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HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card: Star Alliance Gold Status (with $4,000 Minimum Spend in 90 Days), $0 Annual Fee First Year

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HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card: Star Alliance Gold Status (with $4,000 Minimum Spend in 90 Days), $0 Annual Fee First Year
Go to Deal
Moo Deng on 15/11/2022 - 13:43 hsbc.com.au (10159 clicks)
Last edited 14/11/2023 - 15:54 by 3 other users

Gold status in one of Star Alliance's 'Status Airline' programs will get you reciprocal Virgin Australia perks such as domestic lounge access and priority check-in!

  • Global lounge access - Airport Lounge Access at over 1,000 lounges world-wide
  • Priority at airports - Priority Airport Check-in, Priority Boarding and access to Gold Track – priority airport security lanes
  • Baggage benefits - Priority Baggage Handling and Extra Baggage Allowance on eligible flights

  • Priority waitlists - Priority Reservations Waitlist and Priority Airport Stand-by

  • Earn 1 Star Alliance Point per $1 spent on eligible purchases, up to $3,000 per statement period and 0.5 Star Alliance Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases thereafter.

  • Points earned are transferred to your Star Alliance rewards account monthly.
  • Convert your Star Alliance Points to award miles or points in your chosen Frequent Flyer Program of a participating Star Alliance member airline.
  • Complimentary insurance benefits. Enjoy Domestic and International Travel Insurances with Rental Vehicle Excess Insurance in Australia, Transit Accident Insurance, Extended Warranty Insurance, and Purchase Protection Insurance.

For a limited time, $0 annual fee in the first year ($450 thereafter).

See https://www.pointhacks.com.au/news/hsbc-star-alliance-credit… for all the details.

Financial Airline Status Credit Card VISA

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Comments

        • whyisave on 12/11/2024 - 15:52

          Cancel the card, and you lose the status as well.

          In the past, people thought they could keep the status for the 2nd calendar year, but no card = no status.

  • evgpek on 12/11/2024 - 14:53
    +1

    Beware! To close HSBC card, you must pay off the balance in full, tricky if there are pending transactions, can take few days to bpay. Otherwise, you’ll be charged a second-year fee. Plan ahead don’t leave it till the end!

    • timhn on 12/11/2024 - 15:18
      +1

      That applied almost to all credit cards with AF.

      • evgpek on 12/11/2024 - 15:43

        I did not notice. At least ANZ allows you to close card, and then send you a final invoice.

  • MnM007 on 12/11/2024 - 15:05
    +4

    This deal worked so well for us!! It was Amazing.

    We got the SA Gold via Aeroplan (Air Canada).

    Our trip was a fairly long one - we did leave at the beginning of June and came back home middle of October.
    Our flights were booked with points via Virgin.

    We went through 9 airports during this time (in Australia, USA, Canada, Europe and Asia) and went to at least one lounge in each airport. Showing the Aeroplan 50K card gave us instantly all the benefits of Star Alliance Gold (extra free luggage, priority where available as well as lounges, and more - see below).

    Between USA and Canada we did fly with Air Canada (from Las Vegas to Ottawa with a stop in Montreal where we changed the plane to get to Ottawa) with tickets bought on Air Canada points that we got as part of this deal.
    On this part of our trip, as we flew Air Canada and our status was via Air Canada, both me and partner got upgraded to FIRST class (for both legs of the trip) at ZERO cost to us. That was really really nice (but we did put ourselves on the upgrade waiting list a few months before we left). I was expecting to pay some $$ for the upgrade but they never asked us to pay anything and they never booked anything on our CC either.

    Best thing for us was that we were gonna spend the required $$ to meet the HSBC criteria for SA Gold anyway, on things that we needed for our trip - hoteles, car hires, insurances, etc

    It was a bit of a battle to make sure we got the SA Gold plus the Aeroplan points in the beginning, but it all worked out and made our trip so much more enjoyable!
    Best lounge for us was Sydney - the New Zealand lounge and the one at CDG in Paris (self serve unlimited drinks including Hennessy XO!! at CDG).
    Worst lounge - LAX

    Thanks @Moo Deng for posting this deal!!

    Edit: Now that we are back the HSBC card has been cancelled. Didnt even looked at Aeroplan or SA to see what status I have.

