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Best Air Miles Credit Cards in Hong Kong 2024

Earn more Air Miles with your Credit Card to redeem free flights, flight upgrades and other exclusive travel privileges in Hong Kong with MoneyHero! 

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SPONSORED
Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard

Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard

Airmiles Overseas
$ 4  per mile
info
Airmiles Local Online Shopping
$ 4  per mile
info
Airmiles Dining
$ 4  per mile
info
Annual Fee
HK$ 2,000
info

3 Offers Available

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer
Delsey Eclipse SE 27
Delsey Eclipse SE 27" Expandable Spinner Front-opneing Suitcase (valued at HK$3,680; random color)

+ 4 other gift options

Valid until

02 April 2024

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer (Regardless of Approval Result)
HK$100 Wellcome Shopping Voucher
HK$100 Wellcome Shopping Voucher

Valid until

02 April 2024

Welcome Offer - Up to 60,000 Miles
60,000 Miles
60,000 Miles

Valid until

02 April 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Welcome offer: Air miles

remove

Air miles conversion

remove

Hotel bookings offer

remove

Overseas rebate

SPONSORED
American Express Explorer® Credit Card

American Express Explorer® Credit Card

Airmiles Travel
as low as $ 2  per mile
info
Airmiles Dining
$ 3.6  per mile
info
Airmiles Online Food Delivery
$ 3.6  per mile
info
Airport Lounge Access
8  times
info

2 Offers Available

Welcome Offer 2: Foreign Currencies and Local Spending Bonus
Up to 1,152,000 points (equals to 64,000 Air Miles)
Up to 1,152,000 points (equals to 64,000 Air Miles)

Valid until

31 March 2024

Welcome Offer 1: Up to 7,000 Air Miles
Spend HK$7,000 to enjoy up to 126,000 points (equals to 7,000 Air Miles)
Spend HK$7,000 to enjoy up to 126,000 points (equals to 7,000 Air Miles)

Valid until

31 March 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Conciege Service

check

Airport lounge

check

Travel insurance

check

Purchase protection

SPONSORED
Citi Prestige Card

Citi Prestige Card

Airmiles Overseas
$ 4  per mile
info
Airmiles Local
$ 6  per mile
info
Air Miles Conversion Fee
Waived
Annual Fee
HK$ 3,800

2 Offers Available

MoneyHero Time-Limited Exclusive Offer
DYSON HD15 Supersonic™ hair dryer (valued at HK$3,780; random color)
DYSON HD15 Supersonic™ hair dryer (valued at HK$3,780; random color)

+ 3 other gift options

Valid until

02 April 2024

Extra Welcome Offer
30,000 Miles (360,000 Points)
30,000 Miles (360,000 Points)

Valid until

02 April 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Airport lounge

check

Travel insurance

check

Hotel bookings offer

check

Overseas rebate

Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard

Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard

Annual Fee
HK$ 2,000
info
Airmiles Dining
$ 4  per mile
info
Airmiles Local Online Shopping
$ 4  per mile
info
Airmiles Overseas
$ 4  per mile
info

3 Offers Available

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer
Delsey Eclipse SE 27
Delsey Eclipse SE 27" Expandable Spinner Front-opneing Suitcase (valued at HK$3,680; random color)

+ 4 other gift options

Valid until

02 April 2024

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer (Regardless of Approval Result)
HK$100 Wellcome Shopping Voucher
HK$100 Wellcome Shopping Voucher

Valid until

02 April 2024

Welcome Offer - Up to 60,000 Miles
60,000 Miles
60,000 Miles

Valid until

02 April 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Welcome offer: Air miles

remove

Air miles conversion

remove

Hotel bookings offer

remove

Overseas rebate

Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard - Priority Banking

Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard - Priority Banking

Airmiles Dining
$ 4  per mile
info
Airport Lounge Access
4  times
info
Airmiles Local Online Shopping
$ 4  per mile
info
Airmiles Overseas
$ 4  per mile
info

