning miles, having lower fees for miles redemption, and unexpectedly generous travel perks?
We’re going to find out all these in the following blog post!
Table of contents: DBS Black World Mastercard vs Amex Explorer
- DBS Black World Mastercard vs Amex Explorer: Overview
- DBS Black World Mastercard VS Amex Explorer Credit Card: Miles earning rate
- DBS Black World Mastercard VS Amex Explorer Credit Card: Earning category
- DBS Black World Mastercard VS Amex Explorer: Welcome offers
- DBS Black World Mastercard VS Amex Explorer: Perks
- DBS Black World Mastercard VS Amex Explorer: Income requirement
- Which one should you apply for? DBS Black Mastercard VS Amex Explorer
- Frequently asked questions: DBS Black Mastercard VS Amex Explorer
- Related Articles
DBS Black World Mastercard vs Amex Explorer: Overview
The DBS Black World Mastercard is a widely used credit card that is great for earning air miles.
With this card, you can earn HK$4/mile for overseas spending and HK$6/mile for local spending throughout the year. Plus, if you sign up for DBS Card+, you can enjoy an even lower rate of HK$3/mile and access fantastic travel benefits around the world!
| DBS Black World Mastercard—Is it money smart? | ||
| Overall: ★★★☆☆ | ||
| Best for: Earning miles | ||
| Category | Our rating | Explanation |
| Earn rates: air miles & cashback | ★★★☆☆ | – HK$4/mile for overseas spending and HK$6/mile for local spending |
| Earn categories | ★★★☆☆ | – Mostly the card is used for earning miles. |
| Annual fees and charges | ★★☆☆☆ | – First year annual fee waiver of HK$3,600 |
| Accessibility | ★★★☆☆ | – Annual income requirement of HK$240,000 |
| Extras/periphery rewards | ★★★★☆ | – Up to 12% Off Hotel Booking Offer from Expedia.com.hk/
– 10% Off on Hotels.com |
| Welcome offer | ★★★★☆ | – Up to 42,000 miles as a welcome offer |
The American Express Explorer Credit Card is another highly regarded Amex credit card available in the market. With its attractive features, such as a low air mile conversion rate of HK$3/mile and additional travel benefits, the Amex Explorer is widely recognised as one of the leading credit cards for travellers.
| Amex Explorer—Is it money smart? | ||
| Overall: ★★★☆☆ | ||
| Best for: Earning miles | ||
| Category | Our rating | Explanation |
| Earn rates: air miles & cashback | ★★★☆☆ | – HK$3.6/mile on designated online platforms
– HK$4.8/mile for overseas spending – HK$6/mile for local spending |
| Earn categories | ★★★☆☆ | – Mostly the card is used for earning miles. |
| Annual fees and charges | ★★☆☆☆ | – First year annual fee waiver of HK$1,800 |
| Accessibility | ★★★☆☆ | – Annual income requirement of HK$300,000 |
| Extras/periphery rewards | ★★★★☆ | – 8 complimentary access to Plaza Premium Lounge worldwide for both primary and additional Cardmembers
– No mileage conversion fee – 1 year of extra warranty – 10% savings on 4DX, 3D, 2D and IMAX regular priced movie tickets at Broadway Circuit |
| Welcome offer | ★★★★☆ | – Up to 71,000 miles under the overseas spending rate of HK$2/mile as a welcome offer |
DBS Black World Mastercard VS Amex Explorer Credit Card: Miles earning rate
Let’s start with the core feature of the comparison: the mileage earning rate.
DBS Black Word Mastercard: As low as HK$4/mile
The DBS Black World Mastercard is a popular credit card for earning air miles. With regular rates of HK$4/mile for overseas spending and HK$6/mile for local spending, registering successfully in DBS Card+ gives you a reduced rate of HK$3/mile and amazing travel benefits worldwide!
Amex Explorer Credit Card: As low as HK$3.6/mile on designated online platforms
If you plan to apply for an Amex card, it is important to familiarise yourself with their reward points system called “American Express Membership Rewards®” (referred to as AE points). Once you have earned AE points, you can redeem them for miles at a rate of 18,000 points for 1,000 miles.
Here is the table that shows the miles earning rate:
| Category | Point Earning Rate | Miles Earning Rate |
| Eligible local transactions | 3X points | HK$6/mile |
| Eligible foreign currency transactions | 3.75X points | HK$4.8/mile |
| Eligible transactions on designated merchant platforms | 5X points | HK$3.6/mile |
| Based on the exchange rate of December 2023, the conversion rate is 18 points to 1 mile. |
5X Amex points eligible merchants
For every HK$1 spent on designated online platforms, food delivery, and entertainment platforms, you can earn 5 American Express Membership Rewards points.
