BOC Elite Miles World Mastercard: How Competitive Is It?
ValueChampion Rating 
Pros
- 2 miles (9 pts) per S$1 overseas
- 1 mile (4.5 pts) per S$1 locally
- BOC Points can be converted to both KrisFlyer Miles or Asia Miles
Cons
- Slightly higher S$203.3 annual fee
- S$30 conversion fee, no auto-enrolment
- No travel perks or bonus miles
If you prioritise rapid miles accrual above all else, Bank of China Elite Miles World Mastercard is by far one of the best options currently on the market. Cardholders earn 1 mile (4.5 points) per S$1 spend locally and 2 miles (9 points) overseas. BOC Bonus Points, which are awarded for local and overseas retail and online purchases, can also be used to redeem BOC vouchers and certain rewards. While this card doesn't offer many privileges, it does allow flexibility in redeeming points for miles, allowing cardholders to convert air miles to either KrisFlyer Miles or Asia Miles.
Bank of China Elite Miles World Mastercard Features and Benefits
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Key Features:
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What Makes BOC Elite Miles World Mastercard Stand Out
BOC Elite Miles World Mastercard is ideal for consumers who want to maximise miles accrual on nearly all of their purchases–even if that means giving up on travel perks and privileges. Cardholders earn 1 mile (4.5 pts) per S$1 spend locally and 2.0 miles (9 pts) per S$1 overseas. These rates are remarkably high, far exceeding those offered by cards with similar annual fees. In fact, BOC Elite Miles Card's rates even surpass those provided by pricier travel cards which also tend to expedite rewards.
Rate Comparison of Several Competitive Travel Cards
| Travel Card | Local Rate | Overseas Rate | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex SIA KF | 1.1 mi/S$1 | 2.0 mi/S$1 | S$176.55 |
| Citi PremierMiles | 1.2 mi/S$1 | 2.0 mi/S$1 | S$192.6 |
| DBS Altitude Visa | 1.2 mi/S$1 | 2.0 mi/S$1 | S$192.6 |
| BOC Elite Miles | 1 mi/S$1 | 2 mi/S$1 | S$203.3 |
| UOB PRVI Miles | 1.4 mi/S$1 | 2.4 mi/S$1 | S$256.8 |
| OCBC Voyage | 1.3 mi/S$1 | 2.2 mi/S$1 | S$488 |
While BOC Elite Miles Card is a good match for consumers seeking a miles card for everyday spend, it has its downsides too. BOC Elite Miles Card does not offer any travel perks (such as lounge access, limo transfers, discounted green fees or even free travel insurance). It also doesn't offer any bonus miles. Most travel cards offer significant sign-on bonuses or annual renewal offers. Finally, there isn't an automatic miles-redemption programme which may prove very inconvenient for those seeking a lower-maintenance travel card.
Perk & Bonus Comparison of Several Competitive Travel Cards
| Travel Card | Bonus Miles | Key Perks |
|---|---|---|
| Amex SIA KF | Welcome offers of 5k–25k mi | Free travel insurance, Hertz perks |
| Citi PremierMiles | 10k bonus mi w/ annual fee payment | 2 lounge visits/yr, free travel insurance |
| DBS Altitude Visa | 10k bonus mi w/ annual fee payment | 2 lounge visits/yr, free travel insurance, golf privileges |
| BOC Elite Miles | N/A | 24/7 Concierge |
| UOB PRVI Miles | 20k bonus miles w/ S$50k/yr spend | Free travel insurance, limo transfers |
| OCBC Voyage | 15k bonus mi w/ annual fee payment | Unltd lounge, free travel insurance, limo transfers, golf privileges |
Nonetheless, BOC Elite Miles World Mastercard's great rates make it a relatively competitive option to consider, especially for those who prioritise rapid miles accrual over travel benefits. While there's a S$203.30 annual fee, this is only about S$10 higher than the S$192.6 market average and can easily be recouped by the higher rewards rate.
How Does BOC Elite Miles World Mastercard's Rewards Program Work?
Use our quick guide below to learn how you can redeem BOC Elite Miles World Mastercard's rewards.
- All points earned (inc. those from supplementary cards) are awarded to principal cardholder's account
- Bonus points are can be redeemed for BOC Rewards vouchers, cash credit, annual fee waivers
- Cardholders enrolled in the BOC Air Miles Programme can also convert points to KrisFlyer or Asia miles
- Points can be redeemed in blocks of 30k points for 10k KF miles or 18k points for 6k Asia Miles
- There is a S$30 transaction fee for each miles conversion
- Bonus points expire 1 year after they're earned; miles expire according to designated frequent flyer programme's terms and conditions
BOC Elite Miles World Mastercard's Rewards Exclusions
How does BOC Elite Miles Mastercard Compare to Other Cards?
