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Quick Answer

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards edges out the Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard for most cardholders — it wins on 2 of 4 comparison categories and offers 20,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 5x vs 3x). The Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard is the better choice if you prioritize a different rewards ecosystem.

Card Comparison

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards vs Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard

Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards card art
Capital One
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards
Capital One
More Info
Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard card art
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard
Synchrony Bank
More Info

Comparison Method

CardCurator compares measurable differences first: annual fee, current welcome offer, top-end earning, and recurring credits. If the cards are close, the right answer depends on spending pattern and perk usage rather than headline prestige.

Annual Fee
No annual fee
$99/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
20,000 points
Spend $500 in 3 months
38,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
  • Hotels (Capital One Travel) 5x
  • Vacation Rentals (Capital One Travel) 5x
  • Rental Cars (Capital One Travel) 5x
  • Cathay Pacific 3x
  • Dining 2x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
Reward Type
cashback
miles
Pts Value
~1.10¢/pt points · industry est.
~1.20¢/pt miles · industry est.
Key Credits
None
None
Card Perks
None listed
  • Earn 10 Status Points
  • Priority Boarding & Check In
Transfer Partners
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • JAL Mileage Bank
  • Qatar Avios
  • I Prefer Hotel Rewards
  • Flying Blue
  • +15 more
No transfer partners

Quick summary

A short version of the comparison with the main differences at a glance.

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards edges out the Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard for most cardholders — it wins on 2 of 4 comparison categories and offers 20,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 5x vs 3x). The Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard is the better choice if you prioritize a different rewards ecosystem. On raw upside, Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards tops out at 5x versus 3x for Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard. Current signup bonus values are roughly $370 for Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards and $646 for Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard. Updated May 30, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/compare/capital-one-quicksilver-cash-rewards-vs-cathay-pacific-world-elite-mastercard

View source data
Winner
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards
2/4 categories · up to 5x
Runner-up
Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard
1/4 categories · up to 3x
  • Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards wins 2 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
  • Top earn rate: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards reaches 5x; Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard reaches 3x.
  • Annual fee: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards is no annual fee; Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard is $99/yr.
  • Current public bonus values are approximately $370 and $646.

Common Questions: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards vs Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard

Is the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards or Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard better for dining?

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards has no dining bonus; Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard earns 2x on dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards currently offers 20,000 pts signup bonus (spend $500 in 3 months). Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard offers 38,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard has the larger bonus.

Which card is better for international travel?

Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.

Can I hold both the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards and the Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard?

In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards is from Capital One and Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard is from Synchrony Bank, so they're governed by separate bank policies.