HSBC VIP Travel and Expense Card

HSBC VIP Travel and Expense Card: Introducing the perfect travel companion – your new HSBC VIP Travel & Expense Mastercard© credit card.

Designed to make your business travel as convenient and seamless as possible, your new card includes exclusive benefits, such as airport lounge access, trip delay and cancellation insurance, complementary Boingo Wi-Fi in all major airports, premier customer service access and more.

Travel boldly with the card that offers benefits beyond the ordinary with the HSBC name that is instantly recognized and respected around the globe.

Introducing the perfect travel companion – your new HSBC VIP Travel & Expense Mastercard© credit card.

Mastercard© Coverage Brochure (PDF, 1.29MB)

Mastercard© Guide to Benefits (PDF, 389KB)

Mastercard© Guide to Benefits – Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption (PDF, 1.43MB)

To file a claim visit: www.mycardbenefits.com or call 1-800-Mastercard

Mastercard Concierge

Priority Pass Registration

Priority Pass Member Support (FAQs, Priority Pass App, Contact)

Flight Delay Pass Registration

Flight Delay Pass Terms of Use (PDF, 438KB)

Boingo Wi-Fi for Mastercard Cardholders

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The best HSBC credit cards of 2020

Katie Genter

Update : Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services institutions. Yet many U.S. consumers don't think of the company when shopping for a new rewards credit card . HSBC currently only offers six credit cards to U.S. consumers, so let's take a detailed look at these six cards and answer some common questions about them.

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Best HSBC credit cards for 2020

  • HSBC Gold Mastercard® credit card : Best for introductory APR
  • HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card : Best for cash-back rewards
  • HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card Student Account : Best for cash-back rewards for students
  • HSBC Advance Mastercard® credit card : Best for dining and entertainment
  • HSBC Premier World Mastercard® credit card : Best for travel
  • HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard® credit card : Best for premium travel rewards

To start our analysis, here is a comparison of the best HSBC credit cards currently accepting new applications.

Comparing the best HSBC credit cards

More details on the best hsbc credit cards.

Let's take a look at the details of each of these HSBC credit cards and offers, including rewards rates, benefits and annual fees.

HSBC Gold Mastercard credit card: Best for 0% introductory APR

travel free hsbc

Why this is the best for 0% introductory APR : This card offers 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 18 months after account opening.

Introductory offer : 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 18 months from account opening. Balance transfers must be posted within the first 60 days following account opening. Once the introductory period is over, a variable APR of 12.99%, 16.99% or 22.99% will apply. A balance transfer fee of either $10 or 4%, whichever is greater, applies on each balance transfer.

Rewards rate : None

Top benefits and perks :

  • Check to see if you are prequalified , which only requires a soft credit check that has no impact on your credit score
  • Late fee waiver, which means HSBC will waive the late fee once within a 12-month period
  • No penalty APR, which means HSBC will not raise your APR if you pay late
  • MasterRental coverage, which provides protection for physical damage and theft to most rental vehicles
  • No foreign transaction fees

Annual fee : None

Is this card worth it? Whether you're looking to delay payment of a large purchase or you're working to pay off debt , the HSBC Gold Mastercard may be able to help with its 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 18 months. However, some other cards offer lower balance transfer fees, so it may be worth considering other options.

Related reading: The best balance transfer credit cards

HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card: Best for cash-back rewards

travel free hsbc

Why this is the best for cash-back rewards : This card provides 3% cash back on up to $10,000 in purchases made within your first 12 months and 1.5% cash back after that.

Introductory offer : Earn 3% cash back on up to $10,000 in purchases within your first 12 months from account opening. Plus, get 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months from account opening. Balance transfers must be posted within the first 60 days following account opening. After that, a variable APR of 12.99%, 16.99% or 22.99% will apply. A balance transfer fee of either $10 or 4%, whichever is greater, applies on each balance transfer.

Rewards rate : Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases (after the 3% introductory period ends)

  • $5 off on Postmates orders of $25 or more for delivery of food, drinks and groceries (not including taxes, delivery fees, and tips)
  • Cellular wireless telephone protection that may provide reimbursement up to $600 per claim if your cellphone is stolen or damaged
  • Complimentary ShopRunner membership for unlimited, free two-day shipping and free return shipping at over 140 online stores

Is this card worth it? The introductory 3% offer provides solid cash-back earning during your first year, and 1.5% cash back long-term is also strong. If you're looking for a simple no annual fee card that earns flat-rate cash back, this is a solid choice. However, you can do slightly better with some other cards such as the Citi® Double Cash Card that provides up to 2% cash back on everything as 1% when you buy and 1% as you pay.

Related reading: The best cash-back credit cards

HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card Student Account: Best for cash-back rewards for students

travel free hsbc

Why this is the best for cash-back rewards for students : Students can be approved without any credit history. Plus, the card offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

Introductory offer : None

Rewards rate : Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases

  • No credit history required for approval
  • Unlimited access to online tools to learn about credit
  • Get your FICO Credit Score for free each month on your HSBC credit card statement
  • Graduate to the standard HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card after four years if your account is in good standing
  • Complimentary ShopRunner membership

Is this card worth it? The HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card Student Account can be a good option for students who have an existing HSBC deposit account. Eligible students may be able to open this unsecured credit card without credit history and earn 1.5% cash back while building their credit .

Related reading: Best credit cards for college students

HSBC Advance Mastercard credit card: Best for dining and entertainment

travel free hsbc

Why this is the best for dining and entertainment : This card earns 3x points on dining and select entertainment during your first 12 months and then 2x points once the introductory period is complete. You must have a qualifying HSBC Advance or Premier checking account relationship to be eligible for this card.

Introductory offer : Earn an introductory 3x points on dining and select entertainment purchases plus 2x points on all other purchases in the first 12 months from account opening, up to the first $25,000 in purchases. Plus, get 0% introductory APR on credit card purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months from account opening.

Balance transfers must be posted within the first 60 days following account opening. After that, a variable APR of 14.99% or 18.99% will apply. A balance transfer fee of either $10 or 4%, whichever is greater, applies on each balance transfer.

Rewards rate : Earn 2x Rewards Program Points on dining and select entertainment purchases after the intro period. Plus, earn 1x on all other purchases after the intro period.

  • 10% off when booking luxury hotel stays through onefinestay

Annual fee : $0 during the first year of account opening, then $0 for cardholders who have a qualifying U.S. HSBC Advance or Premier checking account relationship and $45 for cardholders who no longer have a qualifying checking account relationship

Is this card worth it? If you are eligible for this card with a $0 annual fee, it can be a good way to earn bonus points on dining and entertainment. But, it's unclear from publicly available materials what type of redemption value you'll get from Rewards Program Points. So, it may be better to opt for a more straightforward rewards credit card that earns bonus rewards on dining and/or entertainment such as the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.

The information for the Capital One Savor card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related reading: Credit card showdown: Capital One Venture vs. Capital One Savor

HSBC Premier World Mastercard credit card: Best for travel

travel free hsbc

Why this is the best for travel : This card offers 2x points on travel purchases as well as various travel-related perks. You must have a qualifying HSBC Premier checking account to be eligible for this card.

Introductory offer : Earn 35,000 Rewards Program Bonus Points -- worth at least $400 in air travel -- after spending $3,000 in the first three months from account opening.

Rewards rate : Earn 2x Rewards Program Points on travel purchases and 1x Points on all other purchases.

  • Enjoy complimentary unlimited premium Wi-Fi at over a million secure hotspots worldwide with Boingo . Get simultaneous access for up to four devices.
  • Receive up to $50 in statement credits annually for rides with Uber and Lyft
  • Get a statement credit of $85 every five years as reimbursement for a TSA PreCheck application fee
  • 10% discount when you book your hotel or vacation home stay through Expedia, Agoda or onefinestay
  • Trip cancelation insurance that may reimburse you for your prepaid, non-refundable expenses in case you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason
  • Hotel and motel burglary insurance that may reimburse you up to $1,500 per claim for personal property stolen or damaged from your hotel or motel room as a result of burglary by forcible entry
  • Lost luggage insurance that may reimburse you up to $1,500 per claim for checked or carry-on luggage that is lost or damaged while traveling on a common carrier
  • Baggage delay insurance that may reimburse you up to $250 per claim for the cost of essential items such as clothing and toiletries if your luggage is delayed in getting to your scheduled destination
  • Purchase assurance that may reimburse you when an item you bought with your card is damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase

Annual fee : $0 during the first year of account opening, then $0 for cardholders who have a qualifying U.S. HSBC Premier checking account relationship and $95 for cardholders who no longer have a qualifying HSBC relationship.

Is this card worth it? If you have a qualifying U.S. Premier checking account with HSBC, you might as well open the HSBC Premier World Mastercard credit card for its travel-related benefits and shopping benefits. But, if you aren't already an eligible HSBC customer, you may want to consider other travel credit cards with stronger earning rates and additional perks such as a Global Entry application fee credit .

Related reading: Best travel rewards credit cards

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard credit card: Best for premium travel rewards

travel free hsbc

Why this is the best for premium travel rewards : This card provides 3x earning on travel purchases , 2x earning on dining purchases and various travel and shopping benefits. You must have a qualifying HSBC Premier checking account to be eligible for this card.

Introductory offer : Earn 50,000 Rewards Program Bonus Points -- worth $750 in airfare when booked online through HSBC Rewards -- after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

Rewards rate : Earn 3x Rewards Program Points on travel purchases, 2x on dining purchases and 1x on all other purchases.

  • Receive up to $100 in statement credits annually as reimbursement for air travel purchases charged to your card
  • Receive up to $100 in statement credits annually for rides with Uber and Lyft
  • Enjoy complimentary Lounge Key membership and get two free lounge visits per year. Additional visits are only $32 per person
  • Get one Global Entry application fee statement credit or one TSA Precheck application fee statement credit every 54 months
  • Enjoy complimentary unlimited premium Wi-Fi at over a million secure hotspots worldwide with Boingo. Get simultaneous access for up to four devices
  • Price protection that may reimburse you when you purchase an item with your card and then see a printed advertisement or non-auction Internet advertisement for the same product at a lower price within 60 days from the date of purchase
  • Extended warranty that may double the original manufacturer warranty up to a maximum of 24 months when you purchase an eligible item with your card
  • Purchase assurance that may reimburse you when an item you bought with your covered card is damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase
  • Cellular wireless telephone protection that may provide reimbursement up to $800 per claim if your cellphone is stolen or damaged
  • Earn $5 in Fandango rewards for every two movie tickets purchased

Annual fee : $395 plus $65 per authorized user

Is this card worth it? This card offers some perks that aren't commonly found on credit cards anymore such as Boingo Wi-Fi access and price protection . Plus, the card offers 3x earning on travel purchases as well as 2x earning on dining purchases and allows redemption for 1.5 cents per point when you book through HSBC Rewards. However, you'll need to have a qualifying HSBC's Premium checking account to get this card.

Related reading: Battle of the premium travel rewards cards: Which is the best?

How we chose the best HSBC credit cards

HSBC currently only offers six credit cards in the United States. And, only two of these cards are available to consumers without an existing HSBC relationship. So, in this guide we decided to analyze all six of the currently available HSBC credit cards and determine for whom each card might be best.

Benefits available on all HSBC credit cards

travel free hsbc

All of the currently available HSBC credit cards offer some basic benefits. In particular, you'll find the following perks available on all of the HSBC cards:

  • Contactless-chip enable cards that allow you to tap and pay
  • See your FICO score for free on your monthly statement
  • MasterRental car rental insurance
  • Travel accident insurance
  • Mastercard ID theft protection that can provide identity theft resolution services
  • Automatic enrollment in HSBC's fraud alert program
  • Access to Mastercard global services which can assist with lost and stolen card reporting, emergency card replacement and emergency cash advance
  • Access to Mastercard's Priceless Cities program which can provide exclusive access to more than 2,000 priceless experiences around the globe
  • Access to Mastercard's Priceless Golf program which can provide exclusive access to iconic destinations and discounts on public tee times
  • Access to Mastercard's airport concierge services including a discount on airport meet and greet services

Related reading: World Elite vs. World Mastercard: Benefits and value

HSBC Premier and Advance relationships

travel free hsbc

The HSBC Premier World Mastercard and HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard require you to have an HSBC Premier relationship to apply, while the HSBC Advance Mastercard requires you to have an HSBC Advance relationship to apply. Here's what you need to know about both of these HSBC relationships.

HSBC Advance

With HSBC Advance, you won't need to pay any HSBC fees when using a third-party ATM and you can get up to four third-party ATM surcharge fees reimbursed per month. You'll also get access to preferred saving rates.

However, if you don't maintain a combined balance of at least $5,000 in your HSBC deposit and investment accounts, have a recurring direct deposit from a third party to an HSBC Advance checking account once per calendar month or have an HSBC U.S. residential mortgage loan, you'll need to pay a monthly maintenance fee of $25.

Related reading: The best checking accounts

HSBC Premier

With HSBC Premier, you won't have fees on everyday banking transactions, no HSBC ATM fees worldwide and unlimited third party ATM rebates within the U.S. You can extend your Premier status to up to four family members and you have automatic Premier status in all countries where you bank with HSBC affiliates.

However, to become an HSBC Premier client you must have at least $75,000 in total deposits and/or investments, have at least $5,000 in total direct deposits per month or maintain a U.S. residential mortgage loan with an original loan amount of at least $500,000. A monthly maintenance fee of $50 will be incurred if one of these requirements is not maintained.

Frequently asked questions about HSBC credit cards

What is the best hsbc credit card.

The best HSBC credit card is the HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard credit card, due to its travel and shopping perks. But, this card requires you to have an HSBC Premier relationship, which may be difficult for many consumers. The best card for you depends on what factors you're looking for in a card.

Related reading: Best credit cards

Does HSBC have secured credit cards?

HSBC doesn't currently offer any secured credit cards. But, there are plenty of good secured credit cards offered by other issuers.

