Maybank has officially launched its new World Elite Mastercard, a highly anticipated addition to its credit card portfolio, as previously covered on Refined Points.
The card, released on the 7th of October, comes with a mix of both underwhelming features and pleasant surprises. Let’s dive deeper into what it offers.
Air Miles Earn Rate
The Maybank World Elite Mastercard offers a rewards structure of 10x TreatsPoints per RM5 spent locally and 25x TreatsPoints for every RM5 spent overseas, as highlighted in my previous article.
Notably, there are no spend accelerators for categories like dining or groceries, which is consistent with other Maybank credit cards and closely resembles the earning mechanics of the AmBank Enrich Visa Infinite card.
In terms of conversion, this translates to a local miles-per-ringgit (MPR) rate of 0.2 and an overseas MPR of 0.5.
Despite the card’s steep RM190,000 annual income requirement, it stands as one of the least competitive options in its segment for earning airline miles, second only to the UOB Zenith World Elite, which offers even less value.
Adding to this, TreatsPoints are only awarded in blocks of RM5 spent. While it’s unclear how Maybank’s rounding mechanism works for partial amounts, it’s reasonable to assume that purchases like RM9.99 might only earn TreatsPoints for RM5, depending on how the system rounds off transactions.
If the rounding works against cardholders, this would result in a further reduction of potential earnings. This feature marks a notable shift in Malaysia’s credit card landscape, as no other card currently implements such a system.
Exclusive Benefits
The Maybank World Elite Mastercard does come with several headline benefits, one of which is the Buy 1, Get 1 Business Class ticket to London or Paris with Qatar Airways.
However, upon closer inspection, this benefit is only available to cardholders who meet the hefty minimum spending requirement of RM250,000 between October 2024 and October 2025.
Moreover, the value of the complimentary ticket is capped at RM2.7 million across all cardholders, which translates to roughly 180 redemptions based on the typical cost of a Qatar Airways Business Class ticket to London. Given the generous redemption opportunities through CIMB’s Avios partnership, this benefit feels limited at best.
Another perk is the complimentary one-night stay with a minimum one-night booking at Radisson Blu Hotel London or Hotel Napoleon Paris.
This offer, available once a year and capped at RM1.3 million in total redemptions, provides some value but pales in comparison to the UOB Zenith World Elite’s benefit of a free night for every four consecutive nights stayed. UOB’s offer, with its more flexible redemption terms, certainly outshines Maybank’s in this regard.
Airport Lounge Access
For many, the standout feature of the Maybank World Elite Mastercard is its generous airport lounge access. Cardholders are entitled to 16 complimentary passes per year for Plaza Premium First and Travel Club Lounges.
This is a significant improvement over other cards, particularly the CIMB Travel World Elite, which offers fewer passes. However, 12 of these passes are limited to the Plaza Premium Lounge Network, with only 4 passes applicable for Travel Club Lounges.
A drawback worth mentioning is that supplementary cardholders do not receive lounge access, which may be inconvenient for families or larger groups.
Although principal cardholders can bring one guest, the lack of access for supplementary members, especially given the high number of available passes, feels restrictive. In comparison, CIMB’s Travel World Elite grants lounge access to supplementary cardholders, making it a more practical option for frequent travelers.
Be sure to check out my full review of the Plaza Premium First at KLIA Terminal 1.
Additional Perks
In terms of other features, the World Elite Mastercard offers several standard benefits. However, with eSIM technology becoming increasingly popular, the inclusion of Flexiroam benefits may feel outdated.
On a brighter note, the 40% discount at Marriott Bonvoy restaurants, also available on the Maybank 2 Cards Premier, is a welcome addition.
Final Thoughts
While Maybank’s World Elite Mastercard introduces a few new perks, such as generous lounge access and exclusive travel benefits, the card struggles to stand out in a crowded market.
The subpar air miles earn rate, combined with restrictive redemption caps on its headline benefits, makes it difficult to recommend for serious miles enthusiasts. With competing cards offering more flexible and rewarding programs, the Maybank World Elite Mastercard may find it tough to carve out a niche among affluent travelers.
Unless you’re specifically drawn to its travel perks or loyal to Maybank, you might find better value elsewhere.
I have several articles coming up to dive deeper into the mechanics of the Maybank World Elite Mastercard, so stay tuned. In the meantime, my Ultimate Guides have all been updated to reflect the new credit card.
