Last edit by: TravelinSperry
HSBC (USA) Premier has eleven airline transfer partners, and two hotel chain partners. Cards issued in other countries may have different partners and transfer ratios
ONE WORLD
British Airways (Avios) 1:25:1
Iberia (Avios) 1:25:1
Qantas 1:1
Qatar Airways (Avios) 1.25:1
SKYTEAM
Flying Blue 1.25:1
STAR
Avianca 1.25:1
Eva Air 1.25:1
TAP Portugal 1:1
Turkish 1.25:1
INDEPENDENT
Aer Lingus (Avios) 1:25:1
Emirates 1:1
HOTELS
Accor 2:1
Wyndham 1.25:1
ONE WORLD
British Airways (Avios) 1:25:1
Iberia (Avios) 1:25:1
Qantas 1:1
Qatar Airways (Avios) 1.25:1
SKYTEAM
Flying Blue 1.25:1
STAR
Avianca 1.25:1
Eva Air 1.25:1
TAP Portugal 1:1
Turkish 1.25:1
INDEPENDENT
Aer Lingus (Avios) 1:25:1
Emirates 1:1
HOTELS
Accor 2:1
Wyndham 1.25:1
HSBC Premier World MasterCard
#196
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
Moderator action
I have appended this discussion to the established thread.
HSBC's presence in the USA was built by acquisition, and they have a split reputation. One card issuer they acquired was a company called Household Finance which made loans to low income borrowers at very high interest rates. That portion of HSBC's card business was subsequently sold off to Capital One.
The HSBC Premier business is different. The card is competitive: EMV chip, contactless, no foreign transaction fees, no annual fee, useful (but not spectacular) rewards program.
Applicants for HSBC Premier normally have 90 days to bring their account balance up to $100,000 or pay the $50 monthly fee. If you are (for example) finishing a degree from, or working at, Stanford it is perfectly plausible that HSBC would offer a 12 month trial period rather than three months. My belief is that if you downgraded the account from Premier to Advance you would also receive an Advance credit card, but no direct experience.
HSBC's presence in the USA was built by acquisition, and they have a split reputation. One card issuer they acquired was a company called Household Finance which made loans to low income borrowers at very high interest rates. That portion of HSBC's card business was subsequently sold off to Capital One.
The HSBC Premier business is different. The card is competitive: EMV chip, contactless, no foreign transaction fees, no annual fee, useful (but not spectacular) rewards program.
Applicants for HSBC Premier normally have 90 days to bring their account balance up to $100,000 or pay the $50 monthly fee. If you are (for example) finishing a degree from, or working at, Stanford it is perfectly plausible that HSBC would offer a 12 month trial period rather than three months. My belief is that if you downgraded the account from Premier to Advance you would also receive an Advance credit card, but no direct experience.
Last edited by mia; Sep 18, 2014 at 2:55 pm
#197
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SJC/SFO
Posts: 373
If you want to keep the credit card but not fulfill the $100.000 requirement, you can do what I did. When I moved to the US, I opened the premier checking account and the associated card. They didn't tell me that the $100.000 requirement waiver is only valid for 2 years, I only learned this by mistake. At that point I decided to immediately close the checking account, as I wasn't using it anyway (I moved my checking account to Alliant Credit Union in the mean time). I asked if I can keep the credit card and they said yes. Now I have a HSBC Premier credit card, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and I don't have to keep any money at all with HSBC. Win-win.
#198
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
What mia said basically summarizes the card. However, most of these features are not new to cards in the U.S. So it does not give you any add-on to make this card unique.
The card is used primarily for recognitions within HSBC worldwide, aka a membership card, rather than a credit card. Seriously, you will get priority assistance by showing this card in any HSBC branches.
Regardless how you qualify for HSBC Premier, this card is a limbo as it does not give you what a premium customer needs. At the least, for the cards HSBC offer are pretty much the same.
IMHO - Citi is smarter in this as Citigold does not have an associated credit card.
No recommendation. What exactly do you want?
Difficult to say. The only way to know is to actual apply one and see. If you get a denial letter, it confirms your belief. Otherwise, no.
#199
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
Agreed. The card makes sense in the context of a banking relationship, but there is nothing about it that isn't available elsewhere. However, if you review this thread you will see that HSBC (USA) is making an effort, there are periodic points bonuses to encourage spending (but capped at silly low levels), and there was recently a bonus for transfers to British Airways.
#200
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
Seriously, if HSBC is making an effort, they should start differentiating their own credit products. At the least - don't show their customers when Premier, Advance, and Platinum Cards are the same.
#202
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SJC/SFO
Posts: 373
Just in time for the holidays - 3X Rewards Program Points!
I just received this targeted email.
Enroll today and enjoy 3X Rewards Program Points1.
