What to Do with Star Alliance Points Earnt through My HSBC Visa?

Streetdaddy on 28/01/2025 - 21:40
Last edited 29/01/2025 - 10:33 by 1 other user

I signed up for the HSBC Visa card well over a year ago and converted the Star Alliance bonus to Aeroplan 50k. I forgot to cancel the card before the one year anniversary and have paid the annual fee again. I continue to use the Aeroplan 50k benefits.

But now I see that my Aeroplan 50k membership is going to expire on Jan 31.

I have 68k Aeroplan points.

I have also show almost 90k points in my Star Alliance account, but haven't converted them.

I almost always fly with Virgin as I'm on a staff travel list with a family member. I like that I can use the lounge with my family, but haven't used any other perks.

I'd appreciate any suggestions on what I should do now. Eg. Perhaps there's a better program to transfer my points to?

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  temporiser on 29/01/2025 - 07:30

  I have been wondering what to do with points as well. The only benefit I use is the lounge access

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  clippers on 29/01/2025 - 09:29

  While status will expire, Aeroplan points expiry is paused until November 30, 2025 - https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/news/point…

  Can redeem points for egift cards or merchandise - https://aeroplan.rewardops.com/en-CA/home/for-you

  Delivery Terms:

  Please allow for up to three (3) to five (5) weeks for the delivery of merchandise, two (2) to four (4) weeks for physical gift cards and activity vouchers or tickets, and three (3) to five (5) days for digital gift cards, activity vouchers or tickets. Merchandise, physical activity vouchers and tickets can only be shipped within Canada to a civic address (not to a P.O. Box). Physical gift cards can only be shipped within Canada to either a P.O. Box or a civic address.

  Unless specified in the product details (or description), all physical and digital gift cards are issued in Canadian currency and can only be used within Canada. Any foreign currency gift cards can only be used in the country of their currency. Please check the item terms and conditions for any restrictions regarding specific countries, events, or locations where these cards can be used. You may have your Item delivered to someone else according to the delivery terms set out in this section.

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    Craze on 29/01/2025 - 10:54

    Thanks for the heads up! I converted some points in Nov'24 so won't really benefit as their standard inactivity policy is 18 months.

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    Maki on 29/01/2025 - 21:46

    Thanks for the heads up. What are the redeemable items that are available for Australian resident then? Most of the gift cards I looked at (AirBNB, uber, Amazon) can't be used in Australia.

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  Streetdaddy on 29/01/2025 - 10:08

  Response from Aeroplan support:

  Elite Status is revised every year based on your activity the year prior (from January 1st 2024 to December 31st 2024). If you have not requalified, you would not be able to extend your status.

  I'm trying to grok from Qualifying for Aeroplan Elite Status if I can meet the requalification requirements. So many acronyms, it's hurting my brain. But I think it's not possible to requalify for Aeroplan 50K without flight activity.

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  heineken016 on 29/01/2025 - 11:43

  +2

  You can use those Aeroplan points to book flights to/from Australia. As an example, I think I could get return tickets economy to Hong Kong for about 50k pts+taxes, on Singapore Air.

  Transfer over some of your star Alliance points if you need a top up for wherever you're hoping to go

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  MELso on 30/01/2025 - 07:52

  You could have a quick jaunt to SE Asia, which are about 25K each way. And Aeroplan can be used to redeem flights on Virgin Australia too.