  • nigel deborah on 12/11/2024 - 16:17

    United use calendar years for status - if you claim this in January, perhaps you'd get status for a full 23 months? That's how it'd work if you earned United Gold the regular way in January.

    • Bargainitis on 19/11/2024 - 17:49

      this is an interest thought but the term is if you cancel the HSBC card, you lose the status regardless of the duration to expiration. I suspect this applies here.

  • kaboom mel on 12/11/2024 - 16:22

    I love the status aspect for it but since i am a Qantas platinum i will only get a few flights on the star alliance. I would have jumped on it if the gold status kept renewing each year without needing a 60K spend. I know its too much to ask for.

    • Jackjcca on 13/11/2024 - 00:04

      If you spend$5k per month do you get to keep the gold status?

  • excusemesir on 12/11/2024 - 18:23
    +1

    Any idea if I can reapply and be eligible for star alliance Gold if I just closed this card a couple of months ago?

    • dixy on 12/11/2024 - 18:30
      +1

      From T&C - Existing HSBC customers transferring from another HSBC credit card or customers who have held a HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card within the last 18 months are ineligible for this offer.

      • T-man on 12/11/2024 - 23:09

        Can we do product change with HSBC?

  • hishaken on 12/11/2024 - 19:19

    With Canada airline, if you cancel this credit card, will you lose gold status straight away or it will last until the end of year?

  • sunyuanxin on 12/11/2024 - 21:38
    -1

    3% Overseas transaction fee

  • cnboy83 on 13/11/2024 - 08:55
    -1

    amex plat is the king

    • nightelves on 14/11/2024 - 18:43

      Citi Prestige is much better at a fraction of the cost.

      • Bargainitis on 19/11/2024 - 17:50

        not really given how much Citi Prestige has chopped up the benefits. It WAS back in the day.

        • nightelves on 19/11/2024 - 18:04

          What benefit has been dropped and you don’t think Amex has dropped any benefit?

  • Mr Joker on 19/11/2024 - 12:07

    For those flying domestically with Virgin what benefits are there? My understanding is that it's only longue access or are there other benefits?

    How do you get into the longue? Do you simply show your star alliance card or do you have to do something else?

    For context, I had signed up and partnered with air Canada to get gold status.

    Thanks!

    • Mr Joker on 27/11/2024 - 20:05

      For folks wanting to know - you just need to show them your card and fly with Virgin and you can go in!

  • lickjimmy1 on 23/12/2024 - 22:36

    Anyone know if i can put the gold status in my wifes nsme , but credit card in my name?

  • UnrealMacaw on 11/01/2025 - 19:34

    Trying to raise awareness - seems you can choose 40k points each year instead of Gold - see my post here: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/888470

  • dj1979 on 14/01/2025 - 21:32

    Questions. I have a hsbc star alliance gold card, activated on 26th jan 2024. So till 26th jan 2025, i am recognised as a gold member and used the krisflyer privilages as well. Now on 26th jan 2025, i have to pay the yearly fees for hsbc as its 2nd year, but in order to keep the gold status of star alliance, i need 60k points as well. So basically i have to earn 60k points in my first year, so i can retain the status on second year being 2025. Is that true? Any last minute hacks? Currently i have 30k and it gives me silver stauts, if i continued to use the card in 2025.

    • UnrealMacaw on 16/01/2025 - 14:22

      Have a look at your last statement - you might already be past the cutoff. If you're not hitting 60k spend it might not be worth the $450 annual fee. You could try asking them to waive the fee before you cancel?

      Otherwise maybe you'd be better off with cancelling and getting a welcome offer on another card instead.

  • hellno on 17/01/2025 - 17:29

    Has anyone had experience with trying to take a young child (mine is 4 years old) into the lounges when they are already taking their partner in as their guest?

    I read something about if they are over 2 years old they count as your guest but any experience some leniency there?

    • UnrealMacaw on 17/01/2025 - 21:01
      +1

      Yeah I had very mixed experiences with my 7 and 10 year olds on a recent trip. A couple lounges said yes. You might do better with a 4yo

  • freestyle18 on 02/02/2025 - 17:49

    so AFAIK, 18 month waiting period and we can re-apply again?

    • maverick1 on 04/02/2025 - 17:32
      +1

      Yes, should be alright!

