Best Malaysian Credit Card with Airport Lounge Access: Full Guide
Having airport lounge access can make the start of any journey - not to mention a long layover - a far more relaxing and enjoyable experience. More and more frequently, travelers think of the journey as an integral part of their vacation, which makes lounge access even more appealing. Plus, if you’re traveling for work and need a quiet space to catch up before getting on a plane, a lounge can be a game changer. If you can get into a lounge courtesy of your credit card, you’re onto a good thing.
This guide looks at the best Malaysian airport lounge access credit cards, based on costs, flexibility and features. We will also introduce the Wise card, which offers low fees from 0.71% for international payments, with no annual fee and no interest to pay.
Best credit cards with Airport Lounge access
Let’s start with a head to head comparison of our picks for Malaysian credit cards that offer lounge access as a perk for customers. It’s important to bear in mind that getting lounge access can come at a cost which you’ll need to weigh up.
Credit cards often have a high annual fee to pay, plus there are often foreign transaction fees which apply every time you spend in a foreign currency. While you’re weighing up your options, compare your credit card choices with the Wise debit card. With Wise, there’s no fee to spend if you already have the currency for the payment in your account. And if currency conversion is required from MYR, the fee starts from just [NumberWiseFee]% with no annual fee and no interest to pay.
| Card Name | Annual Fees | Min Income | Foreign transaction fees | Perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIMB Travel World Credit Card | 554.72 MYR | 100,000 MYR annual income | Network rate + 1% | 8x bonus points on travel spend 12x annual lounge access options Some free travel insurance options |
| Maybank Visa Infinite Credit Card | 800 MYR | 100,000 MYR annual income | Network rate + 2.25% | 5x annual lounge access options Golf and dining privileges Airport speed pass |
| RHB World Mastercard Credit Card | None | 80,000 MYR annual income | Network rate + 1% | 6x annual lounge access options Earn up to 6% cash back on spending Golf privileges |
| UOB Visa Infinite Credit Card | 600 MYR | 120,000 MYR annual income | Network rate + 1% | 12x annual lounge access options Airport limousine service Earn rewards as you spend |
| Standard Chartered Priority Banking Visa Infinite Credit Card | 800 MYR | Standard Chartered Priority Banking customers only - you need to have 3 million MYR or more under management with the bank | Network rate + 1% | Unlimited annual lounge access Money back on airport transfers Luxury perks and concierge Earn rewards as you spend |
| AmBank SIGNATURE Priority Banking Metal Visa Infinite Credit Card | Fee waived | By invitation only | Network rate + 1% | Unlimited annual lounge access Airport fast track and air mile earning Concierge service |
| HSBC Premier Travel Mastercard Credit Card | 600 MYR | By invitation only | Network rate + 1% | Unlimited annual lounge access Earn air miles Get free global roaming and access to digital health services |
What to Look for in a Credit Card for Lounge Access
The best travel cards available in Malaysia will often also offer lounge access. But what else is important when selecting a lounge access credit card?
When you’re picking a credit card with lounge access bear in mind the costs and how you’ll actually be able to use the perks. Weighing up the value of the features against annual or interest fees can help you decide if the card is right for you. Let’s also look at some of the finer details to consider when choosing an airport lounge credit card.
Looking for lounge access because you’re off to Australia? Read our guide on Australian visas for Malaysians before you book.
Lounge Networks and Accessibility
Not all airport lounge access credit cards have the same access terms and conditions. Some have limits on how long you’ll be able to visit a lounge, and some have restrictions on which airports or which lounge networks are available. To get the most premium lounge credit card available you may well need to have a very high income or invest heavily with a single bank.
Here are a few other considerations when you choose a credit card for lounge access:
Does the card offer lounge access in Malaysia only or in other countries and regions too?
How many times a year can you go to an airport lounge - and is the offer for the primary card holder only, or are guests allowed?
Does the card allow you into a selection of lounge brands or a specific one?
Is there a minimum spend requirement to qualify for lounge access?
