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Review: HSBC TravelOne Card

Aaron Wong

The HSBC TravelOne Card is an excellent general spending card that's missing one important puzzle piece: points pooling.

Here’s The MileLion’s review of the HSBC TravelOne Card, which shook up the miles game when it launched back in May this year with 12 transfer partners, instant, free conversions, a generous lounge benefit and a competitive sign-up bonus. Feature-wise, it’s as strong a general spending card as you could hope for. 

And there’s more still to come. That transfer partner list, already the longest in Singapore, is set to grow to more than 20 by the end of 2023. Points pooling is in the pipeline. The TravelOne Card is not the finished article yet, but it’s moving in the right direction.

If nothing else, it’s at least worth hopping onboard for the first year.

Overview: HSBC TravelOne Card

Let’s start this review by looking at the key features of the HSBC TravelOne Card.

Fun fact: the HBSC TravelOne Card continues the trend towards “portrait-style” credit cards, designed vertically instead of horizontally. This supposedly allows for a smoother user experience, as it mimics how customers typically handle their cards when they tap to pay or dip the card into a chip reader. It’s even got a notch at the bottom, a thoughtful touch that’s designed as an accessibility feature for the visually-impaired (so they know which end they insert into the card reader).

But Apple and Google Pay wallets don’t support vertical card faces, so if you add it to your phone you’ll see the secondary design that HSBC created, in landscape.

hsbc travel 1 card review

Despite its silver Mastercard logo, do note that the HSBC TravelOne Card is a World Mastercard and not a World Elite Mastercard.

How much must I earn to qualify for a HSBC TravelOne Card

dbs altitude income requirement

The HSBC TravelOne Card has an income requirement of S$30,000 p.a. , the MAS-mandated minimum to hold a credit card. 

If you do not meet the minimum income requirement, you may apply for a secured version of this card by depositing at least S$10,000 in a fixed deposit account. The application form can be found here.

How much is the HSBC TravelOne Card’s annual fee? 

The HSBC TravelOne Card has an annual fee of S$194.40 for principal cardholders. At the moment, HSBC is not offering a first year fee waiver; you must pay the annual fee (which also lets you enjoy the 20,000 miles sign-up bonus). 

In subsequent years, the annual fee can be waived with a minimum spend of S$25,000 in a membership year. As this is a new credit card, I can’t say at the moment whether HSBC will strictly enforce this- though I think it’d be very hard for them to do so, given that most other competitors offer fee waivers fairly easily. 

All supplementary cards are free for life.

What sign-up bonus or gifts are available?

From 1 September to 31 December 2023 , customers who apply for a HSBC TravelOne Card will enjoy 20,000 bonus miles (in the form of 50,000 HSBC points) when they:

  • Pay the annual fee of S$194.40
  • Spend at least S$1,000 by the end of the month following approval
  • Opt-in for marketing communications during the sign-up (don’t forget this step- it’s just as important as the first two)

This offer is valid for both new and existing HSBC cardholders. 

The qualifying spending period is as follows:

20,000 miles for S$1,000 spend and a S$194.40 annual fee is a tidy return; put it another way, you’re paying about 0.97 cents per mile (S$194.40/20,000 miles), which is a great price especially when you factor in transfer partner variety. 

The terms and conditions for the HSBC offer can be found here.

How many miles do I earn?

Sgd/fcy spend.

HSBC TravelOne Card cardholders will earn:

  • 3X HSBC points per S$1 (1.2 mpd)  on local spend
  • 6X HSBC points per S$1 (2.4 mpd)  on foreign currency spend

These are among the highest earn rates for any general spending card in Singapore, especially when you consider HSBC’s relatively favourable rounding policy (more on that below).

All FCY transactions are subject to a 3.25% fee, which is par the course for the market.

With a 2.4 mpd earn rate and a 3.25% FCY fee, using the HSBC TravelOne Card overseas represents buying miles at 1.35 cents apiece.

There is also the option of pairing the HSBC TravelOne Card with Amaze in order to enjoy better conversion rates, but you’ll earn 1.2 mpd instead of 2.4 mpd in that case since transactions will be converted into SGD. 

Bonus Spend

Unfortunately, the HSBC TravelOne Card does not have a bonus earn category. To be fair, not all general spending cards offer one, but it’s a particular problem for the TravelOne because points don’t pool.

This means that you can’t take advantage of the HSBC Revolution ’s excellent 4 mpd earn rate, nor can the HSBC Revolution ’s points be used for the TravelOne’s new transfer partners. 

HSBC says they’re working on adding points pooling, but until they do, your earn rates will be relatively underpowered compared to other 4-6 mpd earning specialised spending cards. 

When are HSBC Rewards Points credited?

HSBC Rewards Points are credited when the transactions posts, usually in 1-3 days.

How are HSBC Rewards Points calculated?

Here’s how you can work out the HSBC Rewards Points earned on your HSBC TravelOne Card.

The minimum spend required to earn points is S$0.25 (SGD) and S$0.10 (FCY) respectively.

This means that the HSBC TravelOne Card (1.2 mpd) can outperform the ostensibly higher earning UOB PRVI Miles Card (1.4 mpd) in certain circumstances, depending on transaction size. 

If you’re an Excel geek, here’s the formulas you need to calculate points: 

HSBC previously only displayed total points balances, but with the launch of the TravelOne Card they’re now providing transaction-level points breakdowns. 

To view this, login to the HSBC mobile app and tap on your HSBC TravelOne Credit Card > View More > Redeem Your Points

hsbc travel 1 card review

On the next screen, tap ‘Show points history’, and you’ll see a breakdown of points earned per transaction. 

hsbc travel 1 card review

For the full list of formulas that banks use to calculate credit card points, do refer to these articles:

  • General Spending Cards
  • Specialised Spending Cards

What transactions aren’t eligible for HSBC Rewards Points?

A full list of transactions that do not earn HSBC Points can be found in the T&Cs (at Point 3).

I’ve highlighted a few noteworthy categories below:

  • Charitable Donations
  • Government Services 
  • GrabPay top-ups
  • Professional services provides (e.g. Google & Facebook Ads, AWS)
  • Real Estate Agents & Managers

HSBC also excludes CardUp, ipaymy and RentHero transactions from earning points. In a way, this does compound the lack of a bonus category problem, since you can’t even buy additional TravelOne points via these payments services if you were so inclined. 

What do I need to know about HSBC Rewards Points?

HSBC Points expire at the end of 37 months  following the time they were earned.

For example, any points awarded in August 2022 will expire on 30 September 2025.

HSBC Points do not pool across cards. If you have 10,000 HSBC Points on the HSBC TravelOne Card, and 15,000 HSBC Points on the HSBC Revolution Card, for example, you won’t be able to combine the two when redeeming.

However, HSBC tells me that points pooling is on the roadmap, so hopefully this will no longer be the case soon.

In the meantime, since points do not pool, you will have to transfer all your HSBC Points before cancelling the HSBC TravelOne Card, or else forfeit them.

Transfer Partners & Fees

The HSBC TravelOne Card stole a march on Citibank when it launched with 12 airline and hotel partners, replacing them as the bank with the most transfer partners in Singapore.

In addition to KrisFlyer and Asia Miles, there’s also opportunities to leverage sweet spots with British Airways Executive Club (and Qatar Privilege Club by extension, since the two programmes are linked ), and EVA Air Infinity MileageLand’s sometimes-better Singapore Airlines award space.

HSBC says they plan to scale up the number of partners to 20 by the end of 2023, and based on the partners the Malaysia and Hong Kong versions have, I’d expect to see Air Canada Aeroplan, JAL Mileage Bank and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles added to the mix. 

Do note that only HSBC TravelOne Cardholders can access the abovementioned transfer partners; if you have a HSBC Revolution or HSBC Visa Infinite Card, you are still limited to KrisFlyer and Asia Miles for the moment. 

Regarding minimum conversion blocks, cardholders will need to convert a minimum of 25,000 points (10,000 miles). However, the subsequent conversion block drops to just 5 points (2 miles), which means you could convert 10,002 miles, or 200,006 miles if you so desired. That’s great, because it helps avoid the problem of orphan miles. So long as you keep at least 10,000 miles in your account, you can cash out your entire balance with almost no miles left behind. 

HSBC normally charges a S$43.20 annual fee for unlimited conversions, but as part of the TravelOne’s launch campaign, all transfers are free-of-charge till 31 December 2023.  It remains to be seen what model HSBC adopts after that, but my sense is that we can expect a ~S$25 fee per conversion. 

Transfer Time

HSBC says that with the exception of Accor Live Limitless, TravelOne points transfers are processed “instantly or within one business day”. 

I’m pleased to report that all transfers actually process instantly.  This is possible because HSBC uses Ascenda Loyalty’s platform, which has API integration with the airlines.

Here’s an example showing an instant transfer from TravelOne to British Airways Executive Club. There are also successful data points of instant transfers to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.

hsbc travel 1 card review

Other card perks

Four complimentary lounge visits.

Principal HSBC TravelOne Cardholders enjoy four complimentary lounge visits per year, provided via DragonPass.

Allowances are awarded by  calendar year , which means you basically enjoy eight visits in your first membership year. For example, if your card is approved in June 2023, you will be awarded:

  • On date of approval: 4 visits (expires 31 December 2023)
  • On 1 January 2024: 4 visits (expires 31 December 2024)

Allowances cannot be rolled over, so be sure to fully utilise your visits by the end of the calendar year.

Here’s how to start enjoying the benefit:

  • Step 1: Download Mastercard Travel Pass app ( Android | iOS )
  • Step 2: Select ‘Sign up’ to register for the programme, or log on to your account if you’re already a member
  • Step 3: Enter your HSBC TravelOne Card details for a one-time verification
  • Step 4: Complete your personal details for Mastercard Travel Pass account registration (enter your name as shown in your passport)
  • Step 5: Set your account password

hsbc travel 1 card review

Four visits is relatively generous for an entry-level credit card, double what most of the competition is offering. The main catch is that these visits cannot be shared with a guest. 

Entertainer with HSBC

HSBC TravelOne Cardholders receive a complimentary ENTERTAINER with HSBC app membership, which includes:

  • 1-for-1 dine-in offers at more than 150 merchants across Singapore, including Sushi Jiro @ PARKROYAL COLLECTION, Bangkok Jam, Paul Bakery and more
  • 1-for-1 takeaway offers at more than 50 merchants including Canadian 2 For 1 Pizza, Andersen’s of Denmark and more
  • Up to 50% off leisure, attraction and wellness offers at BOUNCE Singapore, Spa Infinity, Virtual Room and more
  • 1-for-1 stays in rooms at over 175 hotels around the world

You’ll need an activation key to start using your ENTERTAINER membership. This should have been emailed to you; if not you’ll need to call 1800 4722 669 to get it from customer service.

HSBC Everyday Global Account

HSBC TravelOne Cardholders can earn an additional 1% cashback on all eligible transactions when they open an HSBC Everyday Global Account (EGA) and meet the qualifying criteria for the Everyday+ Rewards programme.

This involves:

  • HSBC Personal Banking: S$2,000
  • HSBC Premier: S$5,000
  • Performing at least five eligible transactions of any amount each calendar month on their card

Eligible transactions simply refer to anything not on the exclusions list (Point 3 of T&Cs ), such as GrabPay top-ups, government transactions, insurance premiums, utilities bills. All other retail spend (e.g. dining, groceries, clothing and apparel) is fair game.

Cardholders who meet the eligibility criteria will earn 1% cashback, capped at S$300 per month for HSBC Personal Banking and S$500 per month for HSBC Premier.

This means your effective return for spending will be:

  • Local Spend: 1.2 mpd + 1 % cashback
  • Overseas Spend: 2.4 mpd + 1% cashback

All this requires is a one-time setup of the EGA, plus a recurring instruction to transfer the minimum fresh funds every month. 

Complimentary travel insurance

HSBC TravelOne Cardholders receive complimentary travel insurance when they:

  • Use their TravelOne Card to purchase air tickets, or
  • Use their TravelOne Card to pay for the taxes and surcharges on a ticket redeemed with airline miles

This includes coverage of up to US$100,000 for both the cardholder and their family. COVID-19 related medical treatment and trip cancellation is also provided for.

Summary Review: HSBC TravelOne Card

The HSBC TravelOne Card has a lot going for it: the widest range of transfer partners in Singapore, with more soon to come. Instant conversions, with no fees till 31 December 2023. Double the lounge visits of its closest competitors. A minimum transfer block of 10,000 miles that reduces to just 2 miles subsequently, making it easier to avoid orphan miles in your account.

It feels like an exciting puzzle that’s missing one big piece:  points don’t pool. Because of this, you can’t tap into the superior earning power of the HSBC Revolution, and even though the HSBC TravelOne Card’s earn rates are objectively good for a general spending card, 1.2/2.4 mpd is not going to challenge a 4 mpd card anytime soon.

There could be a silver lining though, because HSBC has points pooling on its roadmap. They’ve not committed to a specific timeframe, but when this happens, I get the sense that a lot of things will fall into place.

In the meantime, I certainly don’t see the harm of signing up for at least a year, in order to grab the sign-up bonus that’s open to both new and existing customers, as well as up to eight lounge visits. 

What do you make of the HSBC TravelOne Card?

  • card review
  • credit cards

Aaron Wong

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Dbs adds cardup and ipaymy to rewards exclusion list (update: exclusion removed), complete faqs: uob lady’s savings account.

guest

anyone know if AXS pay+earn also contributes to the $800 spend offer?

Milelion Fan

Hi Milelion! Thanks for the solid write-up. By the way, in the above section “What sign-up bonus or gifts are available?”, the minimum qualifying spend seems to have increased to SGD1,000, from SGD800. As it is mentioned in HSBC’s “Terms and Conditions for the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card Sign up Promotion for 1 September 2023 to 31 December 2023”. Raising this up to prevent confusion among readers. Cheers~

Aaron Wong

thanks! will get that updated.

Sean

When will the TravelOne card annual fee for the bonus points be charged? I don’t see the annual fee showing on my statement yet after 2 months. If so how do I qualified for the bonus points? Any Idea?

deadpool

hi Milelion, would u be in the know on whether the pooling would still happen by year end (aka 123123)?

i don’t have any info on this at the moment.

anonymous

Hi Aaron, this is a great article! Quick questions for the EGA cashback eligibility, referring to HSBC EGA T&C art 5a (i)

Eligible Customers shall receive a cashback of 1% of the spend amount for successful posted: (i) transactions (excluding Excluded Transactions) in SGD made with a HSBC personal Credit Card

From above T&C, it seems only transactions in SGD are eligible for 1% cashback, not the FCY transactions. Kindly advise. Thank you!

Dennis C

Aaron, I think there’s something missing from your review: HSBC T1 is, in a vacuum, technically, the best non-SGD general spend card in the market, because it earns the same non-SGD rate as UOB PRVI Miles and it has much better rounding. This is currently irrelevant because you only get orphan miles, but it would become useful if T1 and Revolution miles suddenly pool. If you took Milelion advice and got T1 for the signup bonus miles, should you cancel the card then consider reapplying if pooling is implemented? In practice, most people will still get UOB PRVI Miles because …  Read more »

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HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

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First Impressions: HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

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HSBC just announced their latest travel credit card offering, the HSBC TravelOne (T1) Credit Card.

This is probably one of the most exciting credit card launches in Singapore in recent years. There haven’t been many revolutions or improvements, even with the recent lacklustre launch of the DBS Vantage Card.