- Designated platforms include Amazon, Apple, Deliveroo, Foodpanda, Netflix, and more.
- Designated travel platforms include Expedia, Hotels.com, and Trip.com.
- Designated airlines: CX, BA, ANA, FINNAIR, HK Airlines, and Japan Airlines.
- Registration is required, with a limit of 90,000 additional points per quarter.
3.75X Amex points eligible merchants
When you spend HK$1 locally, you can earn 3X points (HK$6/mile). For every HK$1 spent on eligible foreign currency transactions, you can earn 3.75X points.
Who wins in the mile redemption rate? Amex Explorer Credit Card has a lower rate on selected merchants
The Amer Explorer Credit Card offers a lower miles redemption rate of up to HK$3.6/mile, while the DBS Black World Mastercard has a rate of HK$3/mile when you register on the DBS Card+ App.
So, the DBS Black World Card wins this round!
DBS Black World Mastercard VS Amex Explorer Credit Card: Earning category
Just because you have a low earning rate doesn’t necessarily mean that earning miles is easy. This is because the low rate may only apply to selected merchant categories. Therefore, it is better to compare the earning categories.
The DBS Black World Mastercard offers a low rate on local dining, overseas spending, and online shopping, while the Amex Explorer Credit Card offers a low rate on local spending, overseas spending, and selected travel agents.
Who wins this round: Mile earning categories
The Amex Explorer Credit Card offers extra travel spending categories compared to the DBS Black World Mastercard.
DBS Black World Mastercard VS Amex Explorer: Welcome offers
DBS Black World Mastercard: Welcome offer up to 42,000 miles
New customers who apply for the DBS Black World Mastercard by April 2, 2024, can enjoy the following welcome offer:
- First-year annual fee waiver
- Up to 42,000 miles and/or HK$50 InstaRedeem Discount upon spending with the new card in the first 3 months
- Activation of the DBS Card+ account and a physical New Card are required within the first month.
| Spending Requirement | Miles Reward |
| Total eligible spending: HK$8,000 | 8,000 miles (i.e., DBS$384) |
| Total eligible spending: HK$20,000 | 12,000 miles (i.e., DBS $576) |
| Total eligible spending: HK$80,000 | 40,000 miles (i.e., DBS$1,920) |
| Accumulate an Octopus Automatic Add-Value transaction of HK$1,000+ or apply for Flexi Shopping (any amount) with 12+ monthly instalments via the New Card within 3 months of issuance. | Extra 2,000 miles (i.e., DBS$96) |
Amex Explorer: Welcome offer up to 71,000 miles
AE Explorer welcomes new members with a generous mileage offer! You can earn up to 71,000 miles simply if you do not hold any AE Explorer card within the past 12 months!
Amex Explorer Welcome offer
- Welcome spending rewards: Earn 18,000 American Express points, equivalent to 7,000 air miles (HK$1/mile), by spending a total of HK$7,000 within the first 3 months.
- Local spending rewards: Earn up to 432,000 American Express points, equivalent to 24,000 air miles (HK$4.5/mile), by spending within the first 3 months. (HK$1=4 points)
- Overseas spending rewards: Earn up to 720,000 American Express points, equivalent to 40,000 air miles (HK$2/mile), by spending within the first 3 months. (HK$1=9 points)
| Spending Category | Points | Welcome Spending Rewards | Equivalent Air Miles | Mileage Rate |
| All Types of Spending | 18,000 points | Earned by spending HK$7,000 within the first 3 months | 7,000 miles | HK$1/mile |
| Local Spending | Up to 432,000 points | Earned by spending within the first 3 months | 24,000 miles | HK$4.5/mile (HK$1=4 points) |
| Overseas Spending | Up to 720,000 points | Earned by spending within the first 3 months | 40,000 miles | HK$2/mile (HK$1=9 points) |
You can earn up to 71,000 air miles during the welcome period. If you spend a lot during this time, you can earn miles quickly and have enough for 2 round trips to Japan or 1 round trip to Europe.
Who wins this round?
DBS Black World Mastercard wins this round with lower required spending to be eligible for the welcome offer.
| Credit Card | Minimum Spending | Welcome Offer | Spending/Welcome Offer Miles |
| Amex Explorer Credit Card | HK$96,000 on local spending and HK$80,000 (total: HK$176,000) | Up to 71,000 miles | HK$1.35/mile |
| DBS Black World Mastercard | HK$80,000 | Up to 40,000 miles | HK$2/mile |
DBS Black World Mastercard VS Amex Explorer: Perks
When it comes to perks, both cards have amazing travel perks.