  • RainInWinter on 07/02/2025 - 09:46

    I took this offer and chose Aeroplan. Let's say in the future I book a ticket with Singapore Air, how do I let SQ know that I have a Star Alliance gold status? Among the benefits are:

    • Priority airport check-in
    • Airport lounge access
    • Priority boarding
    • Priority baggage handling

    I would I imagine for the first 3 benefits I can just show my Star Alliance card with my boarding pass. But how about the priority baggage? Now that we do baggage drop at the self-checkin kiosks, there must be a way to link my Star Alliance membership status to my ticket?

    Thank you.

    • lickjimmy1 on 08/02/2025 - 04:53
      +2

      You add your star alliance gold number to your sq booking. You will get a bag tag that is priority . This is how it works for qantas/ one world. All your other benefits will also be on the ticket once checked in too

      • UnrealMacaw on 08/02/2025 - 22:07

        But at the lounges you might need to prove your aeroplan gold status of your ticket doesn't say it, can take a minute

      • RainInWinter on 19/02/2025 - 18:34

        I can see that with SQ I can add partner rewards in my account profile. Would that be sufficient? Or I need to add it to booking itself. Which means I need to swap Krisflyer with Aeroplan, is that correct? Which I think makes sense because I will be able to collect only on one FF account, right? So for this trip, I will get Aeroplan points, instead of Krisflyer points? Can someone please confirm? Thank you.

        • UnrealMacaw on 20/02/2025 - 19:10

          You choose who your points go with. It shouldn't affect your gold status on that flight.

      • RainInWinter on 25/02/2025 - 18:52

        I can't see how I can add Star Alliance status to my booking. I emailed SQ and I'll wait and see what's their response.

  • OhNoUShiz on 18/02/2025 - 20:50

    Does using this card to pay for air tickets contribute to the minimum spending? Thank you.

    • 76F on 19/02/2025 - 00:05

      Yes

      • OhNoUShiz on 02/03/2025 - 13:04

        Thanks, what about gift cards?

        • 76F on 02/03/2025 - 16:45

          Haven't had issues with points when buying gift cards

  • Maki on 19/02/2025 - 10:21
    +1

    Thanks OP for recommending this card. There is no upfront cost / annual fee. I travelled to Japan during Christmas like a VIP, with the priority check-in, priority boarding, priority baggage claim and extra baggage allowance. My kids and I enjoyed every lounge we stayed.

    Upon my return to Australia, I also managed to sell the points / the account for $700+. Best Credit Card deal ever!!

    • Maki on 19/02/2025 - 10:29

      And for those who still have Aeroplan points, there are buyers wanting to buy the points / account in the Classified Forum.

      • freestyle18 on 21/02/2025 - 11:47

        the original article said we could get 2 years of aero gold (due to the way aeroplan does status) but i dropped back down once i cancelled the card . not sure what your experience will be

        • Maki on 21/02/2025 - 16:08

          I don't know. I cancelled the card after my trip but the Aeroplan still said Gold before I sold the account.

          • freestyle18 on 21/02/2025 - 16:25

            @Maki: it says gold for a bit but it eventually dropped back down after a delay. might've been weeks or a month

  • RainInWinter on 25/02/2025 - 19:13

    Can I ask about Status Pass benefits with Aeroplan. I understand that a 50K status holder can take another person into a lounge. Does this Status Pass basically extend that to more persons? ie. if I have 2 status pass to share, then I can take 2 more persons (total of 4) to the lounge? Thanks.

  • Deepwhale on 12/03/2025 - 16:13

    Hi all, I am a newbie to this Star Alliance Gold world here and there are many things to explore.

    I normally fly Virgin Australia domestically, and fly Singapore Airlines internationally. I normally fly ultra-light (7-10kg carry-on bag) without a checked baggage.

    I see Air Canada is generous for the way it counts for the 50k (equal to Star Alliance gold) membership period. My card is just approved in early March 2025.

    In my circumstance, would it be best with these steps?

    1. I should nominate Air Canada for the Star Alliance program, so I hope the membership period of being a Gold Star Alliance will be until 31 Dec 2026 (the whole 2025, plus 1 more year in 2026). I am happy to pay HSBC 2nd year credit card fee.

