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CardCurator — Rewards Intelligence
Card Comparison

Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard vs Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard

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

Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard card art
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard
Synchrony Bank
More Info
Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard card art
Emirates Skywards
Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard
Barclays
More Info
Annual Fee
$99/yr
$499/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
38,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
50,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
  • Cathay Pacific 3x
  • Dining 2x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
  • Emirates Purchases 3x
  • Dining and hotel purchases 2x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Key Credits
None
  • TSA PreCheck/Global Entry Credit $120
Card Perks
  • Earn 10 Status Points
  • Priority Boarding & Check In
  • 25% savings when you Buy or Gift Miles
  • Priority Pass Select Lounge Access (~$469/yr)
Spend Milestones
No milestones
  • Emirates Gold tier membership
    After $40,000 spend
Transfer Partners
No transfer partners
No transfer partners
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Common Questions: Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard vs Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard

Is the Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard or Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard better for dining?

Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard earns 2x on dining; Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard earns 2x on dining. Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard wins for dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard currently offers 38,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard offers 50,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). Emirates Skywards Premium 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 Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard and the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard?

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