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HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card: Star Alliance Gold Status (with $4,000 Minimum Spend in 90 Days), $0 Annual Fee First Year

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HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card: Star Alliance Gold Status (with $4,000 Minimum Spend in 90 Days), $0 Annual Fee First Year
Go to Deal
Moo Deng on 15/11/2022 - 13:43 hsbc.com.au (8463 clicks)
Last edited 14/11/2023 - 15:54 by 3 other users

Gold status in one of Star Alliance's 'Status Airline' programs will get you reciprocal Virgin Australia perks such as domestic lounge access and priority check-in!

  • Global lounge access - Airport Lounge Access at over 1,000 lounges world-wide
  • Priority at airports - Priority Airport Check-in, Priority Boarding and access to Gold Track – priority airport security lanes
  • Baggage benefits - Priority Baggage Handling and Extra Baggage Allowance on eligible flights

  • Priority waitlists - Priority Reservations Waitlist and Priority Airport Stand-by

  • Earn 1 Star Alliance Point per $1 spent on eligible purchases, up to $3,000 per statement period and 0.5 Star Alliance Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases thereafter.

  • Points earned are transferred to your Star Alliance rewards account monthly.
  • Convert your Star Alliance Points to award miles or points in your chosen Frequent Flyer Program of a participating Star Alliance member airline.
  • Complimentary insurance benefits. Enjoy Domestic and International Travel Insurances with Rental Vehicle Excess Insurance in Australia, Transit Accident Insurance, Extended Warranty Insurance, and Purchase Protection Insurance.

For a limited time, $0 annual fee in the first year ($450 thereafter).

See https://www.pointhacks.com.au/news/hsbc-star-alliance-credit… for all the details.

Financial Airline Status Credit Card VISA

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Comments

    • ltwo on 15/11/2022 - 15:35
      +2

      SilverKris only if you are travelling on a business class flight.
      anything less and you'll be directed to the Gold lounge.
      in other words, Star Alliance Gold only gets you the Gold lounge in Changi. if you were on a business class flight with SQ, you would have access to the SilverKris lounge anyway.

      https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/flying-withus/lounge/…

      • nightelves on 15/11/2022 - 15:39

        Thanks for clarifying

    • freestyle18 on 15/11/2022 - 15:39
      +1

      only the gold lounge in changi. I'm sick of the food there heh

      • nightelves on 15/11/2022 - 15:49

        They're refurbished it in May this year. The food is much better.

        • freestyle18 on 15/11/2022 - 15:55

          they have yet to change the menu. I can only eat so much laksa and the exact same dimsum

    • Drakesy on 15/11/2022 - 15:51

      Star Alliance gold only gets access to the inferior Gold Lounge in Changi - admittedly has just been refurbished, still need to buy a business ticket for access to the Silverkris lounge unfortunately.

      You get access to all the other lounges though around the world.

      • 4foxache on 01/12/2022 - 20:46

        In that case all you need is a business class ticket and you get silverkris regardless of membership

  • jaygee on 15/11/2022 - 15:24
    -1

    No bonus is a huge missed opp

    • dein_gesicht on 15/11/2022 - 15:57

      No other cards in Australia offer this - its a great deal if you travel a lot

      • hughes on 15/11/2022 - 16:56
        +3

        Well if you travel a lot, you'll earn status naturally anyway

        • freestyle18 on 15/11/2022 - 19:16

          yeah, this is seemingly geared towards those spend a lot, but not necessarily on travel… and still get the benefits of status..

  • pandadude on 15/11/2022 - 15:27

    https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/flying-withus/before-t…

    Singapore Airline only shows Virgin Australia's Adelaide domestic lounge as a partner lounge.

    • odysseus on 15/11/2022 - 16:49
      +1

      That's because Singapore has its own lounges in the other Australian ports: https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/flying-withus/before-t… so you'd be directed and have access there.

      Adelaide is the only departure city which doesn't have an SQ lounge but does have Virgin so they have agreement you can use the VA lounge there.

      • pandadude on 15/11/2022 - 20:14
        +1

        That make a lot more sense.

        Note Krisgold and gold star alliance members flying on Singapore Airline in economy or premium economy only have access to the Krisgold lounge in Singapore and not the Kris silver lounge (the better lounge).

