Best Travel Credit Cards in Malaysia 2025

Frequent flyers get bonus airmiles, free travel insurance, airport lounge access, hotel rebates with a travel credit card

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What Are The Best Travel Credit Cards Malaysia Has To Offer?

A travel credit card is ideal for Malaysians who travel often, offering perks like free flights, lounge access, travel insurance, and rewards that make every trip more worthwhile.

Travel credit cards are rewards-based credit cards that focus on travel benefits. Instead of cashback, you earn either:

  • Air miles (e.g., Enrich Miles, KrisFlyer Miles, Asia Miles)
  • Travel points convertible to miles or hotel nights

How Do Travel Credit Cards Work?

1. Earn Points or Miles: Every ringgit you spend earns points, especially for spending in travel, dining, or foreign currency categories.

2. Accelerated Earning: Certain spend types earn more miles—for example, overseas transactions, airline tickets, hotel stays, and Grab rides to the airport.

3. Redemption Options:

  • Convert points to air miles (e.g., Malaysia Airlines Enrich, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer)
  • Book hotel stays
  • Redeem travel vouchers or airport lounge entries

4. Travel Insurance Activation: Insurance is activated when you charge your flight ticket or full travel fare to your card.

5. Access Airport Lounges: Selected cards offer free visits to Plaza Premium Lounges or even unlimited access at KLIA1/KLIA2.

Why Should You Get A Travel Credit Card?

A travel credit card is a financial tool designed to enhance your travel experience and provide significant value. Here's a look at the core benefits that make these cards so rewarding.

Air Miles and Rewards

Travel credit cards help you collect rewards much faster than a standard loyalty card. For every ringgit you spend, you earn points or air miles which can be converted into free flights, cabin upgrades, and other travel perks.

Some cards offer accelerated earning, rewarding you with more points for specific categories like overseas spending, airline tickets, and hotel stays. A good conversion rate, such as 2 points to 1 mile, can significantly speed up your accumulation of miles.

Complimentary Travel Insurance

One of the most valuable benefits is the peace of mind that comes with free travel insurance. This coverage is automatically activated when you charge your full flight or travel fare to the card.

It typically includes coverage for personal accidents, delayed or cancelled flights, missed connections, and lost or delayed luggage. This can save you the time and expense of purchasing a separate insurance policy for every trip.

Airport Lounge Access

Waiting for a flight can be a hassle, but a travel credit card can transform the experience. Many cards offer complimentary access to airport lounges, such as the Plaza Premium Lounge network.

This privilege gives you a quiet, comfortable space to relax, enjoy free food and drinks, and use Wi-Fi, making your pre-flight time much more enjoyable. Some premium cards even offer unlimited access, perfect for frequent flyers.

Overseas Spending Rewards

Using your credit card abroad is a smart way to manage your cash and earn rewards. While most cards have a foreign transaction fee, travel cards often compensate by giving you multiplied reward points or cashback for every transaction made in a foreign currency.

For example, some cards offer 5X to 10X the points on overseas spending, helping you save more and earn more with every swipe.

Travel and Lifestyle Perks

Beyond the core benefits, many cards offer a suite of additional privileges. These can include:

  • Free Airport Transfers: Enjoy complimentary or discounted rides to and from the airport.
  • Dining and Shopping Deals: Unlock exclusive discounts at restaurants, shopping outlets, and other lifestyle merchants both in Malaysia and abroad.
  • Gold Privileges: Some cards offer special perks like discounted or free green fees at prestigious golf clubs.
  • Exclusive Experiences: Access to personal concierge services for assistance with hotel and restaurant reservations, event ticket bookings, and more.

Best Credit Cards for Air Miles Redemption 2025

If your goal is to collect air miles for free flights and upgrades as quickly as possible, these cards are for you. While some cards directly award you with miles, most give you reward points that you can convert to various frequent flyer programs. The key is to look for a low conversion rate. The fewer points you need to get one mile, the better the card.

CIMB Travel World Elite Credit Card: RM1 = Up to 10 Bonus Points (overseas, airlines, and duty-free stores)

What Are The Best Travel Credit Cards Malaysia Has To Offer?

Other cards:

Best Credit Cards for Free Airport Lounge Access 2025

What is a travel credit card without the benefit of free airport lounge access? While you can always pay to access these exclusive spaces, it's even better if you can get them for free! Lounge access is one of the most sought-after privileges, offering a private and comfortable escape from the bustling terminal.

Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card: UNLIMITED airport lounge access in KLIA and KLIA2

Other cards:

Best Credit Cards for Overseas Spending 2025

There are multiple advantages to using a credit card when traveling overseas. Not only do you save your cash for emergency purposes, but you can also earn multiplied points and cashback with every swipe.

To avoid your purchase being declined or flagged as suspicious, make sure you notify your bank of your travel plans and increase your credit limit before your trip. Here are the top credit cards that give you higher reward points for every transaction made overseas:

HSBC TravelOne Credit Card: RM1 = 8X Reward points

Other cards:

Best Credit Cards with Travel Insurance Coverage 2025

Travel inconveniences such as delayed or missed flights are annoying, as is losing or waiting for your luggage hours after you have landed. These are common incidents that affect travelers, which is why some credit cards offer free travel insurance.

This benefit is effective only when you charge your full travel fare to your card, providing you with a convenient and often more affordable alternative to purchasing third-party travel insurance.

Maybank World Elite Mastercard: Up to RM2 million coverage, including purchase protection.

Other cards:

How to Choose the Right Travel Credit Card

Choosing the perfect travel credit card boils down to aligning the card's benefits with your personal travel habits and financial profile. Use this checklist to guide your decision:

1. Assess Your Travel Frequency

If you travel frequently, look for cards with unlimited or high-limit airport lounge access and comprehensive travel insurance. For those who travel once or twice a year, a card with a generous welcome bonus or high points-earning rates on specific categories might be more beneficial.

2. Identify Your Preferred Airlines and Hotels

Select a card that partners with your favorite frequent flyer program (e.g., Malaysia Airlines Enrich, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer) or hotel loyalty program (e.g., Marriott Bonvoy). This allows you to maximize your point conversions and get the most value from your spending.

3. Analyze Your Spending Pattern

Consider where you spend the most. If a significant portion of your budget goes to dining, online shopping, or foreign currency transactions, choose a card that offers accelerated rewards in those categories.

4. Check the Points Conversion Rate

Don't just look at how many points you earn per ringgit; check the conversion rate to air miles. A lower points-to-miles ratio (e.g., 2 points = 1 mile) is better as it allows you to redeem rewards faster.

5. Verify Income Eligibility

Ensure you meet the minimum monthly income requirement for the card you're interested in to avoid a declined application.

6. Review Foreign Transaction Fees

Most cards charge a fee of 1% to 2.5% for overseas transactions. While some cards offer high reward points to offset this fee, it's a key factor to consider if you travel abroad often.

Flights, Hotels, Cruise, and Train Deals with Travel Credit Cards

Enjoy exclusive travel offers when you book with your travel credit card, which makes every journey more rewarding.

Flights, Train, and Cruise Deals

  • Maybank World Elite Mastercard: A special privilege for cardmembers who spend a minimum of RM250,000: the ability to acquire a Buy 1, Get 1 Business Class Ticket to London or Paris with Qatar Airways.
  • CIMB Travel Cards: Participate in a MasterCard "Pay Now Travel Later" program, which allows booking trips in advance with the flexibility of a 1-time free waiver to change travel dates.
  • HSBC TravelOne Credit Card: Earn up to 8x Reward points on all foreign currency spend and 5x Reward points on local travel expenses, including airlines, hotels, and travel agencies. Rewards can be instantly redeemed for flights with partners like Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia, or for hotel stays with Marriott Bonvoy.
  • Alliance Bank Visa Credit Card: Rebates or discounts when booking with partner cruise lines like Celebrity Cruises. Promo until 31 Dec 2025.
  • Maybank myimpact Visa Signature Credit Card: 8% cashback on "ESG-friendly" categories, including commuter rail and bus transportation, with specific merchants like KLIA Ekspres and Rapid KL.

Hotels and Accommodation Deals

Airport Transfers or Limousine Services

  • Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card: Complimentary airport transfers in Malaysia via Grab, capped at RM65 cashback, requiring a minimum travel retail spend of RM2,500 in the past 90 days.
  • CIMB Travel Platinum Credit Card: Up to 2X Airport Transfers (Grab Ride worth RM65).
  • UOB Visa Infinite Card: 12X Complimentary Local Airport Limousine rides to KLIA Terminal 1 or KLIA Terminal 2, subject to a minimum spend of RM5,000 in qualifying categories (airlines, hotels, travel agencies) within the last 30 days.
  • Standard Chartered Priority Banking Visa Infinite: Cashback up to RM80 for Airport Limo (KLIA) or KLIA Ekspres (KLIA or klia2) rides, 12X annually, provided a minimum of 3X overseas foreign currency retail purchases are made within the past 30 days.
  • Alliance Privilege Visa Signature: 2X complimentary e-hailing airport rides worth RM80 each per year upon meeting a minimum retail spend of RM120,000.

