2025 - Credit Cards / Deals / Discounts / Cashbacks

[pin]

actually that post a good question.. these days some restaurants are asking you to scan a QR code at the table and pay via your mobile phone on the bill that appears... is that counted as physical or online purchase? might be vague. nobody will let us know.

This is an ongoing issue with some hotel restaurants. Are they coded as restaurant or hotel?

[freeier]

hotel restaurants, if they collect money under the hotel, is not counted in visa's restaurant code.
Most offers for dining specifically exclude restaurant as part of the hotel... so it really depends on teh corporate structure i guess

[poiasd]

If you're on HSBC, just visit the website in a browser, and you can use the devtools to view raw txn details, including merchant code.

Just click into your account and filter for the API path `/api/mmf-account-transactions--hk-hbap-prod-proxy/v2/transactions`:



You can check this against the Visa / MC lists from:

https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/download/merchants/visa-merchant-data-standards-manual.pdf
https://www.mastercard.us/content/dam/mccom/en-us/documents/rules/quick-reference-booklet-merchant-edition.pdf

[newhkpr]

Agreed. In fact I can't remember when I got 5x miles for my Citi Prestige (US) from a hotel restaurant. They're usually coded 3x (hotel).
Nice bonus is though that OTAs are coded as flights even when making hotel bookings. So that's a great way to get 5 miles per USD rather than just 3 when paying to a hotel directly.

[qhank]

If you're on HSBC, just visit the website in a browser, and you can use the devtools to view raw txn details, including merchant code.

Just click into your account and filter for the API path `/api/mmf-account-transactions--hk-hbap-prod-proxy/v2/transactions`:

You're a legend!

[bobly]

Not sure if this has been mentioned but the Citibank Octopus public transport rebate 15% apparently has increased to 4k spend per Calendar month. I say apparently because they claim to have sent me a text msg last July but I never received it. And I've been spending 6-14k every month but of course the bills don't go by the calendar month and according to them I've only hit the 4k spend once in the months since July. Just a heads-up as I know this is a popular card

I just looked up the terms because I've been getting my rebate but not spending that on my octopus CC (just transport and small transactions eg 7/11) - it's because it's TOTAL monthly spend with citibank (ALL CC and MC Debit) in case that wasn't clear for anyone else incl. me.

[LGB]

I have a portfolio of AMEX, visa and mastercard credit cards with BOC and HSBC.

I have used my AMEX as the primary card, backing up with VISA/MC when the AMEX wasn't accepted.

Main account is BOC, secondary is HSBC.

Looking at non-US credit cards, which is basically UnionPay.

Preference is BOC unionpay credit card, with RMB/HKD dual currency. They have a few options, but I do not like the yearly fees I see. And the Diamond card is even invitation only.

I don't need lounges, dining deals and such. Car rental, lost luggage and travel insurance would be great add-ons but not a must.

Just a basic card, best value for money, which can become my new main goto credit card. And with the option of an extra card for my spouse. Same account and statement, but with her name and signature on it.

I find it difficult to properly overview the options offered. If HSBC is so much better, I could consider my credit card on that account instead, but would prefer BOC.

Suggestions very much appreciated, thanks.

[shri]

I don't need lounges, dining deals and such. Car rental, lost luggage and travel insurance would be great add-ons but not a must.

What do you need or want from your CC? Miles? Cash back?

[newhkpr]

Looking at non-US credit cards, which is basically UnionPay.

Okay, but why? What's your desired outcome?

[LGB]

Okay, but why? What's your desired outcome?

I want to use UnionPay rather than the American credit card companies. I will still keep some for backup, but would rather use UnionPay as my primary card. If there had been a European credit card, I would have used that, over the UnionPay.

At the moment I get cashback from HSBC MC and Visa card, and from my AMEX, I convert the points to Asia Miles, then in turn use the Asia Miles to get a new phone every 2-3 years.

UnionPay credit card with the lowest fixed cost, RMB/HKD dual currency, preferably BoC. Are there no cards like that without fees or lower fees? Or would they waive the annual fee if I spent more than, say, 300k HKD per year?