Entry Conditions and Fees
Pretty much all credit cards which offer lounge access will put some conditions on how you can get access. This may mean that you can only get a few free visits, or that you get discounted access only, with a small fee to pay every time you go to the lounge. It’s also common to find that you need to spend a certain amount every month to qualify for lounge access.
Many cards restrict the lounge access to the primary card holder only. If you travel with family you’ll also need to take a look at the guest policies and additional charges which apply if you choose to go to the lounge with your loved ones.
Other Travel Benefits
Pretty much all lounge access credit cards will also offer extra travel benefits This may mean that you get complimentary travel insurance, concierge services, and golf or dining discounts for example. Some cards are aimed more at lifestyle benefits, with perks available for when you travel, while others have a focus on earning rewards as you spend, offering their own reward schemes, or integration with frequent flyer programs so you can earn air miles.
Which card is right for you will depend on your specific preferences and needs. Think about how often you’ll use the benefits offered before you sign up. And as lounge access credit cards still have fees to pay, you may also want to look out for credit cards with no foreign transaction fees to keep the costs of spending low when you're away from home.
7 Best Credit Cards for Lounge Access in Malaysia
Next, let’s look at the cards we compared earlier, in more detail, so you can decide if any might suit your needs.
CIMB Travel World Credit Card
The CIMB Travel World Credit Card is a good option for frequent travelers with 12x lounge passes and 8x bonus points per 1 MYR on travel spend.
| CIMB Travel World card points |
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The CIMB Travel World Credit Card is for individuals with a minimum 100,000 MYR annual income and also has a fairly high annual fee. However, it comes with 12x annual lounge access options, making this a good option for frequent travelers looking for access to a lounge on a regular basis. You'll earn 8x bonus points per 1 MYR on travel spend, with some local spend earning opportunities too.
Maybank Visa Infinite Credit Card
The Maybank Visa Infinite card lets the principal card member access airport lounges 5 times, and also offers great lifestyle benefits.
| Maybank Visa Infinite card points |
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The Maybank Visa Infinite card has a fairly high annual fee, but also offers some good perks like access to Plaza premium lounges at home and abroad, and discounts on dining and golf. If you’re a frequent leisure traveler this could be an enticing offer. For regular travel you may also be able to redeem an airport speed pass to make your journey through the airport even easier.
RHB World Mastercard Credit Card
The RHB World Mastercard Credit Card has no annual fee and could allow you to visit airport lounges 6x per year, with ways to earn cash back as you spend.
| RHB World Mastercard card points |
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The RHB World Mastercard Credit Card can be an appealing option as there’s no ongoing fee to pay and the cash back you earn could rise to 6% if you use your card regularly on local spending. When you’re away, the cash back opportunity only gets up to 2%, but you can get access to airport lounges with a low monthly minimum spend, to a total of 6x annually.
UOB Visa Infinite Credit Card
The UOB Visa Infinite Credit Card lets you use regional airport lounges 12x annually, through the Dragon Pass app.
| UOB Visa Infinite card points |
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The UOB Visa Infinite Credit Card could be a particularly attractive option if you fly in and out of KLIA frequently as you can get an airport transfer through the card with a minimum spend of 5,000 MYR in the previous month, plus lounge access. Lounge access is arranged through Dragon Pass which is an app that lets you book up the services you need conveniently. The card has a fairly high minimum income and annual fee, plus additional fees if you choose to add a supplementary card.
Standard Chartered Priority Banking Visa Infinite Credit Card
The Standard Chartered Priority Banking Visa Infinite Credit Card is available only to a pretty exclusive group - but does come with amazing lounge privileges if you qualify.
| Standard Chartered Priority Banking Visa Infinite card points |
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You’ll need to have a high wealth individual to qualify for the Standard Chartered Priority Banking Visa Infinite Credit Card but if you do you may find you can get unlimited lounge access to over 1000 airport lounges globally via LoungeKey. The card has a high annual fee which can be waived if you spend a lot using it, and also offers reward earning opportunities and a whole suite of luxury lifestyle perks like hotel upgrades and a concierge.
