What’s the Best Credit Card in Malaysia for Lounge Access in China?
- Refined Points
- Sep 19
- 4 min read
My recent trip to Shanghai brought an unexpected dilemma: lounge access.
For those familiar with my 2025 airline miles strategy, you’ll know I hold several credit cards, many of which I keep primarily for their lounge privileges—despite most of my spending sitting firmly within the UOB ecosystem.
For example, I continue to hold both the CIMB Preferred Visa Infinite and CIMB Travel World Elite, even though I don’t actively use them. These cards offer some of the best lounge access worldwide. Likewise, I picked up the Maybank World Elite Mastercard purely for its lounge access, though I don’t see myself renewing it in 2026.
That said, I’m not the type who meticulously plans which lounge I’ll use, especially when flying out of an airport I’m unfamiliar with—like Shanghai Pudong. Instead, I prefer to wander around and pick whichever lounge appeals most at the time.
It’s also a neat way to test just how visible Malaysian banks are overseas. For instance, I often spot AmBank branding plastered across Plaza Premium Lounges in London Heathrow, but rarely for other banks—a curious detail worth noting.
On this particular trip, my first stop was the Juneyao Airlines No.72 VIP Lounge, conveniently located near my gate. But both my Maybank and CIMB credit cards were rejected. Even my UOB Visa Infinite’s DragonPass access was turned down due to entry time restrictions.
Frustrated, I made my way over to the No.77 China Eastern Plaza Premium Lounge, where my CIMB Travel World Elite finally got me through the door. That experience sparked this write-up: with so many lounges in China, which credit cards actually give you the broadest access?
LoungeKey Network
This may surprise some, but LoungeKey actually offers better coverage than DragonPass at Shanghai Pudong. A quick check revealed more than 10 lounges across Terminals 1 and 2—beating both DragonPass and Priority.
Unfortunately, LoungeKey access remains rare in Malaysia. Currently, only the Standard Chartered Priority Banking Visa Infinite and AmBank SPB Metal Visa Infinite offer it.
DragonPass Network
DragonPass is by far the more popular lounge network among affluent Malaysian cards and offers excellent coverage across China—just not in Shanghai. The UOB Visa Infinite is the most accessible option for Malaysians, and also happens to be my go-to for dining spend.
In practice, DragonPass often feels more about “quantity” than “quality.” During my trip, I stepped into one of Shanghai’s “VIP Lounges” on the network, only to find the experience disappointing.
To be fair, white-labelled airline lounges like Juneyao or China Eastern generally provide better food and amenities. But many of these either don’t participate in DragonPass or impose strict access windows, as I found with my UOB Visa Infinite.
Of course, the newly revamped HSBC Premier Travel World Mastercard now also comes with DragonPass lounge access.
Priority Pass
Priority Pass has a global reputation for wide coverage, but in China—especially Shanghai—the selection is more modest. At Terminal 2 in Pudong, only five lounges are available, though the No.77 China Eastern Plaza Premium Lounge is included, making it marginally better than DragonPass in this instance.
In Malaysia, Priority Pass access is mainly offered through the Hong Leong Bank Visa Infinite P (four visits worldwide per year) and the American Express Platinum Charge Card, though the latter comes with an RM3,250 annual fee. The standard Hong Leong Bank Visa Infinite only extends Priority Pass access to lounges in Malaysia and Singapore.
CIMB and Maybank Cards
CIMB cards remain my strongest lounge companions, particularly in Europe and the UK. My CIMB Travel World Elite gained me access to the No.77 China Eastern Plaza Premium Lounge, though I’d love to see CIMB expand to Juneyao’s lounges, which looked quite appealing as I passed by.
Maybank, on the other hand, was a complete letdown. While I try to max out my Maybank World Elite Mastercard’s lounge quota before cancelling it, in Shanghai it failed me entirely.
A quick check confirmed why: it only offers access to two domestic lounges in Terminal 2. Not exactly befitting of a “World Elite” product.
Final Thoughts
Travel to China is only going to grow, especially with visa waivers for Malaysians. And if you’re a lounge junkie like me, the right credit card makes all the difference when it comes to grabbing a quick bite or drink before your flight.
For sheer coverage, the Standard Chartered Priority Banking Visa Infinite appears to be the strongest contender in China. But beyond lounge access, its value proposition weakens significantly, making it hard to justify.
If you’re looking for a more balanced solution, DragonPass still delivers the best broad-based access across China, and the UOB Visa Infinite remains an attainable choice with its RM120k income requirement.
Just keep in mind that its DragonPass privileges cover only Asia, not worldwide. For global coverage, you’d need to step up to the UOB Privilege Banking Visa Infinite.
That said, if your goal is a more globally consistent lounge experience, CIMB once again proves to be the safer fallback. Between its broad Plaza Premium tie-ups and reliable track record in Europe and the UK, it remains my go-to for international lounge access outside Asia.
CIMB Travel World Elite Lounge Access List - Click Here
CIMB Preferred VI Lounge Access List - Click Here
Otherwise, if you're flying out of Shanghai via Cathay Pacific or Malaysia Airlines, you should just visit the brilliant Cathay Pacific lounge instead.
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