Neo Cathay World Elite® Mastercard® vs Neo Mastercard®: Which one is better?

Neo Cathay World Elite® Mastercard®
4.2

Neo Mastercard®
2.7
Finly Rebate
Finly Rebate
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$644.33
Asia Miles
First Year Bonus Value
$720
Asia Miles
Annual Fee
$180
First Year Value
$1,184.33
$464.33 in years after
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Rewards Breakdown
Annual Rewards
$181.33
First Year Bonus Value
$0
Annual Fee
$0
First Year Value
$181.33
Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.
Insurance Included*
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000Baggage Delay
$1,000 after 4 hoursCar Rental Damage & Theft
48 daysCar Rental Accident
$100K for Cardholder, $10K spouse and childExtended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 daysHotel Burglary Insurance
$1,000Emergency Out of province Medical
14 daysCar Rental Personal Effects
$1,000/person, $2,000 combinedTrip Cancellation
$5,000Trip Interruption
$5,000Flight Delay
$250/day, $500 Maximum
Insurance Included
Balance Protection
optional add on
Extra Benefits*
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!Boingo Wi-Fi hotspot
Discount
Save up to 15% off on flights to Asia and beyond when you pay with your Cathay World Elite Mastercard and enter the discount code CXNEO15OFF (valid until Dec 31, 2025)Priority Travel
Online priority check-in and extra baggage redemption for Cathay Pacific, and Cathay Pacific Business class lounge redemption accessPriority Travel
Airport Security Fast Track with and professional and punctual airport with Mastercard benefits
Extra Benefits
Neo Premium ($4.99/month)
Neo Travel Benefits ($4.99/month)
Neo Food Cashback boost ($1.99/month)
Neo Mind and Body Perks ($9.99/month)
Interest Rates*
Purchase:
19.99% - 26.99%1
Cash Advance:
22.99% - 28.99%1
Interest Rates
Purchase:
19.99% - 29.99%
Cash Advance:
22.99% - 31.99%
Annual Fee*
$180
Annual Fee
$0
Income Required*
Min Personal Income:
$80,000
Min Household Income:
$150,000
Income Required
Min Personal Income:
N/A
Min Household Income:
N/A
Welcome Bonus*
Get 20,000 Asia Miles upon sign-up, and an additional 20,000 Asia Miles after spending $5,000 within your first 90 days
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Rewards Rate*
- Earn 2x Asia Miles per $1 spent on Cathay Pacific flights and on purchases made in foreign currencies
- Earn 1x Asia Miles per $1 spent in Canada
- Earn an average of 5x the Asia Miles when you spend at thousands of Neo partners nationwide
- Save up to 15% off on flights to Asia and beyond when you pay with your Cathay World Elite Mastercard and enter the discount code CXNEO15OFF (valid until Dec 31, 2025)
Rewards Rate
- 1% cash back on grocery purchases up to $500 spending per month (3% cash back with $5k in a Neo everyday account, and 4% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to the 0.5-1% cash back tier after hitting spend cap
- 1% cash back on gas purchases up to $500 spending per month (3% cash back with $5k in a Neo everyday account, and 4% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account) - drops to the 0.5-1% cash back tier after hitting spend cap
- 0% cash back on all other purchases with $0 in a Neo everyday account, or 0.5% cash back with $5k in a Neo everyday account up to $1,667 spending per month, or 1% cash back with $10k in a Neo everyday account up to $1,667 spending per month - drops to 0% cash back again after hitting spend cap
- +5% earned on average at Neo Partners.
Note: our reward calculations use the base cash back rates assuming you do not hold any money in a Neo everyday account to earn the higher tier (boosted) cash back rates, otherwise the reward estimates may be higher.
Loyalty Program*
Loyalty Program
N/A
Point Redemption Options*
Travel with Asian Airlines
1.8¢ / pointTransfer to Airline Partners
1.5¢ / pointTransfer to Hotel Partners
1¢ / point
Point Redemption Options
Not Applicable
Is this card worth it?
The Cathay World Elite Mastercard is a top choice for frequent travelers to Asia, offering up to 40,000 bonus Asia Miles, high earn rates at Neo retail partners, and exclusive Cathay Pacific benefits like priority check-in and lounge access. With 12 types of insurance coverage, airport lounge access through DragonPass, and the ability to earn up to 15 miles per dollar spent at select partners, this card provides substantial value for those who regularly fly with Cathay Pacific and its partners. However, the card does require a higher income and comes with a $180 annual fee.
Is this card worth it?
The Neo Credit Card is special because it earns rewards based on whether the merchant is a partner or not. Most of the time, the cashback earned at these partners is the highest possible compared to all other credit cards. However, we don't recommend using this card as your main credit card and suggest using it only at partner merchants. This is because the rewards at non-partner merchants are very small, and most merchants are not partnered with Neo.
Pros
- Generous Bonus: Earn up to 40,000 bonus Asia Miles.
- Discount on flights: Up to 15% discount on flights to Asia and beyond with code CXNEO15OFF (valid until Dec 31, 2025).
- High Earn Rates: Get an average of 5 miles, and up to 15 miles per $1 spent (first time purchases) at Neo retail partners.
- Cathay Pacific Perks: Enjoy several exclusive benefits with Cathay Pacific.
- Comprehensive Insurance: Comes with 12 types of insurance coverage.
- Airport Lounge Access: Gain entry to airport lounges with a Mastercard Travel Pass membership.
Pros
- High cash back on grocery and gas if you're willing to hold at least $5k in a Neo everyday account
- Unique cashback program which earns cashback based on partner instead of purchase category.
- Massive cashback at some partners that any other credit card couldn't beat.
- Unique benefit system where perks could be bought with a monthly fee and cancelled after use.
Cons
- High Income Requirement: Requires a minimum personal income of $80,000 or $150,000 household income.
- Annual Fee: The card comes with a high annual fee of $180.
- Limited Redemption: Asia Miles cannot be redeemed for flights within Canada.
Cons
- Base Cash back is very low when you do not hold any money in a Neo everyday account
- No built-in purchase protection and extended warranty benefit.
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