DBS Black World Mastercard: DBS$ travel perks
You can receive a maximum discount of 12% on your upcoming hotel reservation at Expedia and enjoy an exclusive 10% off when you make a booking through Hotels.com.
As a cardholder, you have the option to redeem your DBS$ for air tickets and hotel accommodations on iGO Rewards. Additionally, you have access to travel deals on well-known websites such as Agoda and Klook, among others.
Amex Explorer: 8 complimentary access to Plaza Premium Lounge
The Amex Explorer main card and supplementary card members are entitled to a total of 8 free entries to the Plaza Premium Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport each year.
Complimentary travel insurance is included
Moreover, when you make full payment for your international travel expenses using the American Express Explorer Credit Card, you have the opportunity to receive travel accident coverage of up to HK$3,500,000 and travel delay coverage of up to HK$10,000 per year.
Extra shopping insurance for Apple products
More than that, the AE Explorer Credit Card offers an indirect extended warranty on Apple products (including the iPhone, iPad, etc.). Why do we call it indirect? It’s because Apple is not the one providing the warranty extension. Instead, if any issues arise in the second year, cardholders can claim the repair fees from Chubb (the insurance provider that AE has purchased shopping insurance from).
Who wins? The Amex Explorer Credit Credit Card has more travel perks
Amex Explorer Credit Card offers additional perks such as 8 complimentary access to Plaza Premium Lounge worldwide for both primary and additional card members, no miles conversion fee, and complimentary travel insurance.
Not to mention the shopping protection and the 10% discount for Broadway cinema. These perks make it a more attractive option for frequent travellers looking for extra benefits beyond earning miles.
DBS Black World Mastercard VS Amex Explorer: Income requirement
DBS Black World Mastercard fees and annual income requirement
- To qualify for the DBS Black World Mastercard, applicants should have a minimum annual income of HK$240,000.
- Additionally, there is an annual fee of HK$3,600, but the fee for the first year is waived.
AE Explorer membership fees and annual income requirement
- Annual Salary Requirement: HK$300,000/year (average monthly income of HK$25,000)
- Membership fee of HK$1,800; however, the first-year fee is waived.
Who wins? The DSB Black World Master has a more welcoming income requirement
The DBS Black World Mastercard has a lower income requirement, but it comes with a higher annual fee requirement. If you are seeking a credit card with a more flexible income requirement, then consider the DBS Black World Mastercard.
Which one should you apply for? DBS Black Mastercard VS Amex Explorer
Based on the comparison between the DBS Black World Mastercard and Amex Explorer, both credit cards are suitable for earning miles. However, the DBS Black World Mastercard offers a higher welcome offer of up to 42,000 miles compared to the Amex Explorer’s offer of up to 71,000 miles. Additionally, the DBS Black World Mastercard has a lower minimum spending requirement of HK$80,000, while the Amex Explorer requires a minimum spending requirement of HK$96,000 on local spending and HK$80,000 for a total of HK$176,000.
Frequently asked questions: DBS Black Mastercard VS Amex Explorer
What is the minimum annual income requirement for the DBS Black World Mastercard and Amex Explorer?
The minimum annual income requirement for the DBS Black World Mastercard is HK$240,000. The minimum annual income requirement for the Amex Explorer is HK$300,000.
What are the earn rates for air miles and cashback for the DBS Black World Mastercard and Amex Explorer?
For DBS Black World Mastercard:
- HK$4/mile for overseas spending.
- HK$6/mile for local spending.
For Amex Explorer:
- HK$3.6/mile on designated online platforms.
- HK$4.8/mile for overseas spending.
- HK$6/mile for local spending.
Are there any annual fees for the DBS Black World Mastercard and Amex Explorer?
DBS Black World Mastercard offers a first-year annual fee waiver of HK$3,600. While Amex Explorer offers a first-year annual fee waiver of HK$1,800,.
Do DBS Black World Mastercard and Amex Explorer offer any extra rewards or benefits?
DBS Black World Mastercard:
- Up to 12% off hotel bookings from Expedia.com.hk/
- 10% off on hotel bookings from Hotels.com/
Amex Explorer:
- 8 complimentary access to Plaza Premium Lounge worldwide for both primary and additional card members.
- There is no mileage conversion fee.
- 1 year extra warranty.
- 10% savings on movie tickets at Broadway Circuit.
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