HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card holders have one final opportunity to secure Star Alliance status before HSBC shuts down its Australian credit card business.
The bank has confirmed that 17 November 2026 will be the final day the HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card can be used, with accounts closing on 18 November. A lot of readers have been asking what will happen to their Star Alliance Silver or Gold status tiers, and now HSBC has clarified the situation.
Depending on your circumstances, you could qualify for another 12 months of Star Alliance Silver or Gold status, even if your normal card anniversary falls after the HSBC account has closed.
Spend $30,000 for Silver or $38,000 for Gold
Under the special arrangements for the HSBC wind-down, cardholders can qualify for Star Alliance Premium Status based on spending during the current qualification period ending 17 November 2026.
| Status | Spend required by 17 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Star Alliance Silver | $30,000 |
| Star Alliance Gold | $38,000 |
The Gold threshold has actually been reduced from the previous threshold of $48,000, making it easier to reach. If you meet the requirements before 18 November, HSBC and Star Alliance will grant the relevant status for a final 12 months. This starts from the date your next card anniversary would have occurred.
For example, a cardholder who spends $40,000 by 17 November and has a next card anniversary on 5 July 2027 would qualify for Star Alliance Gold. Their status would start on 5 July 2027 and be valid for 12 months.
Similarly, someone who spends $32,000 by 17 November and has a 10 December 2026 anniversary would receive Star Alliance Silver for 12 months from 10 December 2026. But in this case, see if you can swing another $6K of expenses forward to qualify for Gold!
Important: don’t close the card early
There’s another important detail with this arrangement. Don’t voluntarily close your HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card before 18 November if you’re relying on this final status qualification.
HSBC says that if you close the account before 18 November, any Star Alliance Premium Status granted under the programme will be cancelled and withdrawn immediately (as per the usual T&Cs). The card needs to remain open through to 17 November if you want your status to last the rest of its membership period.
Check your status airline’s rules
If you already hold Star Alliance Premium Status and requalify for the same status during the current qualification year, the new status is generally granted when your next card anniversary would have occurred and will be valid for 12 months. However, there are specific exceptions depending on your nominated program.
As detailed in the FAQs, Air Canada Aeroplan, EVA Air and Thai Airways all have different rules around when the status is applied and how long it remains valid.
Most of our readers will have picked Air Canada. If your next card anniversary falls on or before 31 December 2026, your new status will be valid until the end of the following calendar year. For anniversaries from 1 January 2027 onwards, the status will generally be applied in 2027 and remain valid for the remainder of that year and the following calendar year.
This generous policy is in line with Air Canada’s usual status rule, where earned status is valid for at least one full calendar year after the year it was achieved. HSBC recommends checking the relevant program’s rules before selecting your status airline.
The final countdown for HSBC’s Star Alliance card
From 18 November, the HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card can no longer be used for purchases or cash advances. Recurring payments such as streaming services, memberships, utilities and app subscriptions will also stop processing, so cardholders should update these before the closure.
Any remaining eligible Star Alliance Points will continue to be transferred to your nominated participating frequent flyer program according to the applicable terms, and the Star Alliance Rewards Portal can still be used after the card closes to convert points into miles or points.
If you’re close to one of the Star Alliance Silver or Gold thresholds through spending you would make anyway, there could be an opportunity to secure another year of Star Alliance Premium Status before the HSBC card disappears. Make sure to lock in your transactions well before 17 November 2026.
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