For the frequent travellers amongst us, complimentary lounge access can take high priority when on the search for a credit card. If you’re prioritising lounge access within Malaysia, you have a few RHB credit cards to pick from. However if you’re looking for lounge access globally, your options come down to the RHB Premier Visa Infinite card.
This guide provides a rundown of the fees, features, and requirements of 4 RHB credit cards with complimentary lounge access. We’ll also dive into how the Wise card is another trusty travel companion for overseas spending with no additional foreign transaction fees.
What to consider when choosing a RHB credit card with lounge access?
When you’re specifically looking for a RHB credit card with airport lounge access, you have a few options to pick from. They are each distinctive in their features, fees, and charges. Beyond complimentary lounge access, there are other factors to also take to mind before you apply for a RHB credit card.
Here are some considerations to keep in mind when making your decision on the best card for you:
- Minimum income – the minimum income level for RHB credit cards in this guide starts from 80,000 MYR
- Annual fee – most of the selected cards have no annual fee charges
- Number of visits – RHB cards in this list offer 6, 12, or unlimited lounge access per year
- Supplementary cardholder visits – some cards allow a 25% discount for accompanying guests
- Minimum spend requirement – all RHB cards have a minimum spend requirement to enjoy lounge access starting from 500 MYR per calendar month
- Rewards – there’s a wide variety of rewards on offer by RHB, particularly rewards points conversion for air miles and vouchers with partner airlines
- Insurance – some RHB cards offer some travel or accident insurance as part of the package
- Cashback – some RHB cards offer varying amounts of cashback for different spending categories
Most importantly, if lounge access is a priority for you, also consider where in the world you can access these lounges.
RHB credit card lounge access list
Access to the Plaza Premium Lounges¹ for the RHB World Mastercard and RHB Visa Signature credit cards is limited within Malaysia. With the RHB Visa Infinite, cardholders can also gain access to the lounges in Singapore.
The RHB Premier Visa Infinite card grants the most extensive lounge access across Malaysia, Singapore and globally at Hong Kong, London, and Australia. You can also enjoy complimentary meal privileges at selected restaurants with this card.
Best RHB credit cards with complimentary lounge access
In this guide, we will dive into 4 popular credit cards – the RHB Visa Infinite, RHB Premier Visa Infinite, RHB World Mastercard, and RHB Visa Signature – that grant complimentary lounge access.
We will primarily look at the card’s lounge access features, minimum spend requirements, fees, and charges, alongside other key benefits. Find out a little more about each card below and see which one fits your needs.
RHB Visa Infinite
The RHB Visa Infinite card² comes in handy for those who travel extensively. With a minimum retail spend of 100,000 MYR per year, the card grants unlimited lounge access to selected Plaza Premium Lounges in Malaysia and overseas. If you do not meet the high retail spend requirement, a minimum spend of 1,000 MYR in the past calendar month will get you 12x lounge access to Plaza Premium lounges instead.
- Minimum annual income of 150,000 MYR for principal cardholder
- No annual fees
- Unlimited entry to selected Plaza Premium lounges and Aerotel in Malaysia and overseas for principal cardholders, subject to minimum retail spend of 100,000 MYR per year OR
- 12x Plaza Premium lounge access in Malaysia and overseas, with card activated and minimum retail spend of 1,000 MYR in the past calendar month
- 1% foreign transaction fees on overseas spend
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For those looking to get insured, the card’s travel insurance goes up to 2 million MYR including coverage for delayed or missed flights, and lost or delayed luggages.
On top of the travel benefits, if you’re a golf enthusiast, the RHB Visa Infinite card’s free access to selected golf courses in Selangor will help you save on tee offs.
RHB Premier Visa Infinite
The by-invitation-only RHB Premier Visa Infinite³ card offers unlimited Plaza Premium Lounge access and Aerotel access in Malaysia and overseas, to cardholders who meet the minimum retail spend of 100,000 MYR per year. Otherwise, those who charge a minimum retail spend of 1,000 MRY in the past calendar month can also enjoy 12x Plaza Premium Lounge access and entry to Aerotel.
