Disclaimer: The article and product(s) that is/ are mentioned are non sponsored. All insights are based on personal opinions and researches done. The information would have been updated during the time you read this article. The resources are based on the day of this article being posted.
The year 2020 has started in a very unexpected way. The outbreak of Coronavirus (Covid-19) has definitely changed the way we live, we work and invest.
These changes will not be seen as a short term impact, but long term towards the whole generation, perhaps.
During the pandemic is going on, the industry that being affected the most is indeed the travel industry, which involving mainly people. With regulations updated day by day, phrases like "Social Distancing", "Stay Home" and "Quarantine" have become the new norm. A lot of hotels, airline routes had been forced to shutdown in order to flatten the curve of infections.
In this difficult time, a lot of perks from travel credit cards could not be utilised, even been used. The question is, shall we still apply for travel credit card now?
The short answer is a YES.
But, there is a term and condition underneath. The only term and condition that I must highlight is: Avoid cards that provide benefits less than the annual fees.
We still could not foresee how this outbreak going to be like for the next few months, or even in term of year. Travel would not be likely coming back to how it used to be in the near future. Even if travelling is allowed, the level of precariousness will be as high or much higher than how it is right now. The chances that we have our guts taking long flights to one of the "used-to-be" red zones is extremely low, well, unless for me. Thus, credit card with annual fee that we hardly utilised is not recommendable in this short term tactic.
But, not for travel credit cards.
Despite travelling is not allowed, we still need to go for grocery shoppings, order for food delivery and take away. Life still goes on without travelling, in term of short period. With these expenses that we will have already spend, numerous of credit card points can be generated.
Travel credit cards often offer better airline miles conversion, compared to the ordinary cards from the same issuers.
Collecting reward points is a long term game. Keep on collecting and wait till the situation is getting a lot better, when travelling is resumed. At that moment, there will be a sufficient balance of points waiting for us to redeem our free flights or even free hotel stays.
Let's check out the list of recommendable travel credit cards in Thailand.
*Do not be surprise, most credit cards are affiliated with Thailand's national carrier- Thai Airways.
A. Citi Royal Orchid Plus Select Card
This card is selected on the list, over the higher tier's Citi Royal Orchid Plus Preferred Card, or even the Citi Prestige Card.
The reason is indeed very simple, the Select version offers 1st year annual fee waived (4,000 THB for the following years- waived if spend 300,000 THB) The Preferred version come with annual fee of 5,350 THB for the first year and 10,700 THB for the following years.
Citi Royal Orchid Plus Select Card offers redemption rate of 1 Citi Reward Point to 1 ROP (Royal Orchid Plus) mile. There is no expiry date of Citi Reward Points, the user could redeem whenever decide to travel again.
Since Thai Airways is under Star Alliance, the miles could be used to redeem for other Star Alliance Airlines too, such as ANA, SWISS Air and Turkish Airlines.
B. UOB PRIVI Miles Card
This is another non-local travel card, from United Overseas Bank.
UOB PRIVI Miles provides redemption of 1.2 points per mile. However, the points earning rate is 15 THB per point, 10 THB lower than the market.
*In 2019, it used to be 1 point per mile.
Unlike Airline affiliated card, it provides direct conversion to not just Royal Orchid Plus (Thai Airways), but Kris Flyer (Singapore Airlines) and ASIA Miles.
Please not that UOB would request for an incremental of 1,200 UOB Rewards Plus Points for each transfer.
UOB PRIVI Miles card has an annual fee of 4,000 THB (waived if hit spending of 300,000 THB), but the fee of first year will be waived.
C. TMB Absolute
This is indeed a cool name, the highest tier card in TMB lineup.
Generous points earning and redemption rate at 10 THB per point and 2.5 points per ROP mile.
TMB bank offers miles redemption for AirAsia too, the redemption rate is 2 points per AirAsia Big Point.
Moreover, this card offers exemption of 2.5% charge on foreign currency purchases.
However, this card has a higher par for applications. A minimum monthly salary of 100,000 THB required for Thais and 200,000 THB for Foreigners.
It comes with annual fee of 4,000 THB, but waived for first 2 years.
D. AEON Royal Orchid Plus Platinum
Here is another lower tier's travel credit card that AEON Bank offers. Both cards offer redemption rate of 1 AEON Happy Point to 1 ROP mile.