As such, when HSBC suddenly released their much-awaited travel card, many travellers (including us!) in Singapore were really excited about it.

This post is my first impression of the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card .

Sign up bonus

This bonus applies to new-to-bank customers only! To be eligible for the promotion, you’ll need to activate and spend S$500 and pay the annual fee of S$196.20.

Miles Earn Rates

The HSBC TravelOne Card has a fairly standard travel credit card earning rate. It is comparable to other general spend cards in the market such as the DBS Altitude Card and the Citi Premiermiles Card.

Singapore Airlines A350-900 Business Class Configuration

Free Lounge Access

As a travel credit card, the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card provides complimentary lounge access via the DragonPass lounge membership (also known as the Mastercard Travel Pass).

The 4 yearly complimentary limit is much better than many of its counterparts. However, this limit only applies to the primary cardholder. Supplementary cardholders and guests have to purchase their lounge access through the mobile app.

The membership provided is DragonPass instead of the typical Priority Pass provided by other cards. The downside of this is that there are fewer lounges in the network.

In Singapore’s Changi Airport, you can access almost every lounge that Priority Pass members have access to. In addition, you can also access the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1 which is one of our favourite lounges in the terminal.

Instant Points Transfers

Perhaps the biggest selling point of the HSBC TravelOne Card is its ability to instantly transfer points to its various transfer partners. HSBC promises that points transfers will go through instantly or latest within 1 business day.

This can come in very useful whenever people are booking high in demand seats. Although I don’t think by itself, this perk is applicable to people most of the time.

Huge Range of Transfer Partners

Another big selling point of the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is its huge number of transfer partners.

There is a lot of value in having a lot of travel transfer partners to choose from. The value of each mile in different loyalty programs varies widely. Different loyalty programs have different award availabilities, and sometimes you can get only book certain redemptions on one program and not on another.

For travellers who prefer luxury hotels to business class flights, the HSBC TravelOne also provides 3 hotel partners which is unheard of in Singapore.

From the initial list of partners, there aren’t any that stand out in particular in terms of great value. Hotel redemptions are also usually of lower value than flight redemptions. However, we remain hopeful while the list of partners expands as promised by HSBC.

Requirements

The HSBC TravelOne credit card has a typical “entry-level” credit card requirement.

For Singaporeans , a minimum of S$30,000 annual income. For foreigners or permanent residents, a minimum of S$40,000 annual income.

Our Thoughts

The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is certainly an interesting new addition to the travel hacking space in Singapore. Its headline features are very intriguing and the benefits can really only be verified after using the card for a while.

However, I wouldn’t be using the card, in general, to earn miles as it doesn’t have the highest earning rates. For that, I’ll be using my trusty HSBC Revolution Card or the Citi Rewards Card .

Overall, I think that this is a good sign for what’s to come from both HSBC and the other banks!

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There are 4 comments.

can the annual fee be waived on first year?

Yes, you can request to have the annual fee waived. However, in that case you won’t be able to get the welcome bonus of 20,000 miles.

You wrote 4 lounge visits are also applicable guest but it’s only for cardholders.

Also, how does this compare with DBS Altitude? If I value different airlines I should definitely take the HSBC card, correct? And assuming we don’t need to guest any visits to the lounge. (Also ignoring the points expiry because we always use it before 3 years is up since miles devaluation can happen anytime)

Thank you for catching it! Yes, the 4 lounge visits by HSBC TravelOne are only applicable to primary cardholders.

I would say it really depends when comparing the DBS Altitude Card. Since DBS points can be pooled, and if you have the DBS Woman’s World Card, you can actually rack up points pretty fast and redeem them in 1 go.

The HSBC Card only has free redemptions until the end of 2023. If you do not spend a lot of money, earning just 1.2/2.4 mpd might not be fast enough to redeem anything meaningful.

Personally, I would still go for the DBS Altitude Card given that I have the WWMC.

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hsbc travel 1 card review

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Is the HSBC TravelOne Card the One and Only Travel Card You Need?—MoneySmart Review 2023

vanessah.nah

Let’s talk about the HSBC TravelOne card’s name—“Travel One”. It aims to be the 1 travel card you need. HSBC says so as well: “Unlock instant travel rewards and elevated travel experiences everywhere you go with the one and only travel card you need.”

But does the HSBC TravelOne card (literally) live up to its name? If I only have 1 travel card, I want good miles earn rates, low (or no!) annual fees, and a slew of travel benefits and privileges. 

Let’s take a look at how the HSBC TravelOne Card fares. We review the card’s earn rates, travel rewards, privileges, and more. 

See our credit card ranking rubric to find out how we rank credit cards.

  • HSBC TravelOne Card: Summary
  • HSBC TravelOne Card: Eligibility
  • HSBC TravelOne Card: Annual fees
  • HSBC TravelOne Card: Earn rates
  • HSBC TravelOne Card: Bonus earn categories
  • HSBC TravelOne Card: Rewards points redemption
  • HSBC TravelOne Card: Benefits and privileges
  • HSBC TravelOne Card: Sign-up promotion
  • Should I get the HSBC TravelOne Card?
  • Alternatives to the HSBC TravelOne Card

1. HSBC TravelOne Card: Summary

HSBC logo

HSBC TravelOne Card

Earn 5,040 SmartPoints  or  S$200 Cash via PayNow  when you apply and spend a min. of S$1,000 from Card Account Opening Date to end of the following calendar month.  T&Cs apply .   Use 5,040 SmartPoints to fully redeem a product from our Rewards Store . If the product costs more, redeem with your points and top up the rest by purchasing additional SmartPoints e.g. get an Apple 10.9-inch iPad Wi‑Fi 64GB (10th Generation) at only S$110 on top of your earned SmartPoints.

hsbc travel 1 card review

Key Features

Instant reward redemption with an extensive selection of airline and hotel partners via HSBC Singapore mobile app

Accelerated earn rate: up to 2.4 miles for your spending

Travel privileges: Complimentary travel insurance coverage (including COVID-19), 4 x complimentary airport lounge visits for primary cardholders and more

Split flexibly: Split your purchases across a range of flexible tenors that suits your needs with HSBC Instalment Plans

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

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.

The HSBS TravelOne card is an entry-level air miles card that’s good for general spending. It doesn’t come with any bonus earn categories, but does come with a good mix of travel benefits and privileges. These include travel perks (such as cashback and discounts when you shop overseas) and travel protection in the form of complimentary travel insurance.

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2. HSBC TravelOne Card: Eligibility

Let’s first talk about who’s eligible for the HSBC TravelOne Card.

An entry-level miles card, the HSBC TravelOne Card has pretty typical age and minimum income requirements:

  • Age requirement: 21 years old
  • For Singaporean and PR salaried workers: $30,000
  • For Singaporeans and PRs who are self-employed or commission-based: $40,000
  • For foreigners: $40,000

3. HSBC TravelOne Card: Annual fees

The HSBC TravelOne Card comes with a pretty standard annual fee of S$194.40 . Generally, this is the standard annual fee for most entry-level credit cards, barring credit cards with $0 annual fee .

Of course, the annual fee doesn’t matter if a fee waiver is available. HSBC doesn’t say anything about the first year’s annual fee (you can always try your luck requesting a fee waiver !). However, they will waive the annual fee for the second year onwards if you spend over S$25,000 per year. That’s about $2083 per month.

4. HSBC TravelOne Card: Earn rates

Here’s a quick look at how the HSBC Travel One Card’s earn rates compare to other entry-level miles cards:

The HSBC TravelOne Card local spend earn rates are average at best —there are miles cards with lower local earn rates, such as the BOC Elite Miles World Mastercard , which clocks in at just 1 mile per dollar (mpd).

However, the HSBC TravelOne Card’s foreign spend earn rates are above average . The only other miles credit card out there with a comparable rate is the UOB PRVI MASTERCARD Miles Card, which comes with a $5 minimum spend caveat—you need to spend S$5 to earn UNI$6/2.4 miles.

5. HSBC TravelOne Card: Bonus earn categories

At its heart, the HSBC TravelOne Card is meant for everyday, general spending. That comes with 1 downside: it doesn’t have any bonus earn categories . These refer to specific spend categories with which you can earn a greater number of miles per dollar.

Bonus earn rates are miles credit cards are usually between 3 mpd to 10 mpd. Here are some examples:

  • Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card : 3 mpd on online transactions in Transportation, Grocery and Food Delivery Merchants categories
  • UOB PRVI MASTERCARD Miles Card : 6 mpd (UNI$15 per S$5 spend) on major airlines and hotels booked through Expedia, UOB Travel, and Agoda
  • Citi PremierMiles Card : Up to 10 mpd on online travel bookings via Kaligo and Agoda
  • DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card : Up to 10 mpd on hotel transactions at Kaligo (capped at S$5,000/month); up to 6 miles per S$1 on flight, hotel and travel packages at Expedia (capped at S$5,000/month)

Is it a big disadvantage that the HSBC TravelOne card doesn’t have bonus earn categories? We would say not necessarily. It really depends on if you’d spend more on those bonus earn categories in the first place. For example, if you don’t want to book via Kaligo, Expedia or Agoda, the Citi PremierMiles Card and DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card bonus earn rates are basically made defunct.

6. HSBC TravelOne Card: Rewards points redemption

HSBC rewards you with Rewards points for each dollar of your spending—they don’t just give you miles directly. Here’s a breakdown of the points earn rates:

  • 2.4 miles (6 Reward points) per S$1 foreign spending
  • 1.2 miles (3 Reward points) per S$1 local spending

The good news is that from now till 31 Dec 2023, HSBC won’t charge you any conversion fee for redeeming your points for air miles or hotel points. Usually, you have to pay an annual HSBC Mileage Programme fee of S$40, subject to GST.

On top of that, HSBC rewards redemptions are fast . According to HSBC’s TraveIOne Card page, they’ll complete redemptions for air miles and hotel points instantly or in 1 business day.

Do note that HSBC Reward points expire after 37 months . 3+ years sounds like a lot of time, but you know how these expiry dates can creep up on us without us realising—fellow points hoarders, you know what I mean.

Prefer a rewards system with points/miles that never expire? Consider the Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card for 360 Rewards Points that never expire, or the Citi PremierMiles Card for Citi Miles that never expire.

7. HSBC TravelOne Card: Benefits and privileges

Although the HSBC TravelOne Card doesn’t have any bonus point categories, it does come with a generous slew of travel benefits and privileges. Broadly, these fall into 2 categories: travel perks, and travel protection.

HSBC TravelOne Card travel perks

  • Airport lounge access : As the primary cardholder, you get 4 complimentary lounge visits per year to over 1,300 airport lounges around the world.
  • Travel rewards : With the HSBC TravelOne Card, you get to enjoy cashback and discounts when you travel and do your shopping overseas under the Mastercard Travel Rewards catalogue . These apply to both in-store and online merchants across over 25 countries, including Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores in Japan and Bloomingdale’s in the United States. 
  • Mastercard Priceless™ Specials : This is another MasterCard rewards programme that you get with the HSBC TravelOne card, but this one is a bit more upmarket. It offers privileged access to benefits across travel, culinary, shopping, sports, entertainment, and arts and culture.

HSBC TravelOne Card travel protection

  • Travel insurance : If you charge your air ticket (in full) to your HSBC TravelOne Card, you’ll get complimentary travel insurance coverage (including COVID-19) of up to USD100,000.
  • ID Theft Protection™ : The HSBC TravelOne Card doesn’t just want to give you peace of mind while on holiday—it also aims to do so while you’re browsing and making purchases online. You can register for Mastercard ID Theft Protection™ to ensure your personal data is safe and secure, protecting you from identity theft and fraud. 
  • Checking travel and health restrictions : It is such a chore to check for travel and health restriction/documentation. The HSBC TravelOne gives you access to Sherpa, a travel advisory tool that tells you what Visa requirements, travel documents, and even if COVID-19 tests are needed prior to your trip. 

Hungry for more benefits? Even if you aren’t travelling, the HSBC TravelOne Card comes with a dining perk you can use right here in Singapore. You’ll get complimentary access to ENTERTAINER with HSBC , which comes with tons of 1-1 deals on dining, lifestyle and travel. These deals are available worldwide, but there are plenty to choose from locally too.

ALSO READ :  Best Food Discount and Rewards Apps in Singapore—Chope, Burpple, Entertainer & More

8. HSBC TravelOne Card: Sign-up promotion

From now till 31 Aug 2023, you can get up to 20,000 Miles (in the form of 50,000 Rewards Points) when you apply for the HSBC TravelOne Card.

The downside is that you need to pay the card’s annual fee of S$194.40 (GST already included), as well as spend at least S$800 in qualifying transactions within 1 month. Depending on your lifestyle, this minimum spend could be easily doable, or a tall order.

9. Should I get the HSBC TravelOne Card?

If you’re looking for a general spending travel card (that means no bonus earn categories!), the HSBC TravelOne Card is a decent choice. Its earn rates are average or slightly above average (especially when it comes to foreign spending), and we like that you earn Rewards points per dollar spent. For some other cards with similar earn rates, you need to spend say $5 before you chalk up any points. This means that the HSBC TravelOne Card can help you earn points on even the smallest purchases.

Don’t forget that the HSBC Reward points expire after a 37-month period. This could be a pro or a con, depending on how much of a points hoarder you are.

The HSBC TravelOne Card does live up to its name as the 1 and only travel card you’ll need…if you’re looking for a general spending miles card. We suggest you get the HSBC TravelOne Card if you want a general spend card, if you value travel benefits, and if you’re looking for a higher than average earn rate for foreign spending. This card isn’t for you if you want a high bonus earn rate on selected categories, or if you want miles that never expire. 

10. Alternatives to the HSBC TravelOne Card

Here are some other entry-level miles cards for you to consider. These rewards points/miles never expire:

Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card : This card rewards you with a bonus earn rate of 3 miles for online transactions on transport, food delivery, and groceries. The best part is that the 360 Rewards Points you earn never expire.

Standard Chartered logo

Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card (No Annual Fee)

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

Citi PremierMiles Card : Citi Miles never expire! Plus, earn up to 10 miles per $1 spent on selected hotel bookings. 

Citibank logo

Citi PremierMiles Card

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.

OCBC 90 N Card : Travel$ never expire. You’ll also get up to 7 miles per $1 spent on Agoda accommodations worldwide.

OCBC logo

OCBC 90°N Card

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.

Check out and easily compare the other air miles credit cards in Singapore .

P.S. Here’s our MoneySmart credit card ranking rubric

In case you’re wondering, here’s how we decide on our credit card rankings.

Don’t miss our ultimate list of credit card reviews  for the low-down on credit cards in Singapore.

Found this article useful? Share it with a fellow traveller considering a miles card!

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HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

Refined points metric (rpm): 11.8, recommendation: poor, annual fee ​, annual income, airport lounge access.

6X access per year

International Lounges

Supplementary Access

RM60,000 per annum

Airline Miles Earn Rate

Local: 1 Airline Mile = RM21.00

Overseas: 1 Airline Mile = RM2.62

Dining/Travel = 1 Airline Mile = RM4.20

Payment Network

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Review | HSBC TravelOne Mastercard Credit Card

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HSBC Malaysia recently unveiled its HSBC TravelOne Mastercard Credit Card, in line with a parallel launch in Singapore. For the purposes of this discussion, we'll focus solely on the Malaysian iteration.

The launch was accompanied by significant fanfare, underscored by HSBC Malaysia's extensive promotional efforts. This included roadshows in major Klang Valley malls like Mid Valley and collaborations with digital content creators and influencers. Commendably, their marketing approach was pervasive, leading many within my circle to seek my perspective on the card's value proposition.

