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

Fast track to Star Alliance Gold status with the HSBC Star Alliance credit card!​

Learn more and apply for this card:

HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card Guide

The HSBC Star Alliance credit card is the first of its kind, allowing Australian cardholders to earn Star Alliance Points and Gold status.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

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What are the main benefits of this card?

1. Signup bonus: Fast Track to Star Alliance Gold Status, when you spend $4,000 or more on eligible purchases in the first 90 days from account opening
2. Keep your Star Alliance Gold status each subsequent year that you spend at least $60,000 on your card
3. Earn 1 Star Alliance Point per $1 on eligible purchases, up to $3,000 per statement period and 0.5 Star Alliance Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases thereafter, uncapped
4. No annual fee in the first year and $450 p.a. thereafter

Why we like the HSBC Star Alliance credit card

Launched in 2022, the HSBC Star Alliance credit card is the first of its kind anywhere in the world. You'll earn Star Alliance Points which are transferable to a choice of seven Star Alliance member airlines at a time of your choosing. You can also earn Star Alliance Silver or Gold status just by spending on the card, with no flying required!

Once you qualify for the welcome offer and are fast tracked to Star Alliance Gold status with any of the seven participating carriers, you’ll soon be enjoying perks like airport priority lanes and lounge access when flying across the whole Star Alliance network. It is the largest airline alliance in the world with 25 member airlines, including Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, United and Turkish Airlines.

Please note that the welcome offer is not available to existing HSBC customers transferring from another HSBC credit card, or if you have previously held a HSBC Star Alliance credit card within the last 18 months. Refer to the full T&C’s for more information:

HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card Guide

The HSBC Star Alliance credit card is the first of its kind, allowing Australian cardholders to earn Star Alliance Points and Gold status.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

AFF members are welcome to discuss this card in this thread.

 

[Danger]

I can't see any bonuses for this card at the moment. Is it still best to sign up and choose Aeroplan? What's the go with everyone's status being extended to 2026? Is that also for new customers?

It's an Aeroplan initiative, entirely unrelated to the HSBC card.

 

[djkelly69]

There was a UA 20k bonus points offer floating around after the AC one, but not sure if that is still on.

 

[yaz00000]

I've been approved for this card and need to select my Alliance. I'm torn between SQ and Air Canada. Are there any positives/negatives that I should consider between the two that I should consider please?

 

[Stone]

I'm trying to think of longer term strategies for status given the Velocity "enhancements".

I am a sole trader, currently without a dedicated credit card that I use solely for business purposes. From a book keeping perspective, it would make sense to separate things out.

I have a "service fee" that I pay each month as part of my business that I can only pay by bank transfer. If I used a service like Yak Pay for this payment, utilising this card to help meet the required spend to get Star Alliance Gold;
- would it be counted towards the spend threshold?
- would it be treated as a purchase or a cash advance?
- would they likely arc up as the only way you can use Yak Pay is if you have an ABN and this is a personal card?

 

[Hubbins]

Question if someone can help it would be great And sorry for the silly question if the answer is No that is all I need.
Can I use the Star Alliance Gold Status to get access to lounge and luggage privileges when flying in united airlines but using points from Virgin for the flights ?

 

[knagelli]

Question if someone can help it would be great And sorry for the silly question if the answer is No that is all I need.
Can I use the Star Alliance Gold Status to get access to lounge and luggage privileges when flying in united airlines but using points from Virgin for the flights ?

As long as your ticket issued by a star alliance carrier ( United in this case) , you will be able to to use any *A benefits.

 

[Hubbins]

As long as your ticket issued by a star alliance carrier ( United in this case) , you will be able to to use any *A benefits.

Thanks Knagelli. Just to clarify I am using Velocity points for the flight on United Airlines and my Velocity Frquent Flyer will be on the ticket.

 

[elanshin]

I've been approved for this card and need to select my Alliance. I'm torn between SQ and Air Canada. Are there any positives/negatives that I should consider between the two that I should consider please?

There's pros and cons to both. AC doesn't expire and has partnerships with other airlines like EK (they pay more miles than QF but less carrier charges). SQ being closer will have more benefits locally. Like spontaneous getaways.

I'd say there's no definitive answer on which is better.

Question if someone can help it would be great And sorry for the silly question if the answer is No that is all I need.
Can I use the Star Alliance Gold Status to get access to lounge and luggage privileges when flying in united airlines but using points from Virgin for the flights ?

I think you can link the FF after booking. Worst case can be done at check in desk.

I'm trying to think of longer term strategies for status given the Velocity "enhancements".

I am a sole trader, currently without a dedicated credit card that I use solely for business purposes. From a book keeping perspective, it would make sense to separate things out.

I have a "service fee" that I pay each month as part of my business that I can only pay by bank transfer. If I used a service like Yak Pay for this payment, utilising this card to help meet the required spend to get Star Alliance Gold;
- would it be counted towards the spend threshold?
- would it be treated as a purchase or a cash advance?
- would they likely arc up as the only way you can use Yak Pay is if you have an ABN and this is a personal card?