- By invitation and only applicable to RHB Premier Banking customers
- No annual fees
- Unlimited entry to selected Plaza Premium Lounge access and Aerotel access in Malaysia and overseas for principal cardholders, subject to minimum retail spend of 100,000 MYR per year OR
- 12x Plaza Premium Lounge access and Aerotel in Malaysia and overseas for principal cardholders, with card activated and minimum retail spend of 1,000 MYR in the past calendar month
- 1% foreign transaction fees on overseas spend
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This card is generous with its rewards points system. Earn 3x rewards points when you spend on local hotels, duty-free purchases, dining, and shopping online. When you’re travelling, earn 8x rewards points on your overseas spend. All other local spend will earn you 1x rewards points.
These accumulated points come in handy for future travels as it can be converted to airline vouchers and air miles with over 40 different airline partners.
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RHB World Mastercard
The RHB World Mastercard⁴ is a cash back card that grants 6x complimentary lounge access to selected Plaza Premium Lounges in Malaysia with a minimum retail spend requirement of 500 MYR in the past calendar month.
Beyond the free lounge access granted, cardholders are privy to 20% discount at all Plaza Premium Lounges overseas with the exception of Shanghai and Beijing. Accompanying guests too can enjoy a 25% discount on their entry charges.
- Minimum annual income of 80,000 MYR for principal cardholder
- No annual fees
- 6x complimentary lounge access to selected Plaza Premium Lounges in Malaysia, with minimum retail spend of 500 MYR in the past calendar month for principal cardholders
- 20% discount to all Plaza Premium Lounges overseas except Shanghai and Beijing
- 25% discount to Plaza Premium Lounges for all accompanying guests
- 1% foreign transaction fees on overseas spend
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The RHB World Mastercard is a great option with a low barrier of entry to earn cashback on not only overseas spending but also day to day expenditure on local travel, petrol costs, and dining.
You can also make further lifestyle savings with complimentary tee offs at selected golf courses in Selangor if you’re a golf enthusiast.
RHB Visa Signature
The RHB Visa Signature card⁵ is another cash back card that grants cardholders 6x complimentary lounge access to selected Plaza Premium Lounges in Malaysia with a minimum spend requirement of 500 MYR in the past calendar month.
After which, cardholders can enter the Plaza Premium Lounges across the globe with a 20% discount. This card also allows a 25% discount on entry for all accompanying guests.
- Minimum annual income of 80,000 MYR for principal cardholder
- No annual fees
- 6x complimentary lounge access to selected Plaza Premium Lounges in Malaysia, with minimum retail spend of 500 MYR in the past calendar month for principal cardholders
- 20% discount to all Plaza Premium Lounges overseas except Shanghai and Beijing
- 25% discount to Plaza Premium Lounges for all accompanying guests
- 1% foreign transaction fees on overseas spend
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The RHB Visa Signature card is best for making savings on daily expenditure. Get 1%, 2%, or 3% cashback on local entertainment, and online or in-store shopping depending on your monthly total expenditure. Similarly, with overseas spending, you can enjoy 0.5%, 1%, or 2% cashback.
Foreign transaction costs when using the RHB credit card overseas
While it might be tempting to charge all your overseas expenditure to one credit card, you will be paying more that way. When you swipe your RHB credit card overseas, the transaction⁶ will be based on the conversion rate determined by MasterCard or Visa. On top of that, you will also pay a 1% administrative fee imposed by the bank.
ATM withdrawals, likewise, incur an additional cost of 5% of the withdrawal amount or 15 MYR, whichever is higher.
Bring along your RHB credit card for lounge access and the Wise card for low-fee overseas transactions
To avoid the higher fees incurred by using credit cards overseas, consider the Wise card instead.
Most Malaysian issued credit cards incur transaction fees when making foreign currency payments and even ATM withdrawals. Most times, even the attractive rewards points systems do not make up for the extra charges of your credit card usage overseas.
With the Wise card, you can put your mind at ease when you’re travelling. You can use the card in over 150+ countries, hold and exchange 40+ currencies in your Wise account, and there’s no foreign transaction fee to worry about. All currency conversion uses the mid-market rate, with low fees from 0.33%. You can also get some free ATM withdrawals every month to make it easier and cheaper to get cash while you’re away from home.
While you travel in comfort with a credit card that grants you lounge access, ensure that your travel funds are also cushioned with the Wise card.
🚀 Get your very own Wise card
Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information
Sources:
- Lounge Access List
- RHB Visa Infinite Card
- RHB Visa Premier Infinite Card
- RHB World Mastercard
- RHB Visa Signature
- Foreign Transaction Fees
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
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