Overview
The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is tailored for frequent travelers focused on air miles and hotel loyalty programs—especially Accor. While competitive, its value depends on spending patterns and awareness of alternatives like Axis Atlas or Amex Platinum Travel.
Fees & Welcome Benefits
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹4,999 + GST |
| Renewal Fee | ₹4,999 + GST |
| Renewal Waiver | Spend ₹8L annually |
Welcome Benefit:
- 3,000 reward points after spending ₹1L in 90 days.
- Caveat: The points barely offset the joining fee unless redeemed for Accor (poor value otherwise).
- Get 100 RS Amazon Voucher when you activate your card successfully.
Introductory Offer* (Limited-time)**:
- Spend ₹10K in first 30 days to get:
- ₹1,000 cashback
- ₹3,000 Postcard voucher
- 3-month EazyDiner Prime membership
- Note: The non-cash perks are underwhelming for a travel card.
Reward Structure HSBC TravelOne Credit Card
| Spend Category | Reward Rate | Max Cap (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Spends | 2 pts/₹100 (~2% or 3.6% for Accor) | None |
| Travel/Forex* (Airlines, OTAs, Forex) | 4 pts/₹100 (~4% or 7.2% for Accor) | 50K pts (₹12.5L spend) |
Key Advantage: Rewards on travel aggregators (MMT, Cleartrip, etc.) enable double-dipping with discounts.
Excluded Categories (No Rewards)
- Utilities, insurance, jewelry, education, government, tax payments, fuel, e-wallets, and financial transactions.
- Critique: Broader exclusions than Axis Atlas. A spending cap (like ICICI Emeralde) would be fairer.
Milestone Benefit
- Spend ₹12L annually: Get 10,000 bonus points (effective +0.8% reward rate).
- Missed Opportunity: Lack of tiered milestones (e.g., 6L) limits flexibility.
Redemption Flexibility
- 1:1 transfer to 20+ airline/hotel partners (see tables below).
- Instant transfers for most partners (unlike HSBC’s legacy form-based system).
- Best Value: Accor Live Limitless (ALL) program.
- HSBC TravelOne Credit Card
Airline Partners:
- Vistara, KrisFlyer, Qantas, British Airways, etc.
Hotel Partners:
- Accor, IHG, Hilton, etc.
Note: No redemption caps yet, but future restrictions are possible.
Lounge Access
| Type | Provider | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | Mastercard | 6/year |
| International | LoungeKey | 4/year |
- No guest access or spend requirements.
Forex Markup: The Catch
- 3.5% + GST (~4.13%) on foreign transactions.
- Net Return: 4% rewards − 4.13% fee = -0.13%.
- Verdict: Avoid forex spends unless Accor redemptions outweigh the loss.
Additional Benefits
- Travel Discounts: 15% off on Yatra, Cleartrip, EaseMyTrip, Paytm,Stayvista and more
- Dining: Get up to 15 % of on events and dining via Zomato app. Plus a buy one and get one free offer on movie tickets twice a month up to 200 per ticket.
- Entertainment: BOGO movie tickets (₹200 off) via District App.
- Golf: Complicated rounds via Mastercard Golf Program.
- Insurance: $20,000 annual purchase protection.
Documents Needed
- ID Proof: PAN Card/Form 60/Passport
- Address Proof: Aadhaar, Passport, or utility bills
- Income Proof: Bank statements or salary slips
- Photograph: Recent passport-sized photo
Eligibility Criteria
- Age: 21 to 65 years
- Employment status: Salaried individuals Only
- Minimum Monthly Income: Rs 34,000/monthly
- Cibil Score: 750+
- New-to-Credit: Allowed only for salaried applicants
- You must reside in Chennai Gurgaon Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) Pune Noida Hyderabad Mumbai Bangalore Kochi Coimbatore Jaipur Chandigarh Ahmedabad or Kolkata
- New-to-Credit: Allowed only for salaried applicants
Should You Get It?
