Last Updated:
7 October 2024
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As avid travelers and points collectors, we all strive to maximize our earnings from every ringgit spent.
That's why I've put together this comprehensive guide to help you navigate the complex world of credit cards in Malaysia, specifically focusing on maximizing your Enrich Miles—Malaysia Airlines' frequent flyer program and a proud member of the OneWorld Alliance.
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This guide meticulously ranks each credit card available in Malaysia based on their efficiency in earning Enrich Miles. We delve into the specifics, examining Miles per Ringgit (MPR) earned through both local and overseas expenditures. Additionally, to provide a holistic view, I've calculated an Average Miles per Ringgit considering the combined value from both types of spending.
Remember, the higher the MPR, the more beneficial the card is for those looking to fly with Enrich.
The landscape of credit cards offering travel rewards is vast and often overwhelming. This page serves as a tool to cut through the clutter, presenting clear, actionable data that allows you to make informed decisions about which cards will serve your travel goals best.
Whether you're a frequent business traveler or a leisure explorer, understanding which card offers the best return on your spending can significantly enhance your travel experience.
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Each credit card is evaluated and ranked within specific income categories, acknowledging that different cards cater to different financial profiles. Here’s how you can make the most out of this guide:
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Identify Your Spending Habits: Are you more likely to spend locally or are you a globetrotter spending more overseas? Knowing this will help you choose a card that maximizes your specific type of spending.
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Consider Your Income Bracket: Navigate to the income category that matches your earnings. This filter helps tailor the options to cards you’re actually eligible for, making your choice more precise and appropriate.
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Compare MPRs: Use the detailed MPR scores to compare how different cards stack up against each other in terms of earning potential. Higher scores indicate better earning capabilities.
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Plan Your Credit Strategy: Don't just look at the rewards. Consider other factors such as annual fees, card benefits, and partner offers to make sure the card fits your overall credit and financial strategy.
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By the end of this guide, you should feel empowered and equipped with the knowledge to select a credit card that not only meets your financial needs but also amplifies your Enrich Miles, getting you closer to your next destination in style and comfort.
Understanding Miles Per Ringgit: A Practical Guide
Miles Per Ringgit (MPR) simplifies the comparison of airline miles accrued per RM1 spent across various banks. This metric is vital because each bank offers distinct conversion rates for airline miles, making it challenging to assess which card offers the best return on spending. The MPR creates a standardized method to gauge the value of each ringgit spent in terms of miles earned.
The Local MPR focuses on everyday spending within Malaysia, reflecting a more realistic calculation by including points earned in specific categories like dining and groceries. These categories often have enhanced earning rates, which are factored into the average Local MPR, providing a comprehensive view of potential miles accumulation.
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Exclusions from Local MPR
Not all spending categories are relevant for the Local MPR calculation, especially those infrequently used in daily transactions. The following categories are excluded:
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Duty-Free Spend
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These exclusions ensure the Local MPR remains a practical and reliable metric for regular spenders, offering clarity on how to maximize airline miles from everyday purchases.
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Notes on Local MPR
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For a more holistic view on the Local MPR for each credit card, I have taken the approach of combining several categories of spend under "Local MPR". Only the following categories are considered under "Local MPR":
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Dining Spend
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Groceries Spend
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E-Wallet Spend
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For a breakdown of Local MPR calculations by category, please visit my Ultimate Category-Specific Guide instead.
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Notes on Additional Bonuses
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Some credit cards offer bonus points upon meeting a certain spend criteria or threshold. These have been omitted from the Ultimate Guide to offer a more holistic view for comparisons. Any bonuses can be viewed in my Ultimate Category-Specific Guide.
Priority/Preferred/Invitation-Only Credit Cards:
Image | Card | Local MPR | Overseas MPR | Average MPR | Annual Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card | 0.6* | 2.00 | 1.3 | RM3000 | *The average of dining (1) and local (0.2) is taken. | |
HSBC Premier Travel Mastercard | 0.25* | 1.11** | 0.68 | RM600 | *Capped at 30,000 points monthly.