    2. Being Gold Star Alliance member, it should allow me to enter Singapore Airline lounge (Gold lounge) in Changi, Thai Airways lounge in Bangkok, and other lounges around the world as long as I fly with any of the Star Alliance airlines. Is it correct?

    3. Air Canada 50k (obtained from Gold Star Alliance) has a bilateral agreement with Virgin Australia that should allow me to enter Virgin Australia lounge, if I fly with Virgin Australia domestically, even if I fly in Economy class.

    4. I try to do an online check-in and obtain the e-boarding pass to my Apple wallet, so I avoid to check-in face-to-face in a long queue at the airport. But, if I have purchased flight tickets of Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines in advance, what do I have to do to impose my Gold Star Alliance and Air Candada 50k to my current tickets? Do? Do I need to visit the check-in counter face-to-face to let the staff manually update my profile and issue a paper boarding pass that will show Gold Star Alliance or Air Canada 50k? My main goal is to enter the lounge in the Departure Hall.

    Thanks all.

    • UnrealMacaw on 13/03/2025 - 22:43

      1) and 3) Air Canada is good for long status and virgin lounges if you plan on keeping the credit card. Also, if you're happy with a small gap in gold status you might be able to trade in a year of gold status for 40k star alliance points (about 32k airline points) and use the long Air Canada gold status to cover most of that year until your next renewal date and then you can switch back to gold status as your renewal reward (if hitting $60k spend).

      But each star alliance partner has their own gold status perks so you might want to compare them.

      Also, the airline you choose to accrue your frequent flyer points with doesn't have to be the same as your gold status airline.

      2) I think so but I would read here and make sure the individual lounges are star alliance gold branded: https://www.staralliance.com/en/lounge-access-policy

      4) I was able to get into lounges with proof of gold status without it being on paper boarding pass but YMMV.

  • illusion44 on 21/04/2025 - 18:06

    Just a heads up for anyone applying. HSBC’s application process can be frustrating. After providing my payslip and a bank statement showing salary deposited into a savings/offset account, they kept rejecting it because there weren't enough "transactions." It seems the assessment team doesn’t understand how offset accounts work and expects to see day-to-day spending on the same account. I use my credit card for everything, so my offset account's bank statement only shows deposits and drawdowns. Be prepared for a bit of back-and-forth if you provide a statement from your offset account.

  • soultrain04 on 07/05/2025 - 16:03

    I'm still split minded if I should go with air cananda for 1.5 years of gold status or air singapore. It seems going with AC, it is a hit/miss on accumulating mileage and using gold status whilest on AC when flying air singapore as it will be my predominant carrier of choice.

  • UnrealMacaw on 13/05/2025 - 11:48
    +4

    Fyi for those closing this card: I met $60k spend in first year. I reached my anniversary, and instead of selecting gold status again, I was able to claim 40k star alliance points (approx 32k airline points), I was then able to close the account before paying the annual fee, which wasn't going to be charged until 1 month after my anniversary date.

    So, 50k aeroplan points, 40k star alliance points bonus, and then another 40k star alliance points from spending, and had free lounges and travel insurance on a big trip, and sold a couple aeroplan status passes, all for free. Thank you ozb!

    • whyisave on 13/05/2025 - 13:27
      +1

      A success story.
      That was a nice feel-good read :-)

  • tripdubz on 13/05/2025 - 13:09
    +3

    Wish i'd applied for this when there was aeroplan bonus points too. Hope it comes back at some point.

  • Drakesy on 13/05/2025 - 13:23
    +2

    Just a heads up, it's an 18 month cooldown from the lasttime you upgraded on a Star Alliance Airline

    I.e I took this out prior and awarded it to Singapore airlines.
    Took it out a year later and was barred from awarding it to Singapore due to the period so had to go with Thai.

    • JohnHowardsEyebrows on 13/05/2025 - 13:34

      Wait, so you could do the HSBC deal again 12 months later, so long as not the same airline? Not bad then.

      • Drakesy on 13/05/2025 - 13:37

        Just don't cancel your card as it cancels the Gold Status at the same time, keep the card open for the full 12 months.

        • zfind on 13/05/2025 - 14:32

          Presumably this is base year +1 with the $60k spend met? I’m sure this card has a cool off period (though I haven’t checked T&Cs)

          • Drakesy on 13/05/2025 - 14:49
            +2

            @zfind: It's basically the first year you take out the card. Wouldn't keep it for a second year for $499

            Yeah, an 18 month cool off period

            • JohnHowardsEyebrows on 13/05/2025 - 15:57

              @Drakesy: That's what I was wanting to know. Just cancelled mine, now waiting till late next year to go again.