        Thankful they have upgraded the lounge and it now includes a shower.

        Personally l would rather get bonus points on sign up instead of gold members.

      • DingoBlue on 16/11/2022 - 12:07

        Also note that VA lounge in ADL is only “airside” as far as domestic is concerned. Kind of unusable for SG. What happened to the little lounge downstairs?

  • Iwantthatbargain on 15/11/2022 - 16:45

    To get Gold status, you need to spend $4000, Status will be granted within 30 days after reaching the qualifying spend of $4,000
    I wish they offer Gold when you apply, As I have travel plans in December. It will be difficult to achieve the status by then.

    • Nathw on 15/11/2022 - 17:04

      Woolies gift cards…?

      • Iwantthatbargain on 15/11/2022 - 17:21

        I am travelling 1st week of December, so I won't get Gold status by then, even if I spend entire $4000 once approved.
        Probably can use the benefit during return flight.

  • fantacular on 15/11/2022 - 16:45
    +3

    this is an interesting deal, thanks for sharing OP - but i only think it is worth it for those that fly juuuuust not enough to get gold status and have employers who don't give them a meal allowance when travelling. pretty narrow use case.

    so aside from a soggy croissant and a few free asahi's i think the only benefit is a priority security line?? unless i am missing something.

    i'd rather use my credit card to get a deal like this and get $700 in cash benefits that i can spend on whatever…
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/686857

    • hughes on 15/11/2022 - 17:02

      Would be a better deal if it was similar to the virgin coles partnership ($100 spend = 1 status credit). You can supplement spending on card with flying to maintain status more easily.

  • b00gie on 15/11/2022 - 18:43

    Anyone know what additional time you get to redeem points as gold status vs no status for kris flyer?

  • cheapskate101 on 15/11/2022 - 19:07
    +2

    Time to ditch Qantas

  • devpress on 15/11/2022 - 19:29

    I'm flying to SG in Jan 2023, Y class (oubound and inbound flights). I'm guessing getting this card would be worthwhile just for lounge access for that trip?

    • nightelves on 15/11/2022 - 23:19

      It's for other things such as additional 20kg luggage, priority check-in at business counter, priority boarding and priority luggage handling. Those are the things that makes flying just that little bit more enjoyable.

      • frozenkuku on 16/11/2022 - 02:55

        and how does it work after you reach Gold status?
        do you have to apply when u purchase the ticket? or just show them your card at check-in?

        • nightelves on 16/11/2022 - 10:38

          You apply it to you ticket either when booking or at check-in and the status should be recognised.

  • Mitr on 15/11/2022 - 20:30

    Dumb question,
    I am travelling Singapore Airlines on 27th November and returning Jan to India and back.

    Would be eligible to use Gold status for my travel or i would need to spend 4k to activate gold status to use benefits?

    • pjwellsey on 15/11/2022 - 22:34

      "Status will be granted within 30 days after reaching the qualifying spend of $4,000, provided that your account is active and not in arrears"

  • gviddy on 16/11/2022 - 00:51

    Thai Airways baybay!! Oh crap, they don't fly to Brisbane anymore. :(

  • Tommy2000 on 16/11/2022 - 01:55
    +2

    Very shitty bank, lack of being prfessional, waste people's time.

    • burningrage on 16/11/2022 - 15:16
      +1

      The two banks that most people would call shitty happened to provide perhaps the best credit card features that no local banks ever hope to compete with.

      You just have to deal with them once and hopefully rarely ever again.

  • jedimaster on 16/11/2022 - 02:43

    I dont accumulate points on Velocity yet nor have flown on Virgin yet, only Qantas. But I can claim free Gold status on United through employer. Is the gold status from United worth it if I start flying other Star Alliance airlines?

    • pandadude on 16/11/2022 - 21:26
      +1

      If your employer is offering the free Gold United Star Alliance membership then it is worth it for that free given period.

      However, it end up been difficult to maintain the United Gold Membership if you don't fly on United often.

      The rule of thumb is always get membership with the airline you fly most often with.

      This deal only really applies to someone who is a silver star alliance member who travel often but not often enough to reach gold membership. For someone who might fly once or twice a year it really doesn't make sense.