However, it's imperative to delve deeper than the surface-level allure. A notable aspect that catches the eye is the promotion of "8x reward points" on HSBC's official site. Many, understandably, may misconstrue this to mean 8x air miles, which is a significant misunderstanding.

Airline Miles Conversion

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The distinction between reward points and air miles is crucial. To provide a straightforward assessment: if one were to critically evaluate the conversion rate of these reward points to air miles, the HSBC TravelOne might not rank among the best credit card options in Malaysia for those prioritizing air miles accumulation.

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The information above shows how many airline miles you get when you use HSBC's "Reward Points". To get one Enrich air mile, you need to spend RM2.62 overseas, but if you spend locally and specifically on dining or travel, it costs more, RM4.20, to get the same one mile.

Any other transactions with the HSBC TravelOne credit card only earns you 1X points.

Here's a simpler way to see it:

For regular spending in Malaysia, you need to spend RM21.00 to get 1 airline mile.

If you spend money on dining or travel in Malaysia, you need to spend RM4.20 to get 1 airline mile.

When you spend money in other countries, you need to spend RM2.62 to get 1 airline mile.

Compared to other banks that focus on travel, HSBC's rates don't look as good. For example, the CIMB Travel Platinum Credit Card gives you 1 airline mile for every RM2.50 you spend in other countries, and you only need to earn RM24,000 a year to get this card.

Likewise, the Alliance Bank Visa Infinite credit card grants you 1 Airline Mile for every RM1.875 spent when strategically topping up your E-Wallets and spending using your E-Wallets.

You can choose to convert HSBC points into miles with other programs, not just Enrich Miles, but these rates aren't great either. For those who fly a lot from Malaysia, finding the best way to turn spending into miles is very important.

For example, to turn your points into JAL Mileage Bank miles, it costs RM7.50 for one JAL mile. This rate is high, but not many people might use their HSBC Reward Points for JAL miles anyway.

Be sure to check out my Ultimate Guide,   KrisFlyer Ultimate Guide  and Asia Miles Ultimate Guide ​ for comparisons on the airline miles earning rates for various credit cards.

I know how important it is to obtain information about lounge access at a glance, so if you're queuing up to enter a lounge in ASEAN, here's the important details about the HSBC TravelOne Mastercard credit card:

Number of Lounge Access Passes: 6X per year

Supplementary Access: Yes, quota is shared with principal cardholder

Spend Conditions: No spend conditions

Lounge Access List by HSBC TravelOne Mastercard credit card:

Plaza Premium Lounge KLIA Terminal 1 Main Terminal Building

Plaza Premium Lounge Singapore Changi Terminal 1

TGM & Root98 Singapore Changi Terminal 1

BLOSSOM - SATS & Plaza Premium Lounge Singapore Changi Terminal 4

Plaza Premium Lounge Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1 (Gate 1)

Plaza Premium Lounge Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1 (Gate 35)

Plaza Premium Lounge Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1 (Gate 60)

HSBC may update it's list from time to time, so be sure to check out their list here if you don't see your lounge on the list above and in the table below.

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Lounge access by the HSBC TravelOne Mastercard are the only nominal advantages to the credit card on the whole, as the airline miles accrual package is underwhelming. The accompanying table above underscores that the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card provides lounge access to merely three airports: Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Singapore Changi Airport, and Hong Kong International Airport.

Interestingly, the provisions at Singapore Changi Airport are confined to the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1 and the Blossom Lounge in Terminal 4. Given that Terminal 4 isn't seamlessly connected via the skytrain, cardholders departing from Terminals 2 and 3 are left with the sole option of the Terminal 1 lounge.

Another detail of note is the shared access between principal and supplementary cardholders, capped at six visits per annum. This isn't really a big issue, as generally you'll find it difficult to enter 6 lounges in an entire year, unless you travel frequently for work. Nevertheless, the shortcoming in this case is that you'll only be able to enter the lounges a limited number of times if you are travelling with your partner or spouse.

Be sure to check out my Airport Lounge Ultimate Guide to compare the best credit cards for airport lounge access in Malaysia.

Final Thoughts

In assessing the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card, it's challenging to pinpoint any commendable features. While their marketing strategy was indeed captivating, given the card's increased visibility in Klang Valley, this might be more indicative of consumers not diligently scrutinizing the details and not undertaking necessary conversion assessments prior to application.

It's crucial to note that other perks, such as the Mastercard Concierge, Priceless, and associated Mastercard benefits, are far from exclusive to the HSBC TravelOne offering.

To be eligible for the HSBC TravelOne credit card, a minimum annual income of RM60,000 is stipulated, averaging to approximately RM5,000 monthly. For individuals within this income bracket, it might be disconcerting to recognize that alternative credit cards in the market offer a far more comprehensive suite of benefits, particularly in the domain of air miles and travel. 

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HSBC TravelOne Card

HSBC TravelOne Card

HSBC TravelOne Card

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Earn 5,040 SmartPoints  or  S$200 Cash via PayNow  when you apply and spend a min. of S$1,000 from Card Account Opening Date to end of the following calendar month.  T&Cs apply .   Use 5,040 SmartPoints to fully redeem a product from our Rewards Store . If the product costs more, redeem with your points and top up the rest by purchasing additional SmartPoints e.g. get an Apple 10.9-inch iPad Wi‑Fi 64GB (10th Generation) at only S$110 on top of your earned SmartPoints.

hsbc travel 1 card review

Are you eligible?

Promotion is valid from 06-June-2024 to 20-June-2024

Applicable for New-to-HSBC cardholders only.

Customers need to apply through MoneySmart to be eligible

Applicants need to p rovide HSBC their consent to receive marketing and promotional materials from HSBC at the time of submitting their application.

What you need to know

Log into your MoneySmart account and submit your claim by 20th July 2024

Receive either S$200 Cash via PayNow or 5,040   SmartPoints when you apply and charge a min. of S$1,000 in Qualifying Transactions from card account opening date to end of the following month.

Use 5,040 SmartPoints to fully redeem a product from our  Rewards Store . If the product costs more, redeem with your points and top up the rest by purchasing additional SmartPoints. Enjoy flexible redemption and get the rewards you want! 

With 5,040 SmartPoints* earned, you can redeem: - Apple iPad (10th Gen) | Top up $110 more only - Apple 13-inch MacBook Air M2 | Top up $920 more only - Apple iPad Wi-Fi (9th Gen) 64GB | Redeem in full - Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones | Redeem in full - OR many other options available at our Rewards Store today. - For more information regarding SmartPoints, refer to our FAQ here.

SmartPoints will be credited into your points wallet, with a validity period of 1 year . You can choose to redeem any reward, or accumulate your points for future redemptions. 

Please note that all rewards (Cash or SmartPoints) will typically be fulfilled approximately 5 months after the end of the campaign month (30 June 2024). 

MoneySmart exclusive rewards do not stack with external or third party promotions unless otherwise stated. See T&Cs for details.

*Instantly Activate Your Virtual Card for Google Pay and Apple Pay Shopping!  T&Cs  apply.

Quick Facts

Instant Rewards Redemption

Categories to maximise this card

What people use it for.

Frequent travellers who are looking for more flexibility & choices in redeeming miles and good earn rate

You are looking for a miles credit card with high earn rate and fast redemption

All Details

Key features.

  • Instant reward redemption with an extensive selection of airline and hotel partners via HSBC Singapore mobile app

Accelerated earn rate: up to 2.4 miles for your spending

Travel privileges: Complimentary travel insurance coverage (including COVID-19), 4 x complimentary airport lounge visits for primary cardholders and more

Split flexibly: Split your purchases across a range of flexible tenors that suits your needs with HSBC Instalment Plans

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

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.

Air Miles Excellent

Overseas spending excellent, annual interest rate and fees, minimum income requirements, documents required, card association, wireless payment, moneysmart promotions.

Disclaimer: At MoneySmart.sg, we strive to keep our information accurate and up to date. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific product’s site. All financial products and services are presented without warranty. Additionally, this site may be compensated through third party advertisers. However, the results of our comparison tools which are not marked as sponsored are always based on objective analysis first.

HSBC TravelOne Credit Card Review 2024

Introduced in early 2023, the HSBC TravelOne credit card represents HSBC's newest addition to its credit card lineup, specifically designed for those passionate about travel. It offers enhanced flexibility, ease, and appealing rewards.

Notable highlights include fee-free miles transfers with 9 frequent flyer partners and the integration with the HSBC mobile app, allowing users to effortlessly redeem travel rewards and handle their payments with utmost convenience. If you're considering whether to get the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card, let's find out if this card is suitable for you as we consider the requirements, pros and cons and more.

Pros and Cons of HSBC TravelOne Card

  • 20,000 welcome bonus miles (50,000 reward points) upon payment of annual fee
  • Up to 2.4 miles for every S$1 spent overseas
  • No cap on miles/points earned
  • Up to 1.2 miles for every S$1 spent locally
  • No redemption fee when you redeem for air miles or hotel points
  • Annual fee waiver available (from 2nd year onwards)
  • Exclusive access to HSBC ENTERTAINER with HSBC Singapore mobile app, enjoy over 1,000 worldwide 1-for-1 deals on dining, lifestyle and travel
  • Flexibility to split your purchases across a range of flexible tenors that suits your needs with HSBC credit card Instalment Plans at 0% interest fee
  • Complimentary travel insurance
  • Complimentary airport lounge visits per year for primary cardholders
  • Interest rate of 26.90%, which is lower than some cashback credit cards (as per MoneySmart's Credit Cards comparison tool)
  • Min. spend of S$1,000 to qualify for the 20,000 welcome bonus miles
  • Min. spend of S$25,000 per year to qualify for the annual fee waiver

hsbc travel 1 card review

Compare HSBC TravelOne vs. Citi PremierMiles Card vs. SCB Journey Credit Card

Currently, the HSBC TravelOne Card offers the lowest minimum interest rate chargeable as compared to the Citi PremierMiles Card and Standard Chartered Journey Card.

In terms of annual fee, you'll definitely save more with the Standard Chartered Journey Card as compared to the HSBC TravelOne Card and Citi PremierMiles Card, as you wouldn't have to pay any annual fees for it.

When it comes to air miles benefits, the Citi PremierMiles Card comes up on top with the most attractive perks as compared to the HSBC TravelOne Card and Standard Chartered Journey Card, offering the highest air miles per S$1 spent on online travel bookings via Kaligo and Agoda.

However, the Citi PremierMiles Card requires a minimum spend of $800 per month for the first-year fee waiver, unlike the Standard Chartered Journey Card which does not have minimum spend requirements. HSBC TravelOne Card requires an even higher minimum spending of S$25,000 annually to be eligible for the second-year annual fee waiver.

In a nutshell, the HSBC TravelOne Card is worth getting if you're after its fee-free miles transfers with 9 frequent flyer partners, no cap on miles/points earned, plus the instant reward redemption with its extensive selection of airline and hotel partners via the HSBC Singapore mobile app.

Find Out More In Our HSBC TravelOne Blog Review

Hsbc travelone card application.

Here are 3 simple steps to apply for the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card:

Apply via MoneySmart’s credit cards page

You may begin your application by clicking on our HSBC TravelOne Card application link.

When you choose to apply online or through the HSBC mobile app and via SingPass MyInfo, HSBC will pull your identity and income data from SingPass (which is already verified), thus cutting short the processing time. The approval-in-principle page will appear within minutes of submitting your MyInfo.

Provide all documentation required

You'll need to provide all the necessary documentation in order for HSBC to approve your credit card application. This list of documents include:

  • NRIC or other identification details
  • Latest computerised payslip
  • Latest 12 months' CPF Contribution History Statement
  • Latest Income Tax Notice of Assessment (NOA)

Receive your HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

You’ll be able to activate your HSBC TravelOne Card instantly through the HSBC mobile app, and enter a One-Time Password (OTP) after keying in your 6-digit Online Banking PIN to secure all your credit card transactions. Thereafter, it’s ready for you to use on any of your purchases and you can track your air miles and other rewards with your HSBC mobile app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any fees if i apply for the hsbc travelone credit card, am i eligible for the hsbc travelone credit card, if i’m late for my monthly hsbc travelone credit card bill payment, how much do i have to pay.

HSBC TravelOne Review: Uncover the Benefits and Nuances for Your Future Trips

🌍uncover the benefits & nuances of hsbc travelone for your future trips✈️. read our review & plan your travel smarter🧳 👍.

friends hiking

Introduction to HSBC TravelOne

Brief overview of hsbc.

HSBC is a multinational banking and financial services organization headquartered in London, UK. It’s one of the largest banking institutions worldwide, offering services such as retail, commercial, and private banking, asset management, and treasury services. Since its establishment in 1865, it has grown into a global network spanning over 64 countries.

In this article, we will be conducting an in-depth review of HSBC TravelOne, a product designed to offer special benefits to frequent travelers. This review intends to provide potential users with all the necessary information on the pros, cons, and key features of this service. With that in mind, it’s important to delve into the hsbc travelone review to understand its offerings fully. The HSBC TravelOne service is crafted by the renowned banking and financial services organization HSBC, making it a popular choice among travelers seeking convenience and value. Whether you are a leisure traveler or travel frequently for business purposes, this review of HSBC TravelOne can be beneficial in helping you make an informed decision.

Features of HSBC TravelOne

Explanation of hsbc travelone features.

HSBC TravelOne is a credit card tailored specifically for frequent travelers. It offers users the ability to earn air miles for every purchase, exclusive travel discounts, and complimentary airport lounge access worldwide. Additionally, it provides comprehensive travel insurance coverage, travel emergency services, and no foreign transaction fees making international travel more convenient and secure.

Detailed description of benefits offered

Benefits offered by companies typically include medical, dental, and vision insurance, providing security for employees regarding their health. Employees might also profit from retirement plans such as 401(k) matching, boosting their financial stability in the long term. Further, perks like paid time off and flexible work schedules enhance work-life balance.

Understanding the Benefits

Travel insurance cover.

Travel insurance coverage is an essential part of planning a trip. It provides financial protection against unforeseen circumstances such as medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, and other unexpected incidents. Many policies also offer 24/7 assistance services. It’s a small investment that facilitates stress-free travel.

Travel discounts and offers

Travel discounts and offers provide a cost-effective way for individuals to explore the world. These financial incentives, which can apply to things like flights, accommodation, and tour packages, allow people to visit their dream destinations at a reduced price. They stimulate tourism, make travel more accessible, and make vacations more enjoyable.

Complimentary airport lounge access

Complimentary airport lounge access is a luxury perk often provided to first and business-class passengers. It offers an exclusive and serene space for relaxation or work before flight departure. Amenities typically include comfortable seating areas, premium food and beverage options, private meeting rooms, high-speed Wi-Fi, and sometimes spa services.

Earn points on travel and leisure spending

Earn points on travel and leisure spending with various reward programs offered by airlines, hotels, and credit card companies. These reward programs allow you to accumulate points for every dollar spent on flights, accommodation, dining, and other leisure activities. These points can later be redeemed for exciting rewards or discounts.

Eligibility and Application Process for HSBC TravelOne

Explanation of eligibility criteria for hsbc travelone.

HSBC TravelOne is designed for frequent travelers. Eligibility depends on age (18-65), HSBC account holder status, and steady income. Applicants must be account holders for at least one year and prove a satisfactory income level. The specific income requirement varies, so contacting HSBC for more detailed information is recommended.

man at airport waiting for flight

Step-by-step guide for the application process

A step-by-step guide for the application process involves understanding the submission requirements, filling out forms correctly, and gathering necessary supplementary materials. Candidates should start with careful research, and then meticulously complete the application, ensuring they meet specifications. Deadlines and proofreading are crucial for successful submissions. Following these steps increases your chances of a successful application.

