Credit Card Offers HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card: Fast-Track to Star Alliance Gold Status

tanchai · Aug 25, 2023

dein_gesicht said:
I've never heard of that happening with any cards you sure about the points?

Sorry, it is my miscalculation. 1 point per $1 for the first $3000, then 0.5 points per $1 for thereafter. I was expecting to see more than 4000 points when I opened the app.

doublecatered · Aug 25, 2023

Just wondering if Air Canada’s aeroplan members receive a physical card.
I qualified for gold status not long after getting my hsbc visa and I got the notification from Air Canada but it’s been several weeks and I haven’t received one in the mail.

Are physical cards still a thing??

Danger · Aug 26, 2023

doublecatered said:
Just wondering if Air Canada’s aeroplan members receive a physical card.
I qualified for gold status not long after getting my hsbc visa and I got the notification from Air Canada but it’s been several weeks and I haven’t received one in the mail.

Are physical cards still a thing??

I did, yes.

Chis97 · Aug 29, 2023

I appear to have had a slightly different experience to the majority here so thought I would share.

I received my eligibility for status email from Star Alliance on July 29. I then had until the 12 August to confirm my status airline program. I had selected Aeroplan. I was then informed it would take between 1 and 14 days for Air Canada to process and approve the status - taking me through to 26 August at the latest.
I followed up with Star Alliance on the 27 August as I had not received any correspondence from Air Canada. I was assured I would receive this before the 28 August. Today now being the 29 August and I have yet to receive an email. I followed up with Star Alliance and they responded with:

"Kindly be informed we have forwarded it to our relevant department to check on the status and will update you once we have more information."

I have a flight coming up very shortly so have been a bit disappointed with how unsmooth the process has been, especially as it is supposed to be an automated process.

doublecatered · Aug 29, 2023

Chis97 said:
I appear to have had a slightly different experience to the majority here so thought I would share.

I received my eligibility for status email from Star Alliance on July 29. I then had until the 12 August to confirm my status airline program. I had selected Aeroplan. I was then informed it would take between 1 and 14 days for Air Canada to process and approve the status - taking me through to 26 August at the latest.
I followed up with Star Alliance on the 27 August as I had not received any correspondence from Air Canada. I was assured I would receive this before the 28 August. Today now being the 29 August and I have yet to receive an email. I followed up with Star Alliance and they responded with:

"Kindly be informed we have forwarded it to our relevant department to check on the status and will update you once we have more information."

I have a flight coming up very shortly so have been a bit disappointed with how unsmooth the process has been, especially as it is supposed to be an automated process.

Just checking… has your status in the Air Canada app charged from the burgundy colour to gold ??

Chis97 · Aug 29, 2023

doublecatered said:
Just checking… has your status in the Air Canada app charged from the burgundy colour to gold ??

No change - App is still showing burgundy colour.

tlspambait · Sep 1, 2023

Just thought I'd post my experience in applying for this card. I've got some AC flights coming up mid-Oct so I thought i'd better move quickly seeing that it took a while for some people to l get approved.

(I'm already premier with HSBC). Did the application this morning around 9:30am, the "response in 60 seconds" stage took about 10 mins and didn't give me an answer (I checked my credit report and they had done an enquiry at that point).

About an hour later I got a message indicating a provisional approval, I uploaded by payslip. By around noon, they emailed indicating it had been approved -- I was able to login to my HSBC account and the account was there and I was able to add the card to apple pay, while I wait for the card to come.

Unfortunately, without the expiry date and CVV, I can only apple pay with it (no option to add to paypal like the US Amex allows) so i'll have to wait until it arrives to put through a few large charges to hit the 4K -- then its likely going to sit in a drawer for the rest of the year.

I'm assuming AC is the best option to get gold with (especially since most of my star alliance flights are likely to be on them) -- has anyone gone with SQ or United? The obvious downside to UA being that there is no lounge access unless you're flying on intl flights, I haven't really had a look at if SQ if a contender.

Www · Sep 2, 2023

Anyone know. If I apply for this card late 2023. Meet the minimum spend early 2024 and request Air Canada Status, whether this would extend until end of 2025 or end of 2024? i.e. does the time start on the year the credit card was applied to or the year min spend reached and status commences?

blacksultan · Sep 2, 2023

tlspambait said:
Just thought I'd post my experience in applying for this card. I've got some AC flights coming up mid-Oct so I thought i'd better move quickly seeing that it took a while for some people to l get approved.

(I'm already premier with HSBC). Did the application this morning around 9:30am, the "response in 60 seconds" stage took about 10 mins and didn't give me an answer (I checked my credit report and they had done an enquiry at that point).

About an hour later I got a message indicating a provisional approval, I uploaded by payslip. By around noon, they emailed indicating it had been approved -- I was able to login to my HSBC account and the account was there and I was able to add the card to apple pay, while I wait for the card to come.

Unfortunately, without the expiry date and CVV, I can only apple pay with it (no option to add to paypal like the US Amex allows) so i'll have to wait until it arrives to put through a few large charges to hit the 4K -- then its likely going to sit in a drawer for the rest of the year.

I'm assuming AC is the best option to get gold with (especially since most of my star alliance flights are likely to be on them) -- has anyone gone with SQ or United?

tlspambait said:
The obvious downside to UA being that there is no lounge access unless you're flying on intl flights, I haven't really had a look at if SQ if a contender.

That’s should be only if you are flying ua not another alliance partner .

Danger · Sep 2, 2023

Www said:
Anyone know. If I apply for this card late 2023. Meet the minimum spend early 2024 and request Air Canada Status, whether this would extend until end of 2025 or end of 2024? i.e. does the time start on the year the credit card was applied to or the year min spend reached and status commences?

