Cathay World Elite Mastercard®
The Cathay World Elite Mastercard® from Synchrony Bank earns up to 2.6% effective value on dining in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Its annual fee is $99. New applicants may see: You can earn 38,000 bonus Asia Miles when you open an account and spend USD 3,000 in the first 90 days of account opening.. Madeen compares this card against the cards you already carry — no bank login required.
- Top category
- Dining
- Effective value
- 2.6%
- Annual fee
- $99
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Madeen compares public issuer terms with its card-rule catalog. Issuer pages control rewards, fees, benefits, exclusions, and eligibility; Madeen does not issue cards, make approval decisions, or provide financial advice.
What does the Cathay World Elite Mastercard earn in each category?
Dining is the strongest category at 2.6% effective value (2x miles at about 1.3 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 65% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Dining is the strongest category at 2.6% effective value (2x miles at about 1.3 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 65% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category.
| Category | Earn rate | Effective value |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Restaurants, cafes, takeout | 2x miles | 2.6% Top category |
| Grocery Supermarkets and grocery stores | 1x miles | 1.3% |
| Gas Gas stations and fuel | 1x miles | 1.3% |
| Travel Flights, hotels, transit | 1x miles | 1.3% |
| Other General everyday spend | 1x miles | 1.3% |
Madeen values Asia Miles at about 1.3 cents each. Madeen compares every card using this cash-equivalent estimate while still showing the raw earn rate for context.
What are the Cathay World Elite Mastercard reward caps and conditions?
The Cathay World Elite Mastercard has 1 notable cap or condition rule(s) in Madeen's catalog, including activation windows, spend limits, and category exclusions. Review each bullet below before assuming unlimited earn rates. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
- Earn 2 per USD spent on dining and eligible dining delivery services
Who should get the Cathay World Elite Mastercard?
The Cathay World Elite Mastercard fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x miles. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x miles. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.
Cathay World Elite Mastercard fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x miles. Madeen ranks its dining effective rate higher than about 65% of the catalog in that category. Compare it against cards you already carry with Madeen — no bank login required.
Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x miles. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.
Compare it against simpler no-fee cards if you want minimum complexity.
Best for dining-heavy spend when the $99 fee fits your usage; confirm issuer terms before applying. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Pros
- Strongest Madeen category is dining at about 2.6% effective (2x miles).
- No foreign transaction fee listed.
- Welcome bonus may add value if you can meet spend requirements.
Cons
- $99 annual fee requires enough spend in bonus categories to offset.
- Asia Miles value depends on how you redeem, not straight cash back.
Does the Cathay World Elite Mastercard have an annual fee, and what's the welcome bonus?
The Cathay World Elite Mastercard has an annual fee of $99 and a foreign transaction fee of None. New applicants may see: You can earn 38,000 bonus Asia Miles when you open an account and spend USD 3,000 in the first 90 days of account opening.. Confirm current issuer terms before applying.
- Annual fee
- $99
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Signup bonus
- You can earn 38,000 bonus Asia Miles when you open an account and spend USD 3,000 in the first 90 days of account opening.
What benefits come with the Cathay World Elite Mastercard?
The Cathay World Elite Mastercard includes 10% Redemption Discount, 10% Savings, Business Class lounge redemption in our snapshot. Perks and benefits can change; verify coverage on the issuer site before you rely on them. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
- 10% Redemption Discount
10% redemption discount on hotel, car rental and experiences awards with Asia Miles
- 10% Savings
10% savings on Asia Miles Gift Miles and Mileage Transfer Fee transactions
- Business Class lounge redemption
Primary cardholders may use their Asia Miles to redeem access to Cathay Pacific Business Class lounges.
- Global emergency servicesIncluded with World Elite Mastercard®
Call 1-800-MASTERCARD (1-800-627-8372) for 24/7 assistance to report a lost or stolen card.
- HealthLockIncluded with World Elite Mastercard®
Enroll in HealthLock for Mastercard Medical Claim Monitor complimentary membership plus a 90-day upgrade to all HealthLock services at no monthly cost.
- InstacartIncluded with World Elite Mastercard®
Groceries and more delivered in as fast as one hour. Get $10 off your second order each month, and new Instacart+ members can also get three free months of Instacart+. Offer expires 1/31/2027.
- LyftIncluded with World Elite Mastercard®
More rides means more adventure. Take three rides in a month with Lyft to earn a $5 credit.3* Plus, save 10% on all scheduled rides to or from U.S. airports when you pay with your World Elite or World Legend Mastercard. Offer expires 1/31/2027.
- Mastercard GolfIncluded with World Elite Mastercard®
Get exclusive PGA TOUR® experiences and access amazing golf benefits with our Golf Concierge Service.
Common questions about the Cathay World Elite Mastercard
Does the Cathay World Elite Mastercard have an annual fee?
The Cathay World Elite Mastercard carries an annual fee of $99 in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Issuer terms can change, so confirm the current fee on the issuer's site before you apply. Madeen does not predict approval or prequalification. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
What category earns the most with the Cathay World Elite Mastercard?
Dining is the strongest Madeen category for the Cathay World Elite Mastercard at about 2.6% effective value, based on our catalog snapshot and standard point valuations. Other categories are listed in the effective-rate table on this page. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Does the Cathay World Elite Mastercard charge foreign transaction fees?
The Cathay World Elite Mastercard does not charge a foreign transaction fee in Madeen's catalog snapshot, which can make it stronger for purchases outside the U.S. Issuer terms still control international acceptance and other fees. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
What is the Cathay World Elite Mastercard welcome bonus?
The Cathay World Elite Mastercard welcome offer in our snapshot: You can earn 38,000 bonus Asia Miles when you open an account and spend USD 3,000 in the first 90 days of account opening.. Minimum spend, eligibility, and offer windows are set by the issuer and can change.
Is the Cathay World Elite Mastercard annual fee worth it?
Whether the $99 annual fee pays off depends on how much you spend in dining and whether you use the card's benefits. Madeen compares effective rates across the cards you already carry without bank login. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
What credit score do you need for the Cathay World Elite Mastercard?
Madeen's catalog lists a typical credit range of Good for the Cathay World Elite Mastercard. Issuers decide approval using their own criteria; Madeen does not predict approval odds or prequalification. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
How does the Cathay World Elite Mastercard compare to similar cards?
Compare the Cathay World Elite Mastercard against Verizon Visa (4% on Dining, $0 fee); PayPal Extras Mastercard (3% on Dining, $0 fee); Venmo (3% on Dining, $0 fee). Madeen ranks effective value by category and annual fee using the same catalog snapshot dated 2026-05-01.
| Card | Top category | Effective value | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
Cathay World Elite Mastercard This card | Dining | 2.6% | $99 |
Synchrony Bank | Dining | 4% | $0 |
Synchrony Bank | Dining | 3% | $0 |
Synchrony Bank | Dining | 3% | $0 |
Synchrony Bank | Dining | 2.8% | $99 |
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