Is HSBC Gold Mastercard a good credit card?

The HSBC Gold Mastercard credit card can be a good option if you're looking for a no-annual-fee credit card that has a 0% introductory offer for purchases and balance transfers. But if you're looking to do a balance transfer , you may prefer a card with a lower or even waived balance transfer fee.

Is HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard worth it?

If you have an HSBC Premier relationship and will take advantage of the HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard's travel and shopping benefits, then the card can certainly be worth it. But, if you don't already have an HSBC Premier relationship, you may want to consider other premium travel rewards cards such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card .

The information for the UBS Visa Infinite card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Are HSBC credit cards easy to get?

The HSBC Gold Mastercard and HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard both allow potential applicants to check whether they're prequalified with just a soft credit pull . So, if you're worried about whether you'll be approved for an HSBC credit card, you may want to check whether you're prequalified for one of these cards.

Alternatively if you're a student you may want to consider the HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard credit card Student Account since this card doesn't require any credit history. However, note that you need to have a consumer deposit relationship with HSBC to qualify for this card.

Can Wisconsin residents get an HSBC credit card?

Currently, all of the HSBC credit cards have a note in their Summary of Terms that states the offer is void in Wisconsin.

Related reading: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

How do I pay my HSBC credit card?

You can pay your HSBC credit card using a checking account or savings account , by mail, by phone or by enrolling in autopay . Here's how to do each:

  • Using an HSBC checking or savings account : Log-in to your HSBC account, select your credit card and click Move money
  • Using a non-HSBC checking or savings account : Log-in to your HSBC account, select your credit card, click My Account, select Payments and then click Make a Payment
  • By mail : Fill in the remittance stub and mail it along with your payment to HSBC Bank USA, N.A., PO Box 4657, Carol Stream, IL 60197-5255
  • By phone : Call the number on the back of your credit card
  • Enroll in autopay : You can enroll in EZ-Pay autopay by logging in to your HSBC account, selecting your credit card, clicking My Account, selecting Payments and then clicking Schedule EZ-Pay

Related reading: The right way to pay your credit card bills

Bottom line

HSBC offers six credit card products currently, although all but two of these products require an existing HSBC relationship. This means that most HSBC credit card products will be primarily useful to existing HSBC clients.

But, if you are looking for a no annual fee card with a 0% introductory APR offer on purchases and balance transfers, it may be worth checking whether you're prequalified for one of the two credit cards that are open to non-HSBC consumers.

HSBC Rewards program: Introduction

You are currently viewing HSBC Rewards program: Introduction

  • Post author: Andrew D'Amours
  • Post published: March 25, 2022
  • Post category: Rewards programs / Travel rewards Canada
  • Post comments: 2 Comments

HSBC is a major global bank that is one of the most interesting for Canadian travelers, thanks to their proprietary rewards program, HSBC Rewards, being literally one of the most flexible for travel redemptions: rewards can be used for any travel expense. And most importantly for savvy deal-lovers, the program also offers the potential for outsized value and unlimited value (with 1 of the 3 cards).

I personally love the many benefits the HSBC Rewards program offers. And for many travelers, it sure is a great program to consider.

Here is Flytrippers’ introduction to the HSBC Rewards program, while you await our series of ultimate guides for reward programs launching this spring as travel finally resumes.

Basics of the HSBC Rewards program

There are 3 Canadian cards that earn HSBC Rewards and I’ll share more details about them in a section below …

But here is a table right away, just so you know whether this guide applies to one of the cards in your current travel rewards portfolio (or to one of the cards you are considering adding next ).

HSBC has a strong presence in Canada and it is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, based in London (England).

It should be a very recognizable brand for travelers, as its logo is emblazoned on so many airport jetbridges all around the world.

travel free hsbc

As you probably deduced, HSBC Rewards is HSBC Bank’s own proprietary rewards program.

The program’s highlights are that the points are among the most flexible you can find , as they can be used as a simple travel credit for any flight , hotel , Airbnb , car rental , train , bus , tour , cruise , or vacation package booked with any travel provider!

And with the HSBC World Elite Mastercard , the points can even be transferred to partner airline rewards programs for a lot more potential value, including one partner that is unique to HSBC in Canada.

Here is a brief summary of the HSBC Rewards program:

  • Best use: Reward flights
  • Subtype: Standard variable-value rewards
  • Subtype: Eraser fixed-value rewards
  • Discount on specific flights (variable value)
  • Credit applicable to any travel expense (fixed value)
  • Maximum value: Unlimited (variable value)
  • Minimum value: 0.5¢/pt (fixed value)
  • Best partner: British Airways Avios
  • Classification: Bank rewards program
  • Best current offer: HSBC World Elite Mastercard

Introduction to redeeming HSBC points for travel rewards

HSBC Rewards can be used in 2 ways :

  • Within the HSBC Rewards program
  • With a transfer to 3 airline program partners (with 1 of the 3 cards only*)

*Only the HSBC World Elite Mastercard allows you to transfer points to partners — everything else about the HSBC Rewards program is the same for the HSBC +Rewards Mastercard and the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard

Here’s an introduction to the 2 options.

Types of rewards with HSBC points

You can get different types of travel rewards with your HSBC points:

  • A fixed-value travel credit for any travel expense
  • A variable-value discount for specific flights on ≈ 50 airlines

Keep in mind that you can of course mix and match these options too.

If you need a few points for a redemption with a partner program, you can transfer just those and use the other points for a travel credit (or just to keep them to have the option to choose later).

Comparison of the 2 redemption options for HSBC points

In short, here are the most important things to understand about both of your redemption options with HSBC points:

  • Very simple
  • No potential for outsized value and unlimited value
  • No need to use the points “well” and no need to be flexible
  • They erase any travel expense from your statement
  • Travel credit is worth 0.5¢ per point
  • Can’t be more or less, no matter the redemption
  • Not very simple
  • Potential for outsized value and unlimited value
  • Need to use the points “well” and need to be flexible
  • They are based on program award charts
  • Discount is worth ≈ 0.6¢ per point
  • Can be more or less, it depends on the redemption

We’ll have more details about the value in the guide, but let’s just note that our Flytrippers Valuation of HSBC points as variable-value rewards is just 20% higher than as fixed-value rewards (compared to American Express points that provide a whopping 50% more value this way and should really be transferred).

So it’s very reasonable to use HSBC points as a simple travel credit, especially since HSBC transfer partners are harder to maximize than American Express partners, at least for those who might not be frequent travelers (although of course it really depends on every traveler’s situation).

Rules to use HSBC points

The rules vary greatly for the 2 HSBC Rewards redemption options:

  • Any type of travel expense
  • Any airline, hotel chain, or travel provider
  • Any booking website
  • British Airways Executive Club Avios (25 to 10)
  • Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles (25 to 9)
  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (25 to 8)

The travel credit is obviously extremely simple. In terms of partners, the most interesting one is by far Avios. But it’s still more “niche” than the better-known Aeroplan program for example.

Avios points are especially good for certain direct flights, most notably short-distance flights. And like all similar airline rewards programs, Avios points are very valuable for flights with high cash prices (including in business class, a popular redemption).

Also, there is usually a transfer bonus deal (about once a year) that gives you 30% or 40% more Avios points, so 30% or 40% more value for your HSBC points! That’s really excellent if you know you want to use them as Avios points.

How HSBC points work

The next section gives you plenty of redemption examples, but more concretely, here is what your travel rewards can look like with HSBC points:

  • 55,000 HSBC points give you a simple $275 travel credit on any travel expense
  • No matter the trip you choose , a $275 credit always costs 55,000 points
  • No matter the cash price of your trip , a $275 credit always costs 55,000 points
  • 55,000 HSBC points give you a ≈ $200 to ≈ $400 discount on specific flights (like Toronto-Miami roundtrip)
  • Based on the route chosen, the amount of points required varies (fixed by the programs’ award charts)
  • Based on the cash price of your flight, the discount varies (the amount of points required is unrelated to the cash price)

The travel credit is simple. Reward flights are what’s often confusing for many. Basically, a roundtrip Toronto-Miami flight always costs 22,000 Avios points on the Avios award chart (so 55,000 HSBC points with the regular transfer rate).

That means your 55,000 HSBC points can save you $200 sometimes or $400 other times… it all depends on the cash price of the Toronto-Miami flight! So sometimes it’s a good use of 55,000 points (if your discount is $400) but other times it’s not (if your discount is $200).

That’s what variable-value rewards are all about. Sometimes those same 55,000 HSBC points could give you savings of $825! That’s 3 times more than as a simple travel credit, for the exact same amount of points… that’s the potential for outsized value and unlimited value.

That potential for outsized value and unlimited value is made possible by the fact that the amount of points required is fixed by the award chart (independently from the price in cash), but to be able to offer these fixed prices, airline reward programs have to limit seat availability of course.

But to be clear, even when there is availability, not all flights are good uses of Avios points! So you have to be more flexible and be more knowledgeable for sure. But they can be worth a lot more!

How to actually redeem HSBC points

We have very detailed sections about each option towards the end of this ultimate guide, but to close out this introduction section, here are the highlights of the process for each:

  • You charge any travel expense to your card that earns HSBC Rewards
  • You apply your points to erase the expense within 60 days very easily online
  • You need to redeem a minimum of 25,000 points and then in 10,000-points increments
  • You choose a good redemption based on the program’s award charts
  • You make sure there is seat availability
  • You transfer your HSBC points to the partner program very easily online
  • You book the reward flight via the partner program very easily online

How to use HSBC Points to maximize them (best uses)

Here are some concrete examples of the best uses of HSBC Rewards points.

Best uses when transferring to Avios

Here are 10 examples of what you can get with 98,000 HSBC points (the HSBC World Elite Mastercard ‘s current welcome bonus), which is 39,200 Avios points.

That can save you ≈ $588 on those specific flights by finding availability.

Note that if you take advantage of the 30% transfer bonus to the Avios program offered pretty much every year (until June 30 right now), you can add 30% to all of those flight numbers right there!

  • 2.5 one-way flights from Montreal/Toronto to Miami (11,000 points each)
  • 4 one-way flights from Toronto to New York/Chicago/Washington/Philly (9,000 points each)
  • 4 one-way flights from Miami to the Caribbean or Central America (9,000 points each)
  • 3 one-way flights from Toronto to Dublin (13,000 points each)
  • 1.5 one-way flights from Toronto to Dublin in business class (25,000 points each)
  • 9.5 one-way flights within Europe (4,000 points each)
  • 6.5 one-way flights within Asia (6,000 points each)
  • 6.5 one-way flights within Australia (6,000 points each)
  • 6.5 one-way flights within Morocco (6,000 points each)
  • 2 one-way flights from Boston/New York/Chicago to Madrid (17,000 points each)

For all the details, you can read the top 10 uses of Avios points .

Best uses as a travel credit

There really is no “best” use of it, they are all equal by definition.

The 98,000 HSBC points of the HSBC World Elite Mastercard ‘s current welcome bonus simply give you a $490 travel credit applicable on any travel expense.

How to earn HSBC Rewards points (best ways)

First of all, as with all bank rewards programs, you can only earn HSBC Rewards with HSBC-issued credit cards . And one of them in particular makes it really easy to rack up many points with an amazing increased welcome bonus offer currently!

(But if you transfer HSBC Rewards points to the Avios program for example, then you have many other ways to boost your stash of Avios points in other ways; more details in Avios guide.)

Again, here is a brief overview of the 3 cards that earn HSBC Rewards.

HSBC World Elite ® Mastercard ®

Let’s start with one of the very best cards for Canadian travelers who earn over $80,000 per year.

After unlocking the HSBC World Elite Mastercard ‘s current welcome bonus, you’ll get:

  • 98,000 HSBC Rewards points + 2 annual travel credits of $100 each
  • Flytrippers Valuation of ≈ $639 net (excluding Québec residents)
  • Points from the welcome bonus worth ≈ $360
  • Points earned on the minimum spend worth ≈ $108
  • Travel credit worth $100 (1st year)
  • Card fee of $0 (1st year)
  • Points from the optional renewal bonus worth ≈ $120
  • Travel credit worth $100 (2nd year)
  • Card fee of $149 (2nd year)
  • Minimum spend required: $6,000 in 6 months
  • Minimum income required: $80,000 (or $150,000 for household)
  • Subsequent years’ fee if you decide to keep it: $149 ($49 net after the annual $100 travel credit)
  • 110,000 HSBC Rewards points total
  • Flytrippers Valuation of ≈ $562 net
  • No minimum spend required
  • No annual fee waiver the 1st year

With the HSBC World Elite Mastercard you will earn:

  • 6 HSBC Rewards points per $ (≈ 3.6% or 3.0%) on travel
  • 3 HSBC Rewards points per $ (≈ 1.8% or 1.5%) on everything else

Here are just a few highlights of the HSBC World Elite Mastercard :

  • One of the highest free welcome bonuses ever seen in Canada
  • One of the very rare cards in Canada that does not charge a 2.5% foreign transaction fee
  • Great base earn rate and a great multiplier rate on the travel category
  • Points can be either very easy to use or extremely valuable with transfer partners
  • Comes with an annual $100 travel credit

You can apply now via the secure HSBC link or read more details on the HSBC World Elite Mastercard .

HSBC +Rewards™ Mastercard ®

This card is very attractive for many types of travelers, including those who are not eligible for the first one.

