Greetings, fellow finance aficionados and jet-setters! With the world opening up once again, it’s time to dust off your suitcases and dream about new adventures. And what’s a savvy traveller’s best mate? You guessed it – the right travel credit card. In this head-to-head credit card comparison, we’re sizing up the Standard Chartered (SCB) Cathay Mastercard and the DBS Black World Mastercard. Ready? Set. Go!
Table of contents: SCB Cathay Mastercard vs. DBS Black World Mastercard
- Welcome offer comparison – make an entrance that counts
- Miles reward comparison – every spend counts
- Perks and discount comparison – more than just miles
- Who’s the ultimate travel credit card champion?
- Frequently Asked Questions: SCB Cathay Mastercard vs. DBS Black World Mastercard
- Related articles
Welcome offers comparison – make an entrance that counts
Nothing says “welcome aboard” like a hearty sign-up bonus. These initial offers can inflate your miles balance and may often decide which card makes it into your pocket.
With the Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard (SCB CX Card), new cardholders can strap in with an impressive 60,000 Asia Miles and enjoy a first-year annual fee waiver worth HK$2,000. Additionally, exclusive perks await if you weave your way through MoneySmart: extra HK$700 PARKnSHOP grocery vouchers, a glittering HK$700 Apple Store Gift Card, HK$700 Uber voucher, or even a sleek Apple HomePod mini (worth HK$749). Impressed? Hang on; this offer stands until December 21, 2023.
- Miles Conversion(Eligible spending on Cathay and HK Express)
- HK$2=1 mile
- Miles Conversion (Eligible spending on dining, online and overseas category)
- HK$4 = 1 mile
- Bank Welcome Offer
- 60,000 miles
【Free BRUNO Oval Hot Plate!】From now until 30 April 2024, new Cardholders who successfully apply for for Standard Chartered Cathy Mastercard now via MoneySmart to get BRUNO BOE053-BGY Oval hot plate (Value: $1,598) or $900 ParkNshop vouchers / $900 Apple store gift card / AirSim sim card with $900 value!
In contrast, the DBS Black World Mastercard rolls out a still respectable 42,000 miles. The first-year annual fee waiver of HK$3,600 is certainly more, but the folks at DBS clearly believe in the concept of more the merrier. Apply via MoneySmart and take home an additional HK$500 Apple Store Gift Card, Klook Voucher, or PARKnSHOP Supermarket Voucher, valid until December 31, 2023.
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- Welcome Offer
- Up to 42,000 miles
- Upon meeting local and overseas spending goal*
- HK$3/mile
- Miles Conversion (overseas spend)
- HK$4/mile
【Quick! Apply Today for Exclusive HomePod mini!】From now until 30 April 2024, customers who successfully apply for DBS Blackworld Mastercard via MoneySmart, can enjoy a HomePod mini (retail price: HK$749) or HK$500 Apple Store Gift Card/ Klook Voucher/ PARKnSHOP Supermarket Voucher! You can also earn the bank welcome offer of up to 42,000 miles at the same time!
Who wins? The edge goes to the SCB CX Card for its higher welcome offer and a more lavish annual fee waiver.
Miles reward comparison – every spend counts
If you’re always on the lookout for the best airfare prices, why not bag the best conversion for every dollar you spend?
The Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard boasts a conversion rate of HK$2 to 1 Asia Mile on Cathay and HK Express. And that’s not all! Dining, food delivery platforms, online, and overseas spending turn every HK$4 into 1 Asia Miles while categories yield a rate of HK$6 to 1 Asia Mile—an automatic credit into the cardholder’s Asia Miles account without any conversion fee or minimum. Now, that’s what we call seamless!
On the other hand, the DBS Black World Mastercard pairs every HK$4 spent overseas with 1 mile and every HK$6 spent locally with 1 mile. The flexibility of redeeming points such as Asia Miles, Avios, KrisFlyer, and more is a nice touch. And did we mention these points never expire? It’s hard to beat the sweet whisper of immortality!
Who wins? For Asia Miles, the Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard, for its lower conversion rate on particular categories and automatic point conversion, means less hassle for you. For other mileages, DBS Black World Mastercard gives you choices.
Perks and discount comparison – more than just miles
Because what’s better than gaining miles? Gaining discounts, of course!
The Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard boasts a generous 10% discount when redeeming hotel stays, car rentals, travel experiences, or dining awards with Asia Miles. Rack up 20 Cathay Membership Status club points for every HK$100,000 eligible transaction, with an upper limit of 100 club points. Who knew spending could be this rewarding?
Fly with DBS Black World Mastercard, and you could enjoy various travel-related discounts on popular websites such as Agoda, Klook, Expedia, and Hotels.com. A tempting 20% off on InstaRedeem for online and travel merchant spending? Hard to resist!
Who wins? It’s a draw! Both cards pull you in with alluring travel discounts and benefits.
Who’s the ultimate travel credit card champion?
Let’s have the final overview of both travel credit cards:
| Features | Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard | DBS Black World Mastercard |
| Welcome Offers | Up to 60,000 Asia Miles; HK$2,000 annual fee waiver; Apply via MoneySmart for HK$700 PARKnSHOP supermarket vouchers, HK$700 Apple Store Gift Card, HK$700 Uber voucher,, or an Apple HomePod mini (worth HK$749) | Up to 42,000 miles; HK$3,600 annual fee waiver; Apply via MoneySmart for a HK$500 Apple Store Gift Card, Klook voucher, or PARKnSHOP Supermarket voucher |
| Conversion Rates | HK$2 = 1 Asia Mile on Cathay & HK Express; HK$4 = 1 Asia Mile on dining/online/overseas; HK$6 = 1 Asia Miles otherwise | HK$4 = 1 mile on overseas spending; HK$6 = 1 mile on local spending |
| Points Conversion | Automatic conversion to an Asia Miles account, no minimum or conversion fee | Can be redeemed as Asia Miles, Avios, KrisFlyer, etc., with no conversion fee; points never expire |
| Discounts and Perks | 10% discount on Asia Miles redemptions; 20 club points for every HK$100,000 transaction (max. 100 points) | Various discounts on travel websites like Agoda, Klook, Expedia, and Hotels.com; 20% off on InstaRedeem for online and travel merchant spending |
Neck and neck in many comparisons, our two contenders have made this a hard-fought battle. However, the Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard has a slight edge, courtesy of its splendid welcome offers, more favourable spending-to-mile conversion rates, and the ease of automatic mile crediting. So, if you’re looking for a card that elevates your miles game and dials your travel experiences up a notch, Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard should be your new favourite acronym!
Still, the DBS Black World Mastercard holds its own with its evergreen miles and an enticing range of travel discounts. If tailor-made travel perks and flexibility tickle your fancy, the DBS card offers a magnificent bouquet of benefits.
The upshot? Take a spin, match your preferences, and let your credit card take you on a journey you’ve always fantastically imagined. Here’s to high-flying adventures and credit card points economy – may you always find the best card that matches your dreams and the wind beneath your wings!
Frequently Asked Questions: SCB Cathay Mastercard vs. DBS Black World Mastercard
How are miles awarded with the Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard?
The SCB Cathay Mastercard rewards 1 Asia Mile for every HK$2 spent with Cathay and HK Express. Additionally, every HK$4 spent on dining, food delivery platforms, online, and overseas purchases earns you 1 Asia Mile. All other expenses have a conversion rate of HK$6 to 1 Asia Mile.
How does DBS Black World Mastercard reward miles?
For every HK$4 spent overseas, the DBS Black World Mastercard rewards 1 mile. Local spending of HK$6 also equates to 1 mile. Plus, it allows flexibility in redeeming points such as Asia Miles, Avios, and KrisFlyer, among others.
What is a travel credit card?
A travel credit card is a type of credit card that rewards you with points or miles that can be redeemed towards airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, or other travel expenses. The credits accrue as you make specific purchases using the card and can potentially save considerable funds when travelling.
Related articles
There are several credit cards in Hong Kong that offer benefits for travellers. Some popular options include the Citibank PremierMiles Card, HSBC Visa Signature Card, and Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard. These cards typically offer travel rewards such as airline miles, airport lounge access, travel insurance, and discounts on hotel bookings. Learn more about Asia Miles Credit Card!
Airport Lounge Access can surely uplift your travelling experience, go on and check out if you credit card includes this spoiling perk!
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