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

PirLPe · Sep 29, 2023

Mr H said:
The UA status match is a challenge. The challenge status is valid until the latter half of December 2023, and is only valid on UA flights. You need to do a heap of flying on UA during the challenge period in order to get full status confirmed and made valid for flights on Star Alliance partners.

I guess it's for those who really need it. And who do a lot of flying.

MELso · Sep 29, 2023

PirLPe said:
Each account is tied to a specific credit card. If there is no account, there is no card.

Quite true, but while the credit card's there, I presume you have an Aeroplan 50K membership too which could be used to status match to United...

Mr H · Sep 29, 2023

MELso said:
But they'll do one in 2024 (if the last several years are any guide) - the status they grant upfront is only valid for four months to be sure, but you become Premier Gold (so *A Gold) for that time. If it covers my trip, it'd work rather than having to hold the HSBC card. And it could be a good hack for someone not wanting to keep the spend up to extend it for another four months.

You have clearly made up your mind, but this bit in the UA terms and conditions might merit a bit of probing:

Premier membership materials will not be issued for the 120-day offer period. You may enjoy Premier benefits on United- or United Express-operated flights by providing your account number when making reservations or at check-in. During the 120-day offer period, you may not have access to all reciprocal Premier benefits with United's partner airlines, including access to Star AllianceTM lounges.

MELso · Sep 29, 2023

Mr H said:
You have clearly made up your mind, but this bit in the UA terms and conditions might merit a bit of probing:

Premier membership materials will not be issued for the 120-day offer period. You may enjoy Premier benefits on United- or United Express-operated flights by providing your account number when making reservations or at check-in. During the 120-day offer period, you may not have access to all reciprocal Premier benefits with United's partner airlines, including access to Star AllianceTM lounges.

At a minimum, you still get lounge access on partner airlines (despite that clause). The bigger question is whether the Aeroplan status would amount to being a 'trial' or 'temporary'.

At any rate, not much turns on this as if UA knocks back the match, you carry on with Aeroplan.

leyy · Oct 3, 2023

Does Virgin recognise Star alliance Gold through Aeroplan Gold (Air Canada) for Velocity Gold benefits? Lounge / priority boarding etc?

sickman112 · Oct 4, 2023

leyy said:
Does Virgin recognise Star alliance Gold through Aeroplan Gold (Air Canada) for Velocity Gold benefits? Lounge / priority boarding etc?

According to this lounge access is included with aeroplan 50K.

"Starting today, our Aeroplan Elite 50K, 75K, and Super Elite members are eligible, along with one guest, to visit Virgin Australia lounges when flying on a same-day confirmed ticket on Virgin Australia."

Can't find anything about priority boarding and all the rest of it at this stage

nightelves · Oct 6, 2023

Has anyone been able to get Gold status from previous HSBC credit card application within an 18 months period? Their T&Cs has mentioned this. Offer is limited to new applicants only. Existing HSBC customers transferring from another HSBC credit card or customers who have held a HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card within the last 18 months are ineligible for this offer.

sickman112 · Oct 6, 2023

nightelves said:
Has anyone been able to get Gold status from previous HSBC credit card application within an 18 months period? Their T&Cs has mentioned this. Offer is limited to new applicants only. Existing HSBC customers transferring from another HSBC credit card or customers who have held a HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card within the last 18 months are ineligible for this offer.

Way I read that is if you're currently hold another HSBC credit card and apply for this one, or if you've previously held this particular card in the past 18 months, then you're ineligible. I'd cancel all HSBC cards before applying

nightelves · Oct 6, 2023

sickman112 said:
Way I read that is if you're currently hold another HSBC credit card and apply for this one, or if you've previously held this particular card in the past 18 months, then you're ineligible. I'd cancel all HSBC cards before applying

It says transferring though.

sickman112 · Oct 6, 2023

nightelves said:
It says transferring though.