Read our comparisons of BOC Elite Miles World Mastercard with other cards and learn what makes each card unique in their own way. We compare and contrast each card to highlight its uniqueness to help you identify the card that you need. In case you would like to compare the rewards value of this card or any other card yourself, go to our RealValue Credit Card Rewards Calculator to compare the cards' rewards, promotions, rates and other unique features.
| BOC Elite Miles World Mastercard v. UOB PRVI Miles Card | |
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| UOB PRVI Miles Card is perhaps the best option on the market for higher spenders who want to rapidly accrue miles while also avoiding fees. Cardholders earn a competitive 1.4 miles/S$1 locally and 2.4 miles overseas, which are much higher than the prevailing market rates–though slightly lower than BOC Elite Miles Card's.
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| BOC Elite Miles World Mastercard v. Citi PremierMiles Card | |
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| If you're looking for a straightforward miles card with competitive rates and affordable perks, you may want to consider Citi PremierMiles Card. Cardholders earn 1.2 miles per S$1 locally and 2 miles overseas, which is lower than what BOC Elite Miles offers, but still aligns with market standards. While consumers won't accrue rewards as quickly, they will receive attractive travel perks like 2 free lounge visits/year and 10k bonus miles annually. As a result, Citi PremierMiles Card is a better option for travellers seeking a balance between rates and perks, while BOC Elite Miles Card is a better fit for those who prioritise rapid miles accrual. | |
| BOC Elite Miles World Mastercard v. HSBC Revolution Card | |
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| HSBC Revolution Card is one of the very few options on the market that reward insurance premium payments. Cardholders earn 2 miles per S$1 spend on local dining & entertainment, as well as for online transactions–including both insurance & bill-pay. This rate is quite attractive–in fact, it's higher than the 1.5 miles/S$1 offered by BOC Elite Miles Card. Nonetheless, HSBC Revolution Card otherwise limits its rewards categories quite strictly. Overseas and general spend earn just 0.4 miles per S$1, which is almost negligible. It is worth pointing out that the card does have a lower fee at just S$160.5, which is waived for 2 years and subsequently with just S$12.5k annual spend. Overall, local spenders with focused budgets may prefer HSBC Revolution Card, while consumers who want to earn competitive miles on all of their spend may be better off with BOC Elite Miles Card. | |
| BOC Elite Miles v. UOB PRVI Miles |
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| UOB PRVI Miles Card is perhaps the best option on the market for higher spenders who want to rapidly accrue miles while also avoiding fees. Cardholders earn a competitive 1.4 miles/S$1 locally and 2.4 miles overseas, which are much higher than the prevailing market rates–though slightly lower than BOC Elite Miles Card's.
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| BOC Elite Miles v. Citi PremierMiles |
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| If you're looking for a straightforward miles card with competitive rates and affordable perks, you may want to consider Citi PremierMiles Card. Cardholders earn 1.2 miles per S$1 locally and 2 miles overseas, which is lower than what BOC Elite Miles offers, but still aligns with market standards. While consumers won't accrue rewards as quickly, they will receive attractive travel perks like 2 free lounge visits/year and 10k bonus miles annually. As a result, Citi PremierMiles Card is a better option for travellers seeking a balance between rates and perks, while BOC Elite Miles Card is a better fit for those who prioritise rapid miles accrual. |
| BOC Elite Miles v. HSBC Revolution |
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| HSBC Revolution Card is one of the very few options on the market that reward insurance premium payments. Cardholders earn 2 miles per S$1 spend on local dining & entertainment, as well as for online transactions–including both insurance & bill-pay. This rate is quite attractive–in fact, it's higher than the 1.5 miles/S$1 offered by BOC Elite Miles Card. Nonetheless, HSBC Revolution Card otherwise limits its rewards categories quite strictly. Overseas and general spend earn just 0.4 miles per S$1, which is almost negligible. It is worth pointing out that the card does have a lower fee at just S$160.5, which is waived for 2 years and subsequently with just S$12.5k annual spend. Overall, local spenders with focused budgets may prefer HSBC Revolution Card, while consumers who want to earn competitive miles on all of their spend may be better off with BOC Elite Miles Card. |
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Zoryana is a Senior Research Analyst at ValueChampion, who focuses on evaluating credit cards, savings and fixed deposits in Singapore. She holds a BA in Political Science and an MPA in International Finance and Economic Policy, both from Columbia University. Prior to joining ValueChampion, Zoryana worked in treasury management consulting.