      I mean for most people in Australia the Singapore Airline KrisGold membership would make the most sense. However, Singapore Airline always give priority to PPS members. These are customers who only earn points on business class and above. This is exactly why there two lounges in Singapore for Singapore Airlines.

  • macr0hard on 16/11/2022 - 05:56

    Any fees on foreign transactions?

  • payless69 on 16/11/2022 - 08:25

    Not worth 450 after 12 Months

  • DaiShan on 16/11/2022 - 09:25
    +1

    Can you take in your partner to the lounge with gold level?

  • sarahGhazi on 16/11/2022 - 10:14

    Has anyone been approved for card within 60 second as they say on their website?

    When calling customer service, it seems a long hold.

    Last time when I applied the debit card for 2% cash back, it took 2 weeks, so I guess processing credit card will be much longer, and not worth waiting this long, and getting a status after 30 days.

    • charcoaljackson on 16/11/2022 - 11:32

      I applied yesterday and got no email notification - just called up customer service and was told I needed to upload my bank statements on https://www.hsbc.com.au/retrieve/

      • burningrage on 16/11/2022 - 14:48
        +2

        The application process is very very painful despite the idea was sound.

        First of all, if you are an existing HSBC Customer, you are supposed to login into your IB and then apply it from there. This should have saved you the verification bit as you are already their customer. However, the option to apply this card wasn't there.

        So the only way to apply is to apply as new HSBC customer and enter your HSBC Customer Number as part of the application.

        You fill in the form as usual which made up of I think 6-7 steps including your financial details.

        After this, you will then have to do 2 more verification exercise. One where you have to scan your ID (eg: Licence) and then you have to do a selfie. That process keeps erroring out randomly and you have to keep retrying until it worked. Two, you then have to use illion open banking thingy where you actually have to login into your internet banking via illion open banking so they can download the statement for you. Otherwise, you can upload your bank statement manually but in my case, that kept erroring out too (https://www.hsbc.com.au/retrieve/) with time out message.

        In the end, I just brought my paperwork to branch and even that, I still had to send documents via traditional way (eg: email straight to the assessing officer).

        However, I did get an email about my application number and a message saying "conditionally approved" on the same day I applied.

        We'll see how it goes.

        • Ebayee on 17/11/2022 - 22:52

          Thanks for your details - in the upload document - they asked payslips , or your saving to proof your income coming.
          With the card limit . What did you request ? Open or cap ?

          • burningrage on 18/11/2022 - 21:05

            @Ebayee: Open. With HSBC, my experience is to make the experience as friendly as possible to them because they like to randomly refuse application so better to let them decide and get the limit that they are comfortable with. Minimum $6k.

    • abs898 on 25/11/2022 - 14:44

      Yes, I received my card last week and have stacked up a fair bit of expenses on it as well.

  • JumpyBumpy on 16/11/2022 - 14:03

    I have a BNE - YVR return flight next April with Air Canada - would I be able to use the gold status for lounge access on both ends of the journey?

    • Miso on 16/11/2022 - 15:20

      Air Canada is in SA so that's a yes

  • mikeadwell on 16/11/2022 - 15:19

    "Extra Baggage Allowance on eligible flights"

    "Available on itineraries involving a connection between two or more Star Alliance member airlines. Not all member airlines offer this benefit on own flights not involving such connections. Check with your relevant member airline at time of booking."

    What's my chance of getting this upgraded luggage perk with an economy flight booked with points on Singapore Airlines (EU to AU)?

    • nightelves on 16/11/2022 - 16:26
      -1

      100%

    • mikeadwell on 17/11/2022 - 21:02

      It looks like it only applies when flying two or more airlines so sounds like it wouldn't apply for a flight that has multiple legs that are both Singapore Airlines…

  • Bargainitis on 17/11/2022 - 23:00

    Looking at it again, its not a great card but its okay if you dont have any status with other airlines otherwise its better to do a status match with United.

    https://promo.united.com/offers/statusmatch

    If you have gold with Qantas or other alliances (non Star) than use this and if you can book it in before a trip to US, then you got a good chance to status match. Saves you an application and avoids another credit card on your profile. Trying to retain status with this card the following year will not be easy - $60K p.a spend.

  • MikeSYD on 19/11/2022 - 07:43
    +1

    Hold off applying until they offer a big bunch of bonus points! If this launch succeeds, they'll only offer low ball promos.

