Apr 16, 2015, 10:19 pm
Last edit by: sxc
I have moved some posts from another thread which discussed potential changes to the Marco Polo program. Since changes to the Marco Polo program could cause people to look at earning miles in a different program, I am allowing this off topic thread as it helps CX members look at their different mileage earning options in the case of a devaluation of the CX program.
sxc
Cathay Pacific Moderator
sxc
Cathay Pacific Moderator
[Off topic] Obtaining a US credit card when based in HK
Apr 13, 2015, 8:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
[Off topic] Obtaining a US credit card when based in HK
I won't quit CX/KA, it's virtually impossible for me even if CX eventually announces the downgrades we're anticipating. I'm based in HKG and I just don't want to avoid CX for leisure travel...somewhat ironic. Too much pain in the butt. For business it's easy to launch off from another Asian city. Not so much personal, especially when traveling with significant others.
Some time in the past, I wouldn't have blinked and given all my revenue blindly to CX (except for a brief blip in 2007-2009 when you couldn't guarantee a flat bed in CX J, and I was flying to Europe...in that case I'd go via BA in J, versus CX in F). It's not so much this thread that caused the change, but more the constant devaluation of the MPC program combined with the impressive gains CX's competitors have with their hard products.
If MPC ultimately restores some of those soft benefits like actually keeping award availability for DMs (or opening up revenue tickets), stopping the roulette game figuring out whether or not I can upgrade to F with Asia Miles (while selling F partner redemptions hands over fist), keeping seat block in economy, restoring the consistency of 6+ months ago when you were always recognized as a DM on board, etc. I'd probably go back to the way it was. CX has taken how good MPC is for granted, and forgotten that we were loyal because of MPC, not in spite of it.
And in the interim, I've signed up for an AA credit card and AAdvantage to get some miles over there, since it appears that's the smarter way to book CX F travel. Basically this thread was just a reality check that I was stupid to be so blindly loyal to CX when CX was cutting what I valued most (soft benefits) while competitors like BR were offering better and better hard product benefits, so the gap narrowed.
Apr 13, 2015, 9:04 pm
#2
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,807
[Off topic] Obtaining a US credit card when based in HK
And in the interim, I've signed up for an AA credit card and AAdvantage to get some miles over there, since it appears that's the smarter way to book CX F travel. Basically this thread was just a reality check that I was stupid to be so blindly loyal to CX when CX was cutting what I valued most (soft benefits) while competitors like BR were offering better and better hard product benefits, so the gap narrowed.
Apr 14, 2015, 10:32 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: HKG
Programs: AA 3MM EXP, SQ Solitaire, LH SEN, CX DM, Hyatt CC, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,180
Apr 16, 2015, 3:20 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
SSN is not a government requirement, it is a private-entity requirement that they want to run a credit check on you, to make sure your credit rating is good enough for their card. I have friends working for AMEX that said on some cards if your credit rating isn't 750+ they won't even consider you.
Apr 16, 2015, 3:58 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Silver/ows, CX AsiaMiles (not even GR anymore!) missing my GO days
Posts: 1,581
Quote:
Originally Posted by ccyao
It's gonna be hard. SSN is a government requirement. I asked HSBC and they couldn't do it.
SSN is not a government requirement, it is a private-entity requirement that they want to run a credit check on you, to make sure your credit rating is good enough for their card. I have friends working for AMEX that said on some cards if your credit rating isn't 750+ they won't even consider you.
Originally Posted by ccyao
It's gonna be hard. SSN is a government requirement. I asked HSBC and they couldn't do it.
SSN is not a government requirement, it is a private-entity requirement that they want to run a credit check on you, to make sure your credit rating is good enough for their card. I have friends working for AMEX that said on some cards if your credit rating isn't 750+ they won't even consider you.
But now we're veering waaaaay OT.
Apr 16, 2015, 5:37 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
I don't think either of you are 100% right. The problem here is HSBC, who have become much harder to work with since they got in trouble in various money laundering scandals and implemented more stringent internal controls for opening US accounts as a result. One consequence is that it's harder to open a US account with them without an SSN than I suspect it would be at other banks -- who also would be able to make a credit determination based on other accounts you might have with them overseas.
But now we're veering waaaaay OT.
But now we're veering waaaaay OT.
(aside from the odd one who has much more than that in liabilities.)
Apr 16, 2015, 11:17 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ...
Programs: CX DM / SQ PPS / VN Platinum
Posts: 1,078
Great idea. I just did the same. 50,000 miles sign up bonus, which is 40% of the way to the miles needed for a HKG - JFK RT ticket in F.
Apr 17, 2015, 1:19 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX MPC
Posts: 592
Get US HSBC credit card using Hong Kong HSBC account?
