HSBC Star Alliance credit card in Australia

[MEL_Traveller]

I have just received confirmation of my Star Alliance Gold and Aeroplan 50K status. Does anyone know how they check for this when seeking lounge access at airports e.g. if I'm flying Virgin Domestic? Will Star Alliance or Aeroplan send me out a card with my status, or will the information be stored on my HSBC credit card in some way?

Out of interest, what’s the expiry date for the status?

Actually, given we’re already in december, I guess it’s december 2024?

 

[Oubline]

Out of interest, what’s the expiry date for the status?

Actually, given we’re already in december, I guess it’s december 2024?

It is December 2024

 

[kamchatsky]

It is December 2024

I also received my AC Gold, expiry Dec 24

 

[blacksultan]

Thanks Thibault - Aeroplan will send out a card automatically or do you need to request it? That's effectively what I'm looking to do - I want to earn with Velocity on the flight but still wish to know if it's possible to get lounge access with AC if you don't have your Aeroplan Number attached to the booking. Does anyone have any data points on this?

Don’t think a physical card will be sent . Now digital cards in app are prevalent as they are for aeroplan .

 

[burningrage]

Hello everyone,

Actually a past user of AFF but for some reason, it couldn't find me anymore so started a new account.

I posted this in another forum as a warning but essentially this.

Those with HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card & Have Chosen Singapore Airlines As Your Star Alliance Status Airline - Read on​

This warning is for those who have taken up HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card and have chosen Singapore Airlines as your chosen Star Alliance Status Conferral Airline AND you have now passed the one year anniversary.

I got this Credit Card back on 25/11/2022 and chose Singapore Airlines as the Star Alliance Gold Status Conferral Airline.

Obviously it has been a year and the whole experience with this credit card has been… experimental at best. With three parties involved in this, there will bound to be stuff-ups and as many of you have experienced dealing with international helpdesk, they can be quite… scripted and indifferent at best even if the flaw has been demonstrated crystal clear.

And so this is what happened.

25/11/2023 - Credit Card statement arrived. Confirmed requalification for Star Alliance Gold Status for another year.
28/11/2023 - Email from Star Alliance arrived. Saying I am eligible for Gold Status Star Alliance. Choose your airline by 12 December 2023 (14 days). After this, Star Alliance will request for the Status to be conferred to you (the Star Alliance Gold Status in the form of the KrisFlyer Gold Elite)
02/12/2023 - Received email from Krisflyer saying I have been downgraded from Gold to Silver because of lack of miles. This is the WTF moment.
02/12/2023 - Emailed Star Alliance which said I have to wait until 12/12/2023 (the 14 days changing FF period) and then the request will be sent to SQ which then will take somewhere between 1-14 days to confer the status. Last year, I nominated on 17/12/2022 and was conferred on 29/12/22, so a horrifying 12 days. So in total, from 25/11/23 (last Anniversary Statement issuance), up to 31 days between your eligibility and conferral of status.
17/12/2023 - Travelling overseas while the status is yet to be conferred. Big red flag!

So the blind spot is, as you can now see, is that despite requalification, they won't re-confer it to you for up to 31 days (3 + 14 + 14). If you are flying within these 31 days, you are screwed (for reasons including having already paid the whole airfares with free seat selection due to status and now suddenly you lost that status - will they stop me at the airport?)

So the lessons learned here (if you have this card and want to be with SQ and want to make the full use of it) are:
1. If you haven't applied for this card and wants to apply, DON'T DO IT CLOSER to your normal holiday flying schedule (eg: Christmas). Leave a space up to 2 mths prior. OR
1. You do not travel so close to your requalification month (in my case, I would never be able to travel as Gold in Christmas). Leave a space of up to 2 months. OR
2. You do not choose SQ as your Star Alliance Status Conferral airline (They take up 14 days to confer the status) OR
3. You do not get this card at all because they are being run by quite frankly, sub-par officials and for $450 per annum, hardly worth it.

So afterwards, I decided to move to Air Canada within the 14 days Star Alliance gave me and within 2 days (not 3), I regained my Star Alliance Gold which I can use on my SQ trip and obtain the benefits.

So the message for those who are requalifying and still sticking with SQ is that you WILL be downgraded to Silver and to regain you would have to wait up to 31 days. If you are travelling within those 31 days, you are at risk of not having status at all. Furthermore, even if you do get it, the T&C for choosing Krisflyer means you can only get maximum of 11 months worth of membership vs AeroPlan which will give you remaining of this and next year membership.