    • ltwo on 21/11/2022 - 14:10
      +1

      Or they could withdraw from the Australian market. We're tiny compared to many others…

      • MikeSYD on 21/11/2022 - 20:08
        +1

        They would've left ages ago if that was the criteria.

  • sarahGhazi on 21/11/2022 - 15:29

    Very bad customer service. I uploaded all the required documents but they keep saying they didn’t receive anything.

    • burningrage on 21/11/2022 - 23:43
      +1

      Call and mention your reference number. Say that you've already uploaded the documents and if they still haven't got it, ask for their email address where you can send documents. I have done this.

  • abs898 on 25/11/2022 - 14:49

    I applied for this card on day 1, application was conditionally approved within 60 seconds. Since I am not an HSBC customer, they asked me to come in with my ID which I did straight away that morning. Approved in the next hour and card was here in 2 days.

    I already have AMEX Explorer which I personally think is a better card.

    HSBC card is not that great when you look at value for more - if you travel once of twice a year internationally. Return on fees id pretty low, you will have to spend $60k to maintain Gold status.

    Annual fees is $450, so if you spend $60k in a year on it, you are barely getting $450 worth of points in return.

    But looking at it the other way, if you spend $60k on it, you are getting the annual fees covered + Gold status.

    —

    Comparing this to amex - Fees is $400 and you get 400 worth of travel credit which sometimes is worth only $300 due to slightly higher flight prices on Amex website but you can also get great deals sometimes.

    • if you spend $60k on smex, you get 120k points ~~ 60k Krisflyer ~~ $600 in real cash.
      In total you get about $1,000 return on your spending and fees.
  • burningrage on 26/11/2022 - 01:44

    Applied this card on day 1, got conditionally approved the same day, got the digital version of the card pretty much yesterday.

    I don't know about other cards like AMEX Explorer or Velocity Platinum, but one thing that attracted my attention is the fact that they will pay you up to $500 for meals and accommodation after 6 hrs delay per cardholder or spouse (meaning $1,000?). The card is clearly geared towards travelling.

    $450 is expensive but 1st year is free and you will get to enjoy Gold Krisflyer (if you so choose) benefits including perpetual lounge access for you and one guest (kids are considered guests so I am not sure how this would work with a family of 4), access to faster checkins, extra luggage kgs, faster boarding etc.

    That would be worthwhile at least for the first year. You would probably be better off to use that time to build enough Velocity Status Credits (Family pool and stuff) and get Gold so you'll get reciprocal benefit with SQ.

    Overall, I think the value is debatable but for the first year, yeah, it's worthwhile.

    • abs898 on 26/11/2022 - 19:28

      I agree, for the first year, the benefits are great but that's like any other card where they offer thousands of points upon signup. The real value of any card is from year 2 which will be interesting to see for this card.

      • burningrage on 26/11/2022 - 23:51
        +2

        Another thing people need to be aware of is if you currently don't have any Status, depending on which Airlines FF Program you want to choose, your new status will be conferred to you and valid ranging from 3 days to 10 days after you achieved the welcome spend threshold (ie: $4k) until THE ANNIVERSARY of your HSBC Card (ie: 12 mths from your account opening date minus 1 day).

        In other words, if you open your Star Alliance HSBC Credit Card account on 20 November 2022 and you spend $4k by 1 January 2023, for SQ (and different airlines have different rules), you will be conferred the equivalent KrisFlyer Gold from 10 January 2023 until 19 November 2023, so not a full 12 months

        For other airlines like South African Airlines, you will get a minimum of 12 mths (so until 9 January 2024 at least).

        So if you are after SQ Gold Krisflyer, get to that $4k quick.

        I currently don’t have any status with the Frequent Flyer Program (or I have existing status that is lower than Silver with the Frequent Flyer Program). What happens when I achieve Star Alliance Silver status?

        Air Canada
        If you don't currently have any Aeroplan Elite status, you will receive Aeroplan 25K Status when you achieve Star Alliance Silver. This status will commence within 3 days of the status request from Star Alliance and will be valid for the remainder of the current calendar year and next calendar year.