The problem here is HSBC, who have become much harder to work with since they got in trouble in various money laundering scandals and implemented more stringent internal controls for opening US accounts as a result. One consequence is that it's harder to open a US account with them without an SSN than I suspect it would be at other banks -- who also would be able to make a credit determination based on other accounts you might have with them overseas.
HSBC Premier is always advertised as allowing you to open HSBC banks accounts all over the world. And, from my experience, its normally routine to get HSBC credit cards in those countries together with those bank accounts. But would be interested to know if anyone has any recent experience doing this in the US?
Apr 17, 2015, 8:34 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Silver/ows, CX AsiaMiles (not even GR anymore!) missing my GO days
Posts: 1,581
Quote:
Originally Posted by CrazyJ82
The problem here is HSBC, who have become much harder to work with since they got in trouble in various money laundering scandals and implemented more stringent internal controls for opening US accounts as a result. One consequence is that it's harder to open a US account with them without an SSN than I suspect it would be at other banks -- who also would be able to make a credit determination based on other accounts you might have with them overseas.
Anyone have any recent experience of using their Hong Kong HSBC account to open an HSBC account in the US and get a US HSBC credit card together with that US account?
HSBC Premier is always advertised as allowing you to open HSBC banks accounts all over the world. And, from my experience, its normally routine to get HSBC credit cards in those countries together with those bank accounts. But would be interested to know if anyone has any recent experience doing this in the US?
Originally Posted by CrazyJ82
The problem here is HSBC, who have become much harder to work with since they got in trouble in various money laundering scandals and implemented more stringent internal controls for opening US accounts as a result. One consequence is that it's harder to open a US account with them without an SSN than I suspect it would be at other banks -- who also would be able to make a credit determination based on other accounts you might have with them overseas.
Anyone have any recent experience of using their Hong Kong HSBC account to open an HSBC account in the US and get a US HSBC credit card together with that US account?
HSBC Premier is always advertised as allowing you to open HSBC banks accounts all over the world. And, from my experience, its normally routine to get HSBC credit cards in those countries together with those bank accounts. But would be interested to know if anyone has any recent experience doing this in the US?
Apr 17, 2015, 9:42 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: JGC Sapphire
Posts: 283
There were other FT forum with threads about Citi Gold vs HSBC Premier.
It seems like a lot of people got refused when they were physically in their new destination country. At least it can not be done without a few arguments.
Last December I walked into a Citi Branch in Japan to wire some cash to a Japanese local account, a guy guided me to an ATM/Cashpoint saying my UK Citi bank card would do, after much effort without succeeding, he gave up and send me to a bank clerk, bank clerk then told me it can not be done without a JP Citibank account, even though I have local resident permit and local driving licence. (I'm sure you can just walk into any branch and ask for physical cash to be transfer into any account, even a foreign one)
I told them as an UK Citi gold, I can transfer money worldwide without fee, and withdraw money at JP Citibank, what they are saying doesn't make sense (I know what I said was nonsense, I was just pressing hard to get it done), after several phone calls, they told me they can do it for me as an UK Citi Gold.
It is not something that local branches do everyday, and they would try to get away by telling you "no, it can not be done", it is best to let your relationship manager from your country of origin to initiate the opening process, and give you a contact at your destination country.
It seems like a lot of people got refused when they were physically in their new destination country. At least it can not be done without a few arguments.
Last December I walked into a Citi Branch in Japan to wire some cash to a Japanese local account, a guy guided me to an ATM/Cashpoint saying my UK Citi bank card would do, after much effort without succeeding, he gave up and send me to a bank clerk, bank clerk then told me it can not be done without a JP Citibank account, even though I have local resident permit and local driving licence. (I'm sure you can just walk into any branch and ask for physical cash to be transfer into any account, even a foreign one)
I told them as an UK Citi gold, I can transfer money worldwide without fee, and withdraw money at JP Citibank, what they are saying doesn't make sense (I know what I said was nonsense, I was just pressing hard to get it done), after several phone calls, they told me they can do it for me as an UK Citi Gold.
It is not something that local branches do everyday, and they would try to get away by telling you "no, it can not be done", it is best to let your relationship manager from your country of origin to initiate the opening process, and give you a contact at your destination country.
Apr 17, 2015, 12:12 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: New York
Programs: DL PLT, Hilton Diamond, CX MPC Silver
Posts: 265
Apr 18, 2015, 12:13 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: HKG
Programs: AA 3MM EXP, SQ Solitaire, LH SEN, CX DM, Hyatt CC, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,180
Apr 19, 2015, 10:07 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA,CX, BA, Priority Club, SPG, Hilton
Posts: 1,397