After unlocking the HSBC +Rewards Mastercard ‘s current welcome bonus, you’ll get:

  • 37,000 HSBC Rewards points
  • Flytrippers Valuation of ≈ $185 net (excluding Québec residents)
  • Points from the welcome bonus worth ≈ $175
  • Points earned on the minimum spend worth ≈ $10
  • Minimum spend required: $2,000 in 6 months
  • Minimum income required: $0
  • Subsequent years’ fee if you decide to keep it: $25
  • 40,000 HSBC Rewards points total
  • Flytrippers Valuation of ≈ $175 net

With the HSBC +Rewards Mastercard you will earn:

  • 2 HSBC Rewards points per $ ( 1.0% ) on dining and entertainment
  • 1 HSBC Rewards point per $ ( 0.5% ) on everything else

Here are just a few highlights of the  HSBC +Rewards Mastercard :

  • No minimum income requirement
  • Good welcome bonus for a low-fee card
  • Very flexible points
  • Low interest rate (so if you don’t pay your balance in full each month, this is a good option while you rectify that)

You can apply now via the secure HSBC link or read more details on the HSBC +Rewards Mastercard .

HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard ®

The no-annual-fee version is one of the rare cards of this type with a decent welcome bonus.

After unlocking the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard ‘s current welcome bonus, you’ll get:

  • 26,000 HSBC Rewards points
  • Flytrippers Valuation of ≈ $130 net (excluding Québec residents)
  • Points from the welcome bonus worth ≈ $125
  • Points earned on the minimum spend worth ≈ $5
  • Card fee of $0
  • Minimum spend required: $1,000 in 6 months
  • Subsequent years’ fee if you decide to keep it: $0
  • 25,000 HSBC Rewards points total
  • Flytrippers Valuation of ≈ $125 net

With the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard you will earn:

  • 3 HSBC Rewards points per $ (1.5%) on travel*
  • 2 HSBC Rewards points per $ (1.0%) on gas and everyday transportation (like subways, trains, and taxis)
  • 1 HSBC Rewards point per $ (0.5%) on everything else

*Multiplier rate capped at $6,000 in annual travel spending

Here are just a few highlights of the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard :

  • Good welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee card
  • Travel insurance (even interruption coverage)
  • Multiplier earn rate (decent for a no-fee card)

You can apply now via the secure HSBC link or read more details on the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard (coming soon).

How to manage HSBC Rewards (logistics)

Here are more details on some of the more logistical elements of the HSBC Rewards program.

Expiry rules for HSBC Rewards

HSBC Rewards points don’t expire as long as you have a credit card that earns HSBC points and your account is in good standing.

However, as with all bank-owned rewards programs, you cannot keep your HSBC Rewards points if you close your card.

That said, for all bank programs, it’s still easy to not lose your points thanks to these 3 options:

  • Use them before closing the card
  • Keep them by downgrading your card to a no-fee version
  • Transfer them to a partner program (when allowed)

So you can keep your points even if you decide to close the HSBC World Elite Mastercard or the HSBC +Rewards Mastercard to avoid the annual fees after the first year (or after the second year in the case of offers with a renewal bonus in addition to a welcome bonus).

Use HSBC points before closing the card to avoid expiry

Using your HSBC points before closing the card is pretty simple.

You always have a full year when you get a new card, so that should be enough to book a trip in most cases.

Keep HSBC points by downgrading your card to a no-fee version to avoid expiry

If not, as with all cards, you can simply downgrade the card to a version with no annual fee. That allows you to keep the points but also to keep a card that will age and improve your credit score for free.

For HSBC points specifically, you can downgrade to the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard with no annual fees.

But you will no longer be able to transfer them to partners as you can with the HSBC World Elite Mastercard . So for that card, compare that option with the last one.

Transfer HSBC points to a partner program (when allowed) to avoid expiry

Only with the HSBC World Elite Mastercard you could transfer the points to an airline partner to keep them.

If you do this, you will no longer ever be able to use them as a simple travel credit.

Creating an HSBC Rewards account

You need to create an HSBC account after you receive your card (if you don’t already have any other HSBC cards or accounts). Create an account online on the HSBC website (red button in the upper right corner). They also have a convenient app.

You’ll be able to make payments on your card by adding HSBC as a bill in your existing bank account, of course. But creating an HSBC account will allow you to manage your card and, more importantly, your rewards (and your annual travel credit for the HSBC World Elite Mastercard ).

If you like, you can always call HSBC using the phone number on the back of your card, but it’s so much easier to do everything online in 2022.

And that’s it for the set up, for those who are sure they will always want to use HSBC Rewards points as a simple travel credit. We’ll have more details and screenshots for redemptions in the ultimate guide.

For others — and this is obviously optional — if you want to eventually transfer your points to the British Airways Avios program (the British Airways Executive Club, as it’s officially called) to use them that way, you’ll need to create a British Airways Avios account as well. This is separate. We’ll soon have more about that too.

Pooling HSBC Rewards points in one account

You’ve probably already figured it out: earning points as a couple is twice as fast. You can’t pool HSBC Rewards points from different travelers together, but with how the program works, it’s not really necessary anyway. 

If you have the HSBC World Elite Mastercard and want to use your HSBC Rewards points as Avios points, you can pool Avios points from different travelers into one shared household account.

How to take advantage of the HSBC Rewards program benefits (other than points)

Here are more details on a very interesting benefit:

HSBC annual travel enhancement credit

The HSBC annual travel enhancement credit is one of the best perks of the HSBC World Elite Mastercard (not offered on the HSBC +Rewards Mastercard or the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard ).

Every year, a $100 credit will appear on your HSBC Rewards account (in the top bar).

travel free hsbc

It is theoretically meant to be applied to airline seat upgrades, airline baggage fees, and airport lounge passes… but in practice, you can apply it to any travel expense.

So it’s a very easy-to-use $100 credit that almost entirely offsets the annual fee after the Year 1 welcome bonus and the Year 2 renewal bonus (starting in Year 3, the net balance of $49 is also completely offset as long as you spend $1,960 per year in foreign currencies, at least assuming you don’t have another card with no FX fees).

You can soon read our step-by-step guide on how to redeem your HSBC travel enhancement credit online.

How to book travel with HSBC Rewards points (step by step)

Here’s a more hands-on section on the booking process.

Accessing the rewards portal

First, you log in to the HSBC website .

On the welcome screen, click on your card.

travel free hsbc

Then click “Manage” and select “Redeem reward points.”

travel free hsbc

Depending on how you want to use your HSBC points, you have 2 options, both under the “Travel” tab obviously.

Booking with the simple travel credit

You can select “Travel Rewards” for the simple travel credit.

travel free hsbc

You’ll see a list of all travel expenses you charged to your card in the past 60 days (in my case it’s a ton of Alaska Airlines bookings, I’ll explain that funny story in a separate post soon ).

You simply select the travel expenses you want to erase with your HSBC Rewards points with the checkbox.

travel free hsbc

The box at the bottom of the page will fill out, you’ll have to select how many points to apply in the dropdown menu and then click on the red button that is just below.

travel free hsbc

Booking as airline points

On the rewards homepage, you must select “Redeem for miles” to transfer your points.

travel free hsbc

You’ll see your 3 transfer partner options, you simply need to click on “Redeem now.”

travel free hsbc

You then fill out the required information and your points transfer will be sent. 

Please note that during transfer bonuses, the improved transfer rate is NOT reflected on the transfer page but as long as you are within the promo period, you will get the bonus amount without a problem.

travel free hsbc

How much is an HSBC Rewards point worth (valuation)

Our Flytrippers Valuation of HSBC Rewards points is 0.5¢ per point for the 2 cards other than the HSBC World Elite Mastercard . It’s simple because these are fixed-value rewards, the value does not change.

If you have the  HSBC World Elite Mastercard , our Flytrippers Valuation of HSBC Rewards points is ≈ 0.6¢ per point (20% more). In other words, if a particular redemption saves you 0.6¢ for every point you use, it’s a good idea to use your points.

The value calculation is simple and is always the same no matter the rewards: it’s the number of dollars saved divided by the number of points used .

For example, if paying 25,000 points for a flight saves you $250, you get a value of 1¢ per point ($250 / 25,000 pts = $0.01/pt or 1¢/pt). You need to use the total amount you save for the formula, so the price of the flight minus the taxes that you have to pay of course.

A value of 1¢/pt is more than our Flytrippers Valuation, so we use points to pay, not cash. That is the very basic rule of variable-value rewards: sometimes it’s a good redemption, sometimes it’s not and you should just pay in cash.

But that ≈ 0.6¢ valuation can be different for you, depending on your travel habits (hence the “≈” symbol for all our Flytrippers Valuations of variable-value rewards). I repeat: it’s a conservative estimate for an average traveler. If you’re like us and maximize your Avios points, they can be worth a lot more. If you’re not careful, they can be worth a lot less.

In all cases, even with average redemptions, you can get free travel fairly easily!

How to use HSBC Rewards points (detailed rules)

Here are more details on the different options for using HSBC Rewards points.

Using HSBC Rewards points for a simple travel credit

The intro above should be enough for now, the rest is coming in the next version!

Using HSBC Rewards points for flights

Coming in the ultimate guide.

Using HSBC Rewards points for something other than travel

The best way to use HSBC points for something other than travel is to not do it .

Same as for every other rewards program in the world, which always give less value when you use them for anything other than travel. We certainly won’t encourage you to lose that much value; after all, our mission at Flytrippers is to help you travel more for less!

Want to get more content to maximize your HSBC Rewards?

Sign up for our travel rewards newsletter.

The HSBC Rewards program is a pretty straightforward bank rewards program, with lots of options to redeem your points for travel since the points are among the easiest type to use. Points can be redeemed for any travel purchase on your card at a value of 0.5¢ per point. Or, with the HSBC World Elite Mastercard , you can transfer your points to partner airline programs with the potential for outsized value and unlimited value.

What would you like to know about HSBC Rewards? Tell us in the comments below.

Explore awesome destinations : travel inspiration

Learn pro tricks : travel tips

Discover free travel: travel rewards

Featured image: Barcelona, Spain (photo credit: Joseph Guilbey)

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Andrew D'Amours

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Read more about the article 30% transfer bonus from HSBC Rewards to Avios

30% transfer bonus from HSBC Rewards to Avios

Read more about the article 16 good redemptions for HSBC Rewards points

16 good redemptions for HSBC Rewards points

This post has 2 comments.

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Concernant le crédit voyage de 100$ tu écris: “in practice, you can apply it to any travel expense” J’ai réservé un hotel avec booking.com au Canada il y a une semaine et cette dépense n’apparait toujours pas dans la liste des crédits. Problème?

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Bonjour, juste pour ton info si tu préfères, toutes nos pages sont disponibles en français en choisissant l’option dans le menu en haut. Pour le crédit HSBC, il se peut que certains sites ne fonctionnent pas, peut-être que Booking.com en est un. Pour avoir le même effet, réserve un hôtel remboursable sur un site officiel d’hôtel, applique le crédit et fais-toi rembourser l’hôtel et ça va l’appliquer sur le même relevé que ton hôtel réservé sur Booking.com . C’est toujours plus simple d’appliquer l’ astuce de l’hôtel remboursable avec ce crédit HSBC.

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HSBC

滙豐Reward+應用程式TravelFree旅遊功能,讓您輕鬆掌握海外簽賬,從此便可安心去旅行。

  • 外遊計劃:  出發前,只需設定您的外旅遊日期及目的地,並包括任何中轉地點,於旅程期間,香港及指定目的地以外地區之出示信用卡簽賬將不會被批出,讓您享有更佳更安全的海外簽賬體驗。
  • 海外簽賬限額:  一經設定,您可輕鬆掌握每月外遊消費狀況。累積的海外簽賬一旦超過您預設上限,其後的海外簽賬將不獲接納。預設上限可隨時更改。

• 外遊計劃: 出發前,只需輸入您的旅遊日期及地點,外遊計劃一經設定,將於指定旅程期間生效,香港及目的地以外地區所出示的信用卡簽賬將不獲接納,令您可於旅途上享有更佳更安全的簽賬體驗。

• 海外簽賬限額: 一經設定,您可輕鬆掌握每月外遊消費狀況。累積的海外簽賬一旦超過您預設上限,其後的海外簽賬將不獲接納。預設上限可隨時更改。

由2018年7月23日至9月30日於滙豐網上理財或滙豐流動理財兌換外幣,累積每滿港幣20,000元可享$50「奬賞錢」,最高可享$500「獎賞錢」。詳情請參 按此 。

立即觀看Mc Jin介紹滙豐Reward+ 應用程式 全新TravelFree 旅遊功能

此外,由2018年7月23日至9月30日於滙豐網上理財或滙豐流動理財兌換外幣,累積每滿港幣20,000元可享$50「奬賞錢」,最高可享$500「獎賞錢」。詳情請 按此 。

仲未有滙豐Reward+應用程式?立即下載!

按此 了解更多滙豐Reward+功能

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全城最好的滙豐信用卡*,一卡百應!

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1. 登入滙豐Reward+。選擇信用卡並於TravelFree頁面內按「新增外遊計劃」。

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2. 設定外遊計劃,只需輸入您的外遊日期與目的地。

travel free hsbc

3. 當外遊計劃一經接納,將於指定旅程日期生效。 為增加外遊簽賬的安全度,於香港及指定目的地以外地區之出示信用卡簽賬將不獲接納。

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4. 所有將生效或生效中的外遊計劃將會顯示在外遊計劃頁面。

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* 根據2019年10月至2019年12月期間於香港進行的Kantar Pulse Study的調查報告(樣本抽樣具人口代表性),訪問了440名信用卡持有人對該描述的認同。

風險披露 貨幣兌換風險 —外幣和人民幣存款的價值須承受因匯率波動而產生的風險。倘若您選擇將外幣和人民幣存款兌換為其他貨幣時的匯率較當初兌換外幣和人民幣時的匯率為差,則可能會因而蒙受本金損失。 向您提供的有關產品或服務的任何廣告、市場推廣或宣傳物料、市場資料或其他資料,其本身不會構成任何產品或服務的招攬銷售或建議。 本文所載資料並不構成招攬或建議任何人作存款,或購買或出售或投資任何產品的要約。

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參考編號: Y8-U8-CAMH0105-TravelFree

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How to notify HSBC that you’re traveling

Great news! Due to enhancements in our security measures:

  • You no longer need to schedule a notification for your HSBC debit or credit card when traveling
  • We may still send you a fraud alert if we see unusual activity on your account

For more information on how we protect your account, see Credit Cards Fraud Alert & Detection

travel free hsbc

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HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

Instant reward redemption with an extensive selection of airline and hotel partners.

