HSBC Star Alliance credit card in Australia

[djkelly69]

Krisflyer as you get more VA gold benefits compared to Aeroplan.

What are the differences? Weighing this up at the moment - ie. AC with 50k points bonus vs KF gold.

 

[leyy]

What are the differences? Weighing this up at the moment - ie. AC with 50k points bonus vs KF gold.

Both Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Elite Gold and United Airlines MileagePlus Premier Gold status qualify you (and one guest) for access to VA's domestic lounges, along with use of the fast track Premium Entry lane at Sydney and Brisbane airports, and Melbourne Airport’s Priority Screening lane. You also get one complimentary checked bag up to 32kg, plus priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling to get you on the go faster.

Air Canada is the odd one out here, as the sole reciprocal VA perk of Air Canada Aeroplan Elite 50K status is access to VA lounges – there’s no priority treatment and no extra baggage allowance.

 

[minesapint]

At the end of the first year is it confirmed that

1. If you cancel the HSBC card your AC 50K status will be revoked (even if the expiration date is beyond the date you cancel the card)?

2. If you do not meet the $60k spend requirement but do pay the annual fee you will lose AC 50K status (regardless of the stated expiry date of AC status)?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

At the end of the first year is it confirmed that

1. If you cancel the HSBC card your AC 50K status will be revoked (even if the expiration date is beyond the date you cancel the card)?

2. If you do not meet the $60k spend requirement but do pay the annual fee you will lose AC 50K status (regardless of the stated expiry date of AC status)?

I think 1 is pretty clear in the terms and conditions.

2 is the interesting thing we’re waiting to find out about!

 

[Danger]

At the end of the first year is it confirmed that

1. If you cancel the HSBC card your AC 50K status will be revoked (even if the expiration date is beyond the date you cancel the card)?

2. If you do not meet the $60k spend requirement but do pay the annual fee you will lose AC 50K status (regardless of the stated expiry date of AC status)?

As I've noted upthread, I didn't come anywhere close to spending the ridiculous $60K in my first year to secure Aeroplan Gold in year two. However, in January this year (which was 12 months after applying), the expiry of my Gold status on the Aeroplan website changed from 12/24 (which is what was after I met the minimum spend 12 months ago) to 12/25. The app shows the same and I recently received a new physical card also showing 12/25. This all happened before the second year annual fee was levied. My credit card is still active, but I will be cancelling it when a disputed transaction is closed.

I paid the annual fee but, through luck and agent incompetence, had it refunded. I've kept the card open and my Aeroplan 50K status remains in tact.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I paid the annual fee but, through luck and agent incompetence, had it refunded. I've kept the card open and my Aeroplan 50K status remains in tact.

that’s great news!

 

[Dave G]

Hey - does anyone know what the bonus points are - they show up as a line on my star account - but funny enough are all zeros every month. Cant seem to find any info out on them

 

[bharat.rameshwar]

Question on accruing points. I’ve got a credit limit of 10k and usually I let the monthly statement to hit before I pay what I owe. But past few months my expenses have temporarily increased, but didn’t want to go through the hassle of increasing the credit limit. So I’ve been paying off what I owe before the month to ensure I stay within the limit.

Now I see they’re only crediting points for what’s being billed at the end of the billing period, and not what I’ve spent through the month. Is this the way it works, or do I have a fight on my hands?

 

[MooTime]

Question on accruing points. I’ve got a credit limit of 10k and usually I let the monthly statement to hit before I pay what I owe. But past few months my expenses have temporarily increased, but didn’t want to go through the hassle of increasing the credit limit. So I’ve been paying off what I owe before the month to ensure I stay within the limit.

Now I see they’re only crediting points for what’s being billed at the end of the billing period, and not what I’ve spent through the month. Is this the way it works, or do I have a fight on my hands?

I've had to do that in past also on different cards, pay some off before months end, but ALWAYS recieved points for whole months spend. Nothing to do with what paid off etc.
Maybe call in.

