Best Travel Credit Cards Malaysia 2025: Miles, Lounges & Real Value

In 2025, If your card still gives you 0.2% cashback when booking flights, you’re leaving money on the table.

The best travel credit cards in Malaysia don’t just look nice on brochures, they actually save you money every time you fly. The top picks now focus on:

• High multipliers on overseas & travel spending: 5×, 8×, even 10× points per RM1.
• Guaranteed lounge access: often guaranteed, with minimal conditions.
• Travel insurance that matters: flight delays, medical coverage, lost luggage.
• Realistic eligibility: cards you can actually qualify for, not just RM20k/month earners.

I’ve verified these selections against RinggitPlus, iMoney, official bank sites, and trusted travel card reviewers so you only see the cards worth your Ringgit

1. What Is a Travel Credit Card?

A travel credit card is designed for Malaysians who fly at least once or twice a year. Instead of cashback, you earn air miles, reward points, and travel perks like:

• Airport lounge access
• Complimentary travel insurance
• Accelerated miles for foreign currency and airline spend
• Hotel and airport transfer discounts

If you redeem smartly, a good travel card can save you thousands of Ringgit a year on flights, comfort, and insurance.

2. Top Travel Credit Cards to Watch in 2025

Here are the 10 standout travel cards Malaysians should keep an eye on this year. Each has strengths depending on how often (and how far) you travel.

3. Best Picks by Usage Scenario

• You fly 2–3 times a year, want perks but don’t want the heaviest fees → HSBC TravelOne is a good balance.
• You spend most overseas and want to convert fast to miles → UOB PRVI / Elite shines, especially on travel/forex spend.
• You want lounge access every trip without thinking → Standard Chartered Journey
• Luxury travel & hotel stays matter more to you → CIMB Travel World Elite because of its strong hotel tie-ups. But salary needs to be strong too.

4. In-Depth Reviews of the Top Picks

1. HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

• Annual Fee: RM300 (waived first year)
• Miles/Points: 8× on foreign currency, 5× on travel/dining
• Lounge Access: 6× Plaza Premium Lounge passes yearly
• Insurance: Up to USD250,000 travel coverage (activated with full airfare charge)
• Why it’s good: Fast miles accumulation, solid lounge perks, and a fair annual fee. Great balance for Malaysians who want value without paying elite-level fees.

🔗 Apply

2. Standard Chartered Journey

• Annual Fee: RM600 (waived on RM60k annual spend)
• Miles/Points: 5 miles per RM1 overseas, 1 mile local
• Lounge Access: Unlimited Plaza Premium Lounge (KLIA1/KLIA2)
• Insurance: USD100k travel medical coverage
• Why it’s good: Still the only Malaysian card with unlimited lounge access. A no-brainer for frequent flyers.

🔗 Apply

3. UOB PRVI Miles Card

• Annual Fee: RM198 (waived 1st year; waived with RM20k annual spend from Jan 2026)
• Miles/Points: 5× UNIRinggit on overseas & travel; 1×–1.5× on local (depends on category)
• Lounge Access: Limited (4–8 passes depending on variant)
• Insurance: Up to RM1M personal accident/medical (via Liberty Insurance)
• Why it’s good: Flexible airline partners and one of the strongest overseas earn rates. Ideal for mid-tier spenders.

🔗 Apply

4. CIMB Travel World Elite

• Annual Fee: RM1,215 (waived with RM80k annual spend)
• Miles/Points: 10× bonus points on overseas, airlines, duty-free
• Lounge Access: 12× Plaza Premium Lounges worldwide
• Insurance: USD500,000 coverage
• Why it’s good: Premium perks and huge earn rates, but only realistic if your income clears RM20k/month.

🔗 Apply

5. Public Bank Visa Signature

• Annual Fee: RM388 (waived 1st year; waived on 12 swipes annually)
• Miles/Points: 3× VIP Points overseas (convertible to Enrich/BIG miles)
• Lounge Access: 2× Plaza Premium Lounge (with RM1k spend)
• Insurance: RM500,000 travel insurance
• Why it’s good: A practical mid-tier choice combining cashback, miles, and insurance.

🔗 Apply

6. Maybank 2 Cards Premier

• Annual Fee: RM800 (waived with RM80k annual spend)
• Miles/Points: 5× TreatsPoints overseas; 1× local
• Lounge Access: 2× Priority Pass (some variants allow more)
• Insurance: Up to RM1,000,000
• Why it’s good: Entry-level premium option for Enrich and KrisFlyer collectors. Works best if you already bank with Maybank.