Find out more via your eWelcome pack

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Unlock a world of travel freedom

Unlock instant travel rewards and elevated travel experiences everywhere you go with the one and only travel card you need. 

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Apply online today and enjoy our exclusive sign-up offer

Open up a world of elevated travel.

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Travel privileges

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Split flexibly

Spend, earn, and go further, earn points and redeem them instantly.

Be spoilt for choice when you redeem instant miles and hotel points with an extensive range of airline and hotel partners such as Malaysia Airlines, airasia, Singapore Airlines, Marriott Bonvoy and more[@credit-cards-travelone-reward-programme-tncs].

  • 8× Reward points on all foreign currency spend
  • 5× Reward points on local travel spend (hotels, airlines and travel agencies)
  • 5× Reward points on local dining spend
  • 1× Reward points on all other eligible spend
  • Find out how to redeem  

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Travel in style

  • Airport lounge access[@credit-cards-plaza-premium-lounge-tncs]: You and your supplementary cardholder can enjoy a combined 6 complimentary visits per year at selected Plaza Premium airport lounge for international flights – terms and conditions apply
  • Travel offers: Enjoy exclusive travel discounts on Agoda – learn more on the Agoda website
  • Priceless™ Specials: discover top-tier benefits and a world of privileged access with curated offers and benefits from Mastercard – explore all offers
  • Travel rewards: shop at key destinations around the world and enjoy cashback offers and discounts from both in-store and online merchants across over 25 countries –  Find out more 

Put your mind at ease

  • Travel insurance: Register to enjoy complimentary travel insurance coverage (including COVID-19)[@credit-cards-travelone-travel-insurance-tncs] of up to USD250,000 for you and your family when you charge the full cost of your air ticket to your HSBC TravelOne Credit Card – Mastercard T&Cs apply
  • ID Theft Protection™: Enjoy peace of mind when surfing and shopping online. Proactive monitoring and alerts help to ensure the security of your personal data from identity theft or fraud. Online enrolment is required – find out more on the Mastercard website
  • Complimentary E-Commerce Purchase Protection: Rest easier when you shop online with up to USD1,000 coverage  – find out more on the Mastercard website

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More card benefits

  • 1% contribution on charity spending For every charitable donation you make with your HSBC TravelOne Credit Card, we'll contribute 1% of your charity spending – up to RM500,000 per year – to our supported charities[@credit-cards-travelone-charity-donations].
  • Blind notch Designed to increase accessibility and demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity. The notch signals the correct end of the card to insert into card readers and ATMs
  • We're finding ways to reduce plastic waste. Your HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is made from 100% recycled plastic.

Enjoy 50% off green fees at 42 golf clubs and golf lessons at 1 participating golf academy in Singapore – Book now . Terms & Conditions apply.

Valid until: 15 January 2025

Who can apply?

  • A minimum annual income of RM60,000 p.a. is required
  • Primary cardholder must be at least 21 years of age; supplementary cardholder must be at least 18 years old

What you'll need

Salaried employee .

If you're working for a  multinational, public-listed, government or semi-government company or office,  you'll need:

Photocopy of MyKad (both sides) AND any 1 from below:

  • EPF statement - latest original PDF copy of non-password protected statement downloaded from KWSP website/App OR
  • Bank statement - original PDF copy of non-password protected statement downloaded from online banking website/App showing latest 3 months salary credit OR
  • Letter of confirmation from employer or latest month salary slip if employed less than 3 months OR
  • Latest Income Tax Return Form (Form BE with tax receipt) OR

For  all other companies,  you'll need:

Photocopy of MyKad (both sides) AND any 2 from below:

  • EPF statement - latest original PDF copy of non-password protected  statement (latest 2 years EPF statement if contribution less than 6 months) downloaded from KWSP website/App AND/OR
  • Bank statement - original PDF copy of non-password protected statement downloaded from online banking website/App showing latest 3 months salary credit AND/OR
  • Latest 3 months salary slip AND/OR
  • Latest Income Tax Return Form (Form BE with tax receipt) AND/OR

Self-employed 

If you're  self-employed , you'll need:

Photocopy of MyKad (both sides) AND  Photocopy of Business Registration Form (established minimum 3 years) AND any 1 from below:

  • Bank statement - latest 6 months original PDF copy of non-password protected statement downloaded from online banking website/App AND/OR
  • Latest Income Tax Return Form (EPF Statement or Form B with payment receipts or CP02 attached)

Foreign passport holders 

If you hold a  foreign passport , you must be working for a multinational, public-listed, government or semi-government company or office, or HSBC corporate lending employer. You'll also need:

Copy of passport showing personal details and work permit (must be valid for at least one year) AND

Letter of confirmation from employer stating position, remuneration and duration of employment AND any 1 from below:

  • Latest month salary slip

(Minimum RM10k income per month AND working for multinational/public listed companies/government/semi-government/HSBC corporate lending employers only)

Important documents 

  • Product disclosure sheet (PDF)  (EN)
  • Product disclosure sheet (PDF)  (BM)

Apply online in 10 minutes or less.

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HSBC TravelOne Card extends free conversions till 31 January 2025

Aaron Wong

HSBC TravelOne Cardholders will enjoy free points conversions for the rest of 2024, as HSBC demurs to introduce its 10,000 points conversion fee.

In November 2023, the HSBC TravelOne Card made good on its promise to offer at least 20 airline and hotel partners by the end of the year, but also took the opportunity to announce a 10,000 points conversion fee , which was meant to kick in from 25 January 2024. 

Needless to say, this wasn’t received well. It’s an absurdly expensive fee, working out to approximately S$60, or ~2.5X the price of the market at large. The uproar forced HSBC to back down on its plans, delaying the implementation till 31 May 2024. 

And now, there’s another stay of execution, because fee-free conversions will remain until 31 January 2025 at least.

HSBC extends free conversions till 31 January 2025

travel free hsbc

HSBC TravelOne Cardholders were originally looking at a 10,000 points conversion fee from 1 June 2024 onwards, which HBSC says is derived from the rate used for Pay with Points (4,000 points = S$10, hence a S$25 fee cost 10,000 points).

While I don’t doubt the math, I do doubt the value. No one in the right mind should choose Pay with Points, and if it’s all the same to HSBC, I’d rather pay the S$25!

In any case, HSBC has now kicked the can down the road even further. Per an update on its website:

The waiver on redemption fee for redeeming air miles and hotel points has been extended to 31 January 2025

This means that cardholders can continue to enjoy fee-free transfers throughout 2024 to 21 different airline and hotel partners, the widest range of any bank in Singapore.

This includes some unique partners such as Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, Club Vistara, Air Canada Aeroplan, Hainan Fortune Wings Club, Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles and Wyndham Rewards, which are not available through any other bank in Singapore. 

HSBC TravelOne Card welcome offer minimum spend now just S$500

Last month, the HSBC TravelOne Card cut the minimum spend for its 20,000 miles welcome offer from S$1,000 to S$500, with all other criteria remaining the same. 

HSBC TravelOne Card cuts minimum spend for 20,000 miles welcome offer to S$500

HSBC’s crediting timeline for the welcome gift is 90 days, so with the extension of fee-free conversions, the latest your approval can come while avoiding the fee would be 2 November 2024.

Applying after this date leaves you open to the possibility of a 20% haircut on your welcome bonus, as that 10,000 points fee takes a huge bite out of the 50,000 bonus points. Unless, of course, HSBC delays the fee again.

You should also know that applying for a HSBC TravelOne Card does not disqualify you from counting as new-to-bank when applying for cards like the HSBC Revolution or HSBC Visa Platinum, since HSBC adopts a rather unusual (but beneficial for customers) definition of new and existing cardholders. 

The HSBC TravelOne Card has extended its fee-free transfer period till 31 January 2025, which means cardholders will enjoy free conversions to 21 airline and hotel programmes for the rest of 2024.

It’s certainly good news, but the bigger question is why HSBC doesn’t just commit to keeping the TravelOne Card fee-free indefinitely. In a way, they’ve kind of shot themselves in the foot with this whole 10,000 points conversion thing, because they could have just stayed mum and played the hero every time the fee-free conversions got extended.

As it is, everyone’s just waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

  • credit cards

Aaron Wong

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guest

Thanks for the updates Aaron! That’s great news for travel one, especially after the succession of nerfs from HSBC revo and the ega account. I’m looking forward to points pooling across cards for HSBC. By the way I really like this blog! Thank you and great job! keep it up!

Che_ryl

HSBC points will pool together finally!

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Global Money

Transfer money via Global Money Transfer. It is is an international transfer service available on the HSBC India app. You can use it to send money faster and cheaper 1  to anyone, anywhere in the world for the below travel purposes:

  • Business Travel
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  • Travel for education (including fees, hostel, expenses etc.)
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1 Most  HSBC to HSBC transfers are fee-free, but some intermediary banks may charge fees. You can see an estimate of the applicable fees when you review your transfer. The actual amount is subject to the intermediary bank and will be debited after you've confirmed your transfer.

Some banks may charge for incoming international transfers. Your payees will need to check with their banks on these charges as they vary and will be debited from the payee's account. We are unable to advise you on the fees applied by other banks for payments sent through Global Money Transfers.

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*Benefits will differ based on the Credit card type. The features and benefits of credit card are subject to terms and conditions.

Find the latest travel and health restrictions for your trip with sherpa° travel advisory services. Travelling in a COVID-19 world is full of uncertainties, but with sherpa's travel advisory tool you can get:

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Enjoy complimentary travel insurance promotion on selected HSBC credit cards

* Travel insurance coverage is underwritten by MSIG Insurance (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. HSBC Bank (Singapore) Limited is not the underwriter nor the distributor for this insurance plan. It is not an obligation of, deposit in or guaranteed by HSBC Bank (Singapore) Limited (Company Registration No. 201420624K).

1  HSBC Visa Infinite Credit Card Travel Insurance: Read the policy in detail . 

2  HSBC Premier Mastercard Credit Card: Read the policy in detail

3  HSBC Advance Credit Card: Read the policy in detail

4  HSBC Revolution Credit Card:  Read the policy in detail

5 HSBC TravelOne Credit Card: Read the policy in detail

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Travel with your taste buds through global and sustainable dishes with One Planet Plate

Eating sustainably while on a holiday can be quite daunting, but it doesn’t mean that we have to stop paying attention to our environmental footprint while on the road.

One Planet Plate presented by HSBC aims to address the inherent problems in our food system, and has pulled together chefs from across the world to showcase dishes that celebrate local ingredients, produce zero waste and are low carbon footprint.

This opens up more opportunities for you to discover new sustainable restaurants and find out what delicious sustainable food actually looks, smells and tastes like in in Singapore and globally.

We've also partnered up with amazing restaurants so that you can explore a myriad of international cuisines right at your doorstep. View a range of exclusive credit card offers so you can shop and dine sustainably whilst in Singapore.

Travel and earn cashback with our multicurrency Everyday Global Account

Sign up now and receive preferential foreign exchange (FX) rates with our Everyday Global Account.  Terms and conditions apply .

Sign up for an account with us and enjoy the following benefits 

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Best no annual fee travel credit cards for june 2024.

Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created independently from TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.

Travelers are back in the skies and on the roads, airplanes are taking off full, and there is likely a good chance you’re planning to travel this year or thinking about it. Whether you’re heading off on a much-deserved vacation or just getting away for a weekend, you may be looking to earn rewards on your travel spending.

But most travel credit cards come with an annual fee. That might make sense for road-warrior business travelers who are on a first-name basis with the airport check-in agent, but what if you don’t travel as often? If you’re an occasional traveler, paying an annual fee might not make sense .

In this article, we’ll cover the best travel credit cards with no annual fee.

Best No Annual Fee Travel Credit Cards: Summary

Best for thankyou points: citi rewards+® card, best for cash back on travel: card_name, best for hilton stays: card_name, best for united miles: card_name.

  • Best for American miles: American Airlines AAdvantage® Mile Up® Mastercard®

Best for Delta miles: card_name

Our recommendations.

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Citi Rewards+® Card

(Rates & Fees)

The Citi Rewards+® Card wouldn’t normally make a list of great travel cards, but it currently offers bonus points on some travel. Cardmembers can earn a total of five ThankYou Points on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal through December 31, 2025.

If you’re invested in the Citi ThankYou Points ecosystem, the card is a must-have, not for its travel benefits, but for its point bonus on redemptions. The card offers a 10% rebate on point redemptions when you redeem your ThankYou Points. If you hold multiple ThankYou Point-earning cards and combine your ThankYou Points accounts, you get this rebate on any redemption, up to 100,000 points redeemed per year.

Here are the details of the Citi Rewards+® Card :

  • Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
  • Special offer: Earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025 (airfare is not included).
  • 2 ThankYou Points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent per year at supermarkets and gas stations for first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter.
  • 1 ThankYou Point per dollar on all other purchases.
  • ‌ foreign_transaction_fee foreign transaction fee.
  • ‌ $0 (Rates & Fees) annual fee.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

If you want a no-annual-fee card that offers cash back on travel and are a Costco member, the card_name simply can’t be beat. The Costco Anywhere Visa offers 3% cash back on travel categories including airfare, hotels, car rentals, travel agencies, cruise lines and Costco Travel. You must be a Costco member to get this card, but if you’re looking for cash back on travel, few other cards offer as much cash back on as many travel categories as the Costco Anywhere Visa.

The one quirk of the rewards earned by the Costco Anywhere Visa Credit Card is that you earn your rewards as Costco Cash. Costco Cash rewards get distributed once your February billing statement closes in the form of a credit card reward certificate. This certificate must be redeemed at Costco for merchandise or cash.