Using HSBC TravelOne for Future Trips

Case scenarios on the use of hsbc travelone for trips.

HSBC TravelOne offers customers an efficient solution for their travel needs. Consider a couple planning their honeymoon. They book flights and hotels through TravelOne and enjoy discounted rates and valuable reward points. Unexpectedly, a flight gets canceled – thanks to TravelOne’s travel insurance, they’re compensated, ensuring their dream trip remains stress-free.

Understanding the benefits based on specific trip needs

Understanding the benefits based on specific trip needs can enhance your overall travel experience. Proper planning allows one to maximize budget, time, and enjoyment. Benefits may include stress reduction, exploration of new cultures, increased knowledge, and improved health. Each trip offers unique opportunities based on individual needs and interests.

Nuances of HSBC TravelOne

Identifying the hidden terms and conditions.

Identifying hidden terms and conditions requires careful reading of any contract or agreement. Often fine prints and unclear wording mask crucial details. Hidden clauses may cause unexpected obligations or costs. Vigilance and understanding in these matters are therefore essential to protect oneself from potential pitfalls and unwanted surprises.

Analyzing potential drawbacks and limitations

Analyzing potential drawbacks and limitations is a key step in decision-making processes. It involves foreseeing possible obstacles, constraints, or negative impacts of a particular plan or project. This process facilitates risk management, promotes efficiency, and supports strategic planning. However, it may limit innovation and risk-taking if not balanced with a solution-oriented approach.

Comparison with Other Travel Cards

Comparative study of hsbc travelone with other travel cards.

The HSBC TravelOne card stands out in a comparative study against other travel cards by offering a plethora of advantages. It provides worldwide acceptance, comprehensive travel insurance, and impressive rewards programs. However, other cards may offer lower fees or specific airline partnerships, making a thorough comparison essential for potential users.

Evaluation consolidating HSBC TravelOne’s standing among competitors

HSBC TravelOne has consolidated its standing among competitors through an impressive evaluation process. Its robust assessment focuses on affordability, efficiency, and customer satisfaction, fostering transparency and reliability. This strategy has strengthened TravelOne’s competitive edge while bolstering trust and credibility among its clientele in the strenuous travel industry.

Final Review Summary

Final thoughts about the strengths and weaknesses of hsbc travelone.

In conclusion, HSBC TravelOne offers strength in its comprehensive travel benefits, including impressive travel points and insurance, adding value for frequent travelers. However, its weakness lies in high eligibility requirements, which limits accessibility for average-income earners. The limited access to non-travel-related rewards may leave some prospective customers wanting more.

Summary of how HSBC TravelOne can support future trips

HSBC TravelOne is designed to make future travel smoother, providing services such as airfare and hotel discounts, travel insurance, and airport lounge access. By catering to all your travel-related financial needs, this service simplifies your transactions and takes care of unforeseen circumstances, making your trip worry-free.

HSBC TravelOne User Reviews

Sharing customers’ feedback about hsbc travelone.

HSBC TravelOne continuously strives to improve its services as a result of customer feedback. Customers rate the automated booking process highly, praising its convenience and simplicity. However, they suggest improving the policy on changing booked trips. Many appreciate the variety of travel options, competitive rates, and efficient customer service.

Assessing the card’s reputation based on user experiences

Customer reviews provide an excellent platform to evaluate a card’s reputation. This assessment strategy uses first-hand experiences to identify any regular issues, service quality, and usability. User experiences highlight the card’s benefits and drawbacks, offering valuable insights into the card’s operational efficiency and overall reliability.

HSBC Travel One review FAQs

What is the earning rate for hsbc travel one.

HSBC Travel One offers a high earning rate for travel-loving customers. For every KD 1 spent overseas, customers earn 2.25 air miles. While for local expenditures of the same amount, the earn rate is 1.5 miles. These miles can be redeemed for a wide range of travel-related rewards.

Is the HSBC credit card good?

HSBC credit card offers a variety of benefits, including competitive rewards programs, low introductory APR, and no foreign transaction fees. Building a good credit history is also manageable with HSBC’s helpful tools and customer service. However, customer experience varies, and some people may encounter issues with their customer service.

Does HSBC Revolution miles expire?

Yes, HSBC Revolution miles do expire. As per their policy, the miles accumulated through the HSBC Revolution Credit Card are valid for three years from the quarter in which they are earned. If not redeemed within this period, these accumulated miles will automatically expire and be removed from the account.

What is the age limit for an HSBC credit card?

HSBC has set a minimum age limit of 18 years for a primary credit card holder. However, they also require an established employment or income history. For supplementary cardholders, the minimum age limit varies depending on the specific type of card but is typically around 16 years.

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hsbc travel 1 card review

Review: HSBC TravelOne Card Singapore

The HSBC TravelOne Card has emerged as a notable option for travelers in Singapore, catering to those seeking a mix of travel perks and rewards. As a comprehensive miles card, it joins the competitive market with promises of seamless miles accumulation, an array of travel benefits, and the flexibility of multiple transfer partners, distinguishing itself within a crowded field. The card targets a broad audience, from frequent flyers to occasional vacationers, aiming to enhance their travel experience with benefits like lounge access and travel insurance coverage.

Our analysis of the HSBC TravelOne Card covers its core attributes, from the application process to the day-to-day user experience. We assess the rewards system, which includes the card’s earn rate on local and overseas expenditure, and evaluate the practicality of benefits against its fee structure. Comparisons with other travel cards in the market are essential to gauge where the HSBC TravelOne stands, and determine whether it offers competitive advantages to warrant its place in a traveler’s wallet.

Review: HSBC TravelOne Card Singapore

Key Takeaways

  • The HSBC TravelOne Card is tailored for travelers, with benefits such as travel insurance and lounge access.
  • It offers a competitive miles earn rate and has a wide range of transfer partners.
  • The card’s varied perks should be weighed against its fees to assess overall value.

Key Features of HSBC TravelOne Card

We observe that the HSBC TravelOne Card is equipped with a variety of features tailored for travel and general expenses. Here, we discuss some of its key attributes.

Review: HSBC TravelOne Card Singapore

  • Lounge Access : Cardholders are entitled to four lounge visits per calendar year, effectively providing eight visits in the first year of membership due to the way the allowance is structured annually.
  • Points Conversion : Users enjoy instant points conversions. Additionally, there are no conversion fees for this service until the end of the year 2023.
  • Complimentary travel insurance coverage is included with the card.
  • Exclusive cashback and discount offers are available globally across dining, lifestyle, and more.
  • Miles Earn Rate : The card offers a decent earn rate for miles accumulated through purchases, which can then be redeemed with a selection of 12 travel partners including airlines and hotels.
  • Welcome offers or promotional rewards are periodically available for new users who meet certain spending requirements.
  • The card lacks a bonus earn category, which means that all expenses are rewarded at the same rate without any special boosts for certain categories of spending.

Our insights emphasize that the HSBC TravelOne Card is a compelling choice for individuals who frequently travel and wish to accrue travel-related rewards, although it is important to be aware of the lack of points pooling feature. The absence of this can affect how rewards are managed between different cards from the same issuer.

Eligibility and Application Process

Our HSBC TravelOne Card targets a specific clientele, ensuring eligibility criteria are met and applicants are informed about the necessary documentation and procedure to smoothly apply for the card.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the HSBC TravelOne card, there are certain prerequisites you must meet:

  • Age : You must be at least 21 years of age.
  • For Singaporean or Permanent Residents : A minimum annual income of SGD30,000.
  • For Self-employed or Commission-based Singaporeans or Permanent Residents : A minimum annual income of SGD40,000.

Application Procedure

To get started with your application for an HSBC TravelOne card, follow these steps:

  • Visit the Official Website : Go to the HSBC Singapore website dedicated to the HSBC TravelOne credit card.
  • Fill Application : Complete the online application form with all the required personal and financial details.
  • Submit Application : Review your details for accuracy and submit your application online.

Required Documents

When you apply for the HSBC TravelOne Card, you need these documents:

  • Proof of Identity : A copy of your NRIC or passport.
  • For salaried employees: Latest 3 months’ payslip or latest Notice of Assessment (NOA).
  • For self-employed: Last 2 years’ NOA and bank statements.

Rewards and Benefits

In our comprehensive review, we cover the various rewards and benefits that the HSBC TravelOne Card offers. Specifically focusing on travel rewards, complementary travel insurance, and lifestyle benefits that enhance the cardholders’ experiences.

Travel Rewards System

The HSBC TravelOne Card comes without designated bonus point categories, but it offers a substantial travel rewards system. Cardholders earn points for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, and other travel-related expenses. Additionally, points can be redeemed instantly through HSBC’s mobile banking app in Singapore.

Complimentary Travel Insurance

When traveling, cardholders can have peace of mind knowing that the HSBC TravelOne Card includes complimentary travel insurance. This coverage extends to various travel-related mishaps and includes benefits such as:

  • Medical and Personal Accident : Coverage for medical expenses and personal accidents while abroad.
  • Travel Inconveniences : Compensation for travel delays, lost baggage, and other inconveniences.

Lifestyle Benefits

Beyond travel, the HSBC TravelOne Card enriches users’ lifestyles with additional advantages:

  • Dining Privileges : Exclusive dining offers at selected restaurants.
  • Entertainment Perks : Special deals at entertainment venues, including movie theaters and live events.

By offering these hotel, dining, and entertainment benefits, the card transcends just travel-focused rewards, making it versatile in its appeal.

Fees and Charges

In this section, we’ll outline the specifics of fees and charges associated with the HSBC TravelOne Card. Understanding these costs is vital for effective financial management.

Annual Fees

The HSBC TravelOne Card carries an annual fee of S$194.40 . It’s a common fee range for entry-level credit cards in Singapore. However, in the second year and thereafter, if you spend over SGD25,000 annually , this fee may be waived.

Foreign Transaction Fees

For transactions made in foreign currencies, the HSBC TravelOne Card typically includes additional costs. While specific percentages are not listed, such fees typically range from 2.5% to 3.5% of the transaction amount.

Other Associated Costs

There are several other potential costs to consider:

  • Late payment fees
  • Overlimit fees
  • Cash advance fees

Each of these will vary based on the actual usage and the terms of service defined by HSBC. It’s crucial to review the cardholder agreement for the most accurate figures.

Interest Rates and Financial Charges

When considering the HSBC TravelOne Card, it’s essential for us to understand the various interest rates and financial charges that apply. We’ll cover the specific rates for purchases, cash advances, and the costs associated with late payments to ensure clear and accurate financial planning.

Interest on Purchases

With the HSBC TravelOne Card , the interest rate on purchases is calculated if the outstanding balance is not paid in full by the due date. The effective interest rate is 25.9% per annum. It’s critical to pay the balance promptly to avoid these charges.

Interest on Cash Advances

For cash advances, a higher interest rate is typically charged from the date of the transaction until the amount is paid in full. As of the latest update, the effective interest rate for cash advances on the HSBC TravelOne Card is set at 26.9% per annum, but with effect from January 8, 2024, this will increase to 27.8% per annum.

Late Payment Charges

We must also note that late payments incur charges. For the HSBC TravelOne Card, if the minimum payment isn’t received by the due date, a late payment charge of S$55 is levied. Ensuring timely payments is crucial to avoid these additional costs.

Cardholder User Experience

In reviewing the HSBC TravelOne Card, we focus on the aspects of customer service, the online banking platform, and mobile app functionality, as these are critical components that impact the daily usage and satisfaction levels for cardholders.

Customer Service

We find that the customer service provided for HSBC TravelOne cardholders is efficient and responsive. Assistance is available through multiple channels, including phone support and email, which offers convenience and ease in addressing any concerns or questions that may arise.

  • Phone Support: Quick response times with knowledgeable representatives.
  • Email: Clear and timely communication, typically within standard business hours.

Online Banking Platform

HSBC’s online banking platform for the TravelOne card is designed to be user-friendly and secure. Our experiences include:

  • Dashboard: Intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface.
  • Transactions: Real-time tracking and monthly statement breakdowns are readily accessible.

Mobile App Functionality

The HSBC Singapore mobile app enhances the user experience by offering robust features for TravelOne cardholders.

  • Mobile Payments: Seamless integration with digital wallets for contactless payments.
  • Account Management: Real-time alerts, card blocking, and simple transaction categorization.

Comparison with Other Travel Cards

In comparing the HSBC TravelOne Card with its peers, we find distinct advantages and areas where it may not measure up. Points accrual, transfer options, and lounge access are primary factors we consider.

  • Points Accrual: The HSBC TravelOne Card offers a competitive earn rate on general spending, and though it may not lead the pack, the absence of conversion fees (until the end of 2023) improves the overall value proposition.
  • Transfer Partners: Our card stands out with a wide range of transfer partners, a feature particularly important for travelers seeking flexibility in redeeming miles across various airlines and hotels.
  • Lounge Access: Compared to competitors, the HSBC TravelOne Card provides a notable number of lounge visits, which enhances the travel experience for cardholders without the need for a premium card.

We also emphasize the travel insurance benefits included with the HSBC TravelOne Card. While travel insurance is relatively common across travel cards, the coverage specifics can vary, and we believe our cardholders appreciate the assurance that comes with comprehensive coverage.

Here’s a brief comparison with two major competitors:

In essence, the HSBC TravelOne Card is tailored for travelers who value a balance between earn rates and travel perks. While it may not outshine in every category, its broad list of partners and travel benefits make it a formidable option within our market.

Pros and Cons

When considering the HSBC TravelOne Card, we identify a range of features that will appeal to frequent travelers as well as some limitations that need to be taken into account.

  • Mileage Earn Rates : The card offers respectable miles earn rates, which can be beneficial for individuals who spend regularly and wish to accumulate travel miles.
  • Annual Fees : We note that the card may offer low or no annual fees, easing the cost burden for cardholders.
  • Travel Benefits : A variety of travel-related benefits are attached to the card, including lounge access that enhances the airport experience.
  • Partnerships : With a suite of travel partners, cardholders can enjoy increased flexibility and options for using their earned miles.
  • Sustainability Initiatives : An alliance with One Tree Planted allows for environmental contributions, letting cardholders use points to make a positive impact.

Disadvantages

  • Points Pooling Feature : The card currently does not offer points pooling, potentially limiting the value for those who manage multiple accounts.
  • Travel Insurance : Details regarding travel insurance coverage are not provided, it’s recommended to verify if the coverage meets one’s personal requirements.
  • Lounge Access : While some lounge visits are included, limitations apply which may not satisfy all users’ needs.

Final Verdict

We’ve assessed the HSBC TravelOne Card’s features and offerings, focusing on the preferences and habits of frequent travelers. Our analysis leads us to several key points:

  • Transfer Partners: A diverse range of transfer partners positions the TravelOne Card as a strong contender in the flexible rewards space.
  • Conversion Fees & Lounge Access: No conversion fees until the specified date and twice the lounge visits compared to similar cards signal considerable added value.
  • Miles Earn Rates: A rate of 1.2 miles per dollar (mpd) on local spend and 2.4 mpd on foreign currency spend ranks this card competitively.
  • Travel Insurance: The inclusion of free travel insurance provides peace of mind.
  • Dining & Lifestyle Benefits: Offers on dining and lifestyle internationally bring additional utility to the card.