They are actually breaching their own T&C and I pointed this out explicitly but as I said, being international helpdesk, they have none of it. I am planning to escalate this to higher management later. The fault lies with Star Alliance and KrisFlyer, not HSBC.

 

[Scru]

I am a self-funded retiree with substantial assets. Like others I was overwhelmed with requests for more and more information that in the end I said that I was no prepared to give them any more. I never heard further, not even the courtesy of a rejection letter.

The only reason I applied for the card in the first place was that in the PDF for the Travel Insurance there did noit appear to be ANY age restriction which would be most unusual.

Does anyone have further information on this?

Scru

 

[Cynicor]

Typical answer for CC issues- complain once, then take it to AFCA asking for compensation. 2nd year annual fee 50% off would be my claim

 

[N860CR]

Perhaps try making a small test payment first?

Looks like govt bills are ok which is a nice change. Points all ok on a Sydney water bill.

 

[burningrage]

Hello everyone,

Actually a past user of AFF but for some reason, it couldn't find me anymore so started a new account.

I posted this in another forum as a warning but essentially this.

Those with HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card & Have Chosen Singapore Airlines As Your Star Alliance Status Airline - Read on​

This warning is for those who have taken up HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card and have chosen Singapore Airlines as your chosen Star Alliance Status Conferral Airline AND you have now passed the one year anniversary.

I got this Credit Card back on 25/11/2022 and chose Singapore Airlines as the Star Alliance Gold Status Conferral Airline.

Obviously it has been a year and the whole experience with this credit card has been… experimental at best. With three parties involved in this, there will bound to be stuff-ups and as many of you have experienced dealing with international helpdesk, they can be quite… scripted and indifferent at best even if the flaw has been demonstrated crystal clear.

And so this is what happened.

25/11/2023 - Credit Card statement arrived. Confirmed requalification for Star Alliance Gold Status for another year.
28/11/2023 - Email from Star Alliance arrived. Saying I am eligible for Gold Status Star Alliance. Choose your airline by 12 December 2023 (14 days). After this, Star Alliance will request for the Status to be conferred to you (the Star Alliance Gold Status in the form of the KrisFlyer Gold Elite)
02/12/2023 - Received email from Krisflyer saying I have been downgraded from Gold to Silver because of lack of miles. This is the WTF moment.
02/12/2023 - Emailed Star Alliance which said I have to wait until 12/12/2023 (the 14 days changing FF period) and then the request will be sent to SQ which then will take somewhere between 1-14 days to confer the status. Last year, I nominated on 17/12/2022 and was conferred on 29/12/22, so a horrifying 12 days. So in total, from 25/11/23 (last Anniversary Statement issuance), up to 31 days between your eligibility and conferral of status.
17/12/2023 - Travelling overseas while the status is yet to be conferred. Big red flag!

So the blind spot is, as you can now see, is that despite requalification, they won't re-confer it to you for up to 31 days (3 + 14 + 14). If you are flying within these 31 days, you are screwed (for reasons including having already paid the whole airfares with free seat selection due to status and now suddenly you lost that status - will they stop me at the airport?)

So the lessons learned here (if you have this card and want to be with SQ and want to make the full use of it) are:
1. If you haven't applied for this card and wants to apply, DON'T DO IT CLOSER to your normal holiday flying schedule (eg: Christmas). Leave a space up to 2 mths prior. OR
1. You do not travel so close to your requalification month (in my case, I would never be able to travel as Gold in Christmas). Leave a space of up to 2 months. OR
2. You do not choose SQ as your Star Alliance Status Conferral airline (They take up 14 days to confer the status) OR
3. You do not get this card at all because they are being run by quite frankly, sub-par officials and for $450 per annum, hardly worth it.

So afterwards, I decided to move to Air Canada within the 14 days Star Alliance gave me and within 2 days (not 3), I regained my Star Alliance Gold which I can use on my SQ trip and obtain the benefits.

So the message for those who are requalifying and still sticking with SQ is that you WILL be downgraded to Silver and to regain you would have to wait up to 31 days. If you are travelling within those 31 days, you are at risk of not having status at all. Furthermore, even if you do get it, the T&C for choosing Krisflyer means you can only get maximum of 11 months worth of membership vs AeroPlan which will give you remaining of this and next year membership.

