Best Travel Credit Cards in Malaysia 2024

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

Have a safe flight!

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

A traveller should always choose a credit card that can reward them with points or cash rebates to maximise savings and elevate their lifestyle even further.

Every traveller is unique. Some of you may travel for business and some for leisure such as visiting closed ones on the other side of the world or vacationing at a dream location and so on. 

While travelling used to be a privilege for the rich, now everyone from all walks of life can fly and experience the world, thanks to the Internet for tips and tricks on affordable travel.

Looking to find travel credit cards for your next getaway? You're in the right place! We've compiled a few recommendations below for all income bands.

Best travel credit cards in Malaysia 2024

Credit Card

 Annual Fee     

Interest Rate 

Minimum Monthly Income

Travel Perks

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express Gold

Maybank Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express Gold

Free* 15% p.a. RM3,000
  • Convert daily spending to air miles
  • RM1 = 1X KrisFlyer Mile for Singapore Airlines online flight ticket purchase
  • 50% discount on selected Plaza Premium Lounge
  • Complimentary travel insurance of up to RM750,000
  • 15% discount on car rental and complimentary car upgrade at Avis/Hertz 
HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

RM300 15% p.a. RM5,000
  • Convert daily spending to air miles and hotel membership points
  • 8X reward points for every RM1 spent on all foreign currency spend
  • 5X reward points for every RM1 spent on local travel and dining spend
  • Free 6X access to selected Plaza Premium Lounge in KLIA, Singapore Changi Airport and Hong Kong International Airport
  • Up to USD 250,000 complimentary travel insurance
UOB PRVI Miles Card

UOB PRVI Miles Card
Free* 15% p.a. RM5,000
  • Convert daily spending to air miles
  • Earn 5X UNIRinggit on participating airlines, hotels, travel agencies and overseas spending
  • Redeem points to fly for free with AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Asia Miles airline partners
  • 50% off Grab rides (Up to RM10 off each transaction, limited vouchers)
  • Bonus 2,000 UNIRinggit with 3X retail spending per month (Limited redemptions and minimum spend apply)
  • Low interest rates on easy payment plans
RHB World MasterCard Credit Card

RHB World MasterCard Credit Card
Free 15% p.a. RM6,666
  • Up to 6% cashback on travel, dining and petrol every month
  • Free 5X access to selected Plaza Premium Lounge in Malaysia
  • 20% discount at selected Plaza Premium Lounge overseas (Except Shanghai and Beijing)
  • Complimentary RM600,000 travel insurance
  • Zero green fees
Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card

Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card

Free* 15% p.a. RM7,500
  • Convert daily spending to air miles
  • Redeem Miles Points to get free flight tickets from participating frequent flyer programs
  • Free unlimited access to selected Plaza Premium Lounge in KLIA and KLIA2 with a valid international boarding pass
  • Discount on airport transfer via Grab rides, subject to a spending amount criteria
  • Up to USD 100,000 travel medical coverage
  • Dining and shopping deals
CIMB Travel World Elite Credit Card

CIMB Travel World Elite Credit Card

RM1,215.09 15% p.a. RM20,833
  • Awarded the 'Best Credit Card for Affluent Clients (AUM USD70,000 and above)' by The Digital Banker - Global Retail Banking Innovation Awards 2023
  • 10X Bonus Points on overseas, airlines and duty-free spending
  • Complimentary 12X access per annum to Plaza Premium First and Plaza Premium Lounge worldwide
  • RM80 cash rebate for in-flight WiFi services per statement
  • No bank 1% mark-up on overseas spending
  • Travel insurance coverage worth up to USD500,000
Hong Leong Emirates HLB World Elite Card

RinggitPlus Hong Leong Emirates HLB World Elite Card

RM2,500 15% p.a. RM20,833
  • Convert daily spending to air miles
  • Earn 150,000 Skywards Miles (Or use it to fly free with a business class flight to Europe) over a total yearly spend of RM300,000
  • Get 10,000 Skywards Miles as an Anniversary Bonus over a total yearly spend of RM300,000
  • Get 10,000 Skywards Miles as a Welcome Bonus (within the first 45 days of approval)
  • Complimentary travel insurance of up to USD 500,000
  • Complimentary golf privileges

Benefits and features of a travel credit card

  • Air miles bonus - anniversary bonus, welcome bonus
  • Free airport transfer - Grab, limousine services
  • Free airport lounge access - nationwide or worldwide
  • Gold privileges - discounted to free green fees to prestigious golf clubs nationwide or worldwide
  • Free travel insurance - coverage for personal accidents, flight delay, missing connecting flight, luggage delay, luggage loss
  • Travel and lifestyle coverage - personal services for restaurant reservations, ticket bookings, transportation arrangements, etc.
  • Cashback and rewards for overseas spending - save more with cashback and earn points/air miles when you pay with your credit card

Loyalty points: from rewards to air miles

It pays to be a loyal customer of any services you subscribed to because you can gain a lot of benefits, and they continue to retain business with you via a frequent-flyer program (FFP).

