The Alliance Bank Visa Platinum credit card is an excellent credit card for those looking to get started in the airline miles accrual game. 

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With substantial airline miles earning rate and the lowest possible annual income threshold required to obtain this credit card, you'll be disappointed if you did not sign up earlier.

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For young executives, fresh graduates and others looking to ramp up their airline miles game, the Alliance Bank Visa Platinum is highly recommended, especially if you're earning around RM30,000-RM40,000 per annum, which I personally define as the "sweet spot" for utilizing this credit card to the best of its ability.

The Alliance Bank Visa Platinum is as beautiful as it's older brother, the Alliance Bank Visa Infinite.

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Alliance Bank's new design philosophy on it's credit cards is difficult to go unnoticed. Of course, with the credit card targeting young millennials and Gen Z fresh graduates, it's no wonder such emphasis is placed on the design aspects of the credit card.

Now, before you decide to jump the gun and rush into obtaining the Alliance Bank Visa Platinum, there are a few key things you should know. Given that this card is directed towards young consumers, if you're reading this review, you're probably still new to the credit card industry, and/or have a little confusion on all the terms attached.

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With that being said, I'll try to convey my review and the key points of this credit card in the simplest way possible.

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The first thing you should know is that each bank has it's own "points currency". The points system is simple. When you swipe your credit card, you earn credit card points. These points can be used to redeem airline miles, which allows you to fly for practically free of charge, and is basically the whole point of Refined Points.

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In Alliance Bank, the "points currency" is denoted as "Timeless Bonus Points (TBP)". It's a fancy name, but in reality, if you strip off the glamour, it's simply a version of points that you earn when swiping your Alliance Bank Visa Platinum.

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Now, the next important thing you should know is that what you spend on, or what you swipe on, dictates how many points you earn. For example, if you use your credit card to purchase something on Lazada, you earn 8X points for every RM spent. However, if you use your credit card to purchase a Grande Iced Americano at Starbucks, you essentially earn 1X points for every RM spent.

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Based on this logic, isn't it smart to use the Alliance Bank Visa Platinum to purchase goods or services that only grant you 8X points? If you're thinking along the same path, then you're already one step ahead into the airline miles game!

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Now, if you observe the image attached above, Alliance Bank grants you 8X TBP for online shopping transactions (i.e.: Lazada, Shopee, etc) and 8X TBP for eWallet top-ups. However if you look at the bottom of the infographic, contactless transactions only earn you 1X TBP!

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This is the first loophole of the Alliance Bank Visa Platinum you must understand.

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Let's say you wish to purchase a Grande Iced Americano at Starbucks which costs RM10.00. If you use your Alliance Bank Visa Platinum and perform a contactless transaction at the cashier, you only earn 10 TBP!!! That's because Alliance Bank only grants you 1X TBP for contactless transactions!

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However, let's say you top-up your Touch N' Go E-Wallet with RM10.00, and use your E-Wallet to pay for your RM10 Grande Iced Americano, you practically earn 80 TBP!

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Now, obviously this is a very simple example, but I'm trying to tell you that the most important aspect of utilizing the Alliance Bank Visa Platinum credit card is to only use it to top up your E-Wallets, and subsequently use your E-Wallet to make your daily transactions and NOT swipe your Alliance Bank Visa Platinum directly, because by doing so, you would only earn 1X TBP!

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In fact, this is not a negative feature in any way, because many merchants such as small business owners do not even accept credit cards for payment, so you're better off using your E-Wallets to pay, and topping up your E-Wallets with your Alliance Bank Visa Platinum.