Here are the details of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card:

  • 4% cash back on the first $7,000 spent each year on eligible gas and EV charging purchases worldwide and then 1% thereafter.
  • 3% cash back at restaurants worldwide.
  • 3% cash back on eligible travel purchases.
  • 2% cash back on all other purchases at Costco and at Costco.com.
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • ‌ annual_fees annual fee.

Hilton Honors Card from American Express

If your travel plans have you staying within Hilton’s family of hotel brands, consider picking up the card_name . The card earns seven Hilton Honors Bonus Points per dollar spent at hotel properties within the Hilton portfolio. And you’ll get Hilton points for your everyday purchases like gas and groceries. The card earns five Hilton Honors bonus points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants and U.S. gas stations as well. The card is also a great choice if you’re planning to travel abroad as it does not charge foreign transaction fees.

Here are the details of the Hilton Honors American Express Card:

  • 7 Hilton Honors bonus points per dollar spent at any participating hotel within the Hilton portfolio.
  • 5 Hilton Honors bonus points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
  • 3 Hilton Honors bonus points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
  • foreign_transaction_fee foreign transaction fee ( Rates & Fees ).
  • annual_fees annual fee ( Rates & Fees ).

United Gateway℠ Card

Why we like it:.

United MileagePlus aficionados wanting to pad their mileage balances without paying an annual fee should take a look at the card_name . The card earns two United miles per dollar spent on United Airlines purchases, at gas stations, and on local transit and commuting.

The benefits of the card_name don’t stop with earning miles. The card also offers 25% back on United inflight and United Club premium drink purchases. And the card offers essential travel insurance coverage such as auto rental collision damage waiver, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and purchase protection.

Here are the details of the United Gateway Card:

  • 2 United miles per dollar spent on United purchases.
  • 2 United miles per dollar spent at gas stations.
  • 2 United miles per dollar spent on local transit and commuting.
  • 1 United mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
  • foreign_transaction_fee foreign transaction fees.
  • annual_fees annual fee.
  • Member FDIC.

Best for American miles: card_name

Citibusiness® / aadvantage® platinum select® mastercard®.

If you want to earn American Airlines miles on your purchases with the airline, there may be no better card than the American Airlines AAdvantage® Mile Up® Mastercard® . The card earns two miles per dollar spent with American Airlines—an earning rate that matches even the airline’s most premium card_name , which carries a annual_fees annual fee. In addition to miles on American Airlines purchases, the card earns two miles per dollar spent at grocery stores.

The card_name has a unique feature among airline cards with no annual fee: The card can help you earn elite status with American Airlines. You earn one loyalty point for every one dollar you spend on purchases. Earning just 15,000 loyalty points in a year gets you Group 5 boarding privileges and a handful of preferred seat coupons. Once you earn 40,000 loyalty points in a year, you get AAdvantage Gold status, giving you access to complimentary upgrades.

Here are the details of the card_name :

  • 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
  • 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services.
  • 1 AAdvantage mile per dollar spent everywhere else.
  • Earn 1 loyalty point for every AAdvantage mile earned from purchases.

Delta SkyMilesR Blue American Express Card

Delta Air Lines flyers can earn SkyMiles without paying an annual fee if they hold the card_name . The card_name offers two SkyMiles per dollar spent on Delta purchases and at restaurants, plus a 20% rebate on in-flight purchases. The card does not levy a foreign transaction fee ( Rates & Fees ), making it a solid option for international travelers who prefer SkyTeam.

Here are the details of the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card:

  • 2 Delta SkyMiles per dollar spent on Delta purchases.
  • 2 Delta SkyMiles per dollar spent at restaurants.
  • 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Best No Annual Fee Travel Credit Cards Comparison Chart

Our methodology.

To find the best travel credit cards with no annual fee, we looked at the offerings from banks, U.S.-based airlines, and the major hotel chains. To be included in our list, cash back cards had to earn greater than 2% cash rewards on travel. Co-branded hotel and airline cards needed to earn at least two points per dollar on purchases with the brand. In most cases, we found that holding the no-annual-fee card that aligns with your travel brand preferences will earn you the most miles and points.

TIME Stamp: Brand loyalty can be rewarding

If you are a Costco member, the card_name offers the best travel rewards across a variety of travel purchases. If you’re not a Costco member and want a travel credit card that offers the best rewards with no annual fee, go with the entry-level card of your most used travel brand.

The information presented here is created independently from the TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About page.

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Mastercard and HSBC Middle East accelerate travel payment innovation

Collaboration marks the continuation of a long-standing strategic partnership between the two companies

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Mastercard has joined forces with HSBC Middle East to launch Mastercard Wholesale Program in the region. The initiative aims to advance automation of buyer and supplier payments for HSBC’s travel merchant customers.

By leveraging virtual cards to digitise the way travel organisations pay each other for the various elements that make up a consumer’s trip, the collaboration will boost liquidity and enhance security across the travel value chain.

Related Company Profiles

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HSBC will deploy the Mastercard Wholesale Program (MWP), a virtual card-based B2B payment product, for the first time in the Middle East to its travel industry customers. The aim is to advance secure, streamline and automated B2B travel transactions. The solution has been specifically designed for and with the travel industry. It addresses the lack of visibility, control and protection associated with manual payment methods that are still rife across the sector. The innovative proposition is part of Mastercard’s multi-rail strategy that is already being used by over 400,000 travel merchants globally.

A dynamic commercial payment solution to boost travel merchants operations

“Card payments continue to power the travel economy, providing essential cash flow and payment security. Our expanded partnership with HSBC in the Middle East is focused on meeting the specific needs the travel sector has today, as it captures all potential growth. By leveraging Mastercard’s virtual card innovation, this initiative provides HSBC’s travel customers with a dynamic commercial payment solution to boost operations and support the sector’s overall recovery,” said Khalid Elgibali, Chief Operating Officer, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard.

Kyle Boag, Head of Global Payments Solutions for HSBC in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye region, added: “We are dedicated to improving our specialist products to match the changing demands of our customers. It’s essential we give them the digital tools necessary to make the most of their sales opportunities. By using the Mastercard Wholesale Program, traditional and online travel agencies, bedbanks, tour operators and travel management companies will enjoy more control over payment options, while improving cash flow through a secure and efficient platform.”

IATA forecasts 2024 will hit a record high for travel

Insights from IATA predict that 4.7 billion people will travel by air in 2024. The number represents a historic high that exceeds the pre-pandemic level of 4.5 billion recorded in 2019. As consumers return to travel and the industry continues to grow, it is essential that the sector re-thinks the processes and technologies that bring these bookings to life.

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Premier Worldwide Travel Insurance

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Relax with HSBC Premier Worldwide Travel Insurance

Enjoy worldwide travel insurance for you and your loved ones.

Cover is provided by Aviva Insurance Limited. You must complete an application to be covered. Please read the  Premier Worldwide Travel Insurance Product Information Document (PDF, 152KB)  for a summary of terms, conditions, limitations and applicable exclusions.

For the latest coronavirus travel guidance, see  what’s covered under HSBC Travel Insurance .

If you already have Premier Worldwide Travel Insurance, find out how you can manage your policy or make a claim.

Premier Worldwide Travel Insurance is only available to HSBC UK Premier bank account holders. It is not available on savings or other accounts. Subject to application.

What's included

Worldwide cover for you, your partner, your dependent children and grandchildren.

The cover is for you (the HSBC account holder) and your domestic partner - if you're both under 70 years of age on the start date of your trip - and any dependent children or grandchildren travelling with you.

Your children are also covered if they're staying with a close relative, travelling with a relative who's over the age of 23, or going on a school/college trip independently with a teacher.

Children covered by this policy must be under 23. Grandchildren covered by the policy must be under the age of 23 and don’t have to live with you.

All insured persons must be residents of the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man.

To be covered for medical claims, you must be registered with a doctor in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man.

Holidays in the UK

Holidays taken in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man are covered if they involve a stay of at least 2 consecutive nights.

They must also have either of the following:

  • pre-booked holiday accommodation in commercially-run premises 
  • pre-paid bookings on public transport, including flights and ferries

Please see our definition of ‘pre-booked holiday accommodation’ in your policy document.

Business trips

You're covered to travel outside the UK in connection with an insured person’s job to carry out non-manual work such as administrative tasks, meetings and conferences.

We don't cover any claim in connection with an insured person’s job where the trip involves:

  • manual or physical work of any kind
  • working with children
  • providing healthcare, policing, security or military service
  • an insured person’s role as a politician, religious leader, professional entertainer or sportsperson

While this isn’t a specific cruise policy, cruises are covered as standard since they're simply another type of holiday. However, there is no cover for some items that cruise policies may specifically cover, e.g. missed ports, unused excursions, and change of itinerary.

Medical conditions

You'll need to call the HSBC Medical Risk Assessment Helpline on 0800 051 7457 before booking your trip if you, or any insured person, has in the last 12 months, experienced any of the following for a condition not on the accepted conditions list in your policy wording: 

  • been prescribed medication, including newly prescribed or repeat medication
  • received or is awaiting medical treatment, tests or investigations
  • been referred to, or is under the care of, a specialist/consultant
  • been admitted to hospital or had surgery

You must also tell us if any of the above happen regarding conditions you have already declared, if there are any changes to prescribed medication or if any of the conditions deteriorate.

All pre-existing medical conditions must be on the 'accepted conditions' list in your policy wording to be covered, otherwise they must be disclosed to and accepted in writing by the insurer.

What's not covered

Pre-existing conditions.

Pre-existing conditions are not covered at any time under the policy unless listed on the accepted conditions list, or were disclosed to and accepted in writing by the HSBC Medical Risk Assessment Helpline. You may be able to get cover for these from a specialist insurer. MoneyHelper has a list of these insurers – you can check its travel directory or call  0800 138 7777 .

Undiagnosed symptoms

Undiagnosed symptoms are not covered. There is no cover for any claim where you knew that you or your travelling companion may be unable to travel or may need to come home early at the time you opened your HSBC Premier Account or booked your trip (whichever is later). For example, if one of you fell ill.

Things to know

Are you eligible for premier worldwide travel insurance.

Please ensure you can answer yes to the following questions:

Do you hold an HSBC Premier account?

Are you under 70 years of age?

Are you resident in the UK (not including the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man)?

  • Are any dependent children/grandchildren under 23 years of age, on the start date of the trip?  

Your application must have been accepted by HSBC for cover to apply.

When does the cover start and end?

Cover starts from the date your travel insurance application is accepted. It remains in place until the account is closed, its converted to a different account, you cancel your policy, or you are no longer eligible for cover – whichever is sooner.

How to make a claim

For details of how and when to make a claim, please visit our travel Insurance claims page.

Make a travel insurance claim

Policy documents

  • Premier Worldwide Travel Insurance Product Information Document (PDF, 152KB) Premier Worldwide Travel Insurance Product Information Document (PDF, 152KB) Download
  • HSBC Travel Insurance Policy Wording: HSBC Private Banking, HSBC Premier (retained Jade benefits), and HSBC Premier Accounts (PDF, 528KB) HSBC Travel Insurance Policy Wording: HSBC Private Banking, HSBC Premier (retained Jade benefits), and HSBC Premier Accounts (PDF, 528KB) Download
  • Privacy Notice (PDF, 160KB) Privacy Notice (PDF, 160KB) Download
  • Premier (retained Jade benefits) Travel Insurance Product Information Document (PDF, 257KB) Premier (retained Jade benefits) Travel Insurance Product Information Document (PDF, 257KB) Download

How do I find out if I already have travel insurance with my HSBC bank account? 

Premier Travel Insurance is available to HSBC UK Premier customers only. That means customers with an HSBC Premier bank account, an HSBC Premier (retained Jade Benefits) or an HSBC Private Banking account.

HSBC UK Premier customers:   You should have travel insurance with your account if you're under 70, are resident in the UK and have successfully completed an application

HSBC Premier (retained Jade Benefits) or an HSBC Private Banking customers:   You should have travel insurance with your account if you're under 80, are resident in the UK and  have successfully completed an application.

You can request confirmation of your travel insurance on Aviva's website at  aviva.co.uk/hsbctravelproof

Do you need to notify us before you use your HSBC debit or credit card outside the UK? 

No, you no longer need to notify us before you travel. To find out more about managing your money whilst you travel, see  using your card abroad .

I've lost my invitation to apply for HSBC Premier Travel Insurance. How do I apply? 

Call us on 03457 70 70 70 . We'll provide you with the link to apply once we've verified your account information.

Our lines are open 08:00 to 20:00 every day.

Do I have to apply for HSBC Premier Travel Insurance at the same time as I open my bank account? 

No. You can apply at any time as long as you meet the eligibility criteria and hold a Premier account.

You can call us on 03457 70 70 70 and we'll provide you with the link to apply.

You won't be covered if you don't complete a successful application.

Can I get help to complete my application for HSBC Premier Travel Insurance? 

If you need help, please call us on 03457 70 70 70 to make an appointment for a member of our team to complete the application with you over the phone.

I have a joint account. Can I complete the application for HSBC Premier Travel Insurance for both of us? 

Yes, although only one account holder should complete the application. If you don’t have permission to provide the other account holder’s details, you won’t be able to complete the application online and will need to call us on 03457 70 70 70 to book an appointment (for which both account holders will need to be available). Our lines are open 08:00 to 20:00 every day. 

When can my HSBC Premier Travel Insurance cover start? 

Assuming you're eligible, your cover will start as soon as you submit your application. 

When will I receive my HSBC Premier Travel Insurance policy documents? 

It can take up to a week to process your application and issue your welcome pack and policy documents. If you'd like to review your policy documents now, you can find them in the insurance section at hsbc.co.uk/legal . 

How can I get written confirmation I am covered by HSBC Premier Travel Insurance? 

If you need confirmation of your cover, you can request it on Aviva's website . If you applied for cover in the past 7 days, please call us on 03457 70 70 70 .