        EVA Air
        If you don’t have Infinity Mileagelands status or have Infinity MileageLands Green status, when you achieve Star Alliance Silver status, you will gain Star Alliance Silver status and this status will be valid for 12 months (unless you earn another status through your HSBC Star Alliance credit card or a higher status through direct flight activity with EVA Air).

        Air New Zealand
        If you are a base Airpoints member, when you achieve Star Alliance Silver you are eligible for Airpoints Nominated Silver status. The new status will commence within 10 business days after Air New Zealand receives the Star Alliance request and is normally valid for 12 months.

        Singapore Airlines
        When you achieve Star Alliance Silver, you will gain the KrisFlyer Elite Silver status. This status will commence on your next HSBC Star Alliance credit card account opening anniversary date and will be valid until the end of the 12-month cycle since the start of such credit card account opening anniversary date (i.e. a day before the next credit card account opening anniversary date), unless the KrisFlyer Elite Gold status is earned from the welcome offer, this status will commence within 10 business days of Star Alliance's request to Singapore Airlines and will be valid until a day before the next credit card account opening anniversary date.

        South African Airways
        If you don't have Voyager status or have Voyager Blue status, when you achieve Star Alliance Silver you will reach Voyager Silver status. This status will commence within 5 working days of receipt of your request from Star Alliance and will be valid for a minimum of 12 Months. You will receive an email from South African Airways confirming your Voyager status and validity.

        Thai Airways
        If you don't already have a Royal Orchid Plus status, when you achieve Star Alliance Silver you will gain Royal Orchid Plus Silver status. This status will commence within 3 working days of Thai Airways’ receipt of your status request from Star Alliance and will be valid for 12 months.

        United Airlines
        If don't already have MileagePlus® status, when you achieve Star Alliance Silver you will gain MileagePlus® Premier Silver status. This status will commence within 10 days of United Airlines receiving the status upgrade request from Star Alliance and will be valid for a minimum of 12 months.

        • abs898 on 27/11/2022 - 00:13

          United would be a good option too then for Australians, Virgin has a deal with them to honour their status

          • burningrage on 27/11/2022 - 08:43

            @abs898: I think after studying this for a while, I got this feeling the best way to use this card going forward (ie: After 1 year) is to switch your nominated airlines every year. Clearly the first hurdle you need to ask yourself about this card is whether you are a frequent traveller as most of the benefits here are travel related.

            It's hard to explain but as an example, if say you travel to Asia a lot, then quickly reach that $4k spend and gain Krisflyer Gold so you can immediately have the perks like priority checkins/boarding/luggage/etc. This benefit extends if you then fly Virgin Australia so you if you travel Virgin, you can access the Virgin Lounge immediately as well as the perks mention above.

            Meanwhile, if you fly with Virgin enough to get Virgin Gold, then not only your whole family gets the Gold perks (Family pooling) you also will gain the reciprocal benefits with SQ Krisflyer Gold.

            At that point, you can then switch to say United Airlines which would be quite handy if you want to go to US. Remember the way this card works is that you have to nominate an airlines.

            You will then effectively have gold benefit across 3 airlines. Virgin which gives you SQ and Star Alliance Gold which gives you UA Premier Gold.

            • abs898 on 27/11/2022 - 10:20

              @burningrage: Agree with your research.

              I don't fly much with Virgin personally so will be able to qualify for their gold.

              I have just spent 4k on the card, might need to wait for all transactions to clear first and see how long it takes to get SQ gold now.

        • detlef7 on 27/11/2022 - 09:51

          Interesting scenario with Air Canada (not that there are many Aeroplan members here, I'd imagine). If you time it right, say, apply for the card in early 2023, you can potentially get Star Alliance Gold for up to two years. You may have to pay for the $450 annual fee in the 2nd year but that's a small price to pay for all the *G benefits

        • abs898 on 30/11/2022 - 09:50

          @burningrage just received an email from Star rewards confirming I have qualified for a Gold status. Even though I have already selected Krisflyer as my status partner, they have given me until 14th December to make any changes I would like and then they will send it through.

          I will never be flying enough with Virgin to attain their status.

          What do you reckon is a better choice United or Kris? Cheers

          • burningrage on 30/11/2022 - 19:44

            @abs898: Congrats! I hope to be joining your status very soon.

