Does Hong Kong accept AE credit card?

While Visa and Mastercard are more widely accepted in Hong Kong, some merchants do accept American Express.

What is the difference between American Express, Visa and Mastercard?

American Express, Visa and Mastercard are all credit card companies that maintain global payment networks. American Express is slightly less widely accepted than the other two but is still valid at many major hotels, department stores, and restaurants. Amex also issues credit cards directly (rather than through banks), so it may offer more attractive perks and better customer service.

Can I transfer American Express rewards points to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles?

Yes, you can convert Amex Membership Rewards points into miles with any of Amex’s partner frequent flyer programs, including Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. Every 15,000 points can be changed to 1,000 Asia Miles, which can then be used to redeem Cathay Pacific flights.

How do I activate my American Express credit card?

Easy: Just call the number on the back of the credit card. Alternatively, you can activate your credit card online. We recommend registering for American Express online services as well, so you can receive credit card e-statements, pay bills online, and manage your rewards points easily.

How do I get an American Express annual fee waiver?

Several American Express credit cards offer a first-year annual fee waiver. Subsequently, you may be able to get your annual fee waived if you meet specific spending requirements. For example, American Express Cathay Pacific credit card holders get a fee waiver by spending HK$100,000 in a year.

Is it Difficult to Get an AE Credit Card?

You might have heard that American Express credit cards are for high net worth individuals and are therefore out of reach for most regular people in Hong Kong. This is true for certain American Express cards such as The Platinum Card, which has a very high annual income requirement of HK$1,000,000. If you’re not a millionaire, however, there are still quite a few American Express credit cards to choose from. In fact, the annual income requirements can be as low as HK$150,000, making Amex cards suitable even as entry-level credit cards.

Best American Express Unionpay Credit Cards in Hong Kong

Compare American Express Unionpay credit cards in Hong Kong to get Unionpay exclusive discounts, from free movie tickets to supplementary airport lounge access.

Best American Express Credit Cards in Hong Kong

Credit Card	Annual Income Requirement	Benefits
American Express Cathay Pacific Elite Credit Card	HK$300,000	HK$6= 1 Asia Miles on local spending, HK$6= 1.5 Asia Miles on oversea spending with no cap, unlimited year-round free entry of the Plaza Premium Lounge
American Express Cathay Pacific Credit Card	HK$150,000	HK$8 = 2 Asia Miles on Cathay Pacific flight bookings
Blue Cash℠ Credit Card from American Express	HK$150,000	1.2% cashback on local and overseas spending
American Express I.T Cashback Card	HK$150,000	2% cashback at I.T stores
American Express® Platinum Credit Card	HK$300,000	HK$1 = up to 3 points
American Express® Platinum Card	HK$1,000,000	Unlimited entry of the Centurion Lounge

How Does AE Reward Program Work?

American Express rewards program - the Membership Rewards offers selected Amex credit cards points (HK$1 = 1 point) as cardholders spend. The accumulated points can be redeemed for coupons, gifts, or air miles.

Privileges

American Express offers its cardholders a host of travel benefits including:

Free access to airport lounge including The Centurion Lounge, Priority Pass Lounges and unlimited access to Plaza Premium Lounge

24/7 access to a global assistance hotline

Online Fraud Protection Guarantee

Miles

Cardholders can earn points for eligible transactions which can be converted to miles including Asia Miles, Avios and KrisFlyer

Cardholders can also pay HK$240 to enroll in the Turbo Programme, which doubles the earning rate to HK$1=2 points, up to the first HK$160,000 spent per year

Holder of American Express Platinum Credit Card can earn HK$1=3 points (capped at HK$120,000 spent) without prior registration

Discounts & Benefits

Cardholders can enjoy a wide variety of fringe benefits:

buy-1-get-1-free movie ticket offers at Broadway Circuit and AMC Pacific Place Cinemas on Friday

Enjoy up to 50 % off at designated restaurants of Maxim’s Chinese Cuisine, m.a.x. Concepts and Cafe Deco Group as an American Express Gourmet Club member

Enjoy dining, shopping and travel offers in a wide range of participating merchants such as Dior Beauty, BLT Steak, Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel, etc.

American Express Cathay Pacific vs Cathay Pacific Elite vs Platinum Card which one to choose?

