Best Air Miles Credit Cards in Malaysia 2024

What Is The Cash Value of Airmiles?

Air miles credit cards are often considered the pinnacle of credit card strategies, offering significantly greater savings potential compared to cashback cards or other credit card types.

For instance, I recently booked another business class flight to Japan for the upcoming autumn season with my spouse. The total cost amounted to RM 2,874, along with redeeming 160,000 Enrich points for two round-trip flight tickets.

To calculate the return of ringgit spent (ROI) on this booking, we’ll start by determining the average cost of booking a business class flight ticket to Japan without using air miles. Then, we’ll conduct a reverse calculation to find out your ROI.

First, let’s utilize Google Flights to gauge the typical cost for this flight. We’ll ensure we’re not selecting the most expensive date to avoid skewing the calculations.

From the above screenshots, it’s evident that our flight fares are lower than usual, which is advantageous and ensures a more conservative approach for our calculation. Opting for a less expensive date guards against bias toward the benefits of air miles credit cards, as it means our air miles are worth their typical value rather than inflated due to higher-than-average flight costs.

Let’s proceed with the calculation. We’ll determine the value of each air mile by subtracting the cash paid from the regular ticket price, then dividing the result by the number of air miles redeemed.

(RM14,060 - RM2,874) / 160,000 = 0.0699125

Based on our calculation, the value per Enrich mile is approximately RM0.07. These miles are predominantly accumulated through the Alliance Bank Visa Infinite card, which provides approximately 0.8 air miles for every RM1 spent.

To calculate the return on spend (ROI) of this air miles credit card, we first determine the cash value of 0.8 air miles by multiplying (0.8 * RM0.07), resulting in RM0.056 for every RM1 spent. This equates to a 5.6% return on ringgit spend (ROI).

Isn’t that an incredibly impressive return on ringgit spent (ROI)?

Additionally, it’s worth noting that a significant portion of my air miles were redeemed during promotional periods with a 20% bonus offered by Malaysia Airlines on occasion. This bonus further enhances the overall value proposition of utilizing air miles credit cards.

Best Airmiles Credit Card in Malaysia

Before determining the best air miles credit card for our needs, there are several crucial factors to consider. Primarily, we should evaluate the miles per ringgit spent (MPR) to gauge the card’s earning potential. Additionally, it’s essential to understand which types of spending qualify for the best MPR to maximize rewards. Lastly, we need to examine the card’s annual costs to assess its overall value proposition.

**Credit cards with tons of rules and capping or running promo for only limited time are not recommended here as well. (EG: UOB World Card)

Maximizing The Return from Airmiles Credit Card

Now that we’ve explored the value of air miles and identified the top credit cards in Malaysia for accumulating them, did you know there are additional ways to maximize the return of your air miles credit card?

Essentially, maximizing the return of your air miles credit card involves paying close attention to ongoing promotion campaigns from both your credit card bank and the airlines from which you want to earn air miles.

Here’s an example of how you can capitalize on flight booking promotions with Enrich miles on Malaysia Airlines: during the promotion period, you can enjoy a 20% discount on air miles when booking a flight. By leveraging this promotion, we were able to book our flight to Japan and maximize our savings.

Another example of maximizing your air miles is through past promotion campaigns by Malaysia Airlines. For instance, they offered a promotion where you could receive a bonus of 10-20% Enrich miles by converting your credit card points into air miles during the promotional period. This is another opportunity to boost your air miles balance and increase your redemption options.

Here’s a quick calculation: by taking advantage of both promotions, you’re effectively getting up to 50% more value in terms of miles per ringgit spent.

[100% * 120% (Points Conversion Promo)] / 80% (Booking Discount Promo) = 150%

If you’re a frequent flyer with Malaysia Airlines, keep an eye out for their promotions in your email inbox or on their website: https://enrich.malaysiaairlines.com/enrich/promotions.html

What About Other Credit Cards? Missing Info?

I try my best to keep this post up to date but as a human I may still missed out on some credit cards, or maybe revision from some banks affecting certain cards miles per ringgit, but don’t worry, if you think I missed out on some card should be listed here, or information that are outdated, just leave a comment and I’ll look into it!