3 Offers Available

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer
Delsey Eclipse SE 27
Delsey Eclipse SE 27" Expandable Spinner Front-opneing Suitcase (valued at HK$3,680; random color)

+ 4 other gift options

Valid until

02 April 2024

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer (Regardless of Approval Result)
HK$100 Wellcome Shopping Voucher
HK$100 Wellcome Shopping Voucher

Valid until

02 April 2024

Welcome Offer - Up to 80,000 Miles
80,000 miles
80,000 miles

Valid until

03 April 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Welcome offer: Air miles

check

Priority Pass

check

Airport lounge

check

Air miles conversion

Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard - Priority Private

Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard - Priority Private

Cashback Dining
Not Applicable
Cashback Local Online Shopping
Not Applicable
Airmiles Overseas
$ 4  per mile
info
Airport Lounge Access
8  times
info

3 Offers Available

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer
Delsey Eclipse SE 27
Delsey Eclipse SE 27" Expandable Spinner Front-opneing Suitcase (valued at HK$3,680; random color)

+ 4 other gift options

Valid until

02 April 2024

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer (Regardless of Approval Result)
HK$100 Wellcome Shopping Voucher
HK$100 Wellcome Shopping Voucher

Valid until

02 April 2024

Welcome Offer - Up to 100,000 Miles
100,000 miles
100,000 miles

Valid until

03 April 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Welcome offer: Air miles

check

Airport lounge

check

Air ticket rebate

check

Air miles conversion

Citi Prestige Card

Citi Prestige Card

Airmiles Overseas
$ 4  per mile
info
Airmiles Local
$ 6  per mile
info
Air Miles Conversion Fee
Waived
Annual Fee
HK$ 3,800

2 Offers Available

MoneyHero Time-Limited Exclusive Offer
DYSON HD15 Supersonic™ hair dryer (valued at HK$3,780; random color)
DYSON HD15 Supersonic™ hair dryer (valued at HK$3,780; random color)

+ 3 other gift options

Valid until

02 April 2024

Extra Welcome Offer
30,000 Miles (360,000 Points)
30,000 Miles (360,000 Points)

Valid until

02 April 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Airport lounge

check

Travel insurance

check

Hotel bookings offer

check

Overseas rebate

American Express Explorer® Credit Card

American Express Explorer® Credit Card

Airmiles Travel
as low as $ 2  per mile
info
Airmiles Online Food Delivery
$ 3.6  per mile
info
Airport Lounge Access
8  times
info
Airmiles Dining
$ 3.6  per mile
info

2 Offers Available

Welcome Offer 2: Foreign Currencies and Local Spending Bonus
Up to 1,152,000 points (equals to 64,000 Air Miles)
Up to 1,152,000 points (equals to 64,000 Air Miles)

Valid until

31 March 2024

Welcome Offer 1: Up to 7,000 Air Miles
Spend HK$7,000 to enjoy up to 126,000 points (equals to 7,000 Air Miles)
Spend HK$7,000 to enjoy up to 126,000 points (equals to 7,000 Air Miles)

Valid until

31 March 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Conciege Service

check

Airport lounge

check

Travel insurance

check

Purchase protection

DBS Black World Mastercard®

DBS Black World Mastercard®

Annual Fee Waiver
One year
Airport Lounge Access
Yes
info
Airmiles Overseas
$ 4  per mile
Airmiles Local
$ 3  per mile
info

3 Offers Available

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer - HK$500 Wellcome Supermarket Voucher
HK$500 Wellcome Shopping Voucher
HK$500 Wellcome Shopping Voucher

Valid until

02 April 2024

DBS Card+ Extra Welcome Offer
HK$50 InstaRedeem Discount
HK$50 InstaRedeem Discount

