HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card Airline Nomination

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  itx on 15/06/2025 - 11:27

  How much do you plan to spend on the card? If you plan on using it fairly heavily over the next 12 months then Air Canada could make more sense, as Aeroplan miles are arguably more useful than United miles here in Australia (redemption rates on Virgin tend to be lower, and there's a broader range of partners to choose from).

  If you don't plan on accruing much, then United may be better as you'll get a shot at free upgrades on United flights - they're not super common, but at least you get a shot at getting outsized value. HOWEVER, note that you do not get lounge access on domestic-only flight itineraries within the US on United if your status is with United - yes, in this regard, they treat their own elite members worse than they do with members from partner airlines!

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  6079 Smith on 15/06/2025 - 15:14

  No contest, Go AC all the way! Reason being is you won’t get lounge access domestically flying UA if you are UA Gold but you will if you are AC Gold (or any other Star Alliance)

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    peter05 on 17/06/2025 - 20:21

    Your comment doesn’t make sense.

    If you’re flying domestically then you’re flying virgin. If you add your UA Gold to the booking you absolutely will be recognised and receive benefits, the same if you did it with Singapore Airlines or Aeroplan. Virgin is just Star Alliance lite

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      6079 Smith on 17/06/2025 - 22:27

      Domestically in the US ‘flying UA’. OP referenced internal flights while in North America

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        peter05 on 17/06/2025 - 22:45

        Ah right gotchya my bad i didnt read the whole comment properly! Thanks for pointing out the difference.

        Would that mean if you booked a UA flight under another star alliance partner, and added your UA Gold to that booking that you would receive lounge access as part of star alliance still?

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          6079 Smith on 18/06/2025 - 08:09

          @peter05: As in if say hypothetically you flew on a codeshare so there was an AC ticket number but it was UA operated? I don’t actually know how that would work.

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          yeahyeah on 01/07/2025 - 14:34

          @peter05: it doesn't matter how you booked it. United domestic flights did not give lounge access if you have Star Alliance Gold status with United, if you have status with another airline you'll receive lounge access.

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  payless69 on 14/06/2025 - 22:38

  How relevant is this to the average Ozbargainer?

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    mskeggs on 14/06/2025 - 23:09

    The card has scored some pretty big up votes, and weeding through the comments there were some very happy people who timed it to coincide with big travel years to get the lounges, upgrades and special treatment.

    I’ve been thinking of the card, but am hesitating because I like the value choosing the lowest ticket gives, and I know if I had status with an airline I would feel I had to use it - even if the the fare was a bit dearer…It’s like they plan it that way!

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      mskeggs on 14/06/2025 - 23:10

      And to answer the OP question, I would probably choose SIngapore, so I got Virgin perks.

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        jm888 on 15/06/2025 - 09:24

        I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure you get access to virgin lounge and etc with both United and air Canada status

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      ryefig on 15/06/2025 - 09:11

      I know if I had status with an airline I would feel I had to use it - even if the the fare was a bit dearer

      Don't fall for this. Paying extra (on top of a credit card and the fees that go along with it) so you can get a few benefits like priority baggage, boarding and to maybe sit in an overcrowded lounge does not make sense.
      Unless you specifically care about which airline you fly with, or fly frequently enough where you might actually make the most of these benefits, just go with what is most affordable and suits your travel plans.

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    markathome on 15/06/2025 - 10:06

    How is it not? Realistically if you want to cull content irrelevant to the "average Ozbargainer" start with anything real estate related. There's hasn't been a bargain in Australian real estate in years.

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