**Capped at 20,000 points monthly. | |
UOB Privilege Banking Visa Infinite | 0.30* | 1.00 | 0.65 | RM600 | *The average of dining (0.5) and local (0.1) is taken. | |
RHB Premier Visa Infinite | 0.13* | 1.00 | 0.56 | 0 | *The average of dining (0.2) and local (0.06) are taken. | |
Ambank Signature Priority Banking The Metal Visa Infinite | 0.10 | 1.00 | 0.55 | 0 | ||
CIMB Preferred Visa Infinite | 0.36* | 0.64 | 0.5 | 0 | *The average of dining (0.64) and local (0.08) is taken. | |
Affin INVIKTA World Mastercard/Visa Infinite | 0.16 | 0.83 | 0.49 | 0 | ||
HSBC Premier World Mastercard | 0.2* | 0.67** | 0.43 | 0 | *Capped at 16,000 points monthly.
**Capped at 15,000 points monthly. | |
Standard Chartered Priority Banking Visa Infinite | 0.14 | 0.71 | 0.42 | RM800 | ||
Hong Leong P Visa Infinite | 0.28 | 0.45 | 0.36 | 0 | ||
Ambank Signature Priority Banking Visa Infinite | 0.10 | 0.50 | 0.3 | 0 |
Credit Cards with Annual Income Requirement > RM100,000:
Image | Card | Local MPR | Overseas MPR | Average MPR | Annual Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Platinum Card Maybank | 0.71 | 0.71 | 0.71 | RM3250 | Charge Card. Full payment monthly required. | |
Ambank Enrich Visa infinite | 0.25 | 1.00 | 0.62 | RM500 | ||
UOB Visa Infinite | 0.24* | 0.83 | 0.53 | RM600 | *The average of dining (0.41) and local (0.08) is taken. | |
CIMB Travel World Elite Mastercard | 0.16 | 0.8 | 0.48 | RM1215 | ||
UOB PRVI Miles Elite | 0.08 | 0.83 | 0.45 | RM600 | ||
CIMB Travel World Mastercard | 0.16 | 0.64 | 0.4 | RM554 | ||
Hong Leong Bank Visa Infinite | 0.28 | 0.45 | 0.36 | 0 | ||
Maybank World Elite Mastercard | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.35 | RM800 | ||
Maybank 2 Cards Premier Visa Infinite & American Express Reserve | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.35 | RM800 | ||
Ambank Visa Infinite | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0 | ||
Public Bank World Mastercard | 0.11 | 0.35 | 0.23 | 0 | ||
UOB Zenith World Elite | 0.15 | 0.31 | 0.23 | RM1000 | ||
Credit Cards with Annual Income Requirement > RM60,000:
Image | Card | Local MPR | Overseas MPR | Average MPR | Annual Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alliance Bank Visa Infinite | 0.53* | 0.33 | 0.43 | RM438 | *E-Wallet reloads capped at RM3000 monthly | |
Standard Chartered Journey Mastercard | 0.3* | 0.5 | 0.4 | RM600 | *The average MPR of dining (0.5) and local (0.1) is taken | |
CIMB Visa Infinite | 0.24* | 0.4 | 0.32 | RM0 | *The average of dining (0.4) and local (0.08) is taken. | |
UOB World Card | 0.3* | 0.25 | 0.27 | RM600 | *The average of E-Wallet (0.62), groceries (0.25) and local (0.05) is taken | |
HSBC Visa Signature | 0.15* | 0.38** | 0.26 | RM600 | *The average of E-Wallet (0.23) and local (0.04) is taken. Capped at 30,0000 points per month.
**Capped at 15,000 points per month. | |
HSBC TravelOne Mastercard | 0.13*^ | 0.38^ | 0.25 | RM300 | *The average MPR of Dining (0.23) and Local (0.04) is taken.