Valid until

30 April 2024

DBS Extra Miles Welcome Offer
up to 42,000 Miles
up to 42,000 Miles

Valid until

30 April 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Travel agency offer

check

Welcome offer: Air miles

check

Air miles conversion

check

No expiry air miles

HSBC EveryMile Credit Card

HSBC EveryMile Credit Card

Complimentary Travel Insurance
Yes
info
Airport Lounge Access
6  times
info
Airmiles Overseas
$ 5  per mile
Airmiles Local
$ 5  per mile

3 Offers Available

HSBC Welcome Offer
$800 RewardCash
$800 RewardCash

+ 1 other gift options

Valid until

28 February 2025

Time-limited offer
$300 RewardCash
Extra $300 RewardCash

Valid until

30 April 2024

Extra RewardCash for Cash instalment plan
$200 RewardCash
$200 RewardCash

Valid until

31 July 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Hotel bookings offer

check

Airport lounge

check

Travel agency offer

check

Travel insurance

DBS COMPASS VISA

DBS COMPASS VISA

Cashback Local Online Shopping
3  %
info
Cashback Overseas
0.4  %
info
Cashback Local
1  %
info
Cashback Supermarket
10  %
info

3 Offers Available

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer
HK$200 Wellcome Shopping Voucher
HK$200 Wellcome Shopping Voucher

Valid until

30 April 2024

DBS Card+ Extra Welcome Offer
HK$50 InstaRedeem Discount
HK$50 InstaRedeem Discount

Valid until

30 April 2024

DBS COMPASS VISA Welcome Offer
Up to HK$400 Rewards
Up to HK$400 Rewards

Valid until

30 April 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Supermarket rebate

check

Online shopping rebate

check

Local spending rebate

check

Annual Fee waiver

The Platinum Card®

The Platinum Card®

Min. Annual Income
None
Cashback Local
0.67  %
info
Cashback Overseas
1  %
info
Airmiles Overseas
$ 4.5  per mile
info

Offer Available

MoneyHero Limited-Time Exclusive Offer
LG MD16GQSA1 28L Inverter Smart Dehumidifier with Ionizer (valued at HK$5,190)
LG MD16GQSA1 28L Inverter Smart Dehumidifier with Ionizer (valued at HK$5,190)

+ 3 other gift options

Valid until

02 April 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Travel insurance

check

Dining discount

check

Airport lounge

check

Travel agency offer

Dah Sing United MileagePlus World MasterCard

Dah Sing United MileagePlus World MasterCard

Airmiles Local
HK$ 8  mile
Airmiles Overseas
HK$ 5  mile
info
Airport Lounge Access
1  per quarter
info
Annual Fee Waiver
First 2 years

2 Offers Available

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer
HK$400 Apple Store Gift Card
HK$400 Apple Store Gift Card

+ 1 other gift options

Valid until

30 April 2024

Welcome Offer
5,000 Miles
5,000 Miles

Valid until

31 December 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Mile Conversion

check

Miles Never Expire

check

Complimentary United Club Access

check

First 2 year annual fee waiver

Dah Sing British Airways Platinum Card

Dah Sing British Airways Platinum Card

Airmiles Local
$ 6  per mile
info
Airmiles Overseas
$ 4  per mile
info
Annual Fee
HK$ 1,800
info

2 Offers Available

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer
HK$400 Apple Store Gift Card
HK$400 Apple Store Gift Card

+ 1 other gift options

Valid until

30 April 2024

Welcome Offer
Up to 20,000 Avios airmiles
Up to 20,000 Avios airmiles

Valid until

06 April 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Airmiles Local

check

Airmiles Overseas

check

First 2 year annual fee waiver

Dah Sing ANA World Mastercard

Dah Sing ANA World Mastercard

Airmiles Overseas
$ 8  per mile
info
Airmiles Local
$ 8  per mile
info
Annual Fee Waiver
First year

3 Offers Available

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer
HK$400 Apple Store Gift Card
HK$400 Apple Store Gift Card

+ 1 other gift options

Valid until

30 April 2024

Welcome Offer - Up to 17,000 Miles
Up to 17,000 Miles
Up to 17,000 Miles

Valid until

30 June 2024

Welcome Offer
Overseas Spending $4 = 1 Mile
Overseas Spending $4 = 1 Mile

Valid until

30 June 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Overseas rebate

check

Online Spending

check

Local spending rebate

check

First year annual fee waiver

Financial insights at your fingertips

Explore new ways to earn, save, and grow your money for short and long-term goals. Browse the latest analyses, tips and hacks from the MoneyHero team so you can get the most from your dollars!