I applied in January this year and met the spend requirement almost immediately. My AC status has a 12/24 expiry. Indications are that if you don't meet the yearly spend requirement and keep the card open a second year, your status will drop at the start of year two. However, as the card hasn't been around a year, we don't know will happen in reality.

Coathanger · Sep 3, 2023

Sharing my data points as an existing HSBC Premier customer applying for the Star Alliance Rewards credit card.

9/8 Applied Online, Uploaded Payslips & Conditionally Approved
10/8 Call from HSBC Credit Verification Team & Card Approved
11/8 Star Alliance Rewards Email (To Set Up Account)
16/8 $4K Minimum Spend Posted on Account
18/8 Nominate Star Alliance Status Airline Email (by 1 September)
2/9 Star Alliance Email Confirming United Premier Gold Status
- Status immediately visible in United App
- Able to order Premier Gold luggage tag via Premier Status Tracker website
- Status Expiry of 08/2024

Overall a smooth experience with United updating status well within the 10 day SLA posted on the Star Alliance website.

I had originally wanted to go with Air Canada Aeroplan for the potentially longer status validity but within a week of setting up my new account it was locked. After numerous calls to the Aeroplan call centre (all 30+ minute hold time, usually cut off by the IVR at the 33 minute mark) and no response to a help request via the Air Canada website after a few weeks, I switched to United.

doublecatered · Sep 3, 2023

Can anyone tell me how long it took for the physical card to arrive (I chose aeroplan)
It’s been several weeks and I’ve received nothing in the mail

blacksultan · Sep 3, 2023

doublecatered said:
Can anyone tell me how long it took for the physical card to arrive (I chose aeroplan)
It’s been several weeks and I’ve received nothing in the mail

I never received one even after 9 months !

aisle seat · Sep 4, 2023

doublecatered said:
Can anyone tell me how long it took for the physical card to arrive (I chose aeroplan)
It’s been several weeks and I’ve received nothing in the mail

I reckon somewhere between 5-6 weeks for me

AGSA4727 · Sep 21, 2023

Has anyone reached the $60k spending to re-qualify for the Gold status for the following year?

Just keen to know when will I receive an email to select the airline of choice if I reach the $60k spend before my card anniversary? Do I get to choose my airline now on the date I reach $60k (before 1 year card anniversary) or only on the 1 year card anniversary day?

dairyfloss · Sep 21, 2023

AGSA4727 said:
Has anyone reached the $60k spending to re-qualify for the Gold status for the following year?

Just keen to know when will I receive an email to select the airline of choice if I reach the $60k spend before my card anniversary? Do I get to choose my airline now on the date I reach $60k (before 1 year card anniversary) or only on the 1 year card anniversary day?

Applications only opened for the first time from mid Nov 2022, so not really possible to know until later in the year... for year one, it was the reduced qualification? Or was there still a choice to drag out 60K over the full period, if you didn't spend up in the first 90 days?

AGSA4727 · Sep 21, 2023

dairyfloss said:
Applications only opened for the first time from mid Nov 2022, so not really possible to know until later in the year... for year one, it was the reduced qualification? Or was there still a choice to drag out 60K over the full period, if you didn't spend up in the first 90 days?

I’m just curious on the process for the new year. I was granted gold last year Dec, and just reached the $60k spending to re-qualify for gold for the new year (Still deciding if the $450 is worth to pay).
Just wondering if anyone is in the same boat and might be able to share their experience on the re-qualification.

I guest it is still early for us to know as the card has only been released for 10 months. I will probably wait a bit for their communication to renew or contact star alliance to find out.

Mr H · Sep 21, 2023

AGSA4727 said:
I’m just curious on the process for the new year. I was granted gold last year Dec, and just reached the $60k spending to re-qualify for gold for the new year (Still deciding if the $450 is worth to pay).

Well, you've already sunk the opportunity cost of earning better points for that spend with another card, presumably chasing the *A status renewal. It would seem rather pointless to have done that if you're going to baulk at the $450 charge.

dairyfloss · Sep 21, 2023

AGSA4727 said:
I’m just curious on the process for the new year. I was granted gold last year Dec, and just reached the $60k spending to re-qualify for gold for the new year (Still deciding if the $450 is worth to pay).
Just wondering if anyone is in the same boat and might be able to share their experience on the re-qualification.

I guest it is still early for us to know as the card has only been released for 10 months. I will probably wait a bit for their communication to renew or contact star alliance to find out.

This is from the HSBC card terms (clause 13) located at the base of the page, linked here, and might at least help on your question of choice:
"... You may only request status with one participating Frequent Flyer Program each time you qualify and may not switch Programs during the duration of that status, or any status earned in the same qualification year." (my bolding)

AGSA4727 · Sep 21, 2023

Mr H said:
Well, you've already sunk the opportunity cost of earning better points for that spend with another card, presumably chasing the *A status renewal. It would seem rather pointless to have done that if you're going to baulk at the $450 charge.

I don’t have any plan yet in 2024 to fly with any Star alliance airlines, that’s why I am still thinking if it’s worth to pay $450 for the gold status and not using it at all, or use the $450 and switch to Amex to at least get some travel credit.

Will need to do some travel planning for next year in the coming weeks.

Post automatically merged: Sep 21, 2023

Mr H said:
Well, you've already sunk the opportunity cost of earning better points for that spend with another card, presumably chasing the *A status renewal. It would seem rather pointless to have done that if you're going to baulk at the $450 charge.

I don’t have any plan yet in 2024 to fly with any Star alliance airlines, that’s why I am still thinking if it’s worth to pay $450 for the gold status and not using it at all, or perhaps use the $450 and switch to Amex to at least get some travel credit.

Will need to do some travel planning for next year in the coming weeks.

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