They are actually breaching their own T&C and I pointed this out explicitly but as I said, being international helpdesk, they have none of it. I am planning to escalate this to higher management later. The fault lies with Star Alliance and KrisFlyer, not HSBC.

For those of you who are flying a Star Alliance partner airline, be aware many contracted security officers (not AFP) Melbourne Airport has no idea how Star Alliance Gold works and so proceeding to deny your accesses such as priority security screening.

In this event try your best to get your boarding pass marked with star Gold mark (*G) because in my case the boarding takes priority of my stupid now Krisflyer Silver. For lounge access, mention your Star Gold Airline such as Air Canada if you are flying SQ and trying to get into SQ lounge

 

[MEL_Traveller]

For those of you who are flying a Star Alliance partner airline, be aware many contracted security officers (not AFP) Melbourne Airport has no idea how Star Alliance Gold works and so proceeding to deny your accesses such as priority security screening.

In this event try your best to get your boarding pass marked with star Gold mark (*G) because in my case the boarding takes priority of my stupid now Krisflyer Silver. For lounge access, mention your Star Gold Airline such as Air Canada if you are flying SQ and trying to get into SQ lounge

I thought priority (express path) was only for first and business class these days? Unless there’s been a very recent change?

 

[burningrage]

I thought priority (express path) was only for first and business class these days? Unless there’s been a very recent change?

Not according to this website

https://www.staralliance.com/en/gold-track

 

[dairyfloss]

Not according to this website

https://www.staralliance.com/en/gold-track

I’m afraid that Star Alliance doesn’t control the airports or their procedures, and for the most part in Australia until recently, status alone has not been enough to secure any priority for immigration or security at the international ports since covid started. Only those booked and flying in J/F were given priority. It does seem to be moving back to what it was before, however I’m not sure that Australian airports have ever given Express Path access for Star Gold pax flying Y. Others may know.

 

[burningrage]

I’m afraid that Star Alliance doesn’t control the airports or their procedures, and for the most part in Australia until recently, status alone has not been enough to secure any priority for immigration or security at the international ports since covid started. Only those booked and flying in J/F were given priority. It does seem to be moving back to what it was before, however I’m not sure that Australian airports have ever given Express Path access for Star Gold pax flying Y. Others may know.

The SQ lady did say to mention to the contracted officer that I am a Star Alliance Gold member. Unfortunately, that contracted personnel probably has no idea what that means.. The lesson for me next time is to urge the SQ lady to note that in the boarding pass based on this experience as this contracted personnel is clearly not well-informed.

Having said that, it was not that much longer wait so out of the 4 Star Alliance benefits, I probably can live without it but I certainly did not enjoy the conversation (typical contracted people)

 

[dairyfloss]

The SQ lady did say to mention to the contracted officer that I am a Star Alliance Gold member. Unfortunately, that contracted personnel probably has no idea what that means.. The lesson for me next time is to urge the SQ lady to note that in the boarding pass based on this experience as this contracted personnel is clearly not well-informed.

Having said that, it was not that much longer wait so out of the 4 Star Alliance benefits, I probably can live without it but I certainly did not enjoy the conversation (typical contracted people)

Mentioning status does nothing - you need to have an Express Path card or stamp (physical or digital), or be flying J/F. If you don't have either of these, then there's no priority given. SQ needs to issue the Express Path for you if it's to work.

 

[burningrage]

Mentioning status does nothing - you need to have an Express Path card or stamp (physical or digital), or be flying J/F. If you don't have either of these, then there's no priority given. SQ needs to issue the Express Path for you if it's to work.

Oh I see. I will enquire about that the next time I am at Mel Airport. Thanks thats a good info

 

[dairyfloss]

Oh I see. I will enquire about that the next time I am at Mel Airport. Thanks thats a good info

Hope it works out - let us know. My gut tells me they won't issue Express Path for Star Alliance Golds though, unless they are flying J/F. There's too many eligible pax. oneworld airlines don't issue these for their Gold status equivalent (Sapphire) in Australia; only to the top tier, Emerald.

 

[appaz]

Chased up my bonus 50,000 points, was told they will (finally) come on the 29th... will keep you posted

 

[myelofibrosis]

Update: Have finally received 50k aero plan points today

 

[appaz]

Got mine today too!

 

[Oubline]

Got mine today too!

Thank you for reporting back! I haven’t got mine and wondering if anyone else is in the same boat. It’s good to see them coming through for some!