Air Miles Credit Cards Vs. Cash Back Credit Cards Vs. Credit Card Points

When looking for the best credit card(s) to help earning air miles, you may see other options besides mileage credit cards, mainly cash back credit cards and credit card points. Depending on your spending habits, you may benefit more from certain rewards programmes. 

 

Air miles credit cards

Mileage credit cards are straightforward with their reward process and can be beneficial for frequent travellers as they usually do not require a miles conversion fee. 

 

Cash back credit cards

If you don’t consider yourself a frequent flyer but would still like to redeem points, consider cash back credit cards. Rather than collecting miles, cash back credit cards offer the benefit of earning cash back on qualified purchases, which can be useful for everyday spending. 

 

Credit card points

For those who are looking for the best of both worlds, some credit cards offer points as rebates providing flexibility in how you redeem your rewards. Through spending in certain categories, you can earn a large number of credit card points that can then be redeemed for exclusive items or even air miles. 

Each type of card has distinct advantages and disadvantages as explained below:

  Air Miles Credit Cards Cash Back Credit Cards Credit Card Points
Reward process Straightforward. Air miles are directly transferred to airline frequent flyer programmes after purchases. Indirect. Earning cash back on everyday spending. Some cards can earn air miles at the same time but at a lower conversion rate. Indirect. Earning bank points, which can then be converted into miles
Conversion fee No Yes Yes
Mileage earning Fast Slow Slow
Additional perks Airport lounge access, Travel insurance, and Hotel rewards Purchase protection and extended warranties Exclusive co-brand items, concert tickets and air miles
Suitable persona Frequent travellers Financially savvy, Frequent shoppers Frequent shoppers, Budget conscious
Flexibility Low High High

 

Need Some Help When Selecting Air Miles Credit Cards?

What are air miles?

Air miles, also known as frequent flyer miles, serve as a customer loyalty programme for airline passengers. Airlines reward you with points each time you fly with them, so you can eventually build up enough points to redeem incentives, such as free or discounted tickets or seat upgrades. Besides, some credit cards also offer air miles as rewards so that you can accumulate miles based on how much you spend on your credit card.

What is an air miles credit card?

An air miles credit card is a type of credit card that allows you to earn points or miles for every qualified dollar you spend on the card. These points can then be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related expenses such as accommodation. Air miles credit cards often come with additional perks and benefits such as airport lounge access, travel insurance, and hotel rewards. They are ideal for frequent travellers looking to earn rewards and save money on future trips.

 

How do you accumulate air miles with a credit card?

There are a few ways to accumulate air miles with a credit card. 

1. You can earn miles through your everyday spending on the credit card. Many credit cards offer a certain number of miles per dollar spent, and some may offer bonus miles for spending in certain categories. For example, for every HK$5 you spend using your card, you could get 15 points which you can exchange for 1 air mile.

2. You can earn air miles through applying for a credit card and receiving air miles as a welcome gift. You could be rewarded with 20,000 airline miles after meeting certain spending requirements. For example, Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard and DBS Black World Mastercard reward customers with Asia Miles upon spending a specified amount with their credit card.

3. Some providers offer the option to convert credit card points into miles. This can be a useful option if you are close to reaching a certain amount of miles needed for a specific redemption.

4. Certain credit cards may have partnerships with specific airlines or hotels, allowing you to earn more miles when you use the card to book with those partners.

 

Who can apply for an air miles credit card?

