Difference between Platinum and World Mastercard?

I went to the Mastercard site before I posted. Didn't help.

They list all the benefits that could *possibly* apply to a mastercard, and then say benefits vary depending on card type.

So they don't say what benefits are World Mastercard ONLY.

The biggest difference is that many types of merchant will pay a higher fee when you use your World Mastercard than when you use your Platinum Mastercard.

World Mastercard used to have unique specials available from the mastercard.com website, but these seem to be watered down into the "Mastercard Marketplace." Now other cards may have the same benefits too, depending on what the issuer includes. World Mastercards typically do not report your credit limit, and it is true that they charge a higher interchange fee to merchants.

i've got a world mastercard (citi dividend world, specifically). i was "upgraded" to it a while back. i see my full credit limit reported on my credit report, not just my high balance.

i have yet to find a use for the "world" bit though

VISA does not have "World", though I imagine that they offer something nearly identical

Thanks again for inviting me to respond to you MasterCard questions.

The 'World' card is set up with our financial institutions as an open format, meaning that they select and pay for the card benefits themselves. This allows the banks to create a differentiated card product based on their own consumer research. About the only restriction is that they have an annual spend requirement higher than Gold or Platinum cards. Beyond that, the banks are free to build the card product.

That is why if you view the MasterCard.com site there are only references to what is typically added to a 'World' card but not what is actually on a specific bank's card. The credit limiting reporting is also solely a decision by each bank and I would imagine done within the regulatory requirements.

Hope that helps. As always, let me know if I can provide some guidance. As I don't regularly check this site, you can email me at dan_balistierri@mastercard.com

World Elite MC used to have to come with airport lounge access, which is why the old premierpass elite came with priority pass. I haven't seen any world elite MCs in some time, I don't think citi issues them any more.

oopsz said:   World Elite MC used to have to come with airport lounge access, which is why the old premierpass elite came with priority pass. I haven't seen any world elite MCs in some time, I don't think citi issues them any more.Ink Bold is a World Elite MC. It comes with LoungeClub but only 2 free visits.

danbalistierri said:    About the only restriction is that they have an annual spend requirement higher than Gold or Platinum cards. Beyond that, the banks are free to build the card product.

Spend requirements?

slc39 said:   
World requires $5000 limit minimum

Well my citi dividend world MC has only $4200 limit

and on a side note I applied a few months later for citi preferred in worst shape (more inquiries and new cards reporting) yet got a $10K limit... go figure :/

Each bank accounts for it differently but many do just that, run an average spend over a large pool of cardholders.

danbalistierri said:   There have been some changes in the Airport Lounge program dictated more by the Priority Pass company than anything else. We haven't sat idley by, however, and have been developing a broader airport experience as a result. We launched the MasterCard Travel Services earlier this year with unique benefits, our global Concierge service in addition to the regional service and PriceAssure for airfare. There is more coming too.

Quite often you get 4 free trips with standard airport lounge access. After that you get a discounted rate.
But apparently you can get discounts on other airport services if you have the lounge access, so sometimes it can work out paying for the extra visits.
Only catch is that you need to look into everything to see where you can make back the extra money.