  • bumpyhead on 13/05/2025 - 13:27

    is that true you can get two years regardless from some airlines

  • gembel on 13/05/2025 - 13:42
    +2

    closed my card in April 2025
    until now my Star Alliance gold under Air Canada Aeroplan is still active until end of the year :)

    • mountpeter on 13/05/2025 - 17:44

      I did the same but the Aeroplan status in the app shows that I have lost gold status. Is it the same for you when you log into the app?

  • joeinport on 13/05/2025 - 14:28
    +1

    I signed up in January 2024, connected to aeroplan, and in February 2024 got gold status through to December 2025. 12 months rolled around and by January 2025 I’d reached the $60k spend for the previous 12 months, I assumed my gold status would be extended through to December 2026 however it has stayed at December 2025.

  • GenerallyClumsy on 13/05/2025 - 14:32

    If I applied today how quickly can I get gold?

  • pakikanga on 13/05/2025 - 15:24

    Why do I have to go into their branch physically to verify myself…

    • OhNoUShiz on 13/05/2025 - 15:24

      I have to go down twice lol.

  • iddy on 13/05/2025 - 15:52

    Does anyone know if we are still eligible if we had this same card last year?

    • Drakesy on 13/05/2025 - 19:00
      +1

      18 month cool off

      • louuisc on 13/05/2025 - 22:50

        do they actually enforce it?

        • Drakesy on 13/05/2025 - 23:51
          +1

          100%

  • wallahcuz on 13/05/2025 - 23:19

    Does anyone know if this comes with 50k Aeroplan points? I see this page on the Air Canada website which looks like it’s still advertising 50k?

    Edit: actually upon further research, it looks like Aeroplan 50K is what their gold status is called, unless I’m mistaken.

    • UnrealMacaw on 14/05/2025 - 13:55

      Yeah that's right, it's just the status, not the points

      • wallahcuz on 15/05/2025 - 00:13
        +1

        Cheers mate, got confused since coincidentally it’s the same 50K figure haha!

  • mnemonic9 on 15/05/2025 - 12:53

    Any idea on how to trade gold status for points? I just received an email saying that I qualified for Gold and would rather the points at this stage (no intention of travelling over the next year.) Unless this option is only if you ALREADY have gold status and qualify for it again???

    I've checked Google and HSBC and whilst this is possible, nowhere does it say how to go about doing this.

    Thank you.

    • UnrealMacaw on 15/05/2025 - 21:08

      I had to ask customer support - here it is:

      There is a "change" option right in the box that shows your chosen status airline after you have logged in to your Star Alliance account.

      Click it and choose the same airline, and you will be re-directed to a questionnaire.

      Within the questionnaire, there will be a question to ask if you are holding a Gold status.

      Select "Yes' and choose the option for 40K bonus points in lieu of a Gold status.

      After 14 days have passed, your account will be credited with 40K bonus Star Alliance points.

      • dealsgrabber on 07/08/2025 - 13:30

        Can the 40k be redeemed only for Aeroplan points or other Star Alliance airlines as well?

  • shoine on 24/05/2025 - 15:26

    Nice one to share, thanks! Just got approved.

  • zfind on 27/06/2025 - 17:07
    +2

    For future reference, I’d heard that cancelling the card resulted in revoked Star alliance gold status. I closed the card two weeks ago and still have Aeroplan 50k which I leveraged on recent travel for lounge and check in benefits.

  • TheMandalorian on 31/07/2025 - 15:04
    1. How quick is the approval process for this Credit Card? We're planning to buy flight tickets within a week.
    2. What benefits do you get right away without the Gold Status? As I Understand, the Gold Status takes $4000 spend within 90 days to be eligible.
  • alecsmart on 11/08/2025 - 16:01

    Afternoon All.

    Keen to see if any one has received an email advising of this (after spend criteria was met and after the airline nomination 15-day period):

    'Attention! KrisFlyer Singapore Airlines Group could not confirm your new Star Alliance Gold Status'

    And if yes, did any one manage to sort this out?

    Thanks.

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