American Express Platinum Card is designed for high-income earners while American Express Cathay Pacific Card/ American Express Cathay Pacific Elite Card has a more friendly annual income requirement. If you have an annual income of HK$300,000 or more, you can consider applying for American Express Cathay Pacific Elite Card as it offers a higher earning rate and more access to the airport lounge networks.

American Express Cathay Pacific Card

HK$8 = 1 Asia Mile on all local purchases and HK$8 = 1.5 Asia Miles on foreign currency purchases (with no cap)

Online Cathay Pacific flight booking: every HK$8 spend= 2 Asia Miles

Free green tier membership of The Marco Polo Club

Enjoy free access to Plaza Premium Lounge twice a year

Complimentary travel insurance and shopping protection

Convert spending into Asia Miles automatically with no handling fee

American Express Cathay Pacific Elite Card

HK$6 = 1 Asia Mile on all local purchases and HK$6 = 1.5 Asia Miles on foreign currency purchases (with no cap)

Online Cathay Pacific flight booking: every HK$6 spend= 2 Asia Miles

Enjoy enrollment fee waiver for green tier membership of The Marco Polo Club

Enjoy up to 3-day priority redemption for online discount flight awards bookings

Unlimited Plaza Premium Lounge access every year and get a complimentary Priority Pass and access to over 1,000 lounges

American Express Platinum Card

Spending can be converted into membership reward points for cash back, gifts or miles

Earn 3 Membership Reward Points for every HK$1 spent on foreign currency spending (Cap at HK$120,000)

Unlimited access to airport lounges including The Centurion® Lounge, Priority Pass Lounges and more

Buy-1-Get-1-Free on movie tickets on Friday at Broadway Circuit and AMC Pacific Place Cinemas

Step 1

Eligibility Criteria

Age: must be 18 years old or above
Residential status: Hong Kong resident
Minimum income: meet the minimum annual income requirement. The minimum income requirement varies between cards so it is best to check before applying

Step 2

Documents Required

Proof of identity: HKID copy/ valid passport issued by place of origin
Income Proof: payslip/ bank statements/ passbook records
Address Proof: utility bill/ bank/ credit card statement or letter issued by a bank within the past 3 months

Step 3

Application Process

Submit an online application form
Then submit supporting documents online
Once the application and supporting documents are received, AMEX will process the application
If successful, the new credit card will be sent to you by mail.

How to redeem AE credit card air miles?

American Express partners with multiple airline loyalty programmes including Asia Miles, British Airways Executive Club, KrisFlyer etc., you can start transferring the points in your credit card by registering your frequent flyer program membership account number and name online or by phone.

The minimum points transfer requirement for each transaction is 15,000 points and multiples of 7,500 points on top. Note that each point transfer to air miles will require a total amount of HK$200 as an administration fee, but not applicable to Centurion members and Corporate Cardmembers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Hong Kong accept AE credit card?: While Visa and Mastercard are more widely accepted in Hong Kong, some merchants do accept American Express.
What is the difference between American Express, Visa and Mastercard?: American Express, Visa and Mastercard are all credit card companies that maintain global payment networks. American Express is slightly less widely accepted than the other two but is still valid at many major hotels, department stores, and restaurants. Amex also issues credit cards directly (rather than through banks), so it may offer more attractive perks and better customer service.
Can I transfer American Express rewards points to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles?: Yes, you can convert Amex Membership Rewards points into miles with any of Amex’s partner frequent flyer programs, including Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. Every 15,000 points can be changed to 1,000 Asia Miles, which can then be used to redeem Cathay Pacific flights.
How do I activate my American Express credit card?: Easy: Just call the number on the back of the credit card. Alternatively, you can activate your credit card online. We recommend registering for American Express online services as well, so you can receive credit card e-statements, pay bills online, and manage your rewards points easily.
How do I get an American Express annual fee waiver?: Several American Express credit cards offer a first-year annual fee waiver. Subsequently, you may be able to get your annual fee waived if you meet specific spending requirements. For example, American Express Cathay Pacific credit card holders get a fee waiver by spending HK$100,000 in a year.
Is it Difficult to Get an AE Credit Card?: You might have heard that American Express credit cards are for high net worth individuals and are therefore out of reach for most regular people in Hong Kong. This is true for certain American Express cards such as The Platinum Card, which has a very high annual income requirement of HK$1,000,000. If you’re not a millionaire, however, there are still quite a few American Express credit cards to choose from. In fact, the annual income requirements can be as low as HK$150,000, making Amex cards suitable even as entry-level credit cards.