Cathay World Elite Mastercard
Synchrony
$99
Annual Fee
mastercardGoodairlinepremium17 days ago
Welcome Offer
38,000 pts(≈ $380)Spend $3,000 within 3 months
OpenCard analysis
Is the Cathay World Elite Mastercard right for you?
The Cathay World Elite Mastercard is a $99-a-year Asia Miles card from Synchrony. Its strongest everyday earning is 2x on Cathay Pacific, with 1x on most other purchases. It needs to earn at least $99 more a year than a no-fee alternative to justify the fee.
Who it's for
- ✓ People who spend steadily on Cathay Pacific, where it earns 2x
- ✓ Regular Asia customers who will redeem with that program
Who should skip it
- — People with no loyalty to Asia
- — Heavy spenders outside Cathay Pacific — everything else earns 1x
- — Anyone who won't earn at least $99 a year more than a no-fee card
First-year value estimate
Welcome bonus
$380
Rewards on spending
$150
Annual fee (year 1)
−$99
Year 1, before credits
$431
Year two, without the welcome bonus: about $51 before credits ($150 in rewards minus the $99 fee).
Assumptions
- $3,000 a year in Cathay Pacific (2x) and $9,000 on everything else (1x) — $12,000 total, about $1,000 a month.
- Rewards valued at 1¢ per point or 1% cash back (cash-equivalent).
- Welcome bonus: 38,000 Asia Miles at 1¢ each (OpenCard valuation) ≈ $380.
- Annual fee of $99 in year one and every year after.
An illustration, not a promise of value. Change the spending to match yours; rewards are not cash until redeemed. Card data reviewed 2026-10-02.
How it compares
Aer Lingus Visa Signature →
Chase, lower fee ($95 vs $99); earns 3x on Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL flights.
British Airways Visa Signature →
Chase, lower fee ($95 vs $99); earns 3x on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, LEVEL flights.
Iberia Visa Signature →
Chase, lower fee ($95 vs $99); earns 3x on Iberia, British Airways, LEVEL, Aer Lingus flights.
Rules and gotchas
- The welcome bonus requires $3,000 in 3 months — roughly $1,000 a month. That fits inside the $1,000 a month in our illustration.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the Cathay World Elite Mastercard have an annual fee?
- Yes — $99 a year, according to the issuer information in our record.
- What does the Cathay World Elite Mastercard earn?
- 2x on Cathay Pacific, and 1x on other purchases.
- Is the Cathay World Elite Mastercard worth it in the first year?
- Using our illustration ($12,000 of yearly spending, $3,000 of it in Cathay Pacific), the first year comes out around $431 before credits, including a welcome bonus valued at $380. Year two drops to about $51 before credits.
- What credit do I need for the Cathay World Elite Mastercard?
- Our record lists "Good" credit as the typical target for the Cathay World Elite Mastercard. Synchrony makes the final decision based on its own criteria.
Earning Rates
2×Cathay Pacific
1×All other purchases
Insurance
Sources
Last Updated: Oct 2, 2026