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 $499 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.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I received my HSBC card today 31st Dec. Is there any advantage of activating it tomorrow 1st Jan 26 re Star Alliance or does it not matter. Thank you and Happy New Year to all.

I don’t think it makes much of a difference? The status only comes in to play once you have made the $4k spend, and then you have to choose your airline and wait another two weeks.

 

[Pele]

I applied for this card yesterday and got approved today. First credit card i have been approved for this year!

I plan to choose Air Canada for the status and bonus points.

Question i have for anyone who selected the Air Canada 50k status: have you used this status to get Mariott Bonvoy Gold Elite hotel status? If so please detail the process?

Thank you.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I applied for this card yesterday and got approved today. First credit card i have been approved for this year!

I plan to choose Air Canada for the status and bonus points.

Question i have for anyone who selected the Air Canada 50k status: have you used this status to get Mariott Bonvoy Gold Elite hotel status? If so please detail the process?

Thank you.

Well… based on your post I just did some housekeeping on my aeroplan account and redeemed the marriott gold status! It updated in my marriott account instantly!

Perhaps not the best timing, I could have waited until the new year i suppose, but since I rarely stay at marriotts I just did it! And my Aeroplan status technically expires today (although extended until 31 Jan)

 

[Pele]

Well… based on your post I just did some housekeeping on my aeroplan account and redeemed the marriott gold status! It updated in my marriott account instantly!

Perhaps not the best timing, I could have waited until the new year i suppose, but since I rarely stay at marriotts I just did it! And my Aeroplan status technically expires today (although extended until 31 Jan)

Thanks for that info. Sounds as easy as falling off a log.

I dont really stay at Mariott's either but i will take the status on offer as i am looking for Hilton Gold status and will look to do a status match next year sometime.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

I applied for this card on Xmas eve afternoon and it arrived in the mail today. That's fast.

Perfect timing. I will be paying my home and contents insurance premium on it tomorrow, 1 Jan, which is around $4k.

I am flying on a Star Alliance RTW in Feb 2026 for 2 months. Then heading to Canada & USA again in June for the World Cup (on Air Canada).

Spending $4k in the first week of January should see me get SA Gold, through AC Aeroplan, for all of 2026 and 2027, yes?

Secondly, with the $48k spend required to renew SA Gold, does this mean I don't need to worry about it in 2026, as my Gold status will last till Dec 2027, and I just need to spend the $48k in 2027? Or if I spend it in 2026 will that extend me by another year automatically?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I applied for this card on Xmas eve afternoon and it arrived in the mail today. That's fast.

Perfect timing. I will be paying my home and contents insurance premium on it tomorrow, 1 Jan, which is around $4k.

I am flying on a Star Alliance RTW in Feb 2026 for 2 months. Then heading to Canada & USA again in June for the World Cup (on Air Canada).

Spending $4k in the first week of January should see me get SA Gold, through AC Aeroplan, for all of 2026 and 2027, yes?

Secondly, with the $48k spend required to renew SA Gold, does this mean I don't need to worry about it in 2026, as my Gold status will last till Dec 2027, and I just need to spend the $48k in 2027? Or if I spend it in 2026 will that extend me by another year automatically?

Correct… you’ll get all of 2026 and 2027, and if this and last year are repeated, they also extend until Jan 31 of the year after (so 31Jan 2028).

Good question on the $48k spend. I do wonder if you met that spend in 2026 you’d then get 2028 added on! Otherwise doing it in 2027 would get you 2028 for sure.

One of the benefits of Aeroplan Elite50k and higher is that you can choose your benefits, including a gold ‘status pass’ which you can gift to friends or family. That allows them to redeem the pass and get gold status for the trip… including extra baggage, lounge access, priority chicken, etc. So if you’re off to the world cup with more than one mate you can gift the others star gold for the day!

 

[SheikYerbouti]

priority chicken

mmmm, priority chicken.... aaaarrgrhllmm

 

[60spud]

I am hoping that after achieving Gold this year I can swap for 40k Star Alliance in 2028 as I will pick up 20k kris flyer after yea r1.

 

[k_sheep]

Oh I didn't know about the Marriott perk. Will have to see if they have anything good. Thanks for that tip!

 

[Zanzaid]

Just a data point for the sake of it. I chose Singapore/Krisflyer

I decided early on i probably couldn't make the $60k required to keep the gold status so stopped spending on it. Unfortunately the change to $48k came a bit to late to make a push. Good change though!

Tried to cancel December 9th assuming, on the assumption that my anniversary was December 10th (SIA website said to get the miles before this date hence my assumption). HSBC site said i still had $3 to pay and live chat told me not to worry, the annual fee would not be charged until January 12th (i think, or very close). Handy since i had a couple VA flights over Xmas!

I cancelled yesterday and SIA is showing i'm now Krisflyer Silver.

Pretty good card for a first fee free year i must say! Hard to say if i got $495 worth of value but it came in handy a fair bit this year. Might come back in 18 months or so and choose Aeroplan if still possible.