            As I mentioned above, if you travel mainly Asia go for Krisflyer for the extra baggage, Virgin reciprocal, fast lane check in, fast lane boarding, and possibly fast lane immigration as well as Krisflyer and Virgin lounge access.

            If you travel to USA, United might be a better choice but I have zero experience with them.

            Anyone else want to comment on UA?

            • abs898 on 30/11/2022 - 20:59

              @burningrage: Thanks heaps! I should have access in the next 3 weeks.

              I reckon Kris might work better for me, I have taken scoot a few times and that does help there.

              We are heading to the US as well next year but we can just use the gold status and play by the ear.

              • burningrage on 30/11/2022 - 21:15

                @abs898: Nice. Please do let me know the experience. Unfortunately I have already booked flights before this card came to my attention but the next one will surely be the test of how effective this card is.

          • frugalfinds on 12/12/2022 - 14:00

            @abs898: @abs898 did you end up getting your Krisflyer Gold Status confirmed? I'm in similar boat (received email of Star Alliance Gold Status confirmation on 2/12/22 and selected Kris as status airline). Just checked and it's still Silver when logging into Singaporeair.com

            • abs898 on 12/12/2022 - 14:08

              @frugalfinds: They asked me to confirm my status airlines by 14 December so I am just waiting for them to push it. It could days upto 10 days for SQ ro apply it after they are notified.

            • abs898 on 12/12/2022 - 14:09

              @frugalfinds: You can now choose the Status Airline with which you wish to receive your status according to the terms of Star Alliance Rewards. You can change the Status Airline in your Star Alliance Rewards Account until 14 Dec 2022. Subsequently, we will request the status from the Status Airline that is reflected in your account at that time.

            • abs898 on 14/12/2022 - 22:21

              @frugalfinds: It's active now! Received an email from Krisfly regarding update, followed by an email from
              Star rewards

        • nightelves on 02/12/2022 - 12:46

          Based on the T&Cs elite status is only valid for one year regardless of airlines and remains active only when your card is active.

        • Amaris on 25/07/2023 - 11:30

          Do you know if ATO payments via pay.com.au would qualify for the $4000 spend or the yearly spend? The conditions say 'business expenses' are exempt.
          Thanks

    • Iwantthatbargain on 20/12/2022 - 15:49

      Did you get the Gold status yet? I got approved for the card recently. So wondering how long it takes.

    • Local Bogan on 15/02/2023 - 13:19

      How did you get the digital version of the card?

  • arctan on 30/11/2022 - 11:17

    They should at least reduce the international transaction fee or completely waive it.

    • burningrage on 30/11/2022 - 19:45

      I know right????

      Keep that 28 degrees but HSBC Global Debit is free of International Transaction Fee I think.

      Edit. One more perk with this card is 6 mths interest free purchases of airfares on Star Alliance airlines.

    • abs898 on 30/11/2022 - 22:25

      So this happened the other way, we made 2 transactions on the card in AUD but the merchant was overseas based, HSBC still charges a 3% transaction fees.
      It doesn't matter if it's in other currency or not, they will still charge it.

      This is pretty disappointing for a travel card.

      • burningrage on 30/11/2022 - 22:58

        Yes. That's Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) in action.

        You have no way of knowing the processor of that merchant is based overseas. Happened a lot with Stripe based payment.

        One way to avoid this. If you have Citibank Credit Card with Diners Club Companion Card and the merchant accepts Paypal, you can direct that payment to Paypal and it will use your Diners and Diners don't have international transaction fee.

        Keep HSBC to local purchases or international merchants with Australian presence like Amazon.

        • arctan on 01/12/2022 - 08:39

          Can you now set up Diners card in Paypal? I tried it before and it would not work for me. That was last year I think.

          • burningrage on 01/12/2022 - 09:32

            @arctan: Yeah! I have been doing this for a while. Very useful for overseas purchases.

        • QFFlyer on 10/12/2022 - 15:52

          That's not DCC, that's just a forex fee - DCC is where the merchant does the conversion for you rather than the bank - for example if you go shopping in Thailand, and they offer to charge you in AUD, they'll convert THB to AUD at a sh1t rate as if they're doing you a favour. The bank will still charge the forex fee because the transaction takes place outside of Australia, even though it's billed in AUD (so you'll be hit twice, probably paying around 8% fees in total).