Eligibility requirements may vary depending on the specific credit card and issuer. In General, any Hong Kong permanent resident who is (i) at least 18 years old, (ii) with a good credit score and (iii) has a stable income can apply for an air miles credit card. Do note that some credit cards may require the cardholder to meet minimum income requirements.

 

What kinds of transactions are eligible for air miles rewards?

Air miles can be earned through “eligible purchases”. The definition of “eligible purchases” will vary between card issuers and credit cards. Some credit cards may only consider local purchases as “eligible”, whereas others may also factor in overseas retail purchases. Under most circumstances, spending such as instalments, bill payments, and autopay services are excluded. For a comprehensive list of eligible purchases, refer to your credit card’s terms and conditions

 

How to redeem air miles?

Air miles can generally be redeemed through websites, third-party portals, call centres or dedicated services. 

 

How long does it take to convert credit card points into air miles?

The conversion time for Asia Miles generally falls within 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the partner's conversion process. However, certain selected credit card issuers might offer instant conversion. 

For Avios, the transfer time from credit card points to miles varies depending on the partnered issuer's terms and conditions. For example, transferring American Express Member Rewards points to Avios typically takes 3 business days upon request, while other issuers may convert within 24 hours after a transfer is initiated. 

 

What are things to consider before I redeem flights with air miles?

There are multiple factors to consider before redeeming flights using air miles. 

When redeeming points, remember that the number of air miles you accumulate doesn't equate to the number of actual miles you will fly if you book airline tickets.

When redeeming flights, the cost of higher-classed tickets may vastly differ. For example, you may need to collect up to 15,000 air miles to be able to redeem a complimentary one-way economy class ticket, as opposed to 100,000 airline miles needed to obtain a one-way business class ticket on the same flight. 

You may also use your air miles to upgrade from economy to business class, or business to first class. This can cost around 50,000 air miles or more, depending on the seat class that you want to upgrade to, and the airline offering the flight.

Some programmes may offer the option to redeem points for a companion at a discounted rate. For example, your business class ticket can cost around 120,000 air miles, but if you buy another business class ticket for a companion, you can exchange it for only 75,000 air miles.

 

Will my air miles expire? How to keep my miles active?

In the past, air miles were normally valid for 36 months from the date you earned the point, but after the pandemic, there were policy changes across many air miles programmes. Cathay now offers a free-of-charge extension to the expiration date for Asia Miles earned before 1 January 2020. As long as you earn or redeem miles at least once every 18 months, all your miles will remain active. Cathay also offers the option to donate your miles to a charity instead of letting them expire.

 

What should I pay attention to when earning miles?

When earning flyer miles on your credit card, it's important to evaluate the ease of accumulation, ease of mileage redemption, reward availability, and the possibilities of online scams.

To evaluate the ease of accumulation for miles, look at how quickly you can earn miles per dollar spent, consider factors like earning rate, partnerships, promotions, credit card options, and non-travel options.

Ease of mileage redemption refers to how easy it is to redeem your miles for flights and seat upgrades. Will the transfers be completed instantly, is redeeming points a hassle-free process, and is it done over the phone or online . 

It's also important to check the availability of the reward. Some programmes may have limited availability or restrictions on certain flights, making it difficult to use your miles. Choose a programme that offers rewards that interest or benefit you.

Lastly, be aware of online scams. Some scammers may offer fake promotions or deals promising to help you earn more miles or redeem them for free.

 

Miles or cash back: Which is more cost-effective?

Determining whether miles or cash back is more cost-effective depends on your travel habits and lifestyle. If you are a frequent flyer who values upgrades and free flights and can accumulate a large number of miles through everyday spending, exchanging them for air tickets may be more cost-effective. However, if you do not travel often and prefer to earn cash rebates for everyday purchases, a cash back credit card offers flexibility and simplicity. You can use it for any purchase, with no limitations from airlines or travel agencies and brands. Remember to closely examine each credit card's terms and rewards structure to determine which one aligns best with your financial goals and lifestyle.

 

Why should I earn air miles with a credit card?