Given these attributes, the card suits globetrotters seeking to combine everyday spending with travel rewards. However, it is important for potential cardholders to evaluate their spending patterns against the card’s benefits to optimize rewards.

Our examination remains impartial, steering clear of overstatements. We present the TravelOne Card as a solid option, yet we highlight the importance of individual financial circumstances in determining its overall value.

WealthRocket is reader-supported. When you buy through links on the website, we may earn an affiliate commission.

HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard® Review

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Victor Irungu

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Why you can trust us

The team at WealthRocket only recommends products and services that we would use ourselves and that we believe will provide value to our readers. However, we advocate for you to continue to do your own research and make educated decisions.

HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard®

Rated 1.8/5 stars.

  • 3 pts Earn 3 points per $1 spent on eligible travel-related purchases.
  • 2 pts Earn 2 points per $1 spent on gas and transportation.
  • 1 pt Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.
  • Welcome Bonus None
  • Annual Rewards $142 Learn how we calculate this.
  • Annual Fee $0
  • Minimum Income Required None
  • No annual fee
  • $0 supplementary card fee

Travel insurance

  • Extensive list of partners for rewards
  • 2.5% foreign transaction fee
  • Capped travel rewards amount of $6,000
  • Low rewards for non-travel-related purchases

The HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard is designed for the frequent traveller. This travel rewards credit card allows you to earn points on every purchase. You can use your points in one of three ways: for travel, for a statement or loan credit, convert into cash and save, or redeem for gift cards and merchandise at select partners.

In This Article

Hsbc travel rewards mastercard: an overview, hsbc travel rewards mastercard rewards, hsbc travel rewards eligibility, hsbc travel rewards interest rates and fees, hsbc travel rewards mastercard perks, compare hsbc travel rewards mastercard alternatives, our final thoughts.

The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) will be purchasing HSBC Canada. As a result, HSBC products will be discontinued shortly. Please refer to the best credit cards in Canada for alternatives.

Are you looking for a credit card that rewards you for travelling? With generous discounts on travel bookings, valuable travel insurance, and a variety of rewards points, the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard ® is an all-in-one travel card that can help you save on your next trip.

This HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard review discusses the features and benefits of this card. It outlines the rewards you can earn, explains how to redeem your points, and provides an overview of any additional perks or discounts associated with the card. Read on to learn more about this travel rewards credit card and if it’s right for you.

The HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard is an excellent choice for travel junkies who want to maximize travel rewards. This card offers points on every purchase, additional points for travel-related purchases, and no annual fee. To redeem points for the best value, cardholders can apply their points to travel related purchases. This includes purchases made from airlines, hotels, campgrounds cottages, cruise lines, and more.

The HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard offers points on almost all purchases made.

Eligible travel:  3 points per dollar spent with a cap amount of $6,000 per calendar year (after you reach the cap amount, you’ll earn 1 point per dollar)

Eligible gasoline and daily transit:  2 points per dollar spent

All other eligible purchases: 1 point per dollar spent

Redeeming rewards with the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard is simple. Your earned points will appear on your account, and you can redeem them either online or over the phone.

For travel-related purchases, your online account will have a tab titled “Redeem Now.” From there you can select “Travel” to find travel purchases or to book directly using your HSBC credit card. For a statement credit, cardholders can find all travel-related transactions made in the last 60 days to apply points directly to their purchase. This is useful because cardholders are not restricted to specific companies for travel expenses. All purchases of goods and services from airlines, car rental agencies, hotels, cottages, campgrounds, and more will show up as a travel-related purchase that users can apply points to.

Cardholders can use their points in three different ways:

  • Travel: HSBC points can be used for all things travel related. Book transportation, hotels, cruises, rail tickets, and more directly on the rewards site. You can also redeem points for a statement credit toward travel purchases made online or through travel agents and charged to the card.
  • Financial:  Use your points to achieve your financial goals. Convert your points for a credit toward your HSBC Bank Canada residential mortgage, credit card balance, or add the points to your HSBC personal savings account in the form of cash.
  • Gift cards and merchandise: With an extensive list of exclusive partners, HSBC points can be used for Apple products, other electronics, accessories, home and beauty essentials, and hundreds of other items. Don’t see an item you like? HSBC has more than 50 gift card options and 3 charities to put points toward.

To apply for the HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard, you must be of legal age and have a good  credit score of around 670 to 739. There is no minimum income requirement to qualify for the card or annual fee.

  • Annual fee:  $0
  • Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%
  • Extra card fe e: $0
  • Cash advance fee:  $5 (doesn’t apply to Quebec)

Interest rates

  • Purchases: 20.99%
  • Cash advances: 22.99%
  • Cash advances (Quebec): 21.99%
  • Balance transfers: 22.99%
  • Balance transfers (Quebec): 21.99%
  • Penalty APR: 25.99%

In addition to its rewards, this card offers a few extra benefits for travellers.

The HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard comes with baggage delay, trip interruption, and hotel/motel burglary travel insurance. For a low annual premium of $69, you can tack on emergency medical coverage, too.

Extended warranty coverage

Extended warranty coverage, and purchase assurance offers extra security when making purchases with your card.

  • Annual Rewards $142

TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card

  • Welcome Offer Up to $800 value, including up to 100,000 Aeroplan points.
  • Annual Fee $139
  • Interest Rates Purchases: 20.99%, Cash Advances: 22.99%
  • Recommended Credit Score 760 - 900

American Express Cobalt Credit Card

  • Welcome Offer Up to 30,000 Membership Points
  • Annual Rewards $1029
  • Annual Fee $155.88

The HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard is a good choice for those looking for an easy way to earn rewards points on travel-related purchases. The capped rewards amount may be an issue for some. However, the card provides a lot of value that can outweigh this factor. All in all, it’s a great option if you’re looking for an easy way to maximize your rewards while travelling.

Victor is a freelance content/SEO writer based in Kenya. He has 10 years’ experience covering financial topics such as cryptocurrency, forex trading, insurance, mortgages, and investing.

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  • HSBC Malaysia online banking

HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

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

Find out more via your eWelcome pack

hsbc travel 1 card review

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. 

hsbc travel 1 card review

Apply online today and enjoy our exclusive sign-up offer

Open up a world of elevated travel.

hsbc travel 1 card review

Instant redemption

hsbc travel 1 card review

Earn accelerated points

hsbc travel 1 card review

Travel privileges

hsbc travel 1 card review

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  

hsbc travel 1 card review

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

hsbc travel 1 card review

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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Best student credit cards of June 2024

hsbc travel 1 card review

  • • Student credit cards
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hsbc travel 1 card review

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Courtney Mihocik is an editor at Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com specializing in credit card news and personal finance advice. Previously, she led insurance content at Reviews.com and worked as the loans editor at The Simple Dollar.

hsbc travel 1 card review

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Student credit cards are meaningful tools in your early financial journey. A student card creates a solid starting point for people with limited credit histories as they begin building credit. Undergraduate, non-traditional and international students all can benefit from student cards geared toward their unique needs. Here are some of our top picks and tips to make the most of a student credit card.

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Best Credit Cards for Students in 2024

  • Discover it® Student Cash Back : Best for rotating cash back bonus categories
  • Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students : Best for intro APR offer
  • Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students : Best for travel
  • Discover it® Student Chrome : Best for gas and dining
  • Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best overall student card
  • Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best for flat-rate cash back

What is a student credit card?

What people say about student credit cards.

  • Expert advice for student credit cards
  • How we rated the best student credit cards
  • Frequently asked questions

Credit range

A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

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Best for rotating cash back bonus categories

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Discover it® Student Cash Back

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Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.

Intro offer

  • Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.

Rewards Rate

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.

Regular APR

  • 5% Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
  • 1% Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.

What we love : It’s a great pick for students who want to earn cash back in Discover's rotating cash back calendar categories — which often include categories such as dining, online shopping and gas. It’s also great for back-to-school shoppers who need to stock up on college supplies, as they can take advantage of a modest intro APR offer on purchases. Students can also build credit, earn top-of-the-line rotating cash back rewards and take advantage of one of the best sign-up offers around. Learn more : Is the Discover it® Student Cash Back worth it? Alternatives : If you want a simpler way to earn rewards, a flat-rate credit card like the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card or the Petal 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa Credit Card could be easier to keep up with while still offering consistent cash back on all of your purchases.

  • Discover’s Cashback Match program will match all of the cash back you earn with this card at the end of your first year.
  • There are a solid number of redemption options with this card, including direct deposits, charity donations and gift cards.
  • You’ll have to keep track of bonus categories and enrollment dates to maximize rewards, which may be a hassle on a student schedule.
  • The intro APR period on purchases is rather short at only a few months.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies.
  • Terms and conditions apply.

Best for intro APR offer

Image of Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students

  • $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
  • 1.5% Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

What we love : Students who want a break from interest for a little more than a year but don’t want to give up the opportunity to earn rewards can benefit from its intro APR offer. It competes with even the best non-student credit cards, offering cardholders a solution for financing a purchase or transferring a balance. Alternatives : If you want more rewards and can stomach a shorter APR offer, the Discover it® Student Cash Back balances a decent APR offer and a great cash back rate.

  • The unlimited 1.5 percent cash back makes it easy for students to earn cash rewards on everyday purchases.
  • This card’s lengthy intro APR offer beats out many competing student cards’ offers.
  • This card doesn’t have a lot of student-centric perks or credit-building features compared to other cards.
  • It has limited redemption cash back redemption options.
  • No annual fee.
  • No limit to the amount of cash back you can earn and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 19.24% - 29.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • When handled responsibly, a credit card can help you build your credit history, which could be helpful when looking for an apartment, a car loan, and even a job. Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.
  • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Best for travel

Image of Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students

  • 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
  • Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 1.5X Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

What we love : It lets students who want a low-cost, low-maintenance travel rewards card have the flexibility to redeem travel rewards for eligible travel purchases on statements within the past 12 months. Alternatives : While the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card earns cash back instead of points you can redeem for travel, it’s a solid student card that comes with some cardholder perks missing on the Bank of America card.

  • The unlimited 1.5X points is a competitive rate for a student travel card.
  • This card comes with a lengthy intro APR offer for purchases and balance transfers.
  • Bank of America’s points aren’t worth much compared to other credit card rewards programs.
  • Despite being a travel card, it doesn’t have any noteworthy travel benefits aside from no foreign transaction fees.
  • Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
  • Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.

Best for gas and dining

Image of Discover it® Student Chrome

Discover it® Student Chrome

Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

  • 2% Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.
  • 1% Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

What we love : Instead of forcing you to deal with rotating categories, this Discover card lets you focus on building credit while also earning cash back on everyday essentials like gas station purchases and dining — two popular spending categories for college-aged cardholders. And if you need to make a large purchase, this card also offers a great intro APR for purchases. Alternatives : If you want more of a say in where you earn the most with your credit card, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students lets you choose your top spending category from the available options.

  • This card is fairly affordable to hold with no annual fee, foreign transaction fees or penalty APR.
  • Potentially big value in Discover’s Cashback Match program, where Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
  • There are other student cards on the market with higher and more flexible rewards and categories.
  • There is a quarterly cap on your highest earning categories.
  • Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Best overall student card

Image of Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

  • Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months

8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) 3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®) 1% Cash Back on all other purchases

  • 8% 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
  • 5% 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
  • 3% 3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
  • 1% 1% Cash Back on all other purchases

What we love : Students, social butterflies and homebodies alike who want a single card that earns rewards on staples like groceries (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®) and dining as well as extras like concert tickets, travel and streaming services can build credit without sacrificing rewards on food, entertainment and more. Learn more : Capital One SavorOne Student vs. Discover it® Student Cash Back Alternatives : If you’re looking for a larger reward category variety or you spend heavily outside the food and entertainment category, you might have an easier time racking up rewards with a rotating cash back card like the Discover it® Student Cash Back .

  • This card doesn’t charge a penalty APR if you miss a payment (though missed payments will still negatively affect your credit score).
  • This card makes for a solid study abroad companion thanks to its low costs.
  • The regular APR is high with this card, even for a student option.
  • Superstores like Target and Walmart do not count for the highest cash back rate.
  • Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), with 1% on all other purchases
  • Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
  • Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
  • Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal
  • Build your credit with responsible card use
  • Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you

Best for flat-rate cash back

Image of Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024 Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day

  • 10% Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
  • 1.5% Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day

What we love : The card’s competitive flat-rate on all purchases is one of the highest base rates available on a student card — and one of the few student cards that offers more than 1 percent back on general purchases as well as bonus rewards in other categories. Learn more : Is the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards credit card worth it? Alternatives : If you typically spend more on food and entertainment than hotels and rental cars, the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a good alternative thanks to its impressive rewards rate in popular categories like grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), restaurants and streaming services.

  • Your reward redemption options are flexible and there’s no minimum amount you need before you can redeem.
  • The UberOne membership credit can be very useful for students who use food delivery services.
  • This card does not offer an intro APR on purchases or balance transfers, so you won’t get a break on interest when carrying a balance.
  • The high end of this card’s ongoing APR is steep if your credit score is low.
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen

Compare Bankrate’s top student credit cards

Student credit cards are a type of credit card specifically for students with little to no credit history. Like traditional credit cards, student cards give you access to a line of credit to make purchases. Most regular credit cards recommend at least a good credit score for the best approval odds, which you may not have if you’re a student just getting started with credit. Student cards present college students with an opportunity to establish credit so they can eventually qualify for better cards. Also, student cards usually have reward structures that fit well into student spending behaviors, with popular bonus categories including streaming, dining, groceries and entertainment.

Why it’s important to build credit as a student

You should start building credit as early as possible because the length of your credit history is a significant factor in your credit score. A good credit score early could make it easier for you to: 

  • Rent an apartment 
  • Get a more rewarding credit card 
  • Start a small business

It can be hard to gauge what is the best way to start building a credit history, especially as a student. A big factor that can affect what cards students are eligible for is their credit history. When asked if student credit cards were worth getting over a standard unsecured credit card, Reddit users in the r/CreditCard community say it depends .

One Reddit user remarks that “what matters is that you start your OWN revolving credit history. [Authorized user] accounts can help, but they aren't nearly as meaningful as your own accounts.” This is a common sentiment that echoes advice found in other communities and subreddits, too.

For instance, a user in the r/personalfinance community writes , “You should open your own credit card to start building independent credit history if you ever need to take yourself off as an [authorized user] on your parents' card.”  Several reasons can cause your time as an authorized user to an end, but if you open your own card as soon as you’re able you can still establish a lengthy credit history without relying on someone else's account.

Overall, most users agree that student credit cards can help young adults achieve financial independence and break away from relying on their parents’ or guardians' credit cards or from using debit cards.

Although you may not be able to open a decent credit card right away, a student card can be a gateway to better rewards and higher credit limits. If you’re interested in exploring your options, check which ones you’re a potential match for by using tools like Bankrate’s CardMatch™ . 

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Be sure to check the issuer's website/terms and conditions for all up to date content. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

Expert advice on student credit cards

Student credit cards give you a chance to get a head start on building credit, which could help you with future financial goals. Here are some tips to ensure you use your student card to its fullest potential. 

How to choose a student credit card

Make sure you qualify.

Issuers typically reserve student credit cards for anyone enrolled in college courses with little or no credit history. However, make sure if there are additional requirements, such as part-time or full-time status or if two-year institutions are eligible.

Know your credit score

Knowing your credit score can help you avoid applying for a credit card you have little chance of qualifying for or a card you’re overqualified for and isn’t worth your time.

