As December rolls around and the holiday season kicks into high gear, it’s the perfect time to make sure your credit card provides supplementary lounge access. After all, no one wants the awkwardness of leaving family members behind or inadvertently causing a long queue at the lounge reception while sorting out access details.
Malaysian credit cards are known for offering lounge access benefits, but finding one that extends this perk through supplementary cards can be quite the challenge.
While some cards, like the newly launched Maybank World Elite Mastercard, offer guest access for companions, I personally prefer the added flexibility of supplementary lounge access. This allows the supplementary cardholder to enjoy lounge privileges independently, without the principal cardholder needing to be present.
It's extremely important to take note that I only consider airmiles-based credit cards in my blog. Any reference to cashback cards offering lounge access whether supplementary or not is not mentioned in my blog, so please do your own due diligence.
With that in mind, let’s dive into the best options available for supplementary lounge access in Malaysia.
AmBank
AmBank Signature Priority Banking The Metal Visa Infinite
AmBank Signature Priority Banking Visa Infinite
AmBank World Mastercard
AmBank offers three credit cards with supplementary lounge access. However, this benefit is subject to a significant condition: the supplementary cardholder must individually meet the Assets Under Management (AUM) requirement to qualify for lounge access.
This means that even if the principal cardholder maintains an AUM of over RM200,000 with AmBank, it does not automatically extend lounge access to their supplementary cardholders. Such a policy raises concerns about fairness and practicality, especially when many other banks provide more straightforward and inclusive lounge access benefits.
Frankly, this condition seems highly restrictive, and I would strongly urge anyone holding an AmBank Signature Priority Banking credit card to explore other options. There are several credit cards available in Malaysia that offer supplementary lounge access without imposing such stringent requirements.
In summary, AmBank’s policy requiring supplementary cardholders to maintain their own AUM of over RM200,000 for lounge access is excessively restrictive and worth reconsidering.
CIMB Bank
For affluent cardholders, CIMB offers a straightforward approach to supplementary lounge access, especially for its higher-tier credit cards:
Supplementary cardholders of these cards enjoy lounge access with no restrictions or additional conditions. The access caps are generous, with 12X for the CIMB Travel World Elite and 8X for the CIMB Preferred Visa Infinite, shared across both the principal and supplementary cardholders. For the CIMB Preferred Visa Infinite, the principal cardholder must maintain an AUM of RM250,000, but this requirement is fairly standard for cards in this category.
For mid-tier cards, such as the:
Supplementary cardholders are also entitled to lounge access, but with spend conditions tied to qualifying quarters:
CIMB Travel World Mastercard: A combined quarterly spend of at least RM6,000 (principal and supplementary) is required to earn 3X lounge access.
CIMB Travel Platinum Mastercard: A combined quarterly spend of RM3,000 grants 1X lounge access.
It’s important to note that these limits are shared among all cardholders. For instance, if you’re traveling with a party of four and only have 3X access, one person will need to pay for lounge entry, which might be less than ideal for larger groups.
The great thing about these four CIMB credit cards is that you'll have unrestricted access to the Plaza Premium First lounge at KLIA Terminal 1, meaning that you'll be able to skip the queue at the reception, and enjoy a much quieter lounge compared to other credit cardholders.
Overall, CIMB offers a mix of unrestricted access for its elite cards and spend-based conditions for its mid-tier cards, catering to various customer segments.
HSBC TravelOne Mastercard
In HSBC Malaysia’s credit card lineup, the HSBC TravelOne Mastercard is the only card that offers supplementary lounge access. Cardholders are entitled to 6X lounge access per year, shared between the principal and supplementary cardholders.
Compared to the options from AmBank and CIMB, the selection of lounges available under this card is more limited. However, those departing from KLIA Terminal 1 can access the Plaza Premium Lounge, which adds a level of convenience for frequent travelers.
It’s worth noting an important clause in HSBC’s terms and conditions: “The Programme will be available to You within 10 working days from the card activation date.” This means new cardholders with immediate travel plans may face delays in accessing this benefit. If you’re considering this card, it’s advisable to factor in this waiting period before relying on lounge privileges for upcoming trips.
Public Bank World Mastercard
The Public Bank World Mastercard offers 3X lounge access per year, which includes privileges for supplementary cardholders.
However, there is a spend condition attached to this benefit which has just recently been implemented as I've written about. The terms specify that the aggregated spend between the principal and supplementary cardholder must total at least RM1,000 within a 30-day window before or after accessing the lounge.
While the spend requirement is relatively modest, it’s important for cardholders to plan their spending accordingly to ensure eligibility for lounge access without any last-minute surprises.
RHB Premier Visa Infinite
The RHB Premier Visa Infinite and the RHB Visa Infinite (not covered by Refined Points) both offer supplementary lounge access, making them attractive options for families or frequent travelers.
For new supplementary cardholders, you’ll receive 3X lounge access per calendar year immediately upon card activation, with no conditions attached. However, once this initial cap is exhausted, RHB introduces a spend requirement: a minimum spend of RM1,000 in the previous calendar month is needed to earn an additional 1X lounge access.
For high spenders, there’s an added perk—once you’ve accumulated RM100,000 in spend within a calendar year, you’ll unlock unlimited lounge access for the remainder of that year.
This tiered structure offers flexibility for casual travelers while rewarding those with significant spending, making it a versatile choice in RHB’s credit card lineup.
UOB Malaysia
When it comes to supplementary lounge access, UOB Malaysia’s offerings can be somewhat tricky to pin down, as much of the information comes from sales representatives or online forums rather than official sources.
That said, the UOB PRVI Miles Elite and UOB World Card both provide supplementary lounge access, with caps of 8X and 6X per year respectively. These caps are shared between the principal and supplementary cardholders, so it’s important to manage usage accordingly.
A notable benefit for UOB cardholders, including supplementary cardholders, is access to the UOB Private Lounge at the KLIA Terminal 1 Plaza Premium Lounge. This adds an extra layer of exclusivity and convenience for those traveling through KLIA.
