Best credit card for miles (local spend)!

This post is long overdue.

I have actually done the research many moons ago but due to changes in credit cards rewards redemption, I postponed the publishing of this post.

So, which is the best credit card for miles if I were to spend locally?

The credit cards listed below are those that I have shortlisted based on the fact that the miles earning process is fuss-free without requirements to meet.

Credit Card	Miles rate	Redemption	Remarks
UOB PRVI Miles World (AMEX / MasterCard)	8 miles/$5 marketed as 1.6miles/$	UNI$5000 for 10,000miles (in blocks of 10,000miles)	UNI$4 /$5 spent UNI$1 = 2 miles All UNI$ will expire two years from the quarterly period in which they were earned. Please refer to the table: UNI$ earned between Jan - Mar 2013 expires 31 Mar 2015 Apr - Jun 2013 expires 30 Jun 2015 Jul - Sep 2013 expires 30 Sep 2015 Oct - Dec 2013 expires 31 Dec 2015
ANZ Travel Visa Signature	1.4miles/$	2000 Travel$ for 2000miles	Travel$ expires when card expires
CITIBANK PremierMiles (AMEX)	1.3miles/$	Min 500 miles per transfer per day	CitiMiles never expire!
CITIBANK PremierMiles (VISA)	1.2miles/$	Min 500 miles per transfer per day	CitiMiles never expire!

Let's compare the pros and cons of the top 2 cards on the list.

Comparing ANZ Travel Card (a) and UOB PRVI MC (b)


1a) ANZ allows me to redeem miles in blocks of 2,000 miles. The maximum miles wastage is 1,999. 
1b) UOB allows me to redeem miles in blocks of 10,000 miles. The maximum miles wastage is 9,999


2a) ANZ awards miles for every dollar charged to card. Hence rate of 1.4miles/$ is consistent.
2b) UOB awards UNI$4 per $5 spent. Hence rate is inconsistent. Spent of multiples of $5 will net you miles rate of 1.6 miles/$. Anything above $30 charged to the card will net you closer to 1.6miles/$ spent.

Spent $6 - $9	UNI$4 awarded	= 8 miles, 1.33 - 0.88miles/$
Spent $11 - $14	UNI$8 awarded	= 16 miles, 1.45 - 1.14miles/$
Spent $16 - $19	UNI$12 awarded	= 24 miles, 1.5 - 1.26miles/$
Spent $21 - $24	UNI$16 awarded	= 32 miles, 1.52 - 1.33miles/$
Spent $26 - $29	UNI$20 awarded	= 40 miles, 1.54 - 1.38miles/$
Spent $31 - $34	UNI$24 awarded	= 48 miles, 1.55 - 1.41miles/$

3a) ANZ Travel$ earned expires when the card expires.
3b) UOB UNI$ expires two years from the quarterly period in which they were earned. 

4a) Spend $2500 on ANZ Travel Card within 30 days and redeem a complimentary airport limousine transfer.
4b) Nil

5a) No monitoring of transactions via internet banking.
5b) Monitoring of transactions via internet banking.

Comparing the above cards, the ANZ is good if you can charge around $2500 within 30 days to the card because you can redeem the complimentary airport limousine transfer which in my opinion is a good deal!

Other than that, UOB wins with 1.6miles/$ spent, especially if you do not spend more than $2500 on this card. Moreover, you can monitor your expenses online and manage your spendings so there will not be any wastage of miles.

SO, you either choose 500 more miles using UOB PRVI or you get a free limousine airport transport from ANZ! It all depends on your spending behaviour!

For me, I choose the UOB PRVI based on my spending pattern. Sometimes I may go for the ANZ Travel Card. What about you?

In the meantime, the verdict: 

The best credit card for miles for local spend is 
UOB PRVI MASTER CARD!

Tags: UOB PRVI MasterCard, ANZ Travel Visa Signature, Citibank PremierMiles, AMEX, 1.6miles/$