My HSBC Premier Travel Insurance mentions restricted cover. What does this mean? 

If your recent HSBC Worldwide Travel Insurance application displayed a restricted cover decision, this is because you, or someone to be covered by the policy, is either:

  • not registered with a doctor in the UK; and/or
  • has a pre-existing medical condition

There is no cover for any medical claims for anyone not registered with a doctor in the UK.

To change this please register with a doctor in the UK. Once registered, please read the ‘Your Health’ section in your Policy Wording for full details of when and what you must declare.

Anyone with a pre-existing medical condition not shown on the ‘Accepted conditions’ list in your Policy Wording will need to complete a screening. To do this please call the Medical Risk Assessment Team on 0800 051 7457 . There is no cover for any pre-existing medical conditions until this has been completed.

Explore more

See all insurance options, things to consider when booking a holiday, how to make an insurance claim, customer support.

Money blog: HSBC announces mortgage rate increases

HSBC has today announced wholesale rate hikes across its residential and buy-to-let mortgage product ranges. Read this and the rest of today's consumer and personal finance news below - and leave your thoughts in the comments box.

Monday 3 June 2024 20:54, UK

  • Glitch that delayed 500,000 benefit payments 'fixed', HMRC says
  • HSBC announces mortgage rate increases
  • London could be set for second biggest listing in its history
  • Virgin Atlantic launches new flight from Manchester to Las Vegas

Essential reads

  • Your rights when deliveries or returns don't arrive - and why leaving instructions could jeopardise them
  • What happens to our brains when we shop?
  • Think twice before buying your holiday clothes from Zara
  • Where is all the money going? Here's who is really responsible for concert tickets going crazy
  • Would tourist tax put you off visiting Scotland?
  • Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

Royal Mail's incoming owner has refused to rule out stamp price hikes under his leadership. 

In fact, Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky seemed to suggest there might be more increases to come. 

"I can't make unconditional commitments," he told The Times when questioned on the topic. 

"[If] your circulation is 50% of what it was … you either need to go home, or you need to increase the unit price and hope that people will pay for it. Because if not, you are making losses.

"You can be loss-making for a year or two, but you can't be in a loss for 20 years. It's simple maths. There's no mystery to it." 

First class stamp prices have more than doubled since 2018 from 67p to £1.35. 

The businessman, nicknamed the Czech Sphinx, had his £3.6bn offer accepted by the postal service's parent company, International Distribution Services, last week. 

It said the agreement included a series of "contractual commitments" to protect public service aspects of the Royal Mail - such as its universal service obligation to "one-price-goes-anywhere" first-class post six days a week.

Many were shocked by the deal, with Royal Mail reporting losses of £1m a day in recent years. 

You can read more about the Czech Sphinx below...

A major error that meant 500,000 families did not receive their scheduled child benefit today has been "fixed", HMRC has said.

In a post on X, HMRC said affected families would get the money on Wednesday morning, two days after the payments were due...

Multiple readers have got in touch to say they had been affected by the problem, which meant almost a third of payments scheduled for today were not made.

Reader Susan1984 said: "When should we expect to receive the missing payment? This has left not just me but so many more families with kids completely stuck for food and fuel this morning."

Earlier, HMRC apologised and said it was working urgently to resolve the issue, which would not affected payments scheduled for tomorrow (see post at 14.41).

Child benefit is usually paid every four weeks on a Monday or a Tuesday at a rate of £25.60 for an eldest or only child and £16.95 for each additional child.

The bank has today announced wholesale rate hikes across its residential and buy-to-let mortgage product ranges. 

The new rates, which come into effect tomorrow, will be applied largely across its two, three and five-year fixed rates for purchase and remortgage. 

However, a number of rates available to existing HSBC customers looking to switch will also see increases. 

Brokers say more lenders could increase rates this week. 

This is thanks to an uptick in swap rates due to hopes fading for a cut to the base rate set by the Bank of England in June. 

Here is what some industry insiders told Newspage...

The dreaded 'higher for longer' scenario is no longer a mere notion: it's the harsh reality for many. It looks like these elevated rates are here to stay for the foreseeable future. Ranald Mitchell, director at Charwin Private Clients
We can now expect more awkward conversations with clients who have read that rates are coming down and inflation is under control. HSBC have been fairly competitive recently so the hope is that they just need to turn the tap off a little to catch up and this isn't an upward trend that will continue into the summer period. David Stirling, independent financial advisor at Mint Mortgages and Protection
HSBC is one of several lenders to already have announced changes this week. Even with the higher rates on offer, I would not suggest waiting in the hope of a drop any time soon. My advice to borrowers is take control of the situation and start the process of arranging a new deal as early as possible, secure a rate and, if a better one materialises, change to it. Simon Bridgland, broker/director at Release Freedom

Child benefit payments have not arrived on time for approximately half a million people.

Almost a third of payments scheduled for today were not made - and we've had multiple readers get in touch to say they've been impacted.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has apologised and said it is working urgently to resolve the issue.

"We're sorry that some customers' child benefit payments have not arrived as scheduled and we are working urgently to resolve the issue," said an HMRC spokesperson.

"The issues that caused payment problems today will not impact payments scheduled for tomorrow."

Child benefit is usually paid every four weeks on a Monday or a Tuesday at a rate of £25.60 for an eldest or only child and £16.95 per additional child.

Some people may receive the benefit weekly, for example if they are a single parent or receiving certain other benefits, such as universal credit.

HMRC added on X that there was "no need for customers to call us" and it will provide updates on the social media platform.

As of August 2023, 6.91 million families were in receipt of child benefit payments.

Reader Sam E said: "No warning, complete denial, no update, just endless worry for those who rely on the benefit. The denial in particular is an insult. How long will it be until it's sorted?"

Last week, the Scottish Parliament passed a bill meaning local authorities can set an additional charge for overnight accommodation. 

For tourists heading to Scotland, that means an extra fee for staying hotels, bed and breakfasts and holiday lets.

According to Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill, the fee will be a percentage of the cost of a hotel or other room.

For instance, a 1% levy on a £200 booking means a visitor would pay £2 in tourist tax.

We asked our followers in LinkedIn if the tourist tax would put them off visiting the country. 

The majority of them (59%) said it wouldn't stop them from taking a trip there - but 41% would think twice.

Any charges or levies are not expected to come into effect until spring 2026, as councils need to consult local businesses before carrying out an 18-month implementation period.

Those receiving disability benefits will not pay any charges, with children and young people also exempt.

Manchester, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole already charge people to stay the night. 

Manchester's £1-a-night City Visitor Charge was introduced last April, and is estimated to have raised around £2.8m in its first year.

European hotspots like Barcelona and Venice also have tourist taxes, with the Spanish city charging visitors €3.25 if they're staying in official accommodation.

Your comments on LinkedIn :

"We love Scotland (I'm a Scot) but live close enough to drive up and do some shopping and stay over for a meal etc and we do so perhaps every six weeks or so. So I'm now classed as a 'tourist' even though I spend about £200 on a room - perhaps another £200 quid on a meal and drinks etc etc - not to mention the money we spend in the shops. And they want to charge us both £2.50 a night?" Paul Mclean
Many countries apply tourist taxes, so why should Scotland be any different?The big questions, for me, are how will the money be spent? Will it be spent directly benefiting the city or just vanish into government coffers? The other is who counts as a tourist. A foreign national visiting from a country outside of the UK would seem a sensible definition, but to charge domestic visitors would probably be shootings themselves in the foot somewhat. Scott Taylor-Barr
From my experience, Edinburgh is already one of the most expensive cities to visit. Greig Cahill
Hopefully the contributions are put towards the development of tourism, and/or will be used in the right ways. From my experience working in France, French nationals are very accepting of the tourist tax and in France, I see the logic in it. Let's hope it works... 🤞🏻 Jennifer Wightman

Virgin Atlantic has launched the first flight of its new service from Manchester to Las Vegas today. 

It makes Manchester Airport the only place outside of London to offer direct flights to America's west coast. 

Virgin Atlantic already has a daily connection to Sin City from London Heathrow, but launched the new route to support strong customer demand in the North West. 

It marks the airline's fourth service from Manchester to the US, building on established services of Orlando, New York and Atlanta. 

"Few places sum up the glitz and glamour of international travel like Las Vegas. Giving passengers in the North the opportunity to fly there directly and experience everything it has to offer is a real game-changer," Chris Woodroofe, managing director at Manchester Airport said. 

The launch has been marked with showgirls joining the flight's cabin crew and welcoming flyers at the check-in desk. 

Flight VS85 on an A350-1000 departed Manchester Airport at 9.50am. 

Rolex has increased the price of some of its watches in the UK after the cost of gold surged. 

The leading luxury watch manufacturer has hiked some prices by as much as 4%. 

One of its most famous pieces, the Daytona chronograph, will now cost you £38,700 - up from £37,200. 

The price of a yellow golf GMT Master II has also increased from £34,000 to £35,400. 

That's according to information on its UK website, which is tracked by Bloomberg. 

Typically, Rolex raises prices for its watches annually in January.

It increased prices in the UK by about 4% for some models at that time but left US prices unchanged.

It comes after the price of gold reached record highs earlier this year, coming in at £1,932.44 per ounce in April. 

Increased prices isn't the only thing that makes buying a Rolex difficult, though. 

Despite high prices, waiting lists for them have been rising, according to Watches of Switzerland. 

Some waiting lists can be years long, which is part of the reason they are so exclusive.

So even if you have a spare £35,000, you might still find it difficult to actually get your hands on one. 

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

Eyes were fixed on the London Stock Exchange today for detail on a company that isn't even listed. 

Chinese-founded fast fashion giant Shein is set to publicly list in London, according to Sky's Mark Kleinman , a move that would make it the most high-profile public flotation for more than a decade and the second biggest initial public offering (IPO) in the history of the London Stock Exchange.  

A company "floats" when it offers shares on a stock market - comes into public shareholder ownership from being private - with an IPO being the first time shares are publicly available for purchase. 

There was no update posted this morning, but an announcement could come later this week or month. 

Drugs company GSK is the worst performer of the morning with its share price down 9.4% following news it will face jury trials in claims by thousands of people with cancer who say a heartburn drug it developed, Zantac, caused their illness.

Sterling buys €1.1714, down from the 19-month high of last week. Another high could be reached as the European Central Bank will likely cut interest rates on Thursday. One pound equals $1.2732.

A barrel of Brent crude, the benchmark oil price, is $81.43, low by the standards of the past three months. 

GameStop shares have surged after a Reddit account that drove the 2021 meme stock mania shared its position in the video game retailer. 

The chain's shares were 90% higher at $46 each as of 9.11am after Keith Gill, who goes by DeepF------Value on Reddit and Roaring Kitty on YouTube and X, reappeared online on Sunday night. 

He posted a screenshot of what appeared to be his portfolio holding a significant amount of GameStop common shares and call options. 

Reminder: A call option is basically a contract which allows a buyer to purchase stock at a specific price until a certain date. 

The Reddit trading crowd's favourite trader holds five million shares of GameStop worth $115.7m as of Friday's closing price, according to the account screenshot. 

The account also showed a position of 120,000 call options in GameStop with a strike price of $20 that expire on 21 June that were purchased for about $5.68 each.

GameStop shares closed Friday at $23.14.

Mr Gill's first return to social media three weeks ago sparked an eye-popping rally in GameStop with shares more than doubling in May alone.

At the time, he simply posted a picture of a man in a chair leaning forward, but that was enough to trigger a buying frenzy among amateur traders.

The investor was a former marketer for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance.

In 2021, through YouTube videos and Reddit posts, he encouraged a band of retail traders to squeeze out short selling hedge funds in GameStop.

The action got so wild at one point that brokers had to restrict trading in the stock as it blew up their clearing house margin.

By Katie Williams , Money team

We've all learned how to be more conservative with our money amid an increase in the cost of living - but it's still important to treat ourselves now and again.

And there's some science behind that happy feeling you get when you make a new purchase, as  consumer psychologist Dr Cathrine Jansson-Boyd  explains in the first of four features on the psychology of shopping running this week.

What happens to our brains?

When we buy something, our brain releases endorphins and dopamine. Such a release can give us a sense of pleasure, albeit momentarily, Dr Jansson-Boyd says.

You might be more likely to continue buying things if you think that temporary feeling of pleasure is important, she adds, though she notes for some even just the experience of shopping can trigger the dopamine, without anything being bought.

Buying sale items increases dopamine

Dr Jansson-Boyd says purchasing items at a reduced price can increase your dopamine level.

When shoppers see a product they like with a price they perceive as "fair", they experience a level of satisfaction in the part of the brain associated with the anticipation of pleasure, she explains.

However, if the price is perceived as "unfair", the insula - a part of the brain that registers pain - is typically activated.

The negative impact of dopamine

It's also important to note dopamine can have negative influence on spending behaviours, Dr Jansson-Boyd says. 

For example, when buying chocolates, the release of dopamine generates what can be thought of as a reward-seeking loop. 

This means that a person experiences repeated craving of a dopamine rush and repeatedly buys chocolates to experience the dopamine rush. This can lead to unwanted spending. 

"As you can imagine, such 'craving' can also lead to fairly serious consequences if the spending is done on gambling or drugs," she adds.

So are there 'healthier' alternatives to get that release? 

As Dr Jansson-Boyd mentioned previously, window shopping can trigger a surge of dopamine without you needing to buy anything.

Other non-shopping activities such as eating healthily and listening to your favourite music can also trigger a similar release, she says.

Can you get out of chasing the dopamine rush? 

Being aware is a good start, says Dr Jansson-Boyd, as it may "put the brakes on the shopping".

But she notes that if the chasing of dopamine becomes an obsession, then seeking professional help is best as the consequences can be "serious".

"However, if it is not of a serious nature then training yourself to think pragmatically about the shopping helps. 

"For example, if you find that you are keen on 'special offers', then make sure you are equipped with information about whether you are getting a genuine bargain," she says.

