Which has the lower annual fee, BMO AIR MILES Mastercard or Cathay World Elite Mastercard - powered by Neo?

The BMO AIR MILES Mastercard has no annual fee, while the Cathay World Elite Mastercard - powered by Neo charges $180/year.

Which card is better for groceries, BMO AIR MILES Mastercard or Cathay World Elite Mastercard - powered by Neo?

The BMO AIR MILES Mastercard earns 1/$20 on groceries, while the Cathay World Elite Mastercard - powered by Neo earns 4.8x. The better choice depends on your grocery spending and the specific merchants you shop at.

Which card is better for international purchases?

The BMO AIR MILES Mastercard has a 2.5% foreign transaction fee, while the Cathay World Elite Mastercard - powered by Neo has a 3.0% foreign transaction fee.

BMO AIR MILES Mastercard vs Cathay World Elite Mastercard - powered by Neo — Which Is Better? | Churnr

Header Quick Take Value Earn Rates Merchants Wallet Bonus FX Benefits Eligibility Perks Downgrade Verdict

Cathay World Elite Mastercard - powered by Neo wins by $943/yr — strongest in groceries

Cathay World Elite Mastercard - powered by Neo earns $607 more on groceries
Cathay World Elite Mastercard - powered by Neo earns $157 more on dining & restaurants
$180 higher annual fee, offset by rewards

Groceries: +$607Dining & Restaurants: +$157Travel: +$114

BMO AIR MILES Mastercard: $30/yr in foreign transaction fees

Cathay World Elite Mastercard - powered by Neo: $36/yr in foreign transaction fees

Showing Year 1 analysis

Dollar Value

−$13

/first year

-0.0% effective$1/mo

vs 1% no-fee card: −$431

Annual rewards earned+$17

FX costs−$30

Annual fee−$0

Winner

$930

/first year

2.2% effective$78/mo

vs 1% no-fee card: +$511

Annual rewards earned+$1,146

FX costs−$36

Annual fee−$180

Best for your spendingCathay World Elite Mastercard - powered by Neo—$930Year 1 value

+$943 more than BMO AIR MILES Mastercard

Scroll down for the full breakdown

Earn Rates by Category

Wallet Optimizer

Neither card currently offers a welcome bonus.

Downgrade

Coming soon

The Bottom Line

Cathay World Elite Mastercard - powered by Neo wins by $943/yr — strongest in groceries

Cathay World Elite Mastercard - powered by Neo earns $607 more on groceries
Cathay World Elite Mastercard - powered by Neo earns $157 more on dining & restaurants
$180 higher annual fee, offset by rewards

Groceries: +$607Dining & Restaurants: +$157Travel: +$114

Showing Year 1 analysis

Cathay World Elite Mastercard - powered by Neo wins in both Year 1 and Year 2+ — consistent long-term value.

Data Sources

Issuer terms & conditions (verified Feb 2026)

Merchant MCC verification (239 merchants)

Insurance certificates (PDF review)

Reward program documentation

User-reported acceptance data

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