✅ Choose if:
- Your annual spends exceed ₹15L (beats Axis Atlas beyond this threshold).
- You prefer Accor redemptions or value HSBC’s global network.
- You want travel aggregator rewards (unlike Axis Atlas).
❌ Avoid if:
- Spends are <₹15L (Axis Atlas/Amex Platinum Travel offer better returns).
- You frequently spend on excluded categories (utilities, insurance, etc.).
Lootdealtricky Rating: 4/5
Pros:
- High rewards on travel/forex (7.2% for Accor).
- No spend thresholds for lounge access.
- Broad partner network with instant transfers.
Cons:
- Negative ROI on forex spends.
- Limited milestones and excessive exclusions.
- Joining fee isn’t justified for non-Accor users.
Bottomline: A decent premium travel card, but overshadowed by competitors unless spending heavily or loyal to HSBC/Accor.
HSBC TravelOne Credit Card – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card best suited for?
The card is ideal for frequent travelers who want to maximize air miles and hotel loyalty rewards, especially with Accor Live Limitless (ALL). It offers accelerated rewards on flights, hotels, and forex spends.
2. What are the fees for this card?
- Joining Fee: ₹4,999 + GST
- Annual Fee: ₹4,999 + GST
- Renewal Waiver: Spend ₹8L in a year
3. What is the welcome benefit?
- 3,000 reward points after spending ₹1 lakh in the first 90 days.
- Note: These points only cover the joining fee if redeemed for Accor (poor value otherwise).
4. Are there any introductory offers?
Yes (limited-time):
- Spend ₹10,000 in the first 30 days to get:
- ₹1,000 cashback
- ₹3,000 Postcard voucher
- 3-month EazyDiner Prime membership
5. How do rewards work on this card?
| Spend Type | Reward Points | Effective Reward Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Spends | 2 pts/₹100 | ~2% (3.6% for Accor) |
| Travel, Airlines, Forex | 4 pts/₹100 | ~4% (7.2% for Accor) |
- Monthly Cap: 50,000 points (₹12.5L spend) on travel/forex.
6. Which spending categories are excluded from rewards?
- Utilities, insurance, jewelry, fuel, government/education payments, tax, e-wallets, and financial transactions.
- Tip: Check MCC codes before big spends.
7. What is the milestone benefit?
- Spend ₹12L annually → Get 10,000 bonus points (+0.8% reward rate).
8. How can I redeem reward points?
- Transfer to 20+ airline/hotel partners (1:1 ratio, instant for most).
- Best value with Accor (1 pt = ₹3.6).
- No redemption caps (for now).
9. Does this card offer lounge access?
- Domestic (Mastercard): 6 visits/year
- International (LoungeKey): 4 visits/year
- No guest access or spend requirements.
10. What is the forex markup fee?
- 3.5% + GST (~4.13%)
- Net loss on forex spends (4% rewards – 4.13% fee = -0.13%).
11. How does this card compare to Axis Atlas?
| Feature | HSBC TravelOne | Axis Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | ₹4,999 + GST | ₹5,000 + GST |
| Travel Rewards | 4 pts/₹100 (7.2% Accor) | 5 pts/₹100 (~10% Accor) |
| Forex Markup | 4.13% | 2% + GST (~2.36%) |
| Best For | High spenders (>₹15L/yr) | Spends <₹15L/yr |
12. Should I get this card?
✅ Yes if:
- You spend >₹15L/year and prefer Accor.
- You book via travel aggregators (MMT, Cleartrip).
- You want global lounge access without spend conditions.
❌ No if:
- Your spends are <₹15L/year (Axis Atlas/Amex Platinum are better).
- You frequently spend on excluded categories (utilities, fuel, etc.).
13. How do I apply for the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card?
- Visit HSBC’s website or apply via their mobile app.
- Existing HSBC customers may get faster approval.
Final Verdict: A strong travel card for high spenders loyal to Accor, but not the best for forex or budget travelers.
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