She also recommends taking a step back, going for a cup of tea or visiting another shop every time you see something you want to buy.

Dr Jansson-Boyd says: "If you still want to go back to the item, perhaps you really do want it. However, in many cases you will find that you forget about it entirely or that you are not that fussed."

Coming up in this series:

  • Tuesday: The five different types of shopping addiction
  • Wednesday: 'I was an addict - I ended up in £40,000 of debt'
  • Thursday: The techniques big brands use to get us buying more, more, more

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9 Best Air Miles Credit Cards in Singapore (May 2024)

joannepoh

Ah, the  air miles credit card . Clearly the most glamorous of all credit cards. Every time you use one, you’re reinforcing your image as a globetrotting, wanderlusting, jet-setter.

But more importantly, you earn frequent flyer miles at the same time. As you go about planning your next holiday, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to swap your air points for a free air ticket?

Trouble is, if you just sign up for the first air miles card you see and only use it when you remember it exists, chances are you’ll never collect enough points to even make it to KL. Collecting air miles needs to be done strategically with the right card.

Here are the best credit cards for air miles in Singapore, plus some useful info on how they work so you can game the system.

The Best Air Miles Credit Cards in Singapore (May 2024)

  • Best air miles cards in Singapore 2024

Citi PremierMiles Card

  • DBS Altitude Card

OCBC 90°N Card

Hsbc revolution credit card.

  • Amex KrisFlyer Card
  • UOB KrisFlyer Card
  • Maybank Horizon Card
  • UOB PRVI Miles Card
  • Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card
  • Entry-level vs premium miles cards in Singapore
  • What are air miles and how do they work?
  • What should you look out for in a miles card?
  • MoneySmart tip: Use a rewards credit card as a miles card

1. Best air miles cards in Singapore 2024

Back to top

2. Citi PremierMiles Card

Citibank logo

Key Features

S$1 = 1.2 Citi Miles on Local spend (no min. spend)

S$1 = 2 Citi Miles on Foreign currency spend

Earn 10,000 Citi Miles upon renewal of annual membership and payment of annual fee

Citi Miles never expire

Principal Cardholder gets to enjoy 2 complimentary visits every year to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.

At MoneySmart, we strive to keep our information accurate and up to date. This information may be different from what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider, or specific product site. MoneySmart shall not be liable to compensate the Customer should the information is not as updated as our Partner.

If the thought of spending thousands of dollars in just a couple of months makes you blanch, you need a card with miles that don’t expire so you can take your time to slowly accumulate them. This is especially the case if you’re a fresh grad or a generally frugal person without any big expenses coming up. Enter the  Citi PremierMiles Card !

While the earn rate of such cards is typically not that great, the Citi PremierMiles offers a fairly attractive earn rate: 1.2 miles for every $1 of local spending , and  2 miles for every $1 spent on foreign currency spending .

What’s a miles card without travel benefits? You can get  2 complimentary airport lounge visits every year with your Citi PremierMiles Card and complimentary travel insurance with up to S$1 million in coverage when you use the card to buy your plane tickets.

Citi PremierMiles Card sign-up promotion

The Citi PremierMiles card has one more advantage: great welcome gifts! New cardmembers who successfully apply for the Citi PremierMiles Card and spend $500 within 30 days get to choose 1 of these gifts:

  • Apple iPad (9th Gen), 64GB (worth $508.30)
  • Nintendo Switch OLED + S$60 Cash (worth $609)
  • $450 Lendlease E-Vouchers (can be used at 313@somerset, Jem, Parkway Parade, PLQ)
  • $300 Cash via PayNow

You’ll receive your gift in as fast as 6 weeks from meeting the spend criteria.

Promotion valid until 31 May 2024.

3. DBS Altitude Card

DBS logo

DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card

Earn up to 4.3 miles per S$1 on eligible spends

Enjoy first year annual fee waiver

Receive 10,000 bonus miles when you pay for your annual fee of S$196.20 (inclusive of GST)

Earn Miles for Life! DBS Points earned do not expire.

Miles are awarded in the form of DBS Points which are awarded for every S$5 spent (1 DBS Point = 2 miles) on a per transaction basis.

Enjoy exclusive dining, shopping and travel offers

The DBS Altitude Card lets you accumulate air miles in the form of DBS Points, and these points never expire . The card is one of the highest-earning miles cards out there, rewarding you with:

  • 2.2 miles for every S$1 spent overseas
  • 1.3 miles for every S$1 spent locally

There aren’t many miles cards out there with higher earn rates. The HSBC TravelOne earns you 2.4 miles per S$1 overseas spend, but only 1.2 miles for every S$1 spent locally. One card that edges out the DBS Altitude Card’s earn rates for both local and overseas spend is the UOB PRVI Miles Card , which earns 1.4 miles per S$1 local spend and 2.4 miles per S$1 overseas spend.

But when it comes to the DBS Altitude Card, miles are just the beginning. To sweeten the deal, the  DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card   also comes with 2 free lounge visits at over 1,500 airport lounges worldwide per year via its complimentary Digital Priority Pass membership.

While the  DBS Altitude American Express Card  used to come with complimentary Mr and Mrs Smith SilverSmith membership, but this ceased on 25 Feb 2024.

There are other travel privileges in the form of discounted flights, hotel bookings, car rentals and more. Usually these run for a limited time and may or may not be renewed, so check out the ongoing DBS Altitude Card travel offers  for the latest deals.

ALSO READ : Best Bank Offers in Singapore (May 2024): $158 Singapore Airlines Flights, Win $12,000 NTUC shopping vouchers, and more

After going through their T&Cs , I’ve found 2 things I don’t like about the DBS Altitude Card. Firstly, you earn with every S$5 spent per transaction , not every $1. So a transaction that comes up to $4.99 won’t earn you anything.

Secondly, you don’t earn miles directly but in the form of DBS Points (1 DBS Point = 2 miles). Some of us (myself included) might be lazy to convert them, but that’s just laziness. The bigger issue is that DBS charges an administrative fee of S$27.25 for each conversion of DBS Points to miles . The saving grace here is that DBS Points don’t expire , so you can accumulate a truckload of DBS Points before you convert them and make the flat admin fee worth your while.

The DBS Altitude Card’s annual fee is $194.40 , but can be waived . If you do pay the annual fee and renew your card, you’ll receive a present of 10,000 miles from DBS.

4. OCBC 90°N Card

OCBC logo

Designed with an LED light feature, the 90°N MasterCard Card lights up whenever you make a contactless payment.

Travel$ that do not expire - Convert Travel$ to loyalty points at 9 airline and hotel partner programmes.

Get cash rebates at up to 2.1% from your earned Travel$. No minimum spend and no caps

All online purchases on your OCBC 90°N Card come with e-Commerce Protection, which safeguards you against non-delivery or defective goods or if the seller fails to reimburse you.

If you’re looking for a non-expiring air miles card to use on overseas online shopping sites, the  OCBC 90°N Card is a good candidate.

In general, you earn 2.1 miles for every $1 spent in foreign currency and 1.3 miles for every $1 spent locally . For bookings made on Agoda, you’ll earn 7 miles per $1 spend in foreign currency, and 6 miles per $1 spend in SGD.

You earn 90˚N Miles (formerly known as Travel$) on your OCBC 90°N Card, which you can use to redeem air miles, cash rebates and more via the OCBC Rewards Portal . Alternatively, you can also  convert your 90°N miles to KrisFlyer miles (90˚N Mile = 1 KrisFlyer Mile) under the Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer Programme, but this comes with a $25 conversion fee .

I also don’t like the fact that, similar to the DBS Altitude Card, 90°N miles are awarded in blocks of $5 spent. So even if you spent $4.99 locally, you will not earn any points until you meet the $5 minimum spend. If you spend $99, you’ll only earn on the first $95.

The OCBC 90°N Card comes in 2 iterations—one is the Mastercard version, and the other Visa. Each comes with their own set of travel privileges. For example, the OCBC 90°N Mastercard gives you access to the One Dines Free programme and VIP access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide under DragonPass access. The Visa version comes with deals on SHEIN, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and more.

When I first wrote about the OCBC 90°N Card, I was pleased to note that its annual fee was just  $54 —a lower annual fee than many other entry-level cards. But it’s since increased to $196.20 (including GST), which is pretty average for any entry-level credit card. The fee is waived for the first year, and don’t forget to get it waived for any subsequent years you hold the card.

5. HSBC Revolution Credit Card

HSBC logo

10X Reward points (equivalent to 4 miles or 2.5% Cashback) on online purchases and contactless payments.

1X Reward point for all other types of spending.

No min. spend required.

No annual fee

Receive complimentary access to ENTERTAINER with HSBC app, with over 1,000 1-for-1 deals on dining, lifestyle and travel worldwide.

Cap of 10,000 rewards points per calendar month on eligible purchases. Other terms apply.

Like the DBS Altitude, the  HSBC Revolution Credit Card is more like a rewards card than a miles card in that you earn points and not miles directly . Here’s how it works: You earn 10X Reward points on eligible online purchases and contactless payments, then convert these reward points to miles. 10 Reward Points is equivalent to 4 miles. So all in all, you’re earning 4 miles per $1 spend —a very decent earn rate! That’s basically 2.5% cashback. Plus, you earn per every $1, not every $5 unlike the OCBC 90°N Card and DBS Altitude Card.

The HSBC Revolution Credit Card earns you 10X Reward points for a wide range of transactions: Travel-related (airlines, car rental, cruise lines, etc), department and retail stores, supermarkets, dining, online food delivery, and more. You can find the full list of the relevant merchant category codes on page 3 of this T&Cs document .

The 10X Reward points are broken down into 9X bonus points and 1X base point. For the former, there’s a cap of 9,000 bonus Reward points per month—that’s when you hit $1,000 spend. Past this amount, you’ll only earn the base 1X Reward point for your spending.

However, there’s some bad news folks: as of 1 Jan 2024, MCC 4722 (Travel Agencies and Tour Operators) and 7011 (Lodging – Hotels, Motels, Resorts, Central Reservation Services aren’t eligible for the 10x Reward Points. These categories have been demoted and will just receive the 1X base Reward point that other non-bonus categories get.

To convert your points to miles, you used to need to pay HSBC an annual fee of $40 (before GST) to join their Mileage Programme. The good news? This fee has been removed as of 20 May 2024. And according to point 6 under Miles/Hotel Points Redemption in their Rewards Programme T&Cs , the redemption fee for miles/hotel points redemptions will be waived up till 31 Jan 2025 .

Another plus point of the HSBC Revolution Credit Card is that there is no annual fee . So, assuming you want to use this card for miles, the only “annual fee” you’ll need to pay is the $40 mileage programme fee—still lower than most other miles cards.

Do note that HSBC Reward points come with an expiry date (as do the miles you can redeem them for). HSBC Rewards points earned expire after 37 months , so redeem them via the HSBC Singapore app within 3 years.

6. Amex Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card

American Express logo

American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card

1.1 KrisFlyer miles = S$1 for all eligible card spend

2 KrisFlyer miles = S$1 in foreign currency spent overseas in June & December with no cap

2 KrisFlyer miles = S$1 for eligible purchases made on singaporeair.com, SingaporeAir mobile app and KrisShop with no cap

3.1 KrisFlyer miles = S$1 for eligible Grab Singapore transactions, capped at S$200 per month

Receive 5,000 KrisFlyer miles upon first spend on card, applicable for first-time American Express Singapore Airlines Credit Card applicants only

Spend S$12,000 or more on eligible purchases on singaporeair.com within the qualifying period and receive S$150 cashback on your next purchase on singaporeair.com

First year annual fee waiver

Up to S$350,000 Travel Inconvenience & Travel Accident Benefits

The Amex Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer card is ideal if you’re collecting points for Singapore Airline’s KrisFlyer programme. There’s no need to redeem your points or convert them to miles—you’re already earning miles directly . All miles accumulated each month are automatically credited to your KrisFlyer account. Just be aware that KrisFlyer miles have a shelf-life of 3 years.

The basic earn rate is nothing to shout about. You get 2 miles for every $1 spent in foreign currency on eligible purchases during June and December every year, and 1.1 miles for every $1 spent on eligible local purchases . On the plus side, there’s no cap to these earnings.

What’s interesting is that they also reward you with 3.1 miles for every $1 spent on Grab in Singapore, valid for up to $200 worth of spending per month. That’s an easy way to get a decent earn rate on your commutes, even if the cap is rather low.

The annual fee is $179.85, and it can be waived for the first year.

The card’s welcome bonuses are also quite attractive—you get up to 17,000 KrisFlyer miles if you spend at least $500 within the first month of approval. Valid from now till 29 May 2024.

7. KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card

UOB logo

KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card

[UP TO S$11,000 WORTH OF PRIZES] Stand a chance to win  up to 2 Grand Prizes  when you apply through MoneySmart!  No min. spend required!   T&Cs apply .

  • A pair of Day 1 Category 1 Ticket for ASMeiR Max 2024 World Tour - Singapore  (worth S$656)! [10 Winners]
  • A  Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 512GB  (worth S$2,458) or  68,000 Air Miles  (worth a Business Class Round Trip to Taiwan for 1) or a  Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones  (worth S$589)! [3 Winners]

  PLUS get  up to 31,000 miles plus first year annual fee waived  for new-to-UOB credit card customers who successfully apply for an eligible KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card and spend a min. of S$2,000 within 60 days of the card approval date on their card.  T&Cs apply .

travel free hsbc

Enjoy 3 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 spend on Singapore Airlines, Scoot, KrisShop and Kris+ purchases

Enjoy 3 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 spend on dining, food delivery, online shopping, online travel and transport spend with min. S$800 annual spend on Singapore Airlines, Scoot and KrisShop

Enjoy 1.2 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 spend on all other spend

5,000 KrisFlyer miles with first eligible spend (min. S$5)

10,000 KrisFlyer miles with payment of annual renewal fee

Up to additional 6 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 spend when you open a KrisFlyer UOB Account

No miles conversion fee

Exclusive privileges on Scoot, KrisShop, Grab rides and more!

