For comparison purposes only. Final terms are determined by the issuing bank.
Review
Good Membership Rewards™ point value, but hard to justify after the first year
The American Express Platinum Credit Card is an Amex-branded card issued and managed by Maybank in Malaysia. Applications, annual fees, servicing and wallet support all follow Maybank's local setup. So this is still very much a Maybank card, just on the American Express network.
The best part of the card is its Membership Rewards points. For common airline redemptions like Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Asia Miles, the cost per mile is around RM2.50. That is okay, not special. The more interesting rates are with AirAsia, Etihad, Thai Airways and Delta Air Lines, where the cost can go as low as about RM1.12. For AirAsia, that is especially useful for many Malaysian users.
The harder part is earning enough points. The card gives 5x Membership Rewards points on groceries, telecommunications, selected cineplexes, petrol and participating bookstores. These are practical local categories, but they are not the easiest places to spend very heavily. Petrol also has a limit: 5x points are capped at RM500 per transaction, and any amount above RM500 earns only 1x point per RM1.
For normal local or overseas spending, cardholders earn up to 2 Membership Rewards points per RM1. Utilities, education, EzyPay and insurance earn 1x point per RM1. If most of your spending falls into these lower earning rates, the card becomes much harder to justify.
The annual fee is the biggest pressure point. The principal card costs RM800 per year, with a first-year fee waiver. Supplementary cards cost RM550, although the first 2 supplementary cards are free. The first year is easy to try. The second year is where the maths becomes less friendly.
Digital wallet support is limited to Apple Pay. If you use Android, this is not a very convenient card for daily spending. Amex acceptance can also be more selective than Visa or Mastercard, so the 5x categories only matter if the merchants you use actually accept Amex.
Verdict: The American Express Platinum Credit Card is worth considering if you want Membership Rewards points, can use the stronger transfer partners, and can put enough real spending into the 5x categories. The first year is attractive because the fee is waived. After that, the RM800 annual fee is hard to ignore. If you mainly want KrisFlyer miles, compare it with the Maybank Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express series first. If most of your spending earns only 1x or 2x points, this card may feel too expensive lah.
Pros
- Strong airline redemption value with selected partners
- Around RM1.12 cost per mile for AirAsia, Etihad, Thai Airways and Delta Air Lines
- 5x Membership Rewards points on selected local spending categories
Cons
- RM800 annual fee after the first year
- 5x categories may be hard to scale for high spending
- Petrol 5x points are capped at RM500 per transaction
- Only supports Apple Pay
- Amex acceptance is more limited than Visa or Mastercard
Rewards Points
| Category | Multiplier | Cap |
|---|---|---|
Groceries | 5xPoint | Uncapped |
Telecommunications | 5xPoint | Uncapped |
Selected Cineplexes | 5xPoint | Uncapped |
Petrol1 | 5xPoint | Uncapped |
Participating bookstores | 5xPoint | Uncapped |
Other Local Spend | 2xPoint | Uncapped |
Overseas spend | 2xPoint | Uncapped |
Utilities | 1xPoint | Uncapped |
EzyPay | 1xPoint | Uncapped |
Education | 1xPoint | Uncapped |
Insurance | 1xPoint | Uncapped |
5X Membership Rewards™ is capped at RM500 per transaction and transaction above RM500 will be awarded 1X Membership Rewards™ for every RM1 spend.
Rewards rates, caps and eligibility are subject to bank-defined terms and conditions.
Information is compiled independently and may not always reflect the latest updates. Please refer to the relevant official website for final and up-to-date details.
Points Conversion
Best CPM is calculated based on the highest earn rate available for each points program. A lower CPM indicates better value. Click on a row to see CPM at different earn rates.
Information is compiled independently and may not always reflect the latest updates. Please refer to the relevant official website for final and up-to-date details.
Air Miles Calculator
Estimates use monthly category totals. Actual rewards may differ due to transaction-level rounding, merchant coding, exclusions, caps, and bank terms.
Monthly Spend
Enter eligible spend by category to estimate your miles.
Only programs supported by every points currency earned on this card are shown.
Air Miles Summary
Card benefits
American Express Global Assist
Immediate, valuable assistance over the phone anytime and anywhere with American Express Global Assist
Complimentary Travel Personal Accident coverage
Enjoy complimentary Travel Personal Accident coverage of up to RM700,000 as well as Travel Inconvenience coverage for missed connections, luggage delay and luggage loss when you charge your ticket to the card.