Standard Chartered has rebranded the unpopular X card as Standard Chartered Journey Visa card, effective immediately.
Key points to note
- 3 points per dollar (1.2 mpd) on local SGD spend
- 5 points per dollar (2 mpd) on foreign currency spend
- 7.5 points per dollar (3 mpd) on groceries, food deliveries and ride-hailing (till 31 Dec 2023, up to $1,000 per statement month)
- Miles/Points do not expire
- Points conversion ratio remains at 25,000 points = 10,000 miles
- Transfer partners include KrisFlyer, Privilege Club and Infinity MileageLands
- Foreign currency fee rebate (3.5%) in Jun, Jul, Nov & Dec 2023
- 2 free airport lounge visits per membership year (Priority Pass)
- Annual income requirement of $30k (previously $80k)
- Annual fee of $194.40 (first year waived, previously $695.50)
- Existing SC X cards now function as SC Journey card (FAQs)
- Sign-up bonus of up to 45,000 miles + $20 cash (see below)
- Complimentary travel insurance
- Terms and conditions
Sign-up bonus
From 19 May to 17 July 2023, new cardholders of Standard Chartered can get up to 45,000 bonus miles + $20 in cash as a sign-up bonus.
| Condition | Reward |
|---|---|
| Apply through Suitesmile (no minimum spending) | $20 cash + ReboundTag |
| Spend within 30 days from card approval (no min. spend, up to S$5,000) | +5 miles per dollar (up to 62.5k points, 25k miles) |
| Pay $194.40 annual fee (optional) | 25k points (10k miles) |
I can’t recommend opting for the annual fee payment of $194.40 just to earn an additional 10,000 miles. But earning a total of 6.2 to 7 miles per dollar on your first $5,000 spend is awesome!
Should you get this card?
So, should you apply for this card?
This is a good general-spending card with non-expiring miles/points, good transfer partners, free airport lounge visits, 3.5% FX fee rebates on certain months and decent uncapped earn rates. If you are someone who can’t be bothered with the limitations of specialized 4 mpd cards, it’s hard to go wrong with this one.
By having Infinity MileageLands as a transfer partner, cardholders can redeem just 25,000 miles to travel to Japan/Korea in Business Class.
If you are a new cardholder of Standard Chartered and have large spending(s) of up to $5,000 coming up in the next 30 days, this is also a fantastic opportunity to earn 6.2 to 7 miles per dollar on that spending.
If you are heading overseas in the next couple of months, it will be pretty amazing to get 3.5% rebate of the FX fees and earn 7 miles per dollar on your foreign currency spending.
If you are someone who has highly-optimized your credit card usage with specialized cards, the bonus categories that this card offer, to earn 3 miles per dollar, are honestly quite rubbish.
Bottom line
Wow, Standard Chartered is finally offering a good miles/rewards card.
The refreshed card retains some good benefits from the original X card and made it better with some additional ones, a lower income requirement and annual fee (that can be waived for the first year).
With the amount of flexibility that it offers, this card positions itself as a good entry-level general-spending card, along with HSBC TravelOne and Citi PremierMiles.
Is Standard Chartered Singapore finally getting serious about offering good miles/reward cards in Singapore? I hope to see a good specialized 4+ mpd card from the bank in their new Journey; don’t stop believin’!