HSBC *A Card - SQ Status Renewal

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  burningrage on 31/10/2024 - 10:37

  I made a comment about this in this thread

  https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/737055?page=3#comment

  In short, when you nominate SQ as your HSBC Star Alliance Gold Frequent Flyer, you will only get 11 months. SQ is aware of this and I thought they have shorten the waiting time to 14 days (the time it takes for you to decide which FF to go) and 3 days (SQ processing time) but they still hedge their bets and keep it at 10 business days. Together, you will be exposed for 1 mth.

  To avoid this, Air Canada will give you at least 12 months plus residual to end of year. However, you will experience complication when trying to checkin at airport.

• 

  sydney1506 on 31/10/2024 - 10:42

  Only getting 11 months in the first instance when joining as part of the welcome status is fine. But the fact that there is a gap when requalifying is crazy!

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  sydney1506 on 31/10/2024 - 10:59

  Clause 7.4 https://www.staralliance.com/en/web/rewards/au/tnc

  Status Requalification: If during any Qualification Period, you requalify for the same status tier, under the HSBC Card Terms, as the one you held in the previous Qualification Period, then your status will be also renewed at same tier, and a new Status Period will commence. The Status Start Date of the renewed Status Period will be the Status End Date of the preceding Status Period. In the event of a Status Requalification, the Selection Period will start upon your Status Eligibility Date. Generally, the status will be granted in the Participating Status FFP selected in the Rewards Portal within 14 days after the expiry of the Selection Period.

  "The Status Start Date of the renewed Status Period will be the Status End Date of the preceding Status Period" - Based on this, there should be no gap??

  • 

    burningrage on 31/10/2024 - 11:27

    +1

    It matters not what they wrote because it would be impractical. If you think about it, even if they do put in the Renewed Start Date as the last day from the preceding Status Period, in practice, that is not possible.

    To put it in example,

    I started in late November 2022. I requalified in November 2023, this is when the statement saying you have requalified appeared. My HSBC Gold Status also expired in November 2023. So between late November 2023 until nearly late December 2023, I was without status. Essentially from late November 2023, took another 14 days for the nomination period to expire and then another 10-14 days for SG to apply the status. So when I flew in mid-Dec23, I would have been flying without status.

    It doesn't matter if in the end I got the status re-instated and the validity date is backdated to November 2023, I would have been already without status by the time I had to fly.

    Fortunately, I realized this anomaly during the 14 days nomination period and I switched to Air Canada. With Air Canada, I can still enjoy the Gold Star Alliance benefit. With Air Canada, my membership duration would go from November 2023 to December 2024 (so 12mths+). Also, it only took Air Canada 2-3 business days to award the status so 14 days + 2-3 days = 17 days in total.

  • 

    burningrage on 31/10/2024 - 11:31

    +1

    And one more thing, no point debating with SQ/Star Alliance about it because they would refer to each other and SQ has an added complication of not exactly understanding the scheme because HSBC Star Alliance arrangement is quite bespoke plus a bit of language barrier. I know because I already tried debating with them about it.

    All they recognized was that they would try to apply the status as fast as they can and from what I have heard, they have gone better to down to 3-5 days. Others can comment of their experience. Even this, you would still be status-less for at least 14+5 days. So you better pray you don't have anything booked in between those 19 days.

• 

  sydney1506 on 31/10/2024 - 11:38

  Unfortunately, we have flights on 2 Nov and 17 Nov :(

  • 

    burningrage on 31/10/2024 - 11:46

    Yes, you are trapped in that case.

    However, if you're flying with SQ, I believe you would just downgrade to Silver and you would still get some benefit under their revamped FF which includes priority checkin and boarding (which they previously don't offer unless you're with Gold).

    But you will lose the lounge access I think.

    Try emailing Star Alliance and see if they can do something for your circumstances. I am finding Star Alliance responds much quicker vs SQ.

• 

  sydney1506 on 31/10/2024 - 11:52

  Flying UA to SFO… SQ have been useless and I'm waiting to hear back from *A…. fingers crossed!
  Flight there, I at least have my VA Platinum but partner will have nothing (and we're on seperate tickets) and then the return he flies back by himself and I fly UA to EWR.

  • 

    burningrage on 31/10/2024 - 11:55

    +1

    Hopefully by the 17th, you would get your status back. Sorry to hear. It is a trap which I tried to warn people last year.

    • 

      sydney1506 on 31/10/2024 - 11:57

      Thanks so much. At least I know and I just can't believe it. Anyways, will probably switch partner to AC so hopefully he'll have it for his return!

      • 

        burningrage on 31/10/2024 - 12:06

        +1

        If you do switch, please be aware of the possible complications that I spelled out in the link on my first response.

        In short, by default if you are flying SQ but with AC Gold Star Alliance, you are supposed to credit your FF points to AC but if you don't fly AC often, the points become sort of useless. What you want is to enjoy AC Gold Star Alliance benefits with Krisflyer accrual (when flying with SQ as AC FF) and not airport are attuned to that adjustment. Explaining this to the checkin counter will be interesting.

        • 

          sydney1506 on 31/10/2024 - 12:13

          @burningrage: If anything, will be crediting all *A flights to A3

        • 

          sydney1506 on 31/10/2024 - 19:52

          @burningrage: After numerous emails with *A Rewards, I got the response below. I will check tomorrow and update everyone.

          "Please be advised that Singapore Airlines has made some few changes in their process whereby they will not downgrade the members account from Gold to Silver during the renewal process.Instead, they will extend the Gold status validity for 21 days after the anniversary period while the renewal of the Gold status is being processed.

          In this case, you will still be able to enjoy your Gold status during your upcoming trip on 2 Nov, while your account goes through the renewal process.

          I hope the above information is clear and helpful.

          Should you require any further assistance, please let me know."

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  burningrage on 31/10/2024 - 20:39

  Congrats. I knew StarAliiance would be more helpful than SQ. This is great news.

  • 

    sydney1506 on 02/11/2024 - 09:37

    In SQ lounge.. SQ app still showing Gold but expiry still showing as Oct 2024

    • 

      burningrage on 02/11/2024 - 12:32

      Nice for them to overlook the expiry. That could have gone badly but at least Star Alliance delivers.