HSBC launches TravelOne Credit Card: How it compares to other travel credit cards – CNBC TV18

HSBC has introduced the TravelOne Credit Card, designed to meet the needs of frequent travellers. The card offers a variety of features, including instant reward redemption at multiple airline and hotel partners, enabling users to convert points into air miles and hotel stays through the HSBC mobile app.

Key Features of HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

New users who spend ₹10,000 within the first 30 days will get ₹1,000 cashback, ₹3,000 postcard voucher and three months of EasyDiner Prime membership.

Additionally, users who spend ₹1 lakh in the first 90 days will get 3,000 bonus reward points. The card allows users to earn 4 reward points for every ₹100 spent on flights, travel aggregators and forex transactions, while earning 2 reward points per ₹100 on all other purchases.

For users who spend more than ₹12 lakh annually, the card offers an additional 10,000 bonus reward points. Travel benefits include 6 local and 4 international airport lounge visits per year and discounts on vacation bookings, car rentals and lifestyle experiences.

The card also offers purchase protection up to $20,000 annually.

Comparison with some travel credit cards

Axis Atlas Credit Card

Axis Bank’s Atlas Credit Card offers 5 EDGE Miles on every ₹100 spent on travel-related purchases and 2 EDGE Miles on other categories. This card offers 12 international and 18 domestic lounge visits annually.

However, the foreign exchange markup fee of 3.5% may be a disadvantage for international travelers, especially when compared to the TravelOne card’s more competitive rates.

The annual fee for the Axis Atlas card is similar to that of TravelOne, but it comes with more travel-specific benefits.

Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card

Axis Bank’s Horizon Credit Card offers 5 Edge Miles per ₹100 spent on Travel Edge portal and 2 Edge Miles on other categories. It offers 8 international lounge visits and 32 domestic lounge visits annually, which is more than the lounge access offered by the HSBC TravelOne card.

EDGE Miles are converted into travel points at a 1:1 ratio, giving users additional flexibility in their redemption options.

HDFC’s Diners Club Black Credit Card is a premium option for frequent travelers, offering a high reward rate of 3.33% on all purchases, unlimited lounge access and a low forex markup fee of 2%.

This card is designed for high spenders and comes with an annual fee of ₹10,000.

American Express Platinum Card

Another high-end option, which offers luxury benefits such as access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide and premium memberships with hotel loyalty programs.

However, its joining fee is ₹66,000 which makes it significantly more expensive than the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card.