Look for credit-building tools

The best student cards have built-in features that help you build a good credit score. Features like reporting to all three credit bureaus, offering credit line increases and providing free credit score reports are features you should look for.

Prioritize features that matter to you

Most student cards have student-centric perks like purchase protection or the chance to earn cash back on your purchases.

Consider your interest in studying abroad

If you plan to study or travel abroad, you might need a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. You should also check if merchants will accept the card at your destination since only some card networks are widely accepted.

Be aware of all fees

Credit cards come with their own set of credit card fees . It may be impossible to avoid all of them, but picking the right card and using it responsibly can help you avoid many of these charges.

Explore cards with upgrade potential

Many student cards have a “graduated” version that you could upgrade to once you’re ready to move beyond student credit cards. If you upgrade with the same issuer , you could skip putting in a new application and avoid a hit to your score.

Here’s how a Bankrate expert chose her student card

Former Bankrate editor Ashley Parks was reluctant to apply for her first credit card. But she’s grateful for her student card because it enabled her to start building credit early — and she’s still reaping the benefits today. 

“I didn’t put a lot of thought into choosing my student card when I was younger because I was afraid of credit cards and lacked a lot of knowledge about these products at the time. As a result, I missed out on some perks, but I still see some benefits from building my credit early. Thanks to my long credit history and track record of responsible habits, it's been easier to apply and get approved for credit cards with higher credit limits and better reward rates. I also inadvertently picked a student card with a graduated version. I easily made the transition from the Discover it® Student Chrome to the Discover it® Chrome , which came with better reward rates and a much higher credit limit. I’m glad I faced my fears and got my student card. I’m still seeing the choice pay off seven years later.” — Ashley Parks, editor, Bankrate

Still deciding if a student credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool to get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

How to make the most of your student credit card

Using your student credit card to its full potential could set you up for success on your credit journey. Pair responsible habits with some of the following tips and you’ll be off to a great start on your credit-building journey.  

Keep credit utilization ratio low

Since students typically have less experience with credit cards, issuers tend to offer them lower starting credit limits. A low credit limit could make it easy to use a lot of your available credit and hurt your credit score. A budget will help you track how much you’re spending on your credit card so you can keep your credit utilization ratio below 30 percent, which will help your score.

Pay on time and in full whenever possible

Remember that you’re borrowing money on a credit card and you must pay that money back. Do your best to avoid using your card for big purchases. Only spend what you can afford to pay back immediately, and always aim to pay your balance in full every month. Paying your bill on time and in full is the best way to avoid interest charges.

If you have to carry a balance, try to make more than the minimum payment to reduce interest costs. Your payment history also has the greatest influence on your credit score, so paying your credit card bill  on time as a student affects how your credit profile looks in the future.

Focus on building credit, not rewards

While many student cards earn rewards on your spending, earning rewards shouldn’t be your priority. Managing your credit responsibly over time is what ultimately leads to a more rewarding financial future. By focusing on responsible credit habits first, you can reap the benefits of the best rewards rates, interest rates and other perks as you go.

Don’t close your card immediately

The length of your credit history is another big contributor to your credit score.  Closing your card could reduce your credit age and limit the benefits of building credit early. Even if you don’t use your old student card anymore, keeping the account open could be a helpful way to keep your score in a good place. You would also benefit from the extra available credit the card would provide.

Bankrate Insight

Using something other than your credit card to pay for tuition is best, but some schools will allow you to do it. However, your institution may charge a convenience fee , and interest will stack up quickly if you wait to pay it off.

Our data: Do students want flat-rate or bonus-category rewards?

Students can have busy schedules that make strategizing and maximizing credit card rewards feel like another extracurricular. We analyzed our proprietary data to determine if Bankrate users who viewed student credit cards on our site in 2023 wanted flat-rate or rotating-category student credit cards. Are students more drawn to cards that earn boosted cash back rates in certain categories like the Discover it® Student Cash Back or do they want straightforward cash back like what the Capital One Quicksilver Student card offers?

We looked at the cards that the most users viewed on our site in 2023 and found that the top three most popular student cards — Chase Freedom® Student credit card , Bank of America ® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students and the Bank of America ® Travel Rewards credit card for Students — all have flat-rate rewards .

The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card , which users were 16.3 percent less likely to be interested in , has four bonus categories to take advantage of — but this may make it less appealing to busy students.

What are some alternatives to student credit cards?

College is a great time to try new things and take risks, but that’s not an ideal approach to your finances. Some students may feel as though credit cards are too overwhelming or they aren’t eligible for the card that they want just yet. 

Whether you need help gaining access to credit or want to avoid dealing with the disadvantages of using a credit card , you have several alternatives that can help. Some of the most common alternatives to student credit cards are:

  • Secured credit cards : These cards may require a security deposit but have more safeguards than a traditional credit card.
  • Credit-builder loans : You can build credit through fixed monthly payments and show lenders you can handle different types of credit, also known as a credit mix.
  • Alternative credit scoring models : Tools like UltraFICO and Experian Boost can help establish a credit score and take into consideration other information.
  •  Becoming an authorized user : You’ll receive your own line of credit that is connected to a primary cardholder's account. You have to be careful because each user’s actions affect the other.

How we assess the best cards for students

When evaluating the best cards for students, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that make it easy to build credit history while minimizing costs.

We analyzed over 50 of the most popular cards designed for students and rated each based on its cost, APR, credit-building features and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup.

Here are some of the key factors that we considered: 

Relatively low cost and APR

A credit-building card’s cost has a large influence on its overall score and our decision to include it in our best cards list. This is because cards in this category tend to be much pricier than traditional credit cards designed for people with a good or better credit score. 

We compare a card’s total cost, including any annual fees, account activation fees, monthly fees and more against the total cost of other cards in the credit-building category and assign each card a score based on its affordability. We also factor rewards-earning potential into our assessment of a credit-building card’s total cost, subtracting expected earnings from the sum of its fees. 

To get a sense of a credit-building card’s rewards-earning potential, we estimate its average annual rewards rate and average annual earnings based on the most popular spending categories (as covered in the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer spending report ). 

However, we use a slightly lower spending assumption ($300 per month or $3,600 per year) to estimate average earnings, assuming credit-builders will start out with a lower credit limit, will want to keep credit utilization low and will focus primarily on small purchases they can easily pay off.

While low-cost credit-building cards will always be at a major advantage in our scoring system and will likely earn a higher spot on our best cards list, no-annual-fee credit-building cards can be hard to come by, especially if you’re looking for an unsecured card. With this in mind, we may include unsecured cards with high fees in our list if they offer other benefits for credit-builders, like a high starting credit limit or useful perks.

A card’s APR is also a major factor in its credit-building score. Each card’s average APR is compared against the average APR of other cards in the category, and the cards with lower-than-average APRs receive a higher rating. 

Given the many costs students face — from textbooks to laptops — the presence of an introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers also plays a role in a student card’s score and its inclusion on our list. 

Though high APRs are hard to avoid when you’re just starting out or working on your score, credit-builders and students should strive for as low an APR as possible since they’re likely to either be new to managing cards or trying to establish better financial habits and avoid falling into debt.

Solid credit-building features

Along with a credit-building card’s cost, we consider how easy the card makes it to build credit. To assess this, we evaluate its credit limit potential and minimum deposit requirement.

Unsecured cards with a high starting credit limit and secured cards that let you put down a large deposit and get a matching high credit limit will score the highest according to our “Ease of building credit” rubric and are more likely to appear on our list. 

This is because a high credit limit can make it much easier to keep your credit utilization low, a primary credit-building factor that makes up 30 percent of your FICO credit score. 

Secured cards have a slight advantage in this category since the maximum credit limit on a secured card tends to be much higher than the typical starting credit limit on an unsecured card that’s available with a bad or fair credit score. However, unsecured credit-building cards have the upper hand in another key aspect of building credit: accessibility. 

Cards that carry no or a low deposit requirement can also receive a high score according to our “Ease of building credit” rubric since these cards offer a lower barrier to entry than secured cards that require you to put up hundreds of dollars in an upfront deposit. 

Indeed, some users may prefer to pay a non-refundable $50 annual fee while they work on their credit score than tie up hundreds in a refundable security deposit.

Relevant perks

We evaluate a student or credit-building card’s benefits based on how useful they are for someone looking to build a positive credit history or save money on everyday spending. 

We consider the inclusion of a rewards program, student-centric perks, access to your credit score or a credit monitoring service of prime importance, along with the ability to prequalify for the card with only a soft credit pull and a clear path to increase your credit limit or graduate to an unsecured or full-fledged rewards card.

Cards that include these benefits are likely to score higher according to our credit-building card and student card scoring rubrics and are more likely to earn a place in our list.

Frequently asked questions about student credit cards

Is it easy to get a student credit card.

Student credit cards tend to have lighter credit application requirements than other unsecured credit cards, so students with little to no credit history tend to have better approval odds. Remember that you’ll often have to prove school enrollment to apply. If you’re having trouble getting a student credit card, a secured card or a credit card for bad credit could be more accessible options. 

When should you get a student credit card?

You should get a credit card when you believe you can maintain it responsibly. However, the Credit CARD Act of 2009 restricts credit card issuers from granting new accounts to people younger than 21. You could get a credit card earlier if you can demonstrate that you have a source of independent income or have a cosigner, but it depends on the issuer.

Can international students apply for a credit card?

Yes, you can apply for a credit card as an international student , though you’ll still need to meet some requirements. Applying for a credit card as an international student can be an intimidating process, but some card issuers do allow students to apply with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security number (SSN).

What should you do with a student card after you graduate?

You can still use your student credit card after you graduate . However, if you’ve used your credit responsibly over the years and have a decent credit score, you might consider applying for a more traditional credit card with better rewards rates on more spending categories. If you want to maintain your credit history, consider keeping your student card open or graduating to the more rewarding version of the card.

Do you need a job to get a student credit card?

No, you are not required to have a job to get a credit card, though most issuers will request some proof of income to pay your credit card bill.

Article sources

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.

“ Taxpayer Identification numbers (TIN). ” Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Accessed on April 15, 2024.

“ Credit scoring alternatives for those without credit. ” U.S. Government Accountability Office. Accessed on April 15, 2024.

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

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Find the best credit card for you

Best family travel credit cards of 2024, unlock award flights, hotel stays and airport lounge access with the top family travel credit cards..

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Family travel is a rewarding but complicated endeavor, and every family member you add to the trip increases the cost. However, planning ahead and using the right travel credit card can save you money and make your trips more comfortable.

The best family travel credit cards earn valuable points, miles or cash-back and offer benefits like airport lounge access that the whole family can enjoy. Here are CNBC Select's top picks for families looking to upgrade their next vacation. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best travel credit cards for families.)

Best family travel credit cards

  • Best for no annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
  • Best for domestic flights: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
  • Best for lodging:   Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  • Best for airport lounge access: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
  • Best for fair credit: Citi Double Cash® Card

Best for no annual fee

Wells fargo autograph℠ card.

Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.

$0 annual fee

0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases

Regular APR

20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR

Balance transfer fee

Up to 5%, min: $5 

Foreign transaction fee

Credit needed.

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees , terms apply.

  • No annual fee
  • Solid rewards on broad spending categories
  • 0% intro APR offer
  • Get up to $600 cell phone protection (subject to a $25 deductible)
  • Valuable welcome offer
  • Access to My Wells Fargo Deals to earn cash back in the form of an account credit when shopping, dining
  • No balance transfer offer

Who's this for?  The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card stands out for those seeking a no-annual-fee travel credit card as it has a long list of 3X bonus categories and earns transferrable points.

Standout benefits: The points earned with this card can be transferred to a growing list of airline and hotel partner programs, including British Airways Executive Club, Avianca LifeMiles and Air France/KLM Flying Blue. Having these various redemption options increases the value of your points as it allows you to take advantage of sweet spots with different programs.

[ Jump to more details ]

Best for domestic flights

Southwest rapid rewards® priority credit card.

Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

21.49% - 28.49% variable

5%, minimum $5

Foreign transaction fees

Terms apply.

  • Southwest upgraded boarding on up to 4 tickets per year
  • 7,500 bonus points on each account anniversary
  • $75 Southwest annual travel credit
  • 4 upgraded boardings per year when available
  • $149 annual fee
  • No special financing offers

Who's this for?  With free checked bags for all passengers and a family-friendly seating policy, Southwest is great for families, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card can help you save on your trips.

Standout benefits: This card can help families earn the Southwest Companion Pass more easily as the points from its welcome bonus count toward the 135,000-point threshold. Cardholders also receive a 10,000-qualifying-point boost every calendar year. The Southwest Companion Pass is valuable for families as it allows you to bring along a guest on any Southwest flight for the cost of taxes and fees.

Best for lodging

Chase sapphire preferred® card.

Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review .

  • Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Travel℠
  • Transfer points to leading frequent travel programs at a 1:1 rate, including: IHG® Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy™ and World of Hyatt®
  • Travel protections include: auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement
  • No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
  • $95 annual fee
  • No introductory 0% APR

Who's this for?  The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an amazing all-around travel card, but can be especially valuable for booking your hotel stays and other lodgings.

Standout benefits: The points earned with this card can help you book everything from an Airbnb to a suite in a luxury hotel. At a minimum, Chase Ultimate® Rewards points are worth one cent for statement credits and gift cards. However, your points are automatically worth 25% more when redeemed through the Chase Travel SM portal and potentially more when transferred to one of Chase's airline or hotel partners.

Best for airport lounge access

Capital one venture x rewards credit card.

Unlimited 2X miles on all eligible purchases, and 5 Miles per dollar on flights and 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booked via Capital One Travel portal

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

19.99% - 29.99% variable APR

$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review.

  • Large welcome bonus
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Up to $100 statement credits for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • High annual fee
  • No introductory 0% APR period

Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is great if you're looking for a premium credit card with easy-to-use benefits.

Standout benefits:  This card offers generous airport lounge access, including unlimited access to Capital One Lounges , Priority Pass Lounges and Plaza Premium lounges. You can bring up to two guests to Capital One and Plaza Premium lounges and unlimited guests to Priority Pass Lounges. Better yet, airport lounge access benefits extend to authorized u sers on your card, and you can add up to four for no additional fee.

Best for fair credit

Citi double cash® card.

Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers; N/A for purchases

19.24% - 29.24% variable

For balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening, an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies; after that, a balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies

Fair/Good/Excellent

Read our Citi Double Cash® Card review.

  • 2% cash back on all eligible purchases
  • Simple cash-back program that doesn't require activation or spending caps
  • One of the longest intro periods for balance transfers at 18 months
  • 3% fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
  • Estimated rewards earned after 1 year:  $443
  • Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,213

Who's this for? The Citi Double Cash® Card is perfect for families with less-than-perfect credit who don't want to bother with a complicated rewards program.

Standout benefits: Most cash-back credit cards and rewards credit cards earn 1% back or 1X points on purchases that fall outside of special bonus categories. With the Citi Double Cash , you get double the return: 1% cash back when you buy and 1% cash back when you pay. Over time this adds up and there is no limit to how much cash back you can earn.

More on our top credit cards for family travel

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is a rare no-annual-fee card that earns transferrable travel rewards.

  • 3X points at restaurants
  • 3X points on travel
  • 3X points on gas
  • 3X points on transit
  • 3X points on popular streaming services
  • 3X points on phone plans
  • 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases with the card in the first three months of account opening.

