Hi thanks for this thread, I am also done same as you and got the AC program going from March 2024.

My question is about HSBC annual fee and minimum spend requirements in 2nd year:

So we got AC GOLD from March 2024 and I got the email (assume you did to around last October) from AC saying my 2024 AC GOLD status will be in place till 31 Jan 2026.

However, for me to keep that GOLD status I would of course need to keep the credit card and NOT cancel, which of course means paying the (new) annual fee of $499 in March 2025.

But will there be an issue if I have NOT also made the $60k spend by March 2025, since HSBC says you get GOLD status after you make the $60k spend in the year BEFORE your anniversary date (eg before March 2025).

I have not made the $60k spend yet because I assumed wouldn't need to since AC have already allocated me GOLD till 31 Jan 2026 as long as I pay the $499 annual fee to keep the card going.

Or do I also need to make the $60k spend before March 2025 so that HSBC on March 2025 tell AC that I still have the card AND met the GOLD $60k spend requirment for the 2025 year?

I am hoping, and correct if wrong, that AC GOLD status will remain till 31 Jan 2026 because I met AC status requirement in 2024. That, AC extension rule to 31 Jan 2026 will thus override HSBC need for $60k spend?