Maybank Family & Friends Card Adds Airlines to Commute Category Until 31st March 2026
For the first quarter of 2026, Maybank has added airline transactions to the Commute category (previously known as “Transport”) of Maybank Family & Friends Card.
Depending on the overall spend cardholders reach within a month, such transactions can earn up to 8% cashback with the card subject to the category cashback cap.
Maybank Family & Friends
High 8% cashback on 5 of your chosen categories like groceries, telco, and more! Read the review here
New Cardholders
Receive a light weight (3.3kg), expandable and matte scratch-resistant Samsonite RESTACKD Spinner 68/25 EXP (worth S$520) with 2 complimentary packing cubes when you apply for a new Maybank Credit Card (not applicable for Maybank XL Credit Cards) and charge a minimum of S$1,300 within the first two months of card approval.
⚠️ Important Steps
- Apply for the card with link provided (you may need to turn off content blockers)
- Make S$1,300 in qualifying spend in the first 2 months from card approval
- Maybank will send an SMS about a week after conditions are met
For reference only; refer to exact details in terms and conditions
Airline transactions can earn 6 to 8% cashback
Until 31st March 2026, Merchant Category Codes (MCC) 3000 to 3308 as well as 4511 are added to the Commute category.
With more than 300 MCCs, these represent airlines like Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and just about any other airline we can think of. 4511 which is a catch-all for air carriers and airlines not elsewhere classified.
Category caps limit the usefulness
The issue here is that the card’s category caps can limit the usefulness of this new, time-limited addition. As a reminder, here is the revised spend caps and minimum monthly spend for Maybank Family & Friends which took effect 1st January 2026:
| Minimum monthly spend | Cashback | Category Cap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | S$800 | 6% | S$20 (S$333.33 spend) |
| Tier 2 | S$1,600 | Up to 8% (6% for Groceries) | S$30 (S$375 spend) |
At either the 6% or 8% cashback tiers, cardholders would have to contend with relatively low spend caps of S$333.33 for the 6% tier to S$375 for the 8% tier. It’s possible for cheap flight tickets particularly for one person to fit within the spend cap, though if you’re booking for multiple people even budget airline tickets can go beyond S$300 easily.
A good use of this promo would be paying for award tickets’ fees and taxes which tend to be around S$100 per ticket.
Maybank XL Cashback might be the better option for flight tickets
Also a Maybank card, I think that Maybank XL Cashback (or XL Rewards) is a better option for getting cashback from flight tickets. With just S$500 minimum spend per month, Maybank XL Cashback can offer 5% cashback on flight bookings until S$80 cashback is reached. This is good for S$1,600 of spend.
Maybank XL Cashback
Get 5% cashback on dining, shopping, and even travel expenses — yes, 5% cashback on flights and online travel agency bookings! See first look here.
Annual fee: S$87.20 (waived for first 2 years)
🎁 New Cardholders
Get S$10 cashback by making one transaction with no minimum spend!
Plus earn up to S$100 bonus cashback monthly (up from S$80 bonus cashback per month)
⚠️ Important Steps
- Apply for the card with link provided (you may need to turn off content blockers)
- Make at least one transaction within 30 days from card approval
For reference only; refer to exact details in terms and conditions
Also, see this article for other cashback or miles cards that are well suited for getting rewards from flight bookings:
Subscribe for more deals and updates!
If you’re someone who wants to earn more from credit cards, savings accounts and other financial deals, stay subscribed to the Telegram or WhatsApp so you can be notified of news and deals. Remember to unmute and turn on notifications or the updates may not reach you.
Seth Wee was a licensed financial adviser representative from 2009 to 2025, with over 16 years of experience in Singapore’s financial advisory industry.
He started Sethisfy.com in 2019 to share practical insights on credit cards, banking products, and miles strategies, helping readers identify financial products that deliver the best value. Seth has been featured in CNA, Channel 8, Today, and a host of other publications. In 2025, he was also part of a panel at CPF’s Ready For Life festival.
Subscribe to the channel for free updates!
Disclaimer: I may receive an affiliate/referral fee when you sign up for services/products on this site, and such fees keep the site running. I would only recommend services/products I would personally use or recommend to my own friends and family, but I do not provide any warranty or guarantee for the quality of these services/products. Thank you for supporting my site!
Please exercise due diligence when signing up for any service/product as I will not be liable for any personal loss, financial or otherwise. Content published here are my sole views and personal opinion, and none of the information here constitutes personal financial advice nor represents the views of my employer(s).