Notable perks

One of the best features of this card is its ability to transfer points to travel partners. You can transfer Wells Fargo rewards to these airline and hotel programs:

  • Aer Lingus AerClub
  • Air France/KLM Flying Blue
  • Avianca LifeMiles
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Iberia Plus
  • Choice Hotels

If you prefer simplicity, you can still redeem your points for one cent each for statement credits, gift cards and travel booked through the Wells Fargo rewards site.

When you pay your monthly phone bill with the card, you'll not only earn 3X points but also qualify for cell phone protection . This coverage will reimburse you for up to $600 per claim with a $25 deductible (up to two claims per 12 months). It also has no foreign transaction fee, roadside dispatch, travel and emergency assistance and rental car collision coverage (secondary in the U.S.).

New cardholders also receive an intro 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months, then a variable 20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% applies.

[ Return to card summary ]

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a family-friendly airline card with more than enough benefits to justify its annual fee.

  • 3X points on Southwest purchases
  • 2X points on hotel and rental cars booked through Southwest
  • 2X points on local transit
  • 2X points on internet, cable and phone services

The points you earn from this card's welcome offer and spending on the card can help you earn a Southwest Companion Pass. On top of that, you also receive a 10,000-qualifying-point boost every calendar year. Anyone pursuing Southwest elite status will appreciate the opportunity to earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) for every $5,000 you spend annually with no cap on the number of TQPs you can earn.

Every year, you'll receive two benefits that can offset the annual fee alone: A $75 Southwest travel credit and 7,500 bonus points. Experts value Southwest points at around 1.3 cents per point , which makes the annual bonus points worth roughly $97.50 in Southwest flights.

Every Southwest ticket comes with two free checked bags , no cancellation fees and no change fees, and with this card, you'll get reimbursed for up to four upgraded boardings per year. Southwest doesn't have assigned seats, so upgraded boarding becomes more valuable, especially for families that need to sit together. If you don't want to pack snacks for the trip, you'll receive 25% back on inflight purchases when you use this card.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a popular travel rewards card with useful benefits and a lucrative welcome bonus, all for an annual fee under $100 .

  • 5X points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
  • 5X points per dollar on Lyft rides through Mar. 31, 2025
  • 5X points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025; max of 25,000 total points)
  • 3X points per dollar on dining
  • 3X points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
  • 3X points per dollar on select streaming services
  • 2X points per dollar on all other travel purchases
  • 1X points per dollar on all other purchases

Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with many valuable protections, including  primary rental car insurance , trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection , extended warranty protection and baggage and trip delay insurance. On top of that, you pay no foreign transaction fee and for every card anniversary you'll receive a 10% points bonus based on how many points you earned the previous year.

You'll also have access to several statement credits, including up to $50 hotel credit for bookings you make through Chase's travel site. Cardholders can also register to receive six months of free Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31, 2024) and up to $15 back each quarter for Instacart purchases (through July 2024). You can also enroll to receive a complimentary DashPass membership for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.

Perhaps the best feature of this card is that it unlocks the ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to 14 airline and hotel partners. Chase has a long list of valuable partners including United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, Air Canada Aeroplan, World of Hyatt Hyatt and more. You'll also receive a 25% bonus when you pay for travel you book through the Ultimate Rewards site, which means you'll get a value of 1.25 cents per point. Occasionally, Chase offers discounts on gift card redemptions and you may be able to pick up Airbnb gift cards for 1.1 cents per point.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a top-rated travel credit card offering premium perks for a significantly lower annual fee than luxury cards with similar benefits. 

  • 10X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel portal
  • 5X miles per dollar on flights booked via the Capital One Travel portal
  • 2X miles on all other eligible purchases

Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

The Venture X's annual fee is one of the easiest premium credit card fees to justify thanks to its straightforward benefits. Every year cardholders receive up to $300 in Capital One Travel credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, which are worth at least $100 in travel.

On top of that, when you apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® you'll receive an application fee credit of up to $100. Once through security, enjoy unlimited access to Priority Pass airport lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges and Capital One Lounges. You can add up to four authorized users for no additional fee and each authorized user receives the same airport lounge access for themselves and guests.

Eligible purchases are covered by the following travel and purchase protections:

  • Rental car damage and theft insurance (primary)
  • Cell phone protection
  • Purchase security
  • Return protection
  • Extended warranty protection
  • Trip delay reimbursement
  • Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
  • Lost luggage reimbursement
  • Travel accident insurance
  • Travel and emergency assistance services

You can transfer the Capital One miles you earn with this card to partners like Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, Wyndham Rewards, Emirates Skywards and many more.

Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

The Citi Double Cash® Card is a no annual fee cash-back credit card with a straightforward rewards structure and useful intro APR offer for balance transfers.

  • 5% total cash back on hotels, rental cars and attractions you book through Citi Travel (through Dec. 31, 2024)
  • 2% cash back on all other purchases (1% cash back when you buy and 1% cash back when you pay)

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. 

The Citi Double Cash is an excellent option for balance transfers because new card members receive an intro 0% APR on eligible balance transfers for the first 18 months, then a variable 19.24% - 29.24% APR applies. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transfer ($5 minimum) for the first four months, after that the balance transfer fee is 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum).

While this is technically a cash-back card, it earns cash back in the form of Citi ThankYou® points . You can redeem these points at a value of one cent each for statement credits, gift cards, travel and more. You also have access to a limited number of Citi's travel partners and can transfer the points you earn with this card to Wyndham Rewards, Choice Hotels or JetBlue TrueBlue.

How do I choose the best travel credit card for my family?

The best travel credit card for your family depends heavily on where you want to go and what you want to use credit card rewards and benefits for. Some cards are great for airline redemptions, while others are better for hotel stays or cash-back rewards. Knowing your travel goals can help you hone in on the right choice for your situation.

Can you add family members to a credit card?

You can add family members to your credit cards as authorized users. However, it's important to understand the fine print because there can be an additional fee for adding authorized users and authorized user card benefits may be limited.

Is it better to use Visa or Mastercard in Europe?

Visa and Mastercard are both widely accepted in Europe and beyond. Both of these payment networks tend to be more universally accepted in Europe than Discover or American Express.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best travel credit cards for families.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

Our methodology

To determine which cards offer the best value for family travel, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.  

We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).    We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.  

For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data f orecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back. 

When choosing the best family travel credit cards, we focused on cards that offer perks or rewards that make sense for families. 

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

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Credit Limit Review

Boost your HSBC credit card limit to enjoy more financial flexibility for your spending needs.

Apply by completing a form

Please follow these steps:

1. Complete an application form

  • Credit card credit limit review form (PDF, 126KB) Credit card credit limit review form (PDF, 126KB) Download

2. Upload the documents online

Note: Choose ‘Credit card – credit limit review’ when you’re on the ‘Select your product’ screen.

View supporting documents 

We'll accept any one of the following:.

  • Computerised or electronic pay slips from the last 3 months, reflecting the company's name (please note that salary vouchers and salary statements will not be accepted)
  • CPF contributory history statements from the last 6 months
  • Your latest Notice of Assessment with the full tax reference number and the latest computerised pay slips (please note that Clearance and Estimated copies will not be accepted)
  • A letter of appointment and computerised or electronic pay slips from the last 3 months, reflecting the company's name and issued by your current employer (please note that salary vouchers and salary statements will not be accepted)

For self-employed or commission-based earners

  • Latest 2 years' Notice of Assessment

For foreigners

  • Employment Pass (with validity of at least 6 months)

Documents to be provided by selected customers

Got supplementary cardholders on your account .

Please complete and upload the supplementary cardholder consent form.

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To upload your documents, please follow these steps:

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Please upload your supporting income documents by following these steps:

  • If you need further assistance on Credit Limit Review, please call or chat with us at www.hsbc.com.sg .
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Can i have a separate limit and billing from my supplementary cardholders.

No, both the primary and any supplementary cardholders share the same credit limit. Transactions from all parties will be consolidated and reflected in the primary cardholder's statement.

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World of Hyatt Credit Card review: 1 of the most valuable hotel cards

Emily Thompson

World of Hyatt Credit Card overview

With a rewarding loyalty program and generous card benefits, the World of Hyatt Credit Card is one of the top hotel cards on the market. Cardholders earn 4 points per dollar on all Hyatt spending, and you'll get a Category 1-4 free-night award each year you keep the card and another when you spend $15,000 in a calendar year. Hyatt points are the most valuable hotel points , and free nights start at only 5,000 points. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Thanks to its solid redemption possibilities and elite benefits, World of Hyatt is one of our favorite loyalty programs here at TPG.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card doesn't have the heavy-hitting benefits you'll find with more premium hotel cards, but its perks are valuable enough to easily justify the modest $95 annual fee.

The recommended credit score for this card is above 670.

But does it deserve a spot in your wallet? Let's dive into the details below.

World of Hyatt Credit Card welcome offer

The World of Hyatt card currently offers a , two-tiered sign-up bonus worth up to 60,000 points. TPG values Hyatt points at 1.7 cents each, so the full 60,000-point sign-up bonus could be worth up to $1,020 if you can earn both tiers.

First, you'll earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening. Then, you can earn up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

hsbc travel 1 card review

Still, even if you "only" count the bonus as 50,000 points, that's enough for ten standard nights at a Category 1 hotel or a good start toward a couple of nights at one of the many higher-end World of Hyatt properties worldwide.

Additionally, for stays through March 3, World of Hyatt Credit cardmembers can receive 5,000 additional points per three-night stay at Hyatt's Inclusive Collection brands, including Hyatt Ziva, Secrets Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas and more.

As always, note the restrictions : you won't be eligible to earn those bonus points if you've earned a sign-up bonus on a Hyatt card within the past 24 months. And since this is a Chase card, it's subject to the infamous 5/24 rule . You'll want to ensure you're eligible for the card and its bonus before applying.

Related: How to maximize World of Hyatt redemptions

World of Hyatt Credit Card Benefits

The World of Hyatt Credit Card comes with some notable perks:

Annual free night certificate

The best ongoing benefit from the World of Hyatt card is the annual free-night certificate at a Category 1-4 Hyatt property, which you'll receive every account anniversary. You'll also get a second free night after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.

You can get some incredible value from this certificate both domestically and abroad. Here's what TPG director of content, Nick Ewen , has to say about this perk:

I love earning Category 1-4 certificates on my World of Hyatt credit card. There are so many great options at this award level, as I've used it to stay at the Hyatt Centric Fort Lauderdale, Andaz Savannah and even the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay after a Taylor Swift concert — when rates were going for more than $900 per night! But my most frequent spot to use these certificates is the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport. When I have an early-morning flight (or late-night arrival) with my family, it's so great to have a place to stay right in the terminal.

Regardless of your destination, you can easily get enough value from your free night certificate alone to justify the $95 annual fee.

Related: The best Hyatt Category 4 hotels

Elite status

You'll get automatic Discoverist status simply by having the card, which includes benefits such as late checkout, preferred rooms and a 10% points bonus on eligible purchases. The late checkout perk is invaluable to me, especially when I have a late evening flight and want to freshen up beforehand.

hsbc travel 1 card review

Travel protections

Chase issues the World of Hyatt card, so you'll receive many of the travel protections we've come to expect from Chase credit cards , including:

  • Baggage delay insurance : Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over six hours by passenger carrier up to $100 a day for five days.
  • Lost luggage reimbursement : If you or an immediate family member check or carry-on luggage damaged or lost by the carrier, you're covered up to $3,000 per passenger.
  • Trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance : If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip for your pre-paid, nonrefundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours and hotels.
  • Auto rental collision damage waiver : Coverage is provided for theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad. In the U.S., coverage is secondary to your personal insurance.

Again, this benefits list isn't as extensive as on some other more premium hotel cards, but it offers value well beyond the card's $95 annual fee.

Related: Is the World of Hyatt Credit Card worth the annual fee?

Earning points on the World of Hyatt Credit Card

Cardholders will earn 4 points per dollar on purchases at all Hyatt properties , 2 points per dollar at restaurants and on direct airfare, local transit and commuting (including ride-hailing services) and gym membership purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

hsbc travel 1 card review

Still, you'll be better off using the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® for your dining and general travel purchases. You'll earn more bonus points to transfer to Hyatt or any of Chase's other 13 airline and hotel partners.

Related: Best credit cards for general travel purchases

Redeeming points on the World of Hyatt Credit Card

By far, the best use of Hyatt points is for award nights. Redemptions for standard rooms start at 3,500 points for an off-peak night at a Category 1 property and go as high as 45,000 points for peak dates at a Category 8 property.

TPG credit cards writer, Chris Nelson, was able to get outstanding value by redeeming 3 nights during peak season over a busy summer weekend at the Story Hotel Riddargatan in Stockholm for just 12,000 points.

hsbc travel 1 card review

Additionally, you can upgrade paid stays with points. Redeeming points for free nights tends to be a better deal, but upgrading paid stays can be worth it and won't bankrupt your point reserves.

You can also transfer points to several airline partners, but the transfer ratio is 2.5:1, which is less than ideal. Hyatt also allows you to redeem points for dining, spa visits, Lindblad Expeditions and other experiences, but you're almost always better off using points for hotel rooms.

Related: How to redeem points with the World of Hyatt program

Which cards compete with the World of Hyatt Credit Card?

If you don't stay at Hyatt properties enough to get good value from the World of Hyatt Credit Card, one of these might be a better fit:

  • If you frequently stay at Marriott properties: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card comes with similar benefits at Marriott properties, including an annual free night certificate, for the same $95 annual fee. Marriott's portfolio is also several times larger than Hyatt's, so it may be easier to find an eligible property. For more details, check out our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless .
  • If you want more versatile rewards: The Chase Sapphire Preferred also has a $95 annual fee, comes with impressive travel protections, and earns bonus points on travel and dining purchases. You can transfer your rewards to any of Chase's 14 transfer partners, including Hyatt. For more details, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred .
  • If you own a small business: The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card comes with similar Hyatt benefits but earns bonus points on business purchases like shipping and advertising. For more details, check out our comparison of the Hyatt credit card and the Hyatt business card .

For additional options, please see our list of best hotel rewards credit cards and best travel credit cards .

Related: Best credit cards for Hyatt stays

Bottom line

The World of Hyatt Card is a must-have for Hyatt loyalists as it's the hotel chain's only personal cobranded credit card currently accepting sign-ups and the only card that helps you earn elite status within the World of Hyatt program.

You're likely to get more than enough value from the card to make the $95 annual fee worth paying. And since the card is a Visa with no foreign transaction fees , you won't have any problem using it around the world.

However, if you stay more frequently at properties within another hotel brand or want more flexible rewards, you'll likely want to go with a different card.

Official application link: World of Hyatt Credit Card

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First , we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. The payments we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market.

Second , we also include links to advertisers’ offers in some of our articles. These “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Advisor.

While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Advisor does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Review 2024: A Flexible Travel Credit Card With No Blackout Dates

Updated: May 22, 2024, 5:26pm

Fact Checked

This is a straightforward credit card with a flexible travel rewards redemption schedule, especially since you can use Avion points for travel with any airline around the world with no blackout dates. However, given the high income requirements and annual fee, the base earn rate is low, the only accelerated earn rate is for travel purchases, and the other benefits and features are limited to certain kinds of travel insurance.

  • Earn points on every dollar spent
  • Earn 1.25 points for every dollar spent on eligible travel purchases
  • No blackouts or seat restrictions when using points for flights
  • High annual fee
  • Requires a minimum personal income of $60,000  or a minimum household income of $100,000.
  • Imposes higher acceptance cost on merchants, so might not be accepted at their discretion.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite

Table of Contents

Introduction, quick facts, rbc avion visa infinite rewards, rbc avion visa infinite benefits, how the rbc avion visa infinite stacks up, methodology, is the rbc avion visa infinite right for you.

