Earlier this year the world’s oldest and largest airline partnership Star Alliance, which boasts 26 worldwide members including Singapore Airlines, ANA and Lufthansa, revealed that it would be launching its own co-branded credit card.
This first within the alliance industry will reportedly allow members to earn points from spending, then transfer them to any Star Alliance frequent flyer programme for redemption, a significantly increased flexibility compared to the more typical airline-specific co-brand cards we’re used to seeing.
The upcoming credit card was first announced by Star Alliance in mid-May 2022.
“Among the key successes and future offerings upon which Star Alliance continues to innovate are… an industry-first co-branded credit card in a regional market that will offer loyalty customers of member airlines the opportunity to earn miles and points with spend.”
Star Alliance, 13th May 2022
Australia looks to be the first market
Unfortunately for most of our Singapore-based readers it appears that Australia has been chosen as the launch market for this product, dubbed the “HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card”, based on details now shared by Singapore Airlines.
The HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card will have an annal fee of AU$450, waived in year one for a limited time.
HSBC is an ideal launch partner for the product, operating across many countries with popular Star Alliance loyalty programmes, including Australia, Germany, Singapore, the UK and the USA.
‘Star Alliance Points’ to be the alliance currency
According to the details released by Singapore Airlines for the HSBC Star Alliance Credit C