The Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard, which the bank renamed from its Asia Miles Mastercard in July 2021, pays in Asia Miles, the Cathay Pacific programme. It has three versions that match three levels of banking relationship, and the base version is the one most people meet first. This guide goes through what Standard Chartered lists in October 2026, how to tell whether the base card covers its fee, and what the higher tiers add.
The card at a glance
- HK$6
- A mile on other spending
- HK$4
- A mile on dining, hotels and overseas
- 1st year
- Annual fee waived
- HK$96,000
- Annual income
Eligible Hong Kong dollar spending outside the faster categories
And 2 miles per HK$4 at Cathay partner restaurants
HK$2,000 a year after that
The level Standard Chartered lists for applicants
Where each rate applies
Standard Chartered lists four rates for the base card.
| Spending | Rate |
|---|---|
| Cathay Pacific flight tickets, Cathay shopping, Cathay Holidays, HK Express flight tickets and duty-free | Up to HK$2 = 1 mile |
| Cathay partner restaurants | HK$4 = 2 miles |
| Dining, hotels and overseas spending | HK$4 = 1 mile |
| Other eligible spending posted in Hong Kong dollars | HK$6 = 1 mile |
- Asia Miles
- The Cathay Pacific rewards currency that this card earns.
- Extra miles
- A promotional addition on top of the HK$6 basic rate for Cathay and HK Express spending, capped at 2,667 miles per promotion period.
- Eligible spending
- What Standard Chartered counts for miles, as set out in its terms.
- Membership year
- A year of card membership, the period over which the higher tiers' lounge passes are counted.
Does it cover its own fee?
The first year is free, so the question starts in year two. A HK$2,000 fee is covered once the miles earned are worth more than that to you, which depends on a value you choose.
For the method behind this, see annual fees and break-even.
Waiving the fee
The key facts statement lists the fee as HK$2,000 for the principal card, HK$4,000 for the Priority Banking version and HK$8,000 for Priority Private, with supplementary cards waived. Standard Chartered lists a fee waiver for Priority Banking clients, for Premium Banking clients who meet the relevant minimum relationship balance and for payroll account clients. Conditions apply, so read the annual fee waiver terms it links. If the card is closed, whether by you or the bank, the fee already paid is not refunded, even part-way through the year.
The three versions
| Cathay Mastercard | Priority Banking | Priority Private | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas spending | HK$4 = 1 mile | HK$3 = 1 mile | HK$2 = 1 mile |
| Dining and hotels | HK$4 = 1 mile | HK$4 = 1 mile | Not listed |
| Cathay lounge passes a membership year | Not listed | 4 Business class | 2 First class and 8 Business class |
| Check-in and boarding | Not listed | Premium Economy counters, Group 3 | Business counters, Group 2 |
| Annual fee waiver | First year, then conditions | HK$4,000 waived with an average daily balance of HK$1,000,000 | HK$8,000 waived with an average daily balance of HK$8,000,000 |
The lounge passes can be shared with a travel companion, and they are for flights marketed or operated by Cathay Pacific. Standard Chartered also lists a 10% discount on some Asia Miles redemptions and fees. For how lounge access works in general, see airport lounge access in 2026.
Eligibility and the application
Standard Chartered lists Hong Kong residents aged 18 or over with an annual income of HK$96,000 or more, who are existing Cathay members. It asks for a valid adult Hong Kong identity card, proof of your latest address and income proof: one month of payslips or bank statements for regular earners, three months for irregular earners, and a business registration certificate with the latest profits tax demand note if you are self-employed. It lists welcome offers that depend on a choice between miles and a Cathay gift card, with amounts that change, so this guide does not quote them.
Join Cathay first
You need a Cathay membership number to apply.
Check the income and documents
HK$96,000 a year, with the documents above.
Decide which tier fits
The higher tiers depend on banking relationships with large balances, so consider them only if you already have those.
Plan for year two
Set a reminder before the first HK$2,000 fee and decide then whether the miles cover it.
Is it right for you?
Fits you
- You collect Asia Miles and spend at Cathay, HK Express or Cathay partner restaurants.
- You can meet a fee waiver through Priority Banking, Premium Banking or a payroll account.
- You spend steadily on dining and hotels, where HK$4 a mile applies.
Think twice
- Most of your spending is outside those categories, at HK$6 a mile.
- You plan to use it for foreign-currency spending, where the 1.95% charge takes most of the value of HK$4 a mile.
- You want a flat rate you can see without a promotion period in the way.
- You prefer a card whose miles move to many programmes, not one.
See also HSBC EveryMile in Hong Kong and Citi PremierMiles in Hong Kong.
Questions people ask
What does the Cathay Mastercard earn?
Standard Chartered lists up to HK$2 per Asia Mile on eligible Cathay Pacific and HK Express spending, HK$4 per mile on dining, hotels and overseas spending, HK$6 per mile on other eligible spending in Hong Kong dollars, and 2 miles per HK$4 at Cathay partner restaurants. The HK$2 rate depends on extra miles during a promotion period.
What is the annual fee?
The first year's fee is waived and HK$2,000 is charged after that. Standard Chartered lists a waiver for Priority Banking clients, for Premium Banking clients who meet the minimum relationship balance and for payroll account clients, on conditions in its terms. The fee is not refunded if you close the card mid-year.
What does foreign-currency spending cost?
The key facts statement, effective 27 April 2025, lists 1.95% on a transaction in a currency other than Hong Kong dollars: 1% passed on from Mastercard, except for foreign-currency transactions in Hong Kong, plus 0.95% from the bank. It lists 1% on a Hong Kong dollar purchase made outside Hong Kong or with a merchant not registered in Hong Kong, such as many online shops. Interest on purchases is 33.361% a year if you do not pay in full by the due date.
How does the card connect to Cathay membership?
You need to be a Cathay member to apply, and eligible spending earns up to 100 Status Points for HK$500,000, which Standard Chartered says are now awarded quarterly. Cardholders also get a 10% discount on some redemptions, such as hotel stays and Travel Experience Awards, and on dining bills at partner restaurants paid in miles.
What do the Priority Banking and Priority Private versions add?
Priority Banking lists HK$3 a mile overseas, 4 shareable Cathay Business class lounge passes a membership year and a fee of HK$4,000 waived with an average daily balance of HK$1 million. Priority Private lists HK$2 a mile overseas, 2 First and 8 Business class passes a year and a fee of HK$8,000 waived with HK$8 million.
Who can apply?
Standard Chartered lists Hong Kong residents aged 18 or over with an annual income of HK$96,000 or more who are Cathay members. It asks for your Hong Kong identity card, proof of address and one month of payslips or bank statements, or three months if your income is irregular.
Sources
Written from these pages and checked against them on October 9, 2026. Programs and rules change, so check the provider’s current terms before you decide.
Cards in this guide
General information, not financial, legal or travel advice. Your own card terms and the provider’s current rules always come first.