          I'm not sure about Diners, but Amex prohibits DCC on their network, so you will be billed in the local currency regardless, but all Aussie Amex cards include forex fees (2.99% or so). There are a few (the Diners you've mentioned with Citi being one) which don't charge forex fees.

          Using the Commbank Ultimate as an example, it's a Mastercard so DCC is allowed on that network, you won't be charged any forex fees by CBA regardless of the currency you're billed in, but if you accept the retailer's conversion (see example above, which will almost always be at a terrible exchange rate) then you can still get slammed for DCC (in that the amount you end up paying in AUD will be more than if you'd charged that card in THB, or whatever, and let the bank do the conversion for you).

      • arctan on 01/12/2022 - 08:39

        Exactly, what's the point to market it as a travel card when we have to pay 3% every time we go overseas.

        • burningrage on 02/12/2022 - 20:56

          As this card is new and basically on trial (before global launch), I am sure one day they will ask for feedback. We could include this 3% thingy as part of that feedback.

  • frugalfinds on 02/12/2022 - 15:30

    Will achieving Star Alliance Gold Status allow me to enter Virgin DOMESTIC lounges?

    • eecan on 02/12/2022 - 17:24
      +1

      Star Alliance Gold will not allow you to enter a Virgin Domestic lounge as Virgin is not a part of Star Alliance but Singapore Airlines and United Airlines Gold will as they have individual agreements.

    • burningrage on 02/12/2022 - 20:55
      +1

      If you select SQ as your Frequent Flyer Programme then achieving Star Alliance Gold will give you Krisflyer Elite Gold and that, I think will give you access to Virgin Lounge because Virgin Airlines is an SQ Frequent Flyer Partner.

      • QFFlyer on 10/12/2022 - 15:58
        +1

        This is correct, I believe from the list of partners choosing SQ, UA ore AC would give you VA lounge access, since they partner with each of those carriers individually from the *A list, but if you picked one of the carriers that don't partner with VA, then Star Gold will have no benefit to you domestically.

  • Bmann999 on 11/12/2022 - 17:00

    If I get gold status, does this mean that my wife + kids get the same benefits if we travel together?

    Also… whats the best way to retain the gold status - we aim to travel maybe 1x Int'l and maybe 2x domestically per year but earn lots of Velocity points annually with credit cards.

    • burningrage on 12/12/2022 - 12:38

      The first question is something I want to test. Technically speaking the Gold status entitles you and a guest. Children are guests so if you have a spouse + 2 kids, the two kids are NOT free. Need someone else's experience but it will be something I will test soon.

      The second question imho is to get this card for free for one year and travel SQ/VA (Codeshare or otherwise) to rack up VA statuses to reach Gold (use Family pool) then you will get both SQ and VA gold status and then this card would probably no longer be useful (unless you travel UA) and save yourself $450 after 1 year.

      • dixy on 05/10/2024 - 19:59

        Children are guests so if you have a spouse + 2 kids, the two kids are NOT free. Need someone else's experience but it will be something I will test soon.
        @burningrage how was you experience with lounge entry for family for 4?

  • Iwantthatbargain on 20/12/2022 - 15:47

    Has anyone here got Gold status yet? It seems their process is very slow. Once you achieve the qualifying spend, they wait for 14 days for you to select the desired airline for an upgrade. Then, the upgrade process will start after 14 days (starting from the day you qualified) and will take another 14 days to complete.

    • burningrage on 21/12/2022 - 13:25

      @abs898 has got the SQ Gold. Mine is still sitting with Star Alliance although I've got the Star Alliance Gold. They say to wait up to 14 days from date of Star Alliance Gold being granted. So I am guessing for mine would be 14 days from 17/12/2022.

      However, @abs898 got it on the same day as the letter said!

  • Bmann999 on 20/12/2022 - 17:59

    If I sign up to get SA Gold, do my family members get the benefits as well for flights?

    I am very interested in the priority check in for Intl flights - so annoying to wait 2 hours to check in which seems the standard these days.

    • eecan on 20/12/2022 - 23:27

      For priority check-in and early boarding I've generally found that there is no problem taking others with you if they are on the same booking. Haven't tried bringing people along if they booked separately.

  • mmd on 22/12/2022 - 12:18

    Purchase Protection

    does anyone know anymore about this?

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