The reasons choosing this over AEON Royal Orchid Plus World Mastercard are annual fee and points earning rate.
Annual Fee: World Mastercard's annual fee is 12,000 THB (Could be waived by redeeming 35,000 points) while Platinum's annual fee is 3,000 THB (waived with 300,000 THB Spend)
Points earning: Platinum offers 1 mile per 20 THB spent while World Mastercard offers 1 mile per 15 THB spent in foreign currency and 1 mile pe 20 THB spent locally.
Since travelling overseas is not recommended, the 5 THB difference could hardly utilise the 12,000 THB annual fee. Unless, if purchase goods from overseas online.
Since AEON is a Japanese Bank, it offers redemption rate of 2 points per Japan Airlines JMB Mile.
E. KTC- Bangkok Airways
This Bangkok Airways affiliated credit cards come with 2 different variations.
KTC- Bangkok Airways and KTC X- Bangkok Airways.
The cost of that "X" is annual fee of 5,350 THB.
The main differences between these variations are
- Additional Blue Ribbon lounge access
- More privileges when flying Bangkok Airways
- x1 or x2 multipliers of KTC Forever points when purchases made under Bangkok Airways
- x3 KTC Forever points when spending every 300,000 Baht in category restaurants, shopping, travel in Thailand and spending in foreign currencies
Seems like a lot to lose, but actually not since travelling is restricted. That 5,350 THB annual fee is not easy to be utilised.
The points earning rate is 25 THB per point. The redemption rate is 1.5 point per Bangkok Airway Flyer Bonus Point.
KTC is on the list of travel card not just because of redemption towards Bangkok Airways, it has partnered with 12 Airlines (including Emirates' Skywards Miles and Mileage Plus of United Airlines) and 2 hotel chains (IHG and Accor)
Although the redemption rate (mostly 3:1) might not be the best, but it offers more choices.
F. Bangkok Bank AirAsia Credit Card
This is another non annual fee credit card. As it is a co-branded credit card, it offers superb benefits for frequent flyer of Airasia.
- Redemption rate of 20 THB per Big Point.
- Fast Track of Platinum Status for Big Loyalty.
- Vouchers for luggage loading and Hot Seat selection (These are perks only for flights from Thailand, could not be used in overseas)
G. SCB My Travel
SCB has partnered with 3 different airlines for mileage transfer, with different conversion rates:
2 Points per FlyerBonus Point (Bangkok Airways)
1.7 Points per ROP Mile (Thai Airways)
1.5 Points per Big Point (Air Asia)
On SCB website, it advertised as x2 points for every 20 THB, which is a bit tricky. In other word, that sentence means "earning rate is 10 THB per point".
This card comes with an annual fee of 3,000 THB (waivable with 300,000 THB spend).
H. THAI American Express Platinum Credit Card
This might not be the best value travel card out there, but there are some huge bonuses that cannot be neglected. (Some are even annual offers)
Here is it, for the high spenders out there.
- 50% more ROP bonus miles for spending after the first 100,000 to 500,000 THB in year 2020.
- 5,000 ROP Bonus miles for first purchase made on card after activated in 30 days.
- Receive 35,000 ROP bonus miles when spend 1.5 Million THB each year.
- 50% discount on awards redemption for a companion on Royal First or Royal Silk class roundtrip ticket.
Another 4 interesting benefits that might not be used recently would be:
- Fast Track to ROP Gold Status.
- 2x ROP Miles when purchases made towards Thai Airways.
- 50% more bonus miles on selected routes or flights.
- One complimentary Royal First Class ticket for every 7.5 roundtrip or 15 international sector Royal First Class tickets purchased and flown.
However, this card comes with a non-waivable annual fee of 4,280 THB. The point earning rate is 25 THB per point and redemption rate is 1.8 points per mile.
This card is specifically designed for high spenders and frequent flyer of Thai Airways.
In conclusion, point collecting is an infinite game and that travelling will not be stopped forever. We should get ready when the times is come.
The same as collecting points while planning for the next travel itinerary, we should keep improving ourselves in different skills or knowledge, even when staying at home.
Opportunities are only offered to the ones who are read for it.
P.S Most of the banks provide limited service due to the pandemic. I would personally recommend applying cards from banks that you already have relationships built up. It will be a lot more efficient and hassle-less.
Comments