Disclaimer: Please note that all benefits, privileges, and features listed are strictly subject to the Terms and Conditions (T&C) and Product Disclosure Sheets (PDS) of the respective card issuer (Bank).

You must always verify the current, specific T&C (including minimum spend, validity, and eligibility) directly with the issuing bank or service provider before applying for a card or making any travel arrangements based on these details, as information is subject to change without prior notice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Credit Cards

1. What’s the main purpose of a travel credit card?

A travel credit card helps you earn rewards that are valuable for travel, mainly air miles, travel points, or perks like airport lounge access and insurance. It's designed to stretch the value of every ringgit you spend, especially when you pay for flights, hotel stays, foreign currency purchases, or dining.

If you travel often (even just 1 to 2 times per year), these cards can help you save on airfare, enjoy free airport comforts, and provide peace of mind through travel insurance.

2. How do I earn air miles with a credit card?

  • Spending on travel-related categories (air tickets, hotel bookings, airport transfers)
  • Paying in foreign currencies
  • Dining and online transactions (for some cards)

Miles are either awarded directly (e.g., KrisFlyer or Enrich Miles) or via reward points convertible to airline programs. High-tier cards typically offer better earn rates.

3. What is considered a good points-to-miles conversion rate?

Ideally, look for cards that offer at least 1 mile per RM1 spent on travel or overseas transactions. A conversion rate like 2 points = 1 mile (SC Journey) is strong. Avoid cards with high conversion thresholds, like 5 points = 1 mile, unless they have low earning barriers. The lower the ratio, the better!

4. Do credit card miles or reward points expire?

Yes, both credit card reward points and airline miles can expire:

  • Bank reward points usually expire in 1 to 3 years, depending on the issuer.
  • Airline miles follow the frequent flyer program’s policy (e.g., Enrich Miles expire after 3 years, KrisFlyer Miles after 3 years, BIG Points after 24 months).

Always monitor expiry dates via your bank’s mobile app or rewards portal. If nearing expiry, convert your points or redeem them for travel perks before losing value.

5. Which travel card has the best lounge access in Malaysia?

6. What kind of travel insurance is provided by these cards?

Travel cards offer automatic insurance coverage when you use the card to pay for your flight. Coverage typically includes:

  • Emergency medical treatment overseas
  • Travel delays and cancellations
  • Lost or delayed luggage
  • Personal accident or death
  • COVID-19-related incidents (varies by bank)

Check the insurance policy document or your bank’s T&Cs to understand the payout limits. Always refer to your card's specific policy document for full details and claim procedures.

7. How do I redeem my points or miles?

The redemption process is typically straightforward and can be done through your bank's online platforms. The most common method is to log in to your bank's website or mobile app and navigate to their rewards catalog. You can then select your desired airline or hotel partner to transfer your points.

The process and timeline can vary between banks, with some transfers being instant while others may take a few business days.

8. Are foreign transaction fees always charged?

Yes. Most Malaysian credit cards charge from 1% to 2.5% on foreign currency transactions. However, travel cards often compensate with extra reward points for overseas spend. Some users also pair their travel card with a multi-currency card (e.g., Wise) for fee-free overseas shopping.

9. Do supplementary cardholders get to enjoy lounge benefits too?

Not always. Most lounge access perks are reserved for primary cardholders only.

  • Some premium cards do allow supplementary cardholders to enjoy shared lounge passes.
  • Others may require a fee per additional user, or limit access to select lounges only.

Always confirm with your bank before assuming your supplementary cardholder can enter lounges.

10. What’s the minimum income required to qualify for a travel credit card?

This affects your approval chances and credit limit, so pick cards aligned with your income.

11. Are there any annual fees or hidden costs?

Most travel credit cards come with an annual fee, which is a yearly charge for the benefits and privileges that come with the card. However, these fees can often be waived if you meet a minimum annual spending amount or through a special promotion.

Some banks also allow you to redeem your reward points to pay for the annual fee, effectively making it free. It's important to check the card's product disclosure sheet for a full list of fees and charges.

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