Getting to Know the China Airlines World Elite™ Mastercard® Gold Card

The China Airlines World Elite™ Mastercard® Gold Card is a co-branded card from First Bankcard and China Airlines. The card targets those who frequently fly with China Airlines and want to earn solid points for their everyday purchases. The card earns double points with purchases through China Airlines and single points for everything else.  New accounts also receive 7,500 bonus points after first using their card, plus 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for the first six months. The card has no foreign transaction fees and an annual fee of $59.

How It Works

Cardholders can expect the following from the China Airlines World Elite™ Mastercard® Gold Card.

How to Earn Rewards:

• Fly with China Airlines: Cardmembers can earn double points on qualifying flights with China Airlines.
• All Other Purchases: All other purchases made with the China Airlines World Elite Mastercard Gold Card earn a single point for every dollar spent.
• No Cap: There is no cap to the total number of points than can be earned with the China Airlines Dynasty frequent flyer program.

How to Redeem Points:

• Travel: Points earned through the China Airlines World Elite™  Gold Card are redeemable for flights with China Airlines or through SkyTeam partners.
• Seat Upgrades: Points are also redeemable for seat upgrades.
• Status Upgrades: Dynasty frequent flyer members can use their points for purchasing or renewing Dynasty status, including lounge access worldwide. Dynasty tier upgrades offer enhanced perks to members, including guaranteed reservations, discounts, and priority wait-listing.

Today’s Bonus Offer

• Earn 7,500 bonus points when making your first purchase with the China Airlines World Elite Mastercard Gold Card. 7,500 a great bonus for those who prefer to fly with China Airlines.

The Plane Facts

Can you expect a smooth flight from the China Airlines World Elite™ Mastercard® Gold Card or will there be turbulence?

• Annual Fee: The Gold Card features an annual fee of $59, which is fair;y high given the points-earning potential of the card.

Airline and Airport Perks:

• None, Really: Cardholders don’t receive any airport of in-flight perks when they use their card, instead of earning points that are redeemable for Dynasty frequent flyer miles.

Cardholder Protections:

• Fraud Protection: Cardholders have complete protection from all fraudulent or unauthorized transactions made on their Mastercard®.
• Mastercard Concierge: Cardholders receive access to the World Elite concierge service from Mastercard, providing admission to luxury benefits and travel support around the world.
• Theft Protection: Cardholders also receive Mastercard’s ID Theft Protection at no additional cost. ID Theft Protection monitors member’s credit files, send instant theft alerts, and provides comprehensive, white-glove theft resolution at no additional cost.

Additional Benefits:

• No foreign transaction fees
• Cardholder Experiences: Cardholders have access to exclusive experiences through Mastercard, including with Fandango, Priceless Cities, and more.

The Perks That Make the China Airlines World Elite™ Mastercard® Gold Card Worthwhile:

What are some of the Pros that set this card ahead of the rest?

• No Foreign Transaction Fees: The lack of foreign transaction fees makes this a solid card for world travelers.
• Mastercard Perks: The Mastercard World program offers some good rewards and protections for cardholders. This makes this card a decent option – if not just for the fraud and purchase protections.

Potential Turbulence with the China Airlines World Elite™ Mastercard® Gold Card:

What are some cons that take the wind from beneath this card’s wings?

• No Real Perks: The card doesn’t offer much beyond the satisfactory points-earning potential.

Thoughts Before Takeoff

The China Airlines World Elite™ Mastercard® Gold Card is an okay rewards card from China Airlines, but the $59 fee holds it back. Sure, account holders get triple the introductory bonus when compared to the China Airlines World Elite™ Mastercard® Blue Card – as well as improved miles-earning potential – but is it really worth the additional spend of $59 per year to have it? For the dedicated China Airlines traveler, the answer might be yes; for everyone else, however, the Blue version may be the better deal.