Air miles are one of the common types of credit card rewards. If you're a frequent traveler and use your credit card to book flights and accommodation on a regular basis, you can earn more air miles faster, and exchange these miles for discounted flight tickets and other benefits. If your credit card is co-branded with a specific airline that has a frequent flyer programme, you can also choose to have the points you earn converted into air miles.

 

Are there annual fees for air miles credit cards?

A majority of air miles credit cards do come with an annual fee. However, some credit cards may also offer additional benefits or rewards that can offset the cost of the annual fee.

 

Which airline air miles programs are available?

Cathay (Cathay Pacific’s loyalty programme, formerly known as Asia Miles) is the most widely used air miles programme in Hong Kong. Many credit cards have partnered with Cathay, allowing cardholders to earn "Asia Miles," the currency of the programme, with every purchase made. Two other popular air miles programmes are Japan Airlines' ANA Miles and British Airways Executive Club (Avios), which offer great value for group or family travel. Other air miles programmes worth considering include KrisFlyer, United Airlines' MileagePlus, and Korean Air's Skypass.

 

Do I have to pay when I convert my credit card points to air miles?

Certain credit cards may automatically convert your spending into air miles without any additional fees or steps, such as the Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard. However, other cards may only allow you to exchange your credit card points for air miles. In this case, there may be handling fees depending on the amount of air miles exchanged.

 

Do redeemed tickets include taxes and fees?

The cost of taxes and fees are not included in the redeemed ticket. You will be responsible for paying any applicable departure taxes, airport or government handling fees, fuel surcharges, security and insurance charges, and any other fees charged by authorised entities. These charges will be taken from your credit card when your ticket is issued.

 

What should I consider when choosing the best air miles credit card for me?

When selecting the most suitable air miles credit card, in addition to comparing welcome bonuses and air miles rewards, it is important to take into account annual fees, APRs, penalty policies, and terms and conditions of related rewards. With a sophisticated credit card comparison tool like MoneyHero, we have simplified this process for consumers like you. With just a few clicks, you can easily compare various credit cards in Hong Kong and determine the best option for your needs.

Need some help?

No worries, we've got you covered!

How many types of credit cards in Hong Kong? How should I choose my credit cards?

expand_more

The main types of credit cards in Hong Kong are VISA and MasterCard, followed by American Express and JCB.

In order to choose the best credit card, you can consider the popularity and offers of the card types, and also the reputation of banks, class of the credit cards, etc. Many people own several credit cards to meet different needs nowadays. Also, you can consider your spending habits and choose Cash Back Credit CardsAirmiles Credit CardsDining Credit CardsOnline Shopping Credit CardsPremium Credit CardsCorporate Credit CardsEntry Level / Student Credit CardsUnionPay Credit Cards, or Welcome Offers Credit Cards. You can also make use of MoneyHero comparison pages, and compare latest offers of credit cards.

What are Air Miles?

expand_more

Air miles, also known as frequent flyer miles, serve as a customer loyalty program for airline passengers. Airlines reward you with points each time fly with them, and you eventually build up enough points that you can redeem for incentives, such as free or discounted tickets or ticket upgrades. Besides, some credit cards also offer Air Miles rewards so that you can accumulate miles based on how much you spend on your credit card.

Why should I earn Air Miles with Credit Card?

expand_more

Air miles are one of the common type of credit card rewards. If you're a frequent traveler and use your credit card to book flights and accommodation on a regular basis, you can earn more air miles faster, and exchange these miles for discounted flight tickets and other benefits. If your credit card is co-branded with a specific airline that has a frequent flyer programme such as American Express Cathay Pacific Elite Credit Card and CCB (Asia) Hong Kong Airlines Fly Away Credit Card, you can also choose to have the points you earn converted into air miles.

How do air miles work?

expand_more

Every time you make a transaction with an air miles credit card, you will accumulate a certain number of points based on the amount spent. For example, for every HK$5 you spend using your card, you could get 15 points which you can exchange for 1 air mile.

