I just found out that Visa Infinite Asia Pac card holders have a free offer to upgrade to HHonors Gold. This includes the Maybank 2 Premier cards.

http://www.visainfinitecard.com/en/possibi...programs/hh.jsp

So I called the Visa Concierge number in Malaysia:

https://www.visa-asia.com/premium/infinite/...nes/index.shtml

and signed myself up. I was already on my way to HHonors Gold but free is free. The nice man on the phone took my details and stated that the status would be upgraded and confirmed by Hilton themselves within 10 business days.

If you don't have Hilton HHonors yet best to sign up first before calling

https://secure3.hilton.com/en/hh/customer/j...joinHHonors.htm

May I know generally for these hotel cards like SPG or Hilton, what specifically are the benefits? I mean, isn't it better to not limit our selection to hotels within the group so that we can explore more hotels? From what I understand, the benefits are free upgrade to better rooms (worth it?) and also collect points? For points collection, how much "discount" does it translate into?

Thanks!

1.5 weeks the card has show up on m2u, still haven't receive it.

just called premier CS last Friday, wanna redeem TP to enrich, this round they said normal TP not allowed to use 4.5TP:1EM

So previously were mistake? 

Anyway, redemption via CS is faster than online, TP deduct immediately and take less than 24hrs to be credited into EM site.

20 nov transaction..it show AR slight better than VI...around 0.002391

21-Nov-14 20-Nov-14  S$19.99 RM52.98 VI
21-Nov-14 20-Nov-14  S$12.10 RM32.04 AR

both swipe on same place but different 5hours

The dining privileges is until 30th June 2015 as per their website so you still have plenty of time. I think they will most likely extend it again.

Hmm.. never thought of eating at hotels as I always thought you do not get your money's worth.
Just took a closer look at the discounts - 1 person 25%; 2 people 50%; 3 people 33%....... and so on. I presume the discount is over the cost of the entire meal for everyone? If so, doesn't that work out that it makes most sense to only go when there are only two people dining as you get the biggest discount then?

I don't meet the minimum annual income, but my spending per month amounts to the minimum spend for waiver due to company expenses which i claim every month end.

Lots of pros if you can meet the minimum spend to qualify for annual fee waiver.

As for FD pledge, that portion was already earmarked for savings anyway, my as well use it to kill 2 birds with one stone. I get 4% interest upfront anyway.

I dont meet the min. income requirement so have to pledge.

benefit wise, I am flying Europe next month, with business class and the return ticket cost me approx. RM3,800 return (with EM redemption(convert to cash value) + tax)

I have no problem to meet the min. spending requirement to waive the annual fee.

Starwood Dining privilege

Let's enjoy a fine cuisine, Starwood Dining at any participating hotels including The Westin Kuala Lumpur, Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur, Four Points by Sheraton Penang, The Andaman Luxury Collection Resort and many more! Bring yourself a date or the whole clan, the more the merrier! It is all from January until December 2015.

What's more interesting? You are also entitled to a 10% off or use the privilege of Ezypay for any wedding packages at any of the participating hotels.

Dining privileges at all Starwood Properties in Malaysia:
•25% discount when dining alone
•50% discount when dining with one (1) guest (total of 2 people)
•33% discount when dining with two (2) guest (total of 3 people)
•25% discount when dining with three (3) guest (total of 4 people)
•20% discount when dining with four (4) guest (total of 5 people)

The participating hotels are:
•The Westin Kuala Lumpur
•Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur
•Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur
•Aloft Hotel Kuala Lumpur
•The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa
•The Andaman Luxury Collection Resort
•Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu
•Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan
•Four Points by Sheraton Penang

Terms and Conditions:
•Not applicable to alcoholic beverages and cigar lounges
•Not applicable during Breakfast Period, Prego Branzo (Champagne Brunch) at The Westin Kuala Lumpur and Sunday Roast at Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur
•Applicable at all participating Starwood Hotels & Resorts Malaysia Only (as listed above)
•Applicable to lunch and dinner buffet at participating restaurants.
•Applicable only to Maybank Visa Infinite, Manchester United Visa Infinite, Ikhwan Visa Infinite and World MasterCard Cardmembers.
•Subject to participating restaurants and hotels.
•The Dining privileges is not applicable for lounges and pool bars as listed below :◦Aloft KL Sentral - WXYZ, Re Fuel
◦Le Meridien KL - Gastro Sentral
◦Sheraton Imperial KL - Toastina, Pavilions Lounge
◦The Westin Kuala Lumpur - Qba Club and Cigar Lounge, Splash Pool Bar
◦The Westin Langkawi - Breeze Lounge
◦The Andaman - Jentayu Lounge, Tepian Laut, Beach Bar and The Japanese Restaurant
◦Le Meridien KK - Pool Bar, The Lounge, Lobby Lounge
◦Four Points By Sheraton Sandakan - Wrapped, Lobby Lounge, Pool Bar

Maybank revised 400TP : RM1 effective 1 March.

All inflat except Premier cards airmiles redemption.

Even WMC revised.

Refer here.

Aeon vouchers don't have an expiry date -  maybe wait for those? I prefer AEON because of this, and most my groceries come from there so it makes sense.

Guess they were low on stock there when I went also, hence limiting redemption to 2k.

If you want to spend it already, why don't you consider to redeem 'on the spot' at the Parkson outlets?
Same goes for Harvey Norman/Sen Heng/ESH etc.

I think on the spot he means not for vouchers but directly against a purchase. I've done this a few times recently at Harvey Norman, don't need vouchers just deduct from purchase immediately.

Yup, thanks maskedchan.
Most of the vouchers validity is one year, except for Aeon (evergreen). Expiry in March sounds bad!

You can try Rcubed Participating outlets in 1U, redeem on the spot(OTS)! Baby clothes, can go to Pumpkin Patch, Baby Gap, GuessKids, etc. For household stuff, try to redeem in Live it Up, selling a lot of Tefal cookware. Other than IU, you can cross over to IPC, can redeem OTS La Gourmet, House of Presentation, Brabantia, BBQ King. Fo further to Tropicana City Mall, can redeem OTS Kitchen Shop.
Actually Aeon vouchers can be used in departmental stores, not only groceries. Ie baby clothes, they have Anakku, Trudy and Teddy, Miki Kids, Baby Polo, etc. For household items, all the major brands are there, from cookware and tableware ie Tefal, La Gourmet to bed sheet and Linen ie Akemi, Jean Perry etc. So that's why Aeon voucher is popular.

If you still insist on Parkson vouchers and don't mind to go down town, Parkson Pavilion or KLCC - usually have lots of stock! Other than Parkson, you can try OTS at Robinson, Tangs, Metrojaya or Sogo. These departmental stores also have baby clothes and household stuff.
No, unfortunately can't do that at Parkson. You have to go to CS to redeem vouchers and pay with vouchers. Top up any balance with cash or cc.

Correct me if I am wrong but I think you can redeem your TP on the spot in any Parkson outlet (rather than redeeming Parkson voucher from card centre).

However this will not be useful if you don't want to spend it now but rather to keep the vouchers for future use.