 

[tlam]

The race is on! I've applied, been accepted, apparently my card is on the way. I need someone to intercept it for me (I'm overseas), spend the 4k (easy enough to do with bills piling up), FINALLY managed to get an Air Canada number (took 4 browsers over 3 different devices before I found one that didn't insist I was using a VPN). And try to get it all before I fly out with (urgh) economy AC on the 7th of March.

Ambitious? Perhaps.

Next step, try to actually open a Canadian bank account so I can actually finalise my work visa details.

Did they text you the message or email you to inform the approval?

 

[nthd_nthd]

DP:
upon receipt of the email informing you of your eligibility for the Gold status, you have 14 days to select your preferred Status Airline
standard processing time for upgrade requests "Congratulations! You are eligible for a Star Alliance Status":

You received this notification on 05 Mar 2024.
The 14th day is 19 Mar 2024.

Got Email on 20 Mar 2024 for Gold status updated in Aeroplan account - still waiting on 50K points

 

[minesapint]

Has anyone identified a status match that can be leveraged from getting gold status through this card?

Would be sweet to squeeze out a year on another frequent flier program after having the HSBC card for a year and then waiting a year to get a 2nd fee free “first” year.

 

[The Flying Schwartz]

I've been looking into this card too. I'm now an AC Aeroplan member and have a couple of trips to do this year. Checking seats.aero, it looks like there could be a good chance of J availability where and when we want to go.

So, if flying in J anyway, is this card worth it? 50K aeroplan points seeming to be the main benefit.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I've been looking into this card too. I'm now an AC Aeroplan member and have a couple of trips to do this year. Checking seats.aero, it looks like there could be a good chance of J availability where and when we want to go.

So, if flying in J anyway, is this card worth it? 50K aeroplan points seeming to be the main benefit.

The 50k points is worth $1000 in terms of buying points. So worth it.

So too, however, is the call centre priority. Without status you may not even get connected to the queue, and if you do, the wait time could be 1 to 2 hours. With elite status that can drop to 20 minutes, and even instant answering on my last call!.

you may also get access to better star gold lounges, for example the SAS gold lounges, EVA star gold lounge, and Lufthansa/Swiss senator lounges (rather than business class).

 

[The Flying Schwartz]

The 50k points is worth $1000 in terms of buying points. So worth it.

So too, however, is the call centre priority. Without status you may not even get connected to the queue, and if you do, the wait time could be 1 to 2 hours. With elite status that can drop to 20 minutes, and even instant answering on my last call!,

Agree on the call centre priority, I hadn't thought about that. I've had to call Qantas call centre a few times and even as a lowly SG, the priority has meant much less time on the phone and quicker resolution. Better lounges don't hurt either - thanks!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Agree on the call centre priority, I hadn't thought about that. I've had to call Qantas call centre a few times and even as a lowly SG, the priority has meant much less time on the phone and quicker resolution. Better lounges don't hurt either - thanks!

If status is for two years, it would be worth paying the $450 annual fee for the second year just for the reduced call centre wait times! (at least for me!)

 

[kamchatsky]

If status is for two years, it would be worth paying the $450 annual fee for the second year just for the reduced call centre wait times! (at least for me!)

In what situation do you need to call them instead of booking it online?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In what situation do you need to call them instead of booking it online?

Usually where you want to make bookings which don’t show up on line Or two parts might show up on line, but you want to combine them to take advantage of a stopover that isn’t being offered automatically.

Also situations where you might want to take earlier or later flights to extend a transit.

Then cancellations, IRROPS, and changes to parts of tickets without affecting the rest.

 

[k_sheep]

Did they text you the message or email you to inform the approval?

Email.

It took close to the full 14 days but I am now gold.

So far very unimpressed with the whole AC experience ... multiple delays and cancellations. And even in 5+ hour flights in economy, all food is paid for ... and fairly eye-watering prices.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Email.

It took close to the full 14 days but I am now gold.

So far very unimpressed with the whole AC experience ... multiple delays and cancellations. And even in 5+ hour flights in economy, all food is paid for ... and fairly eye-watering prices.

see if you’re entitled to any compensation! Canada operates a scheme similar to EU261, but with a carve out for last-minute maintenance issues.