Many credit cards also have welcome offers to entice you to sign up for their cards. A sign-up reward may come in the form of 20,000 free miles that you'll receive when your card application is approved. For example, Standard Chartered Asia Miles MasterCard and BEA Flyer World MasterCard reward customers with Asia Miles upon spending a specified amount with their credit card.

When you accumulate enough miles, you can redeem them the next time you buy flight tickets. If you're lucky enough to receive 20,000 free miles as a welcome bonus, you're already more than halfway towards earning a return flight from Hong Kong to Tokyo.

How to redeem Air Miles?

expand_more

When you've collected enough reward points on your card, you can exchange these for air miles and redeem them over-the-counter, over the phone, through online banking, or any other method specified by the credit card provider. Banks and airlines have different air mile conversion rates depending on the type of credit card.

When redeeming points, remember that the number of air miles you accumulate doesn't equate to the number of actual miles you will fly if booking airline tickets. For example you might need to collect up to 15,000 air miles in order to be able to redeem a complimentary one-way economy class ticket, as opposed to 100,000 airline miles needed to obtain a one-way business class ticket on the same flight.

You can also use your air miles to upgrade from economy to business class, or business to first class. This can cost around 50,000 air miles or more, depending on the seat class that you want to upgrade to, and the airline offering the flight.

Redeeming points for a companion is also possible at a discounted rate. For example, your business class ticket can cost around 120,000 air miles, but if you buy another business class ticket for a companion, you can exchange it for only 75,000 air miles.

Air miles aren't just for air miles. You can also redeem accumulated points for specific gift items, free entry to events, discounted set menus at select restaurants and other rewards. Such redemption depend on the air miles reward program affiliated with that specific credit card.

What kinds of transactions are eligible for air miles rewards?

expand_more

You can earn air miles on the credit card only if you make "eligible purchases", which every card issuers and even credit cards have different definitions. Some credit cards only count local and overseas retail purchases as"eligible purchases". Other spendings, like instalment amount, internet banking bill payment service, autopay service and Octopus automatic add-value service, are excluded. Please read and understand your credit card?s terms and conditions to earn more air miles rewards.

Which airline air miles programs are available?

expand_more

Asia Miles are the most popular air miles program available in Hong Kong. Most cards have a partnership with Asia Miles so they earn air miles for this program for every purchase made with their cards.

Another air miles program common in Hong Kong is Japan Airline's ANA Miles. While it may come off as expensive, it has great value for group or family travels.

Other air miles programs include KrisFlyerAvios, and United Airlines' MileagePlus.

Do I have to pay when I convert my credit card points to Air Miles?

expand_more

Some credit cards will directly convert your spending to Air Miles without any extra fees and procedure (e.g. Standard Chartered Asia Miles MasterCard), while some other cards would require customers to exchange for Air Miles with the credit card points earned, and handling fee may apply. Normally each time the bank will charge HK$50 - HK$300, depending on the amount of Air Miles exchanged.

Do award tickets include taxes and fees?

expand_more

All taxes and fees are not included. You are required to pay for the applicable departure taxes, other airport or government handling fees, fuel surcharges, security and insurance charges and any other fees charged by any authorized entity. These charges will be deducted from your credit card when they issue your award ticket.

How long are air miles valid for?

expand_more

Asia Miles are valid for 3 years from the month the mileage is credited.

How do I choose the best Air Miles credit card?

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Apart from comparing the welcome offers and air miles rewards, you also need to look at annual fees, APRs, penalty policies, and terms & conditions of the related rewards. With an advanced credit card comparison tool like MoneyHero.com.hk, this task has been made much easier for consumers like you. With just a few clicks of a button, you can easily compare different credit cards in Hong Kong and see which one is most suitable for your needs.

Confused about credit card terms?

Glossary terms to know for first-time credit card users 

Air milesCashbackCredit scoreMinimum paymentAnnual feeReward Redemption Status (Promotional Campaigns)