HSBC Elite

The HSBC Elite card is built for international clients and frequent travelers who want premium airport perks and high reward rates on travel bookings. It functions best as a dedicated travel card for people who can naturally utilize its annual credits to cover the recurring fee.

Welcome Offer

60,000 Points

Annual Fee

$495

Rec. Credit Score

Good

Good For

Frequent international travelers

How to Apply Estimate your value

All information about HSBC Elite has been collected independently by MaxRewards. HSBC Elite is no longer available through MaxRewards.

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are MaxRewards' alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

Overview

Is the HSBC Elite worth it?

This card is great for...

Priority Pass lounge access

Annual HSBC portal bookings

Monthly rideshare credits

The $495 annual fee is easily manageable if you take advantage of the card's core statement credits. A $400 annual travel credit for flights, hotels, or rental cars booked through HSBC Travel covers most of the fee on its own. Adding the $120 annual rideshare credit ($10 per month) and unlimited Priority Pass lounge access with guest privileges makes the card profitable for frequent flyers.

The main drawback lies in how you earn top rewards. Unlocking 5x points requires booking through the HSBC Travel portal rather than directly with airlines or hotels, and everyday non-travel purchases earn a basic 1x rate. For HSBC clients who travel regularly and utilize portal bookings, the net value remains very strong.

MaxRewards Verdict

This card delivers excellent value for travelers who can use the $400 portal credit and airport lounge access, though earning top rewards requires booking travel through HSBC.

Welcome Offer

60,000 Points

after you spend $4,000 on purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership.

Est. Value

$600

Required Spend

$4,000

Time Frame

3 Months

Est. Value

$600

Required Spend

$4,000

Time Frame

3 Months

Earning

Rewards

Earn top-tier points on flight, hotel, and car rental bookings, along with steady rewards on dining and everyday travel.

CategoryRate

Airline

Car Rental

Hotel

Dining

Travel

Everywhere

Rewards percent based on a valuation of 1¢ per HSBC point

Annual Credits & Perks

Benefits

A suite of annual statement credits, airport lounge privileges, and purchase protections helps offset the card's upfront fee.

BenefitAnnual value

$400

$120

$60

$30

Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Automatically track your credits with MaxRewards

Our app automatically tracks valuable credits so you don't miss any rewards.

Get the app

Ride Hailing Credit

Autotracked

of $10Every month

Benefits

More Benefits

Purchase Assurance

Purchase Assurance covers most purchases from damage or theft within 90 days of purchase up to $1,000.

Cell Phone Protection

Claim up to $800 if your cellphone is stolen or damaged using Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection.

Travel Insurance & MasterRental Coverage

Other benefits include MasterRental Coverage™, complimentary travel insurance, airport concierge services, and exclusive discounts and upgrades from fine restaurants and designer brands.

Instacart+ Membership

Get up to $140 annually with Instacart+. When you sign up as a new member, receive 3 free months of Instacart+ and $10 off your second order each month.

Priority Pass Lounge Access

Elevate your airport experience with complimentary and unlimited lounge access for the cardholder and up to 2 guests worth more than $469 annually with Priority Pass.

Eligibility

Recommended Minimum Credit

Min: Good

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

Good credit or higher is recommended for this card.

Credit approval is not guaranteed. Meeting the recommended credit range does not ensure approval, and applicants with lower scores may still be considered.

Pricing