Most air miles cards let you earn more on your travel spending, but the KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card  is one that offers a decent rate on everyday local spending. This stylish-looking card offers 3 KrisFlyer miles per $1 spent on dining, online shopping, online travel and transport card transactions. Like the Amex Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card, there’s no miles conversion fees because you earn miles directly.

The catch is, to qualify for this earn rate, you must spend at least $800 per year on Singapore Airlines-related transactions (including KrisShop).

You also get 3 miles per $1 spent on Singapore Airlines, Scoot and KrisShop purchases, and 1.2 miles per $1 on other spending.

The card charges an annual fee of $196.20 which we can’t guarantee you can escape. But on the plus side, from now till 31 May 2024, you can get the first year’s annual fee waived and receive a welcome gift of up to 31,000 miles when you spend at least $2,000 within 60 days of the card approval date.

So while the UOB KrisFlyer card may not have the highest earn rates, it certainly offers lots of bonus miles as incentives.

On top of that, you stand a chance to win up to 2 Grand Prizes with no minimum spend required when you apply for the KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card !

  • A pair of Day 1 Category 1 Ticket for ASMeiR Max 2024 World Tour – Singapore (worth S$656) [10 Winners]
  • A Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 512GB (worth S$2,458) or 68,000 Air Miles (worth a Business Class Round Trip to Taiwan for 1) or a Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones (worth S$589)! [3 Winners]

Valid till 31 May 2024.

8. Maybank Horizon Card

Maybank logo

Maybank Horizon Visa Signature

Earn 2.8 air miles (7X TREATS Points) for every S$1 spent on air tickets and foreign currency transactions when you charge a min. of S$800 per calendar month

Earn 1.2 air miles (3X TREATS Points) for every S$1 spent on all local shopping, groceries, dining, hotel bookings and many more

Complimentary lounge access with minimum spend of S$1,000 in a single transaction on a retail purchase, accompanying guest(s) enjoys 20% off walk-in rates for lounge access.

Complimentary Travel Insurance up to S$1,000,000

3 years annual fee waived; spend min. S$18,000 per year to get subsequent waiver

The Maybank Horizon Visa Signature doesn’t get much attention but is actually excellent for foreign spending. You earn 2.8 air miles (7X TREATS Points) whenever you spend on air tickets and foreign currency transactions —if you spend $800 a month. There’s no cap for TREATS Points earned for foreign spend.

You’ll also earn  1.2 air miles (3X TREATS Points) for every dollar you spend on local shopping, groceries, dining, hotel bookings and more.

You’ve probably guessed the main drawback to the Maybank Horizon Card. You need to spend at least $800 in a calendar month in order to qualify for the 2.8 miles earn rate. That’s a bummer considering a lot of air miles cards don’t even have minimum spending requirements.

Can’t meet the $800 spend requirement? You’ll earn 0.4 air miles (1X TREAT Point) per dollar with no minimum spend amount.

The card’s annual fee is $180, but waived for 3 years instead of the usual 1 year. If you spend at least $18,000 in a year you can get subsequent annual fee payments waived. There’s also no fees charged for supplementary cards.

9. UOB PRVI Miles Card

UOB logo

UOB PRVI VISA Miles Card

  PLUS g et  up to 50,000 miles from UOB  when you spend a min. of S$1,000 on their new UOB PRVI credit card for 2 consecutive months from card approval date, payable first-year annual fee and SMS registration required.  T&Cs apply .

travel free hsbc

Earn 1.4 miles per S$1 local spend (UNI$3.5 per S$5 spend)

Earn 2.4 miles per S$1 overseas spend (UNI$6 per S$5 spend) including online shopping on overseas websites

Earn 6 miles per $1 spend (UNI$15 per S$5 spend) on major airlines and hotels booked through Expedia and Agoda via UOB PRVI Miles website

Earn 1.4 miles per S$1 spend (UNI$3.5 per S$5 spend) on bus and train rides

No minimum spend and no cap on earned miles

Complimentary Public Conveyance Personal Accident cover of S$500,000 and up to S$50,000 Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation including illness due to COVID-19. T&Cs apply.

The  UOB PRVI Miles Card offers the best rates for general overseas and local spending, at 2.4 miles per $1 spent overseas and 1.4 miles per $1 spend locally . You also get 6 miles per $1 spent on Agoda, Expedia and UOB Travel, as well as 1.4 miles per $1 spend on bus and train rides. All this, with no minimum spend and no cap on the miles you earn.

For specific categories like dining and hotel bookings, you can get better rates from some other cards that offer selected accelerated earning. But as far as general spending goes, the UOB PRVI Miles Card delivers.

This card is a good one to use if you’re anticipating a big expense like a wedding banquet, as the 1.4 mile per $1 rate is among the highest you’ll be able to get on such miscellaneous local spending with no cap.

The UOB PRVI Miles Card is certainly a notch above other miles cards with its fatter earn rates, but it also comes with a fatter annual fee of  $261.60 . Most entry-level miles cards don’t even cross the $200 mark in annual fees.

From now till 31 May 2024, UOB is also rewarding you with up to 50,000 miles for spending at least $1,000/month for 2 consecutive months, paying the annual card fee, and registering with UOB via SMS. It’s a pretty steep spending/payment requirement, but also a pretty generous bonus mile reward. If you only pay the annual credit card fee and don’t meet the spending requirements, you can still get up to 20,000 miles.

On top of that, you stand a chance to win up to 2 Grand Prizes with no minimum spend required when you apply for the UOB PRVI Miles Card !

10. Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card

Standard Chartered logo

Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card (Annual Fee Payable)

Up to 3 miles for every $1 spent

2 complimentary visits to Priority Pass lounges around the world each year

S$0 foreign transaction fee for overseas spend made and posted in June-July, November-December 2023

Complimentary travel insurance coverage of up to S$500,000.

360 Rewards Points do not expire

S$10 off Grab rides to or from Changi Airport

If you spend regularly on transport and food online, the  Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card  might be the miles card for you. An entry-level credit card, it offers a high earn rate of 3 miles per S$1 on online transactions for transportation, food delivery and online grocery merchants . This is capped at 3,000 miles, which means you max out the bonus rate at S$1,000.

The SC Journey Credit Card also offers decent earn rates of  2 miles per S$1 foreign spend and  1.2 miles per S$1 local spend , which is comparable to most other air miles cards on this list. All earnings come in the form of 360 Rewards Points, which never expire and can be redeemed for miles, cash rewards, or shopping vouchers.

On top of the card’s promised complimentary travel insurance (up to $500,000 coverage) and 2 complimentary visits to Priority Pass lounges each year, Standard Chartered is also dangling another carrot to tempt you into getting their miles card: a welcome bonus of up to 45,000 miles !

From now till 30 Jun 2024, Standard Chartered is awarding up to 45,000 miles if you sign up for the Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card. The only downside is that the requirements to get this welcome bonus are pretty steep—you need to spend $3,000 in 2 months and pay the annual fee of S$194.40.

11. Entry-level vs premium miles cards in Singapore

All of the above credit cards are entry-level ones, meaning you can sign up once your annual income hits about $30,000.

But premium air miles credit cards for those more well off tend to offer better air miles earn rates and/or sign-up bonuses.

For instance, the American Express The Platinum Card is handing out a complimentary one-night stay at The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore (worth S$590) for new card members—on top of their Membership Rewards points welcome offer. Receive a whopping welcome bonus of 135,000 Membership Rewards points when you sign up for the card. That’s worth a return trip to the USA West Coast! The catch? You must be prepared to fork out an annual fee of S$1,744 and meet the minimum spend requirement of $6,000 within the first 2 months of card approval.

And while Amex hasn’t disclosed the exact minimum income requirement, you can be assured the usual $30,000 sum won’t cut it.

American Express logo

American Express The Platinum Card®

Air miles features.

Access to over 1,400 airport lounges in 650 cities worldwide for you, your Supplementary Members and one guest each.

Earn 5 Membership Rewards points for every full S$1.60 spent with Singapore Airlines and Scoot (equates to 1.9 miles per S$1).

12. What are air miles and how do they work?

Air miles are part of frequent flyer programmes (FFP) , the best-known one here being Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer programme. KrisFlyer miles can be used on many partner airlines, including all of Star Alliance.

Technically, you can buy miles with cold hard cash. That’s what some people do — buy KrisFlyer miles because they have nothing better to spend their money on.

But why do that when a credit card will help you earn them for free, right? When you spend on an air miles credit card, you can accumulate frequent flyer miles either directly or by earning points (which you then convert to miles).

Once you’ve got your miles, you can put them towards your next holiday’s airfare. Woohoo!

Here’s a look at the bigger and more well-known FFPs in Singapore:

how-do-air-miles-credit-cards-work

13. What should you look out for in a miles card?

Here are some factors you need to consider when evaluating miles cards:

  • Miles expiry date : Borders may largely be open now, but you never know when the next pandemic wave may hit and if travel restrictions will kick into high gear again. Or, maybe you just don’t travel frequently and need miles that don’t expire, such as those for the Citi PremierMiles Card and DBS Altitude Card . On the other hand, KrisFlyer miles expire in 3 years from the date they are credited to your account. If your card requires you to accumulate and then convert miles, you’ll also want to check the expiry date so you can convert them as late as possible.
  • Flexibility to redeem miles for other rewards : For a while, COVID-19 totally wrecked our ability to travel, and many of us might have started to wonder if we could spend our miles on something else. That’s why checking what else you can redeem miles for in an important consideration. See if you can use them to redeem other rewards or convert them to cashback. If you’re under the KrisFlyer programme, you can use your mile to make purchases at the online KrisShop .
  • Ease of earning miles without travelling : Many cards reward you more handsomely for spending overseas, but earning high rates for local and/or online spending will help you accumulate more miles faster while still in Singapore. The  Maybank Horizon Card is a good option for high local spending earn rates.

14. MoneySmart tip: Use a rewards credit card as a miles card

Before you rush to sign up for an air miles card, you should also know that rewards credit cards are a viable alternative to air miles cards .

So what’s the secret? Well, you actually earn rewards points (rather than miles) with many air miles cards. You can earn those same points with a rewards card as well, and later convert them to miles. In fact, you can think of air miles cards as simply a subset of rewards cards as the points-collecting mechanism is usually the same.

Broadly speaking, air miles cards reward travel-related spending, while rewards cards reward general local spending e.g. shopping and dining.

Good rewards credit cards offer high bonus points for the latter, making it possible to earn air miles more quickly. For example, the HSBC Revolution Credit Card we discussed above earns you the equivalent of 4 miles per $1 on online shopping and contactless payments.

However there are usually reward caps on these—for example, the HSBC Revolution card limits you to 9,000 Bonus reward points per month (about $1,000 spend), which may not be a large enough cap for heavier spenders (there’s no cap for the base points though). The best card (or combo of cards) really depends on your actual spending habits.

So if you want to be really thorough, check out some of the best rewards credit cards in Singapore as well.

Apply for the best air miles credit cards in Singapore and get attractive gifts for certain cards!

You can also check out our guide to Air Miles Credit Cards in Hong Kong.

Related Articles

Best Hotel Rewards and Loyalty Programmes That Work Around the World in 2024

7 Best Rewards Credit Cards in Singapore (2024): Citibank, OCBC, DBS & More

How to Earn Miles and Redeem Free Flights with Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer

Parking, Travel & Free Public Shuttle

Find out more about parking, travel, and the free public bus shuttle service to the 2024 DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

If you are traveling from Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, or Al Khail Road, follow the signs for Al Fay Road, go straight over the first roundabout and you will see the signs for DP World Tour Championship and Jumeirah Golf Estates on your right.

If you are traveling from Abu Dhabi, follow signs to E311 Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road towards Dubai/ Sharjah, then follow signs to the DP World Tour Championship.

VIP AND PLAYERS - CAR PARK 1 The closest entrance is Al Fay Road Located at the Clubhouse Main Car Park Area.

HOSPITALITY - CAR PARK 2 The closest entrance is Al Fay Road, as you enter Jumeirah Golf Estates follow the signs straight to the first roundabout and parking will be on the Fire Course. Complimentary shuttles are provided to transport guests to the main entrance tent where tickets will be scanned.

Click  here  for a link to Google Maps.

MEDIA - CAR PARK 4 The closest entrance is Al Fay Road, as you enter Jumeirah Golf Estates follow the signs straight to the first roundabout and parking will be on the Fire Course.

PUBLIC CAR PARK (Terminal 1) The closest entrance is Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road from Abu Dhabi direction. If you enter from Al Fay Road, after entering Jumeirah Golf Estates, turn right at the first round and follow the signs to the public car park. There will be a free shuttle service to take you to the main tournament entrance.

BY TAXI / UBER / CAREEM / DROP-OFF (Terminal 4) Taxi/Uber/Careem and Public drop-off and pick-up will be available for all spectators and will be next to the Championship Village entrance. Once you enter Jumeirah Golf Estates, please ask your taxi driver to follow the signs to the taxi drop-off area.

BY METRO (Terminal 3) JGE Metro Station is the closest metro station to Jumeirah Golf Estate. Shuttle buses will be operated to pick up from that point and drop off at the Bus Terminal (Terminal 2) and back.

Click  here  to check Metro Station and Maps.

BY PLANE Emirates Airline is the official airline of the DP World Tour Championship. Emirates has excellent connections to all six continents via Dubai with more than 155 current destinations worldwide – and they are expanding their route network all the time.

Book your travel at www.emirates.com

BUS TERMINAL (Terminal 2) Located on the Earth Course between holes 14/15. The Bus Terminal will be the gateway for all shuttles going in and out from/to Public Car Park (Terminal 1) and JGE Metro Station (Terminal 3).

SHUTTLE BUS SCHEDULE - PUBLIC CAR PARK

Shuttle bus schedule - jge metro station.

DP World Tour Partners

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