🔗 Apply

7. RHB World Mastercard

• Annual Fee: Free for life
• Miles/Points: Up to 6% cashback on travel/dining (convertible to miles, capped)
• Lounge Access: 5× Plaza Premium Malaysia lounges (with min. RM500 monthly spend)
• Insurance: RM600,000 travel coverage
• Why it’s good: No fee, solid perks, and great for budget travelers who want lounge access without paying premium fees

🔗 Apply

8. Alliance Bank Visa Infinite

• Annual Fee: RM438 (waived 1st year; waived with RM120k spend)
• Miles/Points: 10× Timeless Bonus Points (TBP) overseas; 1× local
• Lounge Access: Unlimited with RM120k spend; otherwise 2× Plaza Premium + 1× Travel Club (1st year)
• Insurance: Up to RM2M travel coverage
• Why it’s good: Strong overseas earn rate and very generous insurance. Best if you can hit the waiver spend.

🔗 Apply

9. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Amex Gold

• Annual Fee: RM100 (free first year)
• Miles/Points: RM1 = 1 KrisFlyer Mile (on SIA/Scoot/KrisShop spend)
• Lounge Access: 50% discount at Plaza Premium Lounges (up to 5×/year)
• Insurance: Up to RM750,000 personal accident
• Why it’s good: Direct KrisFlyer earners will love the simplicity, but it’s niche, only worth it if you fly Singapore Airlines often.

🔗 Apply

5. Travel Miles Example by Monthly Spending

Scenario: RM4,000 monthly spend, RM1,000 overseas.

• HSBC TravelOne: 8,000 points/month (assumes RM1,000 FX @ 8× earn) = 96,000 points/year → ≈ 4,571 Enrich miles (21:1) or 3,840 KrisFlyer miles (25:1).
• UOB PRVI Miles: ~12,000 miles/year → KL–Bangkok return.
• SC Journey: ~60,000 miles/year with unlimited lounge = excellent for frequent flyers.

6. FAQs: What Malaysians Want to Know

Q: Which card has unlimited lounge access?
A: Standard Chartered Journey

Q: Which is best for budget travellers?
A: RHB World Mastercard (no annual fee).

Q: Which card earns miles fastest?
A: CIMB Travel World Elite (10× overseas) and HSBC TravelOne (8× FX).

Q: Do miles expire?
A: Yes, most banks’ reward points expire in 3 years. Airlines like Enrich & KrisFlyer also have expiry rules.

7. Cards to Approach with Caution in 2025

Not every card with “travel” in the name is a good deal. Some look attractive upfront but don’t deliver real value. Here’s what to be careful of:

1. High annual fees, average perks

• Example: UOB Visa Infinite (RM600+)
• You do get lounge access and some points, but earn rates aren’t the best. Unless you’re spending RM10k+ overseas every month, the fee isn’t worth it.

2. No travel insurance included

• Example: AEON Visa Gold, marketed as a travel-friendly card with lounge perks, but it doesn’t bundle in travel insurance.
• You’ll need separate travel insurance if you rely on this card alone.

3. Weak local/overseas multipliers

• Example: Standard Chartered Journey gives 5× on overseas spend but only 1× locally.
• If most of your spending is in Malaysia, you won’t earn enough for meaningful redemptions.

4. Limited lounge passes disguised as “access”

• Some cards (e.g. AEON Visa Gold, AEON BiG Visa) only give 3–6 free entries a year, then charge RM120+ per visit.
• For frequent travellers, this adds up quickly.

5. Rewards tied to debt

• Example: UOB Simple Card (though cashback-based) only rewards if you carry a balance.
• Paying 18% interest just to unlock perks defeats the whole purpose.

Bottom line: Travel cards should save you money, not cost you more. Always check the fine print before applying

8. How to Apply for a Travel Credit Card in Malaysia

1. Compare cards side by side on RinggitPlus, iMoney, or the bank’s official site.
2. Check income eligibility: RM3k/month for entry cards, RM5k–8k for mid-tier, RM15k+ for premium/elite.
3. Prepare documents: IC, payslips, EPF statement or EA form.
4. Apply online: Most approvals take 3 to 7 working days if you meet requirements.

9. Final Thoughts

The right travel credit card isn’t just about points. It’s about saving thousands on flights, airport comfort, and insurance, perks that can outweigh even a RM600 annual fee.

• Best balanced option: HSBC TravelOne
• Best for lounge lovers: Standard Chartered Journey
• Best for miles chasers: CIMB Travel World Elite
• Best budget pick: RHB World Mastercard

If you fly even twice a year, a travel card is not a luxury. It’s a money-saving tool that pays for itself.

But what if you don’t travel that often? Or maybe you’d rather save straight on daily spending instead of chasing miles?

Then you’ll want to check this out: How to Get Up to RM2,200 Back With These 10 Cashback Cards in Malaysia (2025).