HSBC TravelOne Credit Card Review: 20 Transfer Partners, Instant Conversions, One App
The HSBC TravelOne earns reward points that transfer 1:1 to 15 airlines and 5 hotel programs, all from the HSBC mobile app. Here's what works, what doesn't, and who it's best for.
The HSBC TravelOne credit card (also called the HSBC Travel One or HSBC T1) is a ₹4,999 points card that transfers to 20 loyalty programs at mostly 1:1 ratios, earns 4X on travel and forex, and added 4 complimentary chauffeur airport transfers as a new benefit for 2026. With the Axis Atlas no longer being issued, this is now the top points card in India for anyone without an HSBC Premier relationship.
At a Glance
Magnify Rating: 4.5 / 5. India's top points card now that Axis Atlas is discontinued. Ideal for frequent flyers who want flexible miles across 15+ airlines without an HSBC Premier relationship.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | ₹4,999 + GST (waived at ₹8 lakh spend) |
| Welcome Benefit | ₹1,000 cashback + ₹3,000 PostCard voucher + 3 months EazyDiner Prime |
| Best Earn Rate | 4X (4 points per ₹100) on airlines, travel aggregators, forex |
| Base Earn Rate | 2X on all other eligible spends (no cap) |
| Transfer Partners | 15 airlines + 5 hotels, mostly 1:1, instant via HSBC app |
| Airport Transfers | 4 complimentary chauffeur rides per year (new for 2026) |
| Lounge Access | 6 domestic + 4 international per year |
| Forex Markup | 3.5% (the card's weakest spec) |
| Network | Mastercard World |
Get it if: You book international flights 2 to 3 times a year and want flexible miles across multiple airlines (SQ, BA, Qatar, Flying Blue, Etihad) and hotel chains (Marriott, IHG, Accor).
Skip it if: You spend heavily abroad (forex 3.5% will sting) or most of your monthly bill is fuel, rent, utilities, insurance, or education (all earn zero points).
Fees, Waivers & Welcome Benefits
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | INR 4,999 + GST (charged post activation) |
| Annual Fee (Year 2+) | INR 4,999 + GST |
| Fee Waiver | Waived on INR 8,00,000 spend in a financial year |
| Add-on Cards | Free (up to 3 for spouse, parents, or children 18+) |
| Welcome Benefit | INR 1,000 cashback + INR 3,000 PostCard Hotels voucher + 3 months EazyDiner Prime |
| Renewal Benefit |
The fee works differently from most cards. It's charged at your card anniversary, then reversed if you've hit INR 8 lakhs in the financial year. So the fee shows up on your statement first, and the reversal follows. Primary card spends only.
For the welcome benefit, you need to download the HSBC India mobile banking app and spend INR 10,000 within 30 days of getting the card. The cashback arrives within 60 days. This offer is valid for cards issued between December 2024 and December 2026.
There's also a separate 90-day milestone: spend INR 1,00,000 in your first 90 days and you get 3,000 bonus reward points. That's on top of the welcome benefit.
No separate renewal benefit exists. Your main incentive to stay is the fee waiver.
Earning Structure
| Category | Earn Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Airlines, Travel Aggregators, Forex | 4 points per INR 100 | Capped at 50,000 points/month across primary + add-on cards |
| All Other Eligible Spends | 2 points per INR 100 | No cap |
The accelerated 4X rate covers airline ticket purchases (direct bookings), travel aggregators like MakeMyTrip and Cleartrip, and all foreign currency transactions. Once you hit 50,000 accelerated points in a calendar month, the rest of that month's travel/forex spend drops back to the base 2 points per INR 100. The cap is cumulative across your primary and add-on cards.
Points show up in your monthly statement.
Earning Exclusions
| Category | Notes |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Surcharge waiver still applies (INR 400-4,000 transactions) |
| Utilities | |
| Gold/Jewellery | |
| Insurance | |
| Education | |
| Government/Tax | |
| E-Wallets | Wallet loading transactions |
| Money Transfers | |
| Rent | Also attracts a 1% processing fee |
| Cash Advances | Also excluded from milestones and fee waiver |
| Fees & Charges | Also excluded from milestones and fee waiver |
The exclusion list is long. Fuel, utilities, rent, insurance, education, government payments, wallet loads, jewellery, and money transfers all earn zero points. If a big portion of your monthly card spend goes towards any of these, your effective earn rate will be lower than the headline 2 points per INR 100.
Worth noting: most of these excluded categories (fuel, rent, utilities, insurance) still count towards the INR 8 lakh fee waiver threshold. They just don't earn points. Cash advances and fees don't count towards anything.
Milestone Benefits
| Annual Spend | Reward | Period |
|---|---|---|
| INR 1,00,000 | 3,000 bonus points | First 90 days (limited period, cards issued Dec 2024 to Dec 2026) |
| INR 12,00,000 | 10,000 bonus points | Each anniversary year |
The 90-day milestone stacks with the welcome benefit. Hit both thresholds, and you walk away with INR 1,000 cashback, a PostCard voucher, EazyDiner membership, and 3,000 bonus points in your first three months.
The annual INR 12 lakh milestone is ongoing. 10,000 bonus points on top of your regular earnings. Same exclusions apply (no fees, cash advances, or charges count).
Transfer Partners
The HSBC TravelOne connects to 20 loyalty programs (15 airlines, 5 hotels). All transfers happen through the HSBC India mobile banking app.
Airline Partners
| Partner | Ratio | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|
| Air India Maharaja Club | 1:1 | 5 working days |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 | Instant |
| airasia rewards | 1:3 | Instant |
| British Airways Avios | 1:1 | Instant |
| Etihad Guest | 1:1 | Instant |
| EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | 1:1 | Instant |
| Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings | 2:1 | 5 working days |
| JAL Mileage Bank | 1:1 | 10 working days |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club (Avios) | 1:1 | Instant |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1:1 | Instant |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1:1 | Instant |
| Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus | 1:1 | Instant |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | 2:1 | Instant |
| United MileagePlus | 2:1 | Instant |
| Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles | 1:1 | Instant |
Hotel Partners
| Partner | Ratio | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|
| ALL - Accor Live Limitless | 1:1 | Instant |
| IHG One Rewards | 1:1 | Instant |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 1:1 | Instant |
| Shangri-La Circle | 5:1 | Instant |
| Wyndham Rewards | 1:1 | Instant |
Twelve of the fifteen airline partners are at 1:1. The exceptions are airasia (1:3), Hainan and Turkish (both 2:1), and United (2:1). For comparison, most SBI cards that transfer to the same