Australian travellers can now fast-track their way to Star Alliance Gold Status with the launch of the world’s first airline alliance credit card.
Available only in Australia, the HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card has been created by the world’s largest airline alliance, Star Alliance, and banking group, HSBC Australia and will be issued exclusively on Visa credit.
With the new card, Aussies will be able to earn Star Alliance Points on eligible everyday transactions and convert those points to miles/points in participating member carriers’ loyalty programs.
Seven Star Alliance carriers are participating in the single credit card platform at the time of its launch.
The airlines and their programs include Air Canada – Aeroplan, Air New Zealand – Airpoints, EVA Air – Infinity MileageLands, Singapore Airlines – KrisFlyer, South African Airways – SAA Voyager, THAI – Royal Orchid Plus, and United – MileagePlus.
One of the card’s most appealing features is that it enables cardholders to fast track to Star Alliance Gold Status in the first year of their account by spending AU$4,000 on eligible purchases within 90 days of their card’s approval.
With Gold Status, customers can access more than 1,000 airport lounges, priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling, and excess baggage allowances, among other privileges.
In a press conference this morning, Star Alliance Director Loyalty Renato Ramos said that one Star Alliance point would equate to 0.8 points on the loyalty programs for the seven participating carriers and that this represented the most competitive conversions to member carriers’ frequent flyer programs in Australia.
Ramos also said it would be important for the alliance to balance availability in products and services with a potentially large increase in the number of Gold Status members, and to recognise the “members that we want to recognise”.
He added the card would only be available in Australia and there were no other plans to introduce the card in other markets.
More choice for Aussie travellers
Star Alliance CEO Jeffrey Goh said “the industry-first loyalty product” was “very much consistent with a key strategy of Star Alliance which is to offer a loyalty proposition that others talk about”.
“This unique product is an outcome of strategic discussions with our member airlines for the Australian market,” he remarked.
“It will offer a new world of loyalty experience with not only the ability to earn points, but also a fast track to Star Alliance Gold Status through everyday spending.”
HSBC Australia Head of Wealth and Personal Banking Jessica Power said, that while many credit cards allowed users to earn points, “we wanted to provide customers with a way to access all the benefits of airline status privileges through their everyday spending”.
“So this was really just all about giving them [Australian travellers] more choice. And having an alliance rather than just one airline means that we give them even more choice in terms of their travel options internationally,” Power told the press conference.
For more information on the new credit card, click here.
