HSBC Star Alliance credit card in Australia

[Danger]

There doesn't appear to be any exclusion on earning Star points at the usual rate from the purchase of gift cards directly from a gift card retailer (e.g. Visa, TCN EFTPOS). Does anyone have experience with this?

 

[NP282229]

There doesn't appear to be any exclusion on earning Star points at the usual rate from the purchase of gift cards directly from a gift card retailer (e.g. Visa, TCN EFTPOS). Does anyone have experience with this?

Green novice here but what is the benefit of this?

 

[Danger]

Green novice here but what is the benefit of this?

Assuming that you can earn points by buying gift cards, it's a way to reach a minimum spend quickly and earn points for transactions that otherwise wouldn't (e.g. council rates).

 

[NoName]

How long does it usually take to receive the email with your star alliance ID? Approval email said “a couple of days”. Mrs NoName applied and approved Monday, nothing yet in either inbox or junk mail. Anything to be concerned about yet?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Hi Guys

Just an update, points are in. FYI- I was approved a day before the free 50,000 point campaign ended. I spend about $15k per month on the card.

Jul302024 HSBC Star Alliance - Aeroplan Welcome Bonus

+ 50,000 pts

I also got my points on the 30th July but only reached the spend limit in June. Partner was approved 2 days after the promo end date and reached spend limit late July/early Aug but still hasn't received anything. I know it can take up to 6-8 weeks but I wonder if the dates are always 30th? Does anyone know?

 

[NoName]

How long does it usually take to receive the email with your star alliance ID? Approval email said “a couple of days”. Mrs NoName applied and approved Monday, nothing yet in either inbox or junk mail. Anything to be concerned about yet?

Nearly resulted in a divorce but MrsNoName’s card/awards account finally got set up. Wasn’t able to register for internet banking so she had to ring HSBC again and was eventually able to find someone competent enough to sort the issue out for her. Same person was also able to direct her to her Star Alliance Rewards ID in the HSBC app. So the never-arrived email was not required in the end. Rewards account set up without a hitch. Looking forward to AC lounge access on our end of year Nth America trip.

 

[random111]

Mixed feelings for this card as one reads through this and other threads

How dilident are HSBC on the type of spend?

Way I see it is this is a decent way to get VA gold benefits (through KF Gold), but our personal expenses on non-amex wont add up to $60k, so will need to sneak through a few business expenses to maintain in future years

I'm also not sure all VA gold benefits are afforded to KF Gold, but guess first year is free so can try before buy

 

[SOPOOR]

I just checked my card was opened end of oct 23
Not being too familar with how the whole star vs aeroplan setup, due to being a bit of newbie in this area.
I didnt expect to hit the $50k spend to retain status, im about to reach it, does this mean i dont have to pay the $450 annual few.

Ive been using this cars as my main one as the limit is high

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I just checked my card was opened end of oct 23
Not being too familar with how the whole star vs aeroplan setup, due to being a bit of newbie in this area.
I didnt expect to hit the $50k spend to retain status, im about to reach it, does this mean i dont have to pay the $450 annual few.

Ive been using this cars as my main one as the limit is high

I may be wrong, but it’s $30k and $60k spend to retain star alliance silver and gold status respectively. The annual fee applies regardless of spend.

But, the points you’ll earn sort of offset the fee, meaning you get star alliance gold for a reduced price.

 

[knagelli]

I didnt expect to hit the $50k spend to retain status, im about to reach it, does this mean i dont have to pay the $450 annual few.

The annual fee is not waived irrespective of your spend amount. Spend amount of 60K will help you retain the SA gold status for one more year.

 

[SOPOOR]

The annual fee is not waived irrespective of your spend amount. Spend amount of 60K will help you retain the SA gold status for one more year.

I see.
Looks like ill be cancelling the card.
Im assuming ill only lose aeroplan status but ill get to keep the 40k odd i have in star alliance

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I see.
Looks like ill be cancelling the card.
Im assuming ill only lose aeroplan status but ill get to keep the 40k odd i have in star alliance

I dunno how the points work or get retained. But the question is the value of *G or *S for something like Air Canada. The instant answering at a 50k member is worth well more than $450! (which is slightly offset by the points earn). (AC says status is valid for two years, not sure what happens after year one… star alliance says you revert back to base, but AC says your status is good for two years. I’ll find out in Feb., but if gold is extended, i’m happy to pay $450)

 

[SOPOOR]

I dunno how the points work or get retained. But the question is the value of *G or *S for something like Air Canada. The instant answering at a 50k member is worth well more than $450! (which is slightly offset by the points earn). (AC says status is valid for two years, not sure what happens after year one… star alliance says you revert back to base, but AC says your status is good for two years. I’ll find out in Feb., but if gold is extended, i’m happy to pay $450)

Thanks, to be honest i only do 1 or 2 award redemptions on qantas and kris per year so unfortunately i cant use the benefits
So gotta decide what to do

 

[aspro2]

For those who care, check your statements regularly to see if points calculations are correct (keeping in mind it's ((CHARGES-3000)/2+3000) if you go over $3000 in a statement period). Just as another confirmation of how excremental HSBC is, one month is missing the equivalent of $53 worth of points. I cannot identify a single transaction or summed multiple transactions that could amount to this, even with a little latitude for rounding. Online customer service simply replied "the calculation is correct" and then ignored my response saying "identify for me the transaction(s) that didn't qualify for points-earning".

And just to help if you do your own calculations, many transactions can be slow to post, so you have to go by the transactions on your statement and not the online chronological listing.

 

[georgie23]

I had missing points - took a lot of work to prove and get it back
i cancelled after 12 months
didnt excite me with their service

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Oh! I’m the opposite! I rarely question the total point totals… it i was surprised to see 10k+ bonus points! Can’t for the life of me find out where or how they were awarded.

 

[georgie23]

Bonus score - enjoy a win

 

[kamchatsky]

I dunno how the points work or get retained. But the question is the value of *G or *S for something like Air Canada. The instant answering at a 50k member is worth well more than $450! (which is slightly offset by the points earn). (AC says status is valid for two years, not sure what happens after year one… star alliance says you revert back to base, but AC says your status is good for two years. I’ll find out in Feb., but if gold is extended, i’m happy to pay $450)

Is it valid for 2 years? Mine said that my, AC Gold expires at the of this year, making it about 13 months.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Is it valid for 2 years? Mine said that my, AC Gold expires at the of this year, making it about 13 months.

I got mine in Nov 23, and must have qualified in Jan 2024. The expiry is dec 2025. According to star A/HSBC my status should expire in Jan 25. We’ll wait and see!

There must be other folk who have now reached year two… dunno what’s happened with their status?

 

[aspro2]

I got mine in Nov 23, and must have qualified in Jan 2024. The expiry is dec 2025. According to star A/HSBC my status should expire in Jan 25. We’ll wait and see!

There must be other folk who have now reached year two… dunno what’s happened with their status?

Answered earlier in this thread. Status is valid until the end of the following calendar year, BUT status expires the moment you cancel your HSBC card.