Star Alliance and HSBC Australia have reimagined airline rewards for consumers with a world-first credit card. The HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card is a first by a global airline alliance. It brings together seven of the world’s leading airlines on a single credit card platform. For a limited time there is no Annual Fee in the first year, but the card will cost AUD$450 per year thereafter.
The launch comes as a new HSBC Travel and Finance survey revealed that over half (55%) of Australians 18+ are planning or considering an overseas trip in the next year, with 88% of those travellers agreeing it is important to budget properly for trips given increasing inflation and cost of living. The aim of the credit card is to provide Australian customers with greater choice when earning and using their airline points.
Participating Star Alliance airlines
The card is the world’s first credit card created with an airline alliance and will be issued exclusively on Visa credit. It brings together seven launch Star Alliance carriers on a single credit card platform. The seven participating member airlines include:
- Air Canada – Aeroplan®
- Air New Zealand – Airpoints™
- EVA Air – Infinity MileageLands
- Singapore Airlines – Krisflyer
- South African Airways – SAA Voyager
- THAI – Royal Orchid Plus
- United Airlines – MileagePlus®
Benefits of the Star Alliance Credit Card
The key benefits of the card include:
- Star Alliance Gold status if you meet the eligible spend
- Uncapped Star Alliance points earning potential
Star Alliance Gold status
One of the key benefits of the card is that Australian cardholders will be eligible to fast track to Star Alliance Gold Status in their first year when they spend AUD$4,000 on eligible purchases within 90 days from card approval.
Star Alliance Gold status is granted through the corresponding status tier in the Frequent Flyer Program (FFP) of the participating Star Alliance Member Airline nominated by the customer as their Status Airline through the Star Alliance Rewards Program.
You can then earn or retain Star Alliance Gold Status each year if your spend at least AUD$60,000 on eligible purchases in the previous year. Alternatively you can earn Star Alliance Silver status if you spend at least AUD$30,000 on eligible purchases in the previous year.
Uncapped Star Alliance Points earning potential
In addition to the Star Alliance gold status, card holders can earn 1 Star Alliance Point per $1 spent on eligible purchases in Australia and overseas for the first AUD$3,000 spend per statement period. You will then earn 0.5 Star Alliance Point per $1 spent on eligible purchases thereafter.
Australian customers can also earn Star Alliance Points on their everyday eligible credit card purchases that can then be converted to miles/points in the participating Star Alliance member carrier frequent flyer programs.
Book flights Interest Free
Card holders will get 0% interest for 6 months on purchases made using the customer’s HSBC Star Alliance credit card made directly through participating Star Alliance Member Airlines websites.
Benefits of Star Alliance Gold
By earning Star Alliance Gold Status, this then gives customers access to over 1,000 airline lounges worldwide, priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling, as well as excess baggage allowance on eligible fares and other privileges when travelling on flights operated by Star Alliance member airlines.
Australian overseas travellers becoming savvy spenders
The launch comes as the HSBC Travel and Finance survey found that Australians who are planning to go overseas in the next year are watching their finances closely and considering how to make their dollar go further including looking at paying for flights with credit card rewards points with.
According to HSBC’s Jessica Power, cost of living pressures mean savvy consumers are examining how they utilise discounts and rewards on everyday spending including their credit cards.
“Our HSBC Travel and Finance survey indicates that while people are prioritising travel in 2023, they are also looking at ways to keep travel costs down, with one in four (24%) Australians who are intending to travel overseas saying they would pay for flights with credit card rewards and points.
“Our survey revealed that 96% of Australians intending to travel overseas said they would consider tips and tricks to keep travel costs down, with 50% saying they would look to shop around for flight and accommodation deals as a way to save money,” said Ms Power.
The survey also found that more than half (52%) of Australians planning overseas travel are worried about potential airport chaos, with just under half (49%) worried about complications from delayed or cancelled flights.
Ms Power said the new HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card addresses some of these concerns by providing customers with access to priority check-in and baggage handling.