The frequent-flyer program (FFP) lets you earn air miles every time you purchase flight tickets with the airlines and their partners. These air miles can be used to pay for or offset the price of services within the airlines.

You can use air miles to redeem free flights, cabin upgrades and free access to the airport lounge.

Now, there is a credit card that can help you collect air miles faster than a loyalty card. They let you spend on anything (not just flight tickets) and reward you with points, which can be converted into air miles.

Take Hong Leong Visa Infinite as an example. This credit card rewards you with Enrich Miles (Malaysia Airlines' air miles) for every retail spend you make locally and overseas.

Hong Leong Visa Infinite Rewards
Enrich MilesSpend
RM3.50 = 1 Enrich Milesfor local transactions
RM2.20 = 1 Enrich Milesfor overseas transactions

You can also check out other credit cards that offer travel perks with a minimum monthly income of RM5,000 and below such as:

Best credit cards for air miles redemption

Not all travel credit cards reward you with air miles for every swipe. Most credit cards have their own rewards programs that give out points for every Ringgit you charge to it. 

Since travelling has become commonplace for all, banks have expanded their credit card rewards redemption program to include air miles conversion.

credit cards for air miles redemption

Source: star2.com

All you have to do is spend with your rewards credit card to collect as many points as you want and then convert them to air miles once you reach the minimum conversion rate. 

Below are some examples of credit card air miles conversion rates for Maybank, HSBC and Standard Chartered.

It is worth noting that for Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card cardholders, you will be enrolled in a different rewards program that gives out Miles Points with a lower conversion rate.

Credit Card Air Miles Redemption in Malaysia
Airline Maybank
TreatsPoints
HSBC
Rewards Programme
Standard Chartered
360° Rewards 
AirAsia - 12,000 Points
=
1,000 BIG Points
 2 Miles Points
=
1 AirMile
Asia Miles 14,000 TreatsPoints
=
1,000 Asia Miles
25,000 Points
=
1,000 Asia Miles
MAS 14,000 TreatsPoints
=
1,000 Enrich Points
21,000 Points
=
1,000 Enrich Points
2 Miles Points
=
1 AirMile
Singapore Airlines 14,000 TreatsPoints
=
1,000 KrisFlyer Miles
25,000 Points
=
1,000 Enrich Miles
2 Miles Points
=
1 AirMile

Still unsure of which travel credit card to get? We have compiled the best air miles credit cards in Malaysia for you to compare and apply.

Now, what is a travel credit card without getting the benefit of free airport lounge access?

While you can always pay to access these exclusive airport lounges, it's even better if you can get them for free! We have a list of cards that offer this privilege below.

Best credit cards for free airport lounge access

best travel credit cards malaysia

One of the most sought-after privileges in travel credit cards is complimentary access to the airport lounge. This designated area is private and usually catered to the elite segment. 

But now, it is nearly accessible for all travellers with the right airport lounge access credit card. Below is the summary of credit cards that offer you this benefit:

Best Credit Cards for Free Airport Lounge Access in Malaysia
Credit Card Airport Lounge Privileges
HSBC TravelOne Credit Card
  • 6X access to selected Plaza Premium Lounge in KLIA, Singapore Changi Airport and Hong Kong International Airport
  • 25% off on walk-in rates for accompanying guests aged 12 years old and above
  • 30% off on walk-in rates for children aged 3 to 12 years old
UOB Visa Infinite Card
  • 12X access to selected airport lounges in Asia Pacific such as Malaysia, Singapore, China, Indonesia and The Philippines via Airport Companion through the DragonPass mobile app
AEON BiG Visa Gold
  • 3X access to selected Plaza Premium Lounge in Malaysia, subject to spending criteria. For principal cardholders only.
  • 20% off on walk-in rates for accompanying guests for all Plaza Premium Lounge in Malaysia
  • 30% off on walk-in rates for children aged 3 to 11 years old
Bank Rakyat Platinum Explorer Credit Card-i 3X access to selected Plaza Premium Lounge in Malaysia, per year
AmBank Visa Signature 
  • 5X access to selected Plaza Premium Lounge in Malaysia and overseas, subject to spending criteria. For principal cardholders only.
  • 25% off on walk-in rates for accompanying guests for all Plaza Premium Lounge in Malaysia
  • 20% off on walk-in rates for all Plaza Premium Lounge overseas
  • 30% off on walk-in rates for children aged 3 to 11 years old
Maybank Visa Infinite
  • 5X access to selected Plaza Premium Lounge in Malaysia and overseas. For principal cardholders only.
  • 20% off on walk-in rates should you exceed the 5x free passes
  • 20% off on walk-in rates for each accompanying guest
AEON Platinum Visa
  • 6X access to selected Plaza Premium Lounge in Malaysia, subject to spending criteria. For principal cardholders only.
  • 20% off on walk-in rates to selected Plaza Premium Lounge for your guest
  • 30% off on walk-in rates for children aged 3 to 11 years old
HSBC Visa Signature
  • 6X access to selected Plaza Premium Lounge globally. For principal/primary cardholders only.
  • 25% off on walk-in rates for accompanying guest(s) aged 12 years and above
  • 30% off on walk-in rates for accompanying guest(s) aged between 3 to 12 years old
HSBC Premier Travel Credit Card
  • 12X access to selected Plaza Premium Lounge globally. For principal/primary cardholders only.
  • 25% off on walk-in rates for accompanying guest(s) aged 12 years and above
  • 30% off on walk-in rates for accompanying guest(s) aged 3 to 12 years old
Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card
  • Unlimited access to selected Plaza Premium Lounge in KLIA and KLIA2, subject to valid international boarding passes. For principal cardholders only.
AmBank Signature Priority Banking Visa Infinite
  • Unlimited access to selected Plaza Premium Lounge in Malaysia and overseas, subject to spending criteria or a certain amount of Asset Under Management (AUM) with AmBank
  • 25% off on walk-in rates for accompanying guest(s) to selected Plaza Premium Lounge in Malaysia
  • 20% off on walk-in rates for accompanying guest(s) to selected Plaza Premium Lounge overseas

Best credit card for overseas spending

There are a tonne of advantages when you use a credit card for shopping when travelling overseas. 

First, you will save your cash for emergency purposes only. Secondly, you can earn multiplied points and cashback per swipe. 

For example, with RHB Visa Infinite, you earn 1X points for every RM1 spent in Malaysia. But when spending overseas, you'll earn 5X points instead.

Below are the top credit cards for overseas spending that give you higher reward points for every transaction.

Best Credit Card for Overseas Spending in Malaysia
Credit Card Point Earned Overseas
HSBC TravelOne Credit Card RM1 = 8 points
UOB Visa Infinite Card RM1 = 8 points
HSBC Visa Signature RM1 = 8 points
AmBank Islamic Visa Infinite Card-i RM1 = 5 points
RHB Visa Infinite RM1 = 5 points

To avoid your purchase being declined or flagged as suspicious by the bank, make sure you have enabled your credit card for overseas purchases and increased your credit limit before your trip.

Best credit cards with travel insurance coverage

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

This benefit is effective only when you charge your flight tickets to your travel credit card. Even so, it is much more convenient and cheaper than having to purchase third-party travel insurance. 

This is usually the case for those, like business people, who have limited time to plan for their journey.

Moreover, credit card travel insurance also provides coverage for personal accidents and medical expenses that you can reimburse later.

Best Credit Card with Travel Insurance in Malaysia
Credit Card Insurance Coverage
UOB Visa Infinite Card
  • Travel accident: Up to RM500,000
  • Delayed flight: Up to RM1,000
  • Missed flight: Up to RM1,000
  • Lost luggage: Up to RM2,000
  • Delayed luggage: Up to RM1,000
Hong Leong Emirates HLB World Elite Card
  • Travel medical: Up to USD500,000
  • Travel accident: Up to USD500,000
  • Travel inconvenience: Up to USD7,500
Maybank 2 Cards Premier
  • Travel accident: Up to RM1,000,000
  • Luggage Loss: Up to RM5,000
  • Missed flight: Up to RM1,600
  • Luggage delay: Up to RM1,600
  • Delayed flight: Up to RM1,600
RHB World MasterCard Credit Card
  • Travel accident: Up to RM600,000
  • Flight delay, cancellation/denied boarding: Up to RM500
  • Missed flight: Up to RM500
  • Luggage loss: Up to RM1,000

So, if your credit card offers this benefit, use your credit card for travel expenses like paying for your flights and hotels and you can be eligible for credit card travel insurance coverage.

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