Yeah I don't know what internal definition HSBC could pull out and burn you with though

Viridis · Oct 6, 2023

I think it refers to a ‘product transfer’

if you have, for example, an HSBC Platinum card and do a ‘product transfer’ to the Start Alliance card you are ineligible for the bonus offers (status and free year)

I had a Premier Mastercard. This product is not part of the general product range and it was necessary for me to put in a separate application for the Start Alliance card and therefore the credit on my Mastercard was ‘considered’ as part of the application process (in the same way a card from an external bank would be) before approving the application

that’s, at least, how it was explained to me by my HSBC RM

leyy · Oct 6, 2023

Applied and approved in 24 hours.

this is a great card for travel insurance, only need to prepay $500 of travel costs to activate the policy which is a winner for me.

Phoenix-1 · Oct 10, 2023

leyy said:
this is a great card for travel insurance, only need to prepay $500 of travel costs to activate the policy which is a winner for me.

The insurance is quite good! Unlimited cancellation cost insurance and includes coverage for missed connections due to delayed flights.

Chis97 · Oct 16, 2023

tlspambait said:
Did this get resolved for you, if so how long did it take? (hopefully before your flights!)

It did but unfortunately not before my flights. I received the automatic notification from Star Alliance email on the 8th of September and it 50K status was showing on my Aeroplan account.

Funnily, I also received an email from the Star Alliance help desk stating "This is a courtesy email to inform you that we are still waiting for an update from our relevant department regarding your status upgrade. They are requesting more time to work on your case with Aeroplan but rest assured that we will keep you updated as soon as we have more details." This was despite the fact I have received the status that same day.

Viridis · Oct 23, 2023

Anyone else get this on their most recent statement?

“We recently discovered your Star Alliance Points may have been calculated incorrectly in your previous statement cycle due to a system error. An adjustment has been made in this statement cycle and you have now been allocated the correct total amount of Star Alliance Points for both statement cycles. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Haven’t phoned them so not sure what the issue is - perhaps full points allocated after the $3k, not sure. Just wondering if all card holders affected or just me?

slowbro · Oct 23, 2023

Viridis said:
all card holders affected or just me

Yup, I got it in my last statement

Phoenix-1 · Oct 23, 2023

There are multiple people reporting Aeroplan freezing their accounts:

HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card: 50,000 Aeroplan Points ($4,000 Spend in 90 Days), $0 1st Year Fee then $450/Yr @ Air Canada

Deal: HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card: 50,000 Aeroplan Points ($4,000 Spend in 90 Days), $0 1st Year Fee then $450/Yr @ Air Canada, Store: Air Canada, Category: Financial (Page 3)

www.ozbargain.com.au

Anyone experienced this?

PeterG · Oct 25, 2023

Hi,
Have just applied for the HSBC card through the AC link with the 50,000 Aeroplan SUB.
I'm not that familiar with the Aeroplan Program and have noticed they have an Aeroplan 50K Elite Status.
Will the 50,000 SUB get me this?
I've heard (but not confirmed yet) that you can nominate to receive additional miles instead of the status offered as one of the perks of the HSBC so if the 50,000 SUB gets me AC status I will do that.

oz_mark · Oct 25, 2023

PeterG said:
Hi,
Have just applied for the HSBC card through the AC link with the 50,000 Aeroplan SUB.
I'm not that familiar with the Aeroplan Program and have noticed they have an Aeroplan 50K Elite Status.
Will the 50,000 SUB get me this?
I've heard (but not confirmed yet) that you can nominate to receive additional miles instead of the status offered as one of the perks of the HSBC so if the 50,000 SUB gets me AC status I will do that.

It's the $4,000 spend in 90 days that will get you 50K elite status. It also gets you the 50,000 Aeroplan points.

It's not the 50,000 bonus that gets you the status.

encryptededdy · Oct 25, 2023

PeterG said:
Hi,
Have just applied for the HSBC card through the AC link with the 50,000 Aeroplan SUB.
I'm not that familiar with the Aeroplan Program and have noticed they have an Aeroplan 50K Elite Status.
Will the 50,000 SUB get me this?
I've heard (but not confirmed yet) that you can nominate to receive additional miles instead of the status offered as one of the perks of the HSBC so if the 50,000 SUB gets me AC status I will do that.

No, credit card miles do not earn SQM for the purposes of Aeroplan Elite Status.

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

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