Dear XXX,
Your HSBC Premier World MasterCard® credit card is poised to make your holiday shopping more rewarding.
Click on the "Enroll now" button to the right to enroll and enter your promotional code. Once you're enrolled, you'll earn 3X Rewards Program Points on all of your HSBC Premier World MasterCard® credit card purchases from October 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014 - up to $2,0001.
As long as you enroll by December 15, 2014, all of your purchases during the Promotional Period will qualify.
It's easy to enroll.
Visit us.hsbc.com/holidaybonus by December 15, 2014 to enroll and enter your promotional code XXXXXXXXXX.
Earn 3X Rewards Program Points up to $2,0001 on purchases.
Enroll Now
If you have questions, please contact one of our Premier Customer Service Representatives at 855.361.3781 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are calling from outside the U.S. or Canada, please call us collect at 716.841.6866.
Sincerely,
HSBC Customer Experience Team
P.S. Once you qualify, your Rewards Program Promotional Points will post to your Account by February 28, 2015.
1 3X Rewards Program Points are inclusive of standard Rewards Program Points (i.e., one Rewards Program Point and two promotional Rewards Program Points). Receive 3X Rewards Program Points when you make new, net retail purchases using your HSBC Premier World MasterCard® credit card from 10/01/14 through 12/31/14 ("Promotional Period"). Your promotional code must be correctly entered on the enrollment site to be considered fully enrolled. After enrolling and making $2,000 in new, net retail purchases during the Promotional Period, you will earn one Rewards Program Point per dollar spent. The enrollment period will run from 09/29/14 through 12/15/14. Transactions during the Promotional Period (10/01/14 through 12/31/14) will be eligible for the promotional offer upon enrollment. The 3X Rewards Program Points offer does not apply to balance transfers, credit card checks, cash advances or overdrafts. Promotional Points will be fulfilled by 02/28/15. Your HSBC Premier World MasterCard® credit card must be open, and in good standing, at the time of Rewards Program Points fulfillment to qualify.
Dear XXX,
Your HSBC Premier World MasterCard® credit card is poised to make your holiday shopping more rewarding.
Click on the "Enroll now" button to the right to enroll and enter your promotional code. Once you're enrolled, you'll earn 3X Rewards Program Points on all of your HSBC Premier World MasterCard® credit card purchases from October 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014 - up to $2,0001.
As long as you enroll by December 15, 2014, all of your purchases during the Promotional Period will qualify.
It's easy to enroll.
Visit us.hsbc.com/holidaybonus by December 15, 2014 to enroll and enter your promotional code XXXXXXXXXX.
Earn 3X Rewards Program Points up to $2,0001 on purchases.
Enroll Now
If you have questions, please contact one of our Premier Customer Service Representatives at 855.361.3781 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are calling from outside the U.S. or Canada, please call us collect at 716.841.6866.
Sincerely,
HSBC Customer Experience Team
P.S. Once you qualify, your Rewards Program Promotional Points will post to your Account by February 28, 2015.
1 3X Rewards Program Points are inclusive of standard Rewards Program Points (i.e., one Rewards Program Point and two promotional Rewards Program Points). Receive 3X Rewards Program Points when you make new, net retail purchases using your HSBC Premier World MasterCard® credit card from 10/01/14 through 12/31/14 ("Promotional Period"). Your promotional code must be correctly entered on the enrollment site to be considered fully enrolled. After enrolling and making $2,000 in new, net retail purchases during the Promotional Period, you will earn one Rewards Program Point per dollar spent. The enrollment period will run from 09/29/14 through 12/15/14. Transactions during the Promotional Period (10/01/14 through 12/31/14) will be eligible for the promotional offer upon enrollment. The 3X Rewards Program Points offer does not apply to balance transfers, credit card checks, cash advances or overdrafts. Promotional Points will be fulfilled by 02/28/15. Your HSBC Premier World MasterCard® credit card must be open, and in good standing, at the time of Rewards Program Points fulfillment to qualify.
Last edited by blaz; Sep 29, 2014 at 4:32 pm
#203
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
#204
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,017
#205
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
#206
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
#207
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
The contactless feature works fine with London Underground and at a coffee chain. In a few days I may be able to see if the Underground billing was accurate.
#208
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: Landry's President's Club, Marriott Silver, Awesomeness EXPLT
Posts: 20,417
The previous bonuses were better as the last spending bonus I got was 10k miles for $9,000 in one month...
#210
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,017
When you say "relationship manager" do you mean the one in the branch where you opened your Premier Acct? I would assume he would differ from the cc folks, but if that's what you meant, I'll def reach out to my relationship manager. I did call the cc CS people and tell them I'd like offers - but they said there was nothing they could do - offers were sent on a case by case basis.