As i understand it services like b2bpay, yakpay etc all shouldn't be counted as cash advances - otherwise they'd have no business model. I doubt they'd care what card you used to pay, as long as it works.

The other strategy you could consider is AMEX MR. Yes it won't give you *A gold and you may need to work your way there again (or maybe ask SQ for a match?). It would give a lot more flexibility on who you can transfer the points to.

 

[N860CR]

I’m thinking I’ll dump all my points in SQ for the 25% bonus. Does anyone know how quickly they transfer? To be safe, would prefer them to be in the Kris account by 31 Oct

 

[kamchatsky]

I just cancelled my HSBC *A Credit Card 2 days ago. The customer service agent said that my *A Gold status would be cancelled immediately.

I decided not to renew for another year as I did not spend 60K required to keep Gold, and don't want to pay the $450 annual fee.

I checked today on my AC App, my 50K Gold Elite still stands and will expire on 31 Dec 2024.

I will update once AC cancels my 50K Gold Elite status.

 

[SOPOOR]

I just cancelled my HSBC *A Credit Card 2 days ago. The customer service agent said that my *A Gold status would be cancelled immediately.

I decided not to renew for another year as I did not spend 60K required to keep Gold, and don't want to pay the $450 annual fee.

I checked today on my AC App, my 50K Gold Elite still stands and will expire on 31 Dec 2024.

I will update once AC cancels my 50K Gold Elite status.

I too have cancelled (or trying to)

Been very difficult
Ive asked to close it,
They either keep telling me to pay it out
Wait for a statement
We've already given you a statement (monthly statement)
Youve got pending transactions (even though the pendings have cleared off)
Your interest refund has been processed to will apply when closing

 

[tph1177]

I’m thinking I’ll dump all my points in SQ for the 25% bonus. Does anyone know how quickly they transfer? To be safe, would prefer them to be in the Kris account by 31 Oct

When I did this recently it was transferred in less than 5 minutes

 

[kamchatsky]

I too have cancelled (or trying to)

Been very difficult
Ive asked to close it,
They either keep telling me to pay it out
Wait for a statement
We've already given you a statement (monthly statement)
Youve got pending transactions (even though the pendings have cleared off)
Your interest refund has been processed to will apply when closing

I made sure that I paid it all out, just after the issue of the statement, before calling them to cancel. It was a smooth process. I already received the CC closure letter yesterday.

 

[SOPOOR]

I paid out my credit card 2 days ago after informing hsbc a few times my intention to cancel

I received a your card is now closed email yesterday

And coincidentally also received a
"Congratulations on achieving an important milestone with Star Alliance Rewards. You are now eligible for Star Alliance Gold Status.

You can now choose the Status Airline with which you wish to receive your status according to the terms of Star Alliance Rewards. You can change the Status Airline in your Star Alliance Rewards Account until 08 Nov 2024. Subsequently, we will request the status from the Status Airline that is reflected in"

My annual fee was due yesterday so i assume its because of that

 

[Danger]

Don't keep us waiting. Are you able to get that 50K status?

 

[Mark3000]

Please let us know how you go with this. Thanks.

Re: Gold status after $50 000 annual spend.
One month later, probably 6 weeks now since meeting 50K annual spend and still no upgrade to Aeroplan Gold. I have logged into the Star Alliance Rewards site and cannot see anything there I need to click to confirm. Logging in to Aeroplan shows all the points activity but no mention of Gold. I will give it another few weeks before the pain of trying to call the call centre

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Gold status after $50 000 annual spend.
One month later, probably 6 weeks now since meeting 50K annual spend and still no upgrade to Aeroplan Gold. I have logged into the Star Alliance Rewards site and cannot see anything there I need to click to confirm. Logging in to Aeroplan shows all the points activity but no mention of Gold. I will give it another few weeks before the pain of trying to call the call centre

Do you mean 50 or 60k spend? The requirement is 60k.

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: Gold status after $50 000 annual spend.
One month later, probably 6 weeks now since meeting 50K annual spend and still no upgrade to Aeroplan Gold. I have logged into the Star Alliance Rewards site and cannot see anything there I need to click to confirm. Logging in to Aeroplan shows all the points activity but no mention of Gold. I will give it another few weeks before the pain of trying to call the call centre

Do you mean 50 or 60k spend? The requirement is 60k.

Definitely 60k. It should be stated in your HSBC Bank statement.

 

[SOPOOR]

Don't keep us waiting. Are you able to get that 50K status?

i just logged in and it says

You have Aeroplan 50k Status until the end of 2024​

 

[kamchatsky]

I just cancelled my HSBC *A Credit Card 2 days ago. The customer service agent said that my *A Gold status would be cancelled immediately.

I decided not to renew for another year as I did not spend 60K required to keep Gold, and don't want to pay the $450 annual fee.

I checked today on my AC App, my 50K Gold Elite still stands and will expire on 31 Dec 2024.

I will update once AC cancels my 50K Gold Elite status.

I just checked my AC status in both App and Web. It has now gone to Base Red from 50K Gold today. So the time between my HSBC card closure and status drop to Red is 4 days.