AmBank SIGNATURE Priority Banking Metal Visa Infinite Credit Card
The AmBank SIGNATURE Priority Banking Metal Visa Infinite Credit Card is aimed at very high wealth individuals and offered by invitation only - with unlimited lounge access if you qualify.
| AmBank SIGNATURE Priority Banking Metal Visa Infinite card points |
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The AmBank SIGNATURE Priority Banking Metal Visa Infinite Credit Card has exclusive privileges, including unlimited lounge access with LoungeKey and Plaza Premium, air miles and Visa’s concierge service. There’s no annual fee to pay for up to 4 cards in total, and you could also benefit from extra travel perks like speedy immigration clearance and some travel insurance for free.
HSBC Premier Travel Mastercard Credit Card
The HSBC Premier Travel Mastercard Credit Card is an invitation only card with unlimited Plaza premium lounge access and some excellent travel perks.
| HSBC Premier Travel Mastercard card points |
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The HSBC Premier Travel Mastercard is offered to high wealth individuals who have 3,000,000 MYR or more invested with HSBC. The card has an annual fee but in return you get unlimited lounge access and a thoughtfully curated suite of travel perks which include global data roaming, and access to digital health services.
How to Maximize Lounge Access Benefits
Once you have your lounge access credit card, you’ll want to make sure you make the most of it. Here are a few pointers.
Understand Your Card’s Lounge Program
Before you head to the airport, make sure you check lounge eligibility at the airport you’re flying from, and understand the free visit quotas. Cards generally limit the lounges you can visit, and the number of visits annually - so knowing what’s on offer overall can help you choose the right time to use your lounge passes.
Plan Your Visits Strategically
If you’re going to arrive late at the airport anyway, heading to a lounge can feel like a waste. Instead, think about when to cash in your passes, avoiding peak hours where you can and getting to know the best lounges at key airports you travel from frequently. You may also want to time your visits around meal times to make the most of the food on offer - although there are also always snacks to hand if you want them.
Combine Benefits with Travel Perks
Most lounge access credit cards also come with perks which can include rides to the airport, complimentary travel insurance and hotel, dining or golf discounts. Read through the options available with your card to know what you can cash in and when. You could also use reward points or airmiles to upgrade your seat or get other benefits if you decide to.
The Wise card, designed for international travel
Many credit cards offer attractive perks - which can include lounge access. But they can also often come with high foreign transaction fees. Typically, credit card companies charge foreign transaction fees of 1% or more on top of the exchange rate that’s set by the card network. The network rate, in turn, may also have a markup added compared to the mid-market rate. This means that when you use a credit card abroad, your transactions are more expensive than spending at home.
In contrast, the Wise card lets you pay with no fees if you already have the required currency in your account. If you need to convert money, Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate with a low, transparent fee starting from 0.71%. This helps you save on unnecessary fees when spending abroad.
Conclusion
Different lounge access credit cards have been designed to meet different traveler needs. From low cost options with limited lounge perks, to invitation only products for high earning individuals who get access to lounges globally and without caps, there’s a good product there for you. Use this guide to compare your options for the best Malaysian credit card with lounge access, to start your research.
Then, when choosing the right credit card for lounge access for your own needs, weigh up how often you would use the perks offered against any ongoing or transaction costs to make sure you pick a card that’s really worthwhile. Then you can get to the airport knowing a little luxury awaits.
FAQ
Lots of lounge access credit cards are available to meet different traveler needs. Use this guide to compare your options for the best Malaysian credit card with lounge access, including lower cost options like the RHB World Mastercard Credit Card which has no annual fee, and invitation only products from HSBC or AmBank.
You may get some free airport lounge access through schemes offered by your credit card. The lounge access credit cards available vary a lot, and can come with high fees, so compare a few to decide which is right for your needs.
There’s no single best credit card for airport lounge access - it’ll depend on your preferences and eligibility. Lounge access credit cards may have high minimum income requirements, and fees to think about, so weighing up a few is important to get the best balance for your needs.