^20,000 points cap per month. | |
Affin World Mastercard | 0.1 | 0.30 | 0.2 | RM500 | ||
UOB PRVI Miles Visa Platinum | 0.05 | 0.25 | 0.15 | RM198 | ||
Maybank Visa Signature | 0.02 | 0.25 | 0.13 | RM550 |
Credit Cards with Annual Income Requirement Below RM60,000:
Image | Card | Local MPR | Overseas MPR | Average MPR | Annual Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alliance Bank Visa Platinum | 0.53* | 0.2 | 0.36 | RM120 | *E-Wallet reloads, capped at RM3000 monthly | |
Ambank Enrich Visa Platinum | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.35 | RM0 | ||
Hong Leong Sutera Visa Platinum | 0.33* | 0.33 | 0.33 | RM120 | *E-Wallet reloads. No capping | |
CIMB Travel Platinum Mastercard | 0.16 | 0.4 | 0.28 | 0 | ||
CIMB e Card | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.24 | RM100 | Contactless spend only. Capped at 20,000 BP/month | |
CIMB Visa Signature | 0.08 | 0.16 | 0.12 | 0 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
FAQ 1: What are Enrich Miles?
Enrich Miles are the currency of the Enrich loyalty program, which is the frequent flyer program of Malaysia Airlines. Members can earn miles from flights with Malaysia Airlines and its partner airlines, as well as through spending with various commercial partners, including through selected credit card transactions.
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FAQ 2: Why focus on miles per ringgit (MPR) when selecting a credit card?
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Focusing on the Miles per Ringgit (MPR) ratio allows you to understand how efficiently your spending on a particular credit card can be converted into Enrich Miles. A higher MPR means more miles earned per ringgit spent, optimizing the benefits you receive from your expenditures on both local and overseas purchases.
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FAQ 3: How do I choose the best credit card for earning Enrich Miles?
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To choose the best credit card for earning Enrich Miles, consider your spending habits, the MPR for local and overseas spends, your income level, and the specific card benefits. Compare these factors across different cards in the guide to find the one that offers the best overall value for your lifestyle and financial situation.
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FAQ 4: Are there any fees associated with these credit cards that might affect my benefits?
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Yes, most credit cards come with annual fees and other charges that can impact the net benefit you gain from earning miles. It's important to weigh these fees against the potential mile earnings and additional benefits like lounge access, travel insurance, and more to decide if a card is cost-effective for you.
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FAQ 5: Can I use these credit cards to earn miles on everyday purchases?
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Absolutely! Many of the credit cards featured in this guide offer Enrich Miles on everyday purchases, from groceries and dining to utility payments and more. This makes it easy to accumulate miles through regular spending.
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FAQ 6: How often will this guide be updated?
This guide is updated frequently to reflect the latest credit card offerings and changes in the Miles per Ringgit earning rates. Be sure to check back regularly for the most current information and rankings.
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FAQ 7: What should I do if my credit card is not listed in this guide?
If your credit card is not listed, it may not be one of the top cards for earning Enrich Miles. However, if you believe it should be considered, please contact us with details of your card, and we'll review it for potential inclusion in future updates.
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Final Thoughts
I sincerely hope that this guide helps you get started on selecting which credit card you should use as your daily driver for earning Enrich miles.
Remember, banks can change their T&Cs at any given time, and most of the time, you'll see devaluations that would otherwise be unexpected. Nevertheless, I will keep this page updated 24/7 and if there are any incorrect figures, feel free to email me at kingsley@refinedpoints.com.
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Last but not least, if you do not find your credit card in the list above, it either means your credit card's airline miles earning rate is poor beyond belief or that you're holding a Cashback credit card.
As the theme of the blog is focused on travel, I do not (or have not) reviewed cashback credit cards for now. This may change in the future if there is substantial demand.
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