HSBC Credit Card Lounge Access - Which cards are the best for free lounge passes?

There are multiple perks to having a credit card, and amongst them is complimentary lounge access that adds a touch of luxury to your travel experience.

This guide will touch on 3 popular HSBC credit cards that grant complimentary lounge access to its cardholders, including fees, features, and eligibility. We’ll also be discussing the Wise card as a reliable travel companion for overseas expenditure with low, transparent fees and the mid-market exchange rate.

Table of contents
What to consider when choosing a HSBC credit card with lounge access HSBC credit card lounge access list Best HSBC credit cards with lounge access HSBC Visa Signature HSBC TravelOne HSBC Premier Travel Bring along the Wise card for low-fee overseas transactions

What to consider when choosing a HSBC credit card with lounge access?

Even though the complimentary lounge access that these cards grant likely ranks high in your priority, it is also useful to consider a card’s additional features. This will help you decide on the credit card that is most optimal for your spending habits and lifestyle requirements.

Here are some things to bear in mind before you apply for a HSBC credit card with lounge access:

• Minimum income – the minimum income level for HSBC credit cards in this guide starts from 60,000 MYR
• Annual fee – some selected cards have fee waiver for the first year
• Number of visits – the HSBC credit cards in this list offer access to Plaza Premium lounges internationally
• Supplementary cardholder visits – some cards offer discounted supplementary cardholder visits
• Minimum spend requirement – cards on this list do not have a minimum spend requirement
• Rewards – earn reward points with the HSBC cards that can be redeemed for an extensive range of goods and services including air miles

Next, let’s consider the most important factor – the lounge access that the HSBC credit card grants its cardholders.

HSBC credit card lounge access list

With the HSBC credit cards, you can Plaza Premium Lounges¹ in Malaysia and internationally, depending on the card that you carry. This includes countries like Hong Kong, Dubai, China and Canada.

Your options can be narrowed down depending on whether you’re primarily looking for lounge access within Malaysia or across the borders.

🤔 Considering a lounge access card from another bank? Check out our comparison of the best Malaysia credit cards with free airport lounge access

Best HSBC credit cards with complimentary lounge access

We’ll be diving into 3 popular HSBC credit cards that offer cardholders complimentary lounge access – the HSBC Visa Signature card, HSBC TravelOne card, and HSBC Premier Travel.

Alongside lounge access, we will also compare the card’s requirements, fees, and its noteworthy additional features.

HSBC Visa Signature

With the HSBC Visa Signature card², cardholders can enjoy 6x lounge visits per year to selected Plaza Premium Lounges in KLIA, Hong Kong International Airport and Changi Airport. Accompanying guests enjoy a 25% discount on the walk-in rate.

Minimum annual income of 72,000 MYR for principal cardholder 600 MYR per year, waived when you use the card at least once a month for a consecutive 12-month period 6x lounge visits per year to participating Plaza Premium Lounges in KLIA, Hong Kong International Airport and Singapore Changi Airport for principal card holder Accompanying guests get a 25% discount on the walk-in rate at participating Plaza Premium lounges 1% foreign transaction fees on overseas spend

Beyond its travel perks, the HSBC Visa Signature card is very generous with its rewards programme. Earn 8x reward points on overseas spend and online spend in foreign currency, 5x on spending at selected local malls, 5x on online spend in MYR, and 1x on all other expenditures. These accumulated points can be converted to air miles, amongst a roster of other attractive rewards.

HSBC TravelOne

The HSBC Travel One card³ grants a combined total of 6x lounge access per year to participating Plaza Premium Lounges internationally for principal and supplementary cardholders.

Minimum annual income of 60,000 MYR for principal cardholder 300 MYR per year, first year waived and with spend a minimum of RM20,000 or above per year on the subsequent years 6x lounge visits per year to participating Plaza Premium Lounges internationally shared better principal and supplementary card holders 1% foreign transaction fees on overseas spend

This card is the first HSBC credit card to offer instant points redemptions with a wide range of hotel and airline partners. Earn 8x reward points with foreign currency spend, 5x on local travel spend, 5x on local dining, and 1x on all other expenditure.

For frequent travellers, this rewards programme is a great way to save on your holiday bookings.

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👀 Looking for a travel card to maximise your overseas spending? See how Wise compares with other multi-currency cards like BigPay and MAE in Malaysia.

Get your Wise card here

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HSBC Premier Travel

The HSBC Premier Travel card⁴ allows 12x lounge access to selected Plaza Premium Lounges globally every year. This positions the HSBC Premier Travel card as the most generous with its free lounge access on this list.

Minimum annual income of 60,000 MYR for principal cardholder 600 MYR per year, first year waived and with spend a minimum of above RM45,000 per year on the subsequent years 12x lounge visits per year to participating Plaza Premium Lounges internationally for principal card holders 1% foreign transaction fees on overseas spend

This card’s air mile rewards programme is an enticing offer for frequent travellers. Earn 1.1 x air miles on all overseas spend and 1x air miles for every 4 MYR on local spend. Plus, with the HSBC Premier Travel card, you can also enjoy discounts on Expedia and Agoda hotel bookings.

Foreign transaction costs when using the HSBC credit card overseas

Like most Malaysian issued credit cards, using the HSBC credit card overseas incurs additional charges. Swiping the card overseas automatically incurs a 1% foreign transaction fee⁵ imposed by Visa or MasterCard.

Withdrawing cash from ATM withdrawals too is subject to a 5% fee or a minimum of 50 MYR, whichever is higher. On top of these additional fees, you will also be subjected to foreign currency exchange rates determined by your bank provider.

Bring along your HSBC credit card for lounge access and the Wise card for low-fee overseas transactions

Having a credit card for lounge access is a travel hack that affords cardholders that extra comfort on their trips. However, if you’re considering charging all your expenditure to the same card for its ease of use or attractive rewards program, you might want to reconsider your decision.

While it may seem insignificant, the earlier mentioned transaction fees charged to the card and imposed on ATM withdrawals overseas can add up with multiple overseas transactions. And even with rewards redemptions, these additional costs could be significant.

To avoid this, consider a debit card like the Wise card, which can be used in 150+ countries, for overseas expenditure to put your mind at ease when travelling. With the Wise account, you can convert and hold 40+ currencies at the mid-market rate with transparent, low conversion fees from 0.33%.

Need cash overseas? You'll also be entitled to some free ATM withdrawals of up to 1,000 MYR every month, so you can travel worry-free.

Before kicking back and relaxing in the lounge with your HSBC lounge credit card, remember to bring the Wise card. Fuss-free and easier on the wallet – it’ll put your mind at ease when you’re busy traversing the globe.

🚀 Get your very own Wise card

Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

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Sources:

1. HSBC Lounge Access
2. HSBC Visa Signature
3. HSBC Travel One
4. HSBC Premier Travel
5. Foreign transaction fees