  • Get 35,000 welcome Avion points on approval**—enough to fly anywhere in Canada & the U.S† (Alaska and Hawaii require more points)
  • Earn 1 Avion point for every dollar you spend* and an extra 25% on eligible travel purchases.
  • Avioners can book flights with points on any airline, on any flight, at any time, early or last minute, with no blackout periods or restrictions.
  • Avioners earn points that never expire so your points will be waiting for your next adventure.
  • Redeem your points for travel and more. Use points for anything from paying bills and paying your card balance to redeeming gift cards and aerchandise at top brands like Apple. The Avion Rewards program gives you the freedom to use your points your way and helps you make the most of your time as an Avioner.
  • Eligible Avion Rewards members can also convert points to other loyalty programs, including WestJet dollars, British Airways Avios points and Hudson’s Bay Rewards points.
  • Link your RBC card with a Petro-Points membership to instantly save 3₵ per litre on fuel at Petro-Canada stations and earn 20% more Petro-Points and 20% more Avion points
  • Link your RBC card with a Rexall Be Well account and get 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall. Redeem Be Well points faster for savings in-store on eligible purchases where 25,000 Be Well points = $10
  • Get access to RBC offers, which provides access to earn points faster at specified brands
  • Extensive insurance, including mobile device insurance, travel insurance (trip cancellation, interruption and emergency medical) and other eligible purchases to protect you and your family
  • Avioners get access to luxury Visa Infinite benefits, including first-in-line access to exclusive events and hotel and dining benefits.
  • Avioners no longer need 14-days to book travel using the RBC grid
  • Get a 12-month complimentary DashPass subscription± – a value of almost $120
  • Enjoy unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on orders of $15 or more when you pay with your eligible RBC credit card
  • Get a 12-month complimentary DashPass subscription18 – a value of almost $120

Apply for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card — A flexible travel card with no blackout dates

On RBC’s Website

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite card is pretty basic in the grand scope of the Canadian travel credit card landscape. The regular earn rate is low (at 1 point for every dollar spent), and the only accelerated category is eligible travel, which earns you 25% more. Perks and benefits are also limited to a few types of travel insurance. Considering the annual fee is $120 and you need a minimum personal income of $60,000 to qualify, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite is lacking compared to other travel credit cards at this price point.

That being said, it’s not a bad card. The flight redemption schedule offers some pretty decent deals. Plus, you can use Avion points for any airline worldwide without blackouts or seat restrictions.

  • Earn Avion points on every purchase at a rate of 1 point per dollar spent and 1.25 points per dollar spent on eligible travel.
  • Points do not expire and can be redeemed towards travel with any airline with no blackout periods or seat restrictions.
  • Cardholders can benefit from increased rewards when they link their card to participating programs at Petro-Canada and Rexall.

Earning rewards

Cardholders will earn Avion points when they spend with this card. Here’s how:

  • Welcome bonus of 35,000 welcome Avion points on approval
  • Earn 1 Avion point per dollar on all eligible purchases, plus an extra 25% on eligible travel-related purchases

There are no accelerated categories aside from travel. However, there are no earning caps or limits on how many points you can earn with this credit card.

Redeeming Rewards

Avion points can be redeemed online at avionrewards.com or via the RBC Avion app. You can redeem your Avion points toward:

  • Travel: Avion points will have the best value when redeemed towards flights with the RBC Avion redemption schedule (a rate of $0.02-$0.0233). You can also redeem them through the RBC travel portal at a rate of $0.01 per point.
  • Point Transfers: You can transfer Avion points to Westjet, British Airways and American Airlines.
  • Gift Cards: You can redeem your Avion points for gift cards.
  • Merchandise: You can redeem your Avion points for merchandise.
  • Statements Credits: You can use your points toward your credit card statement.
  • Charity Donations: You can use your points to donate to charity.

Rewards Potential

While the flexible redemption schedule for RBC Avion points is great, the earn rates and rewards potential are lacking compared to similar credit cards with high accelerated rates and a strong earning schedule. This means earning points with the RBC Avion Visa Infinite will be slower. That being said, cardholders can still come out ahead. Based on average Canadian spending, Forbes Advisor estimates this card could earn $178.72 in rewards value per year after the annual fee.

Travel Insurance

  • Emergency Medical: Coverage for 15 days if you are under 65 or for the first three days if you are 65 or older.
  • Travel Accident: Coverage up to $500,000.
  • Trip Cancellation: Coverage up to $1,500 per person per trip (overall maximum of $5,000).
  • Trip Interruption: Coverage up to $5,000 per person per trip (maximum of $25,000).
  • Flight Delay: Coverage up to $250 per covered person (maximum of $500 per occurrence).
  • Delayed Baggage: Coverage up to $500 per covered person (maximum of $2,500 per occurrence).
  • Hotel/Motel Burglary: Coverage up to $2,500 per occurrence.
  • Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver Insurance: Coverage for 48 consecutive days on vehicles under $65,000 MSRP.

Consumer Insurance

  • Purchase Protection: Coverage for 90 days.
  • Extended Warranty: Double the manufacturer’s warranty for up to a year.
  • Mobile Device Insurance: Coverage up to $1,500.

Partner Benefits

  • Petro Canada: Link your Petro-Points card to save $0.03 per litre on gas and earn 20% more Petro-Points.
  • Rexall: Get 50 BeWell for every dollar spent on eligible purchases at Rexall when you link your card.
  • DoorDash: Get a complimentary DashPass subscription for up to 12 months.
  • The Friday Friend Pass: Buy one Friday lift pass with your card at participating resorts across Canada and get a free lift pass.

Visa Infinite Benefits

  • Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection: Enjoy perks like room upgrades, complimentary WiFi, and late checkout at properties worldwide.
  • Dining & Wine Country : Get access to culinary experiences at the best restaurants in Canada.
  • Complimentary Concierge: Get a complimentary concierge service.

Interest Rates

  • Regular APR: 20.99%
  • Cash Advance:  22.99%
  • Balance Transfer: 22.99%
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.5%
  • Balance Transfer Fee: 3% of the transaction amount
  • Annual Fee: $120
  • Any Other Fees: additional card: $50, dishonoured payment: $45, overlimit fee: $29 (does not apply in Quebec)

RBC Avion Visa Infinite vs. TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Card

The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Card has an $89 annual fee and earns rewards at a rate of 1 point per dollar spent. While there are no accelerated categories, Aeroplan members can double dip and earn double the points at participating retailers. This card also comes with comprehensive insurance plus the Aeroplan program, one of the top rewards programs in Canada. With similar structures, the TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Card is likely a better pick since it does have a lower annual rate.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite vs. PC World Elite Mastercard

The PC World Elite Mastercard is a no-annual-fee credit card aimed at individuals who are more interested in earning free  groceries than redeeming points for travel or shopping rewards. Cardholders earn 30 to 45 points per dollar spent at participating PC Optimum rewards brands and 10 points per dollar spent elsewhere. While the PC World Elite Mastercard does come with travel insurance, it’s not a travel card. If you are in the market for a card where the rewards are best for travel, then the RBC Avion Visa Infinite is the better pick.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite vs. CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

Another Aeroplan card to compare is the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card. At $139 per year, it’s a little pricier than the RBC Avion Visa Infinite card, however, it also has higher earn rates of 1.5 points per dollar spent on gas, groceries, Air Canada travel and electric vehicle charging. All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar spent. Since it is an Aeroplan card, you can double dip with Aeroplan partners, earning points even faster. It is a bit more expensive, but the earning and rewards potential is much higher, meaning it is more lucrative as a travel credit card.

When determining a rating for individual credit cards, the Forbes Advisor Canada editorial team factors in an exhaustive list of data points. With rewards, the scoring model used considers factors such as, but not limited to, reward rates and categories, fees, welcome bonuses, and other benefits and features. Keep in mind that what may be best for some people might not be right for you. Conduct informed research before deciding which cards will best help you achieve your financial goals.

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite card is attractive because you can earn points across all purchases and the redemption schedule for flights is incredibly flexible. That said, it will be slow to earn points with the majority of purchases at the lower earning rates for this credit card. Plus, perks and benefits outside of travel insurance are lacking. If you are a frequent traveller and are really looking to get into maximizing points and rewards, it may not be the best option for you.

Related : Rounded up the best credit cards

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the benefits of rbc avion visa infinite.

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite allows you to earn points on all purchases without having to worry about a spending cap. Points can be redeemed for merchandise, gift cards, travel and more, with travel being the most lucrative option.

What is the minimum income for RBC Avion Visa Infinite?

Eligible candidates must have a minimum personal income of $60,000 or a household income of $100,000 to qualify for this credit card.

Does RBC Avion Visa Infinite have lounge access?

No, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite credit card does not offer cardholders any type of lounge access.

Hannah Logan is a Canadian freelancer writer and blogger who specializes in personal finance and travel. You can follow her adventures on her travel blog EatSleepBreatheTravel.com or find her on Instagram @hannahlogan21.

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IMAGES

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COMMENTS

  1. Review: HSBC TravelOne Card

    The HSBC TravelOne Card is an excellent general spending card that's missing one important puzzle piece: points pooling. Here's The MileLion's review of the HSBC TravelOne Card, which shook up the miles game when it launched back in May this year with 12 transfer partners, instant, free conversions, a generous lounge benefit and a ...

  2. First Impressions: HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

    As a travel credit card, the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card provides complimentary lounge access via the DragonPass ... Review: Plaza Premium Lounge Changi Terminal 1 Singapore ... you can actually rack up points pretty fast and redeem them in 1 go. The HSBC Card only has free redemptions until the end of 2023. If you do not spend a lot of money ...

  3. HSBC Travel One Card Review

    The HSBC TravelOne credit card is a travel credit card that lets you earn and redeem miles easily and flexibly. You can earn up to 2.4 miles per dollar on foreign currency spend, and 1.2 miles per dollar on local spend. You can also redeem your miles instantly with a wide range of airline and hotel partners via the HSBC Singapore mobile app.

  4. HSBC TravelOne Card: MoneySmart Review 2023

    The HSBC TravelOne Card local spend earn rates are average at best —there are miles cards with lower local earn rates, such as the BOC Elite Miles World Mastercard, which clocks in at just 1 mile per dollar (mpd).. However, the HSBC TravelOne Card's foreign spend earn rates are above average.The only other miles credit card out there with a comparable rate is the UOB PRVI MASTERCARD Miles ...

  5. Refined Points

    When you spend money in other countries, you need to spend RM2.62 to get 1 airline mile. Compared to other banks that focus on travel, HSBC's rates don't look as good. For example, the CIMB Travel Platinum Credit Card gives you 1 airline mile for every RM2.50 you spend in other countries, and you only need to earn RM24,000 a year to get this card.

  6. HSBC TravelOne Review: Miles Redemption, Conversion & More

    HSBC miles redemption is a straightforward and efficient process designed for HSBC TravelOne Cardholders to convert their accumulated reward points into airline miles. It has a decent earn conversion rate of 1.2 mpd (3X Reward points) for local spending and 2.4 mpd (6X Reward points) for foreign currency spending.

  7. HSBC Travel One Credit Card 2024 in SG

    Key Features. Instant reward redemption with an extensive selection of airline and hotel partners via HSBC Singapore mobile app. Accelerated earn rate: up to 2.4 miles for your spending. Travel privileges: Complimentary travel insurance coverage (including COVID-19), 4 x complimentary airport lounge visits for primary cardholders and more.

  8. HSBC TravelOne Review: Uncover the Benefits and Nuances for Your Future

    HSBC Travel One offers a high earning rate for travel-loving customers. For every KD 1 spent overseas, customers earn 2.25 air miles. While for local expenditures of the same amount, the earn rate is 1.5 miles. These miles can be redeemed for a wide range of travel-related rewards. Is the HSBC credit card good? HSBC credit card offers a variety ...

  9. Is the HSBC TravelOne Card the One and Only Travel Card You Need

    The HSBC TravelOne Card does live up to its name as the 1 and only travel card you'll need…if you're looking for a general spending miles card. We suggest you get the HSBC TravelOne Card if you want a general spend card, if you value travel benefits, and if you're looking for a higher than average earn rate for foreign spending.

  10. HSBC TravelOne & Standard Chartered Journey Review

    Sponsor: 🐂 Webull Singapore https://hmsg.link/sgwebull💳 HSBC TravelOne (T1) https://hmsg.link/hsbct1💳 SCB Journey (Singsaver Pay) https://hmsg.link/scbjou...

  11. Review: HSBC TravelOne Card Singapore

    Comparisons with other travel cards in the market are essential to gauge where the HSBC TravelOne stands, and determine whether it offers competitive advantages to warrant its place in a traveler's wallet. Key Takeaways. The HSBC TravelOne Card is tailored for travelers, with benefits such as travel insurance and lounge access.

  12. HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

    Get up to 20,000 miles (in the form of 50,000 Reward points) when you successfully apply for the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card, pay the Annual Fee of SGD196.20 (including GST), spend a minimum of SGD500 in qualifying transactions and provide marketing consent when you apply! Apply with welcome gift.

  13. HSBC Travel One Malaysia

    HSBC Travel One card review - Worth getting in Malaysia for the travel perks? Nicholas Chia. 11.03.24. 4 minute read. Getting an HSBC TravelOne credit card 1 can make it easy to earn rewards you can redeem as air miles with your favourite airlines, as well as unlocking extras like discounts on Agoda and curated Mastercard travel perks.

  14. HSBC Elite Credit Card Review 2024

    It comes with up to $325 in statement credits reimbursed annually on select travel and dining charges. It includes a 12-month Priority Pass lounge membership and Trusted Traveler reimbursement as ...

  15. HSBC Travel Rewards Mastercard® Review

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  16. TravelOne Credit Card

    Terms and conditions for the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card Programme apply. The additional Reward points are capped at a maximum of 20,000 additional Reward points for foreign currency spend; 10,000 additional Reward points for local travel spend (hotel, airlines and travel agencies); and 10,000 additional Reward points for local dining spend as ...

  17. Best Travel Credit Cards of June 2024

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  20. Review: HSBC Platinum Credit Card

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  21. Best Student Credit Cards Of June 2024

    With more than 50 million redeemed miles under her belt, Becky Pokora is a rewards travel expert. She's been writing about credit cards and reward travel since 2011 with articles on Forbes Advisor ...

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  23. Apply Your Credit Limit Review Now

    Adjust your HSBC credit card limit, you can enjoy greater financial flexibility for your spending needs. ... HSBC Travel Companion HSBC Premier Offers Deposit and Debit Card Offers Loans Offers ... Credit card credit limit review form (PDF, 126KB) Credit card credit limit review form (PDF, 126KB) Download. 2. Upload the documents online.

  24. World of Hyatt Credit Card review: 1 of the most valuable hotel cards

    World of Hyatt Credit Card overview. With a rewarding loyalty program and generous card benefits, the World of Hyatt Credit Card is one of the top hotel cards on the market. Cardholders earn 4 points per dollar on all Hyatt spending, and you'll get a Category 1-4 free-night award each year you keep the card and another when you spend $15,000 in a calendar year.

  25. RBC Avion Visa Infinite Review 2024: A Flexible Travel Credit Card With

    The RBC Avion Visa Infinite card is pretty basic in the grand scope of the Canadian travel credit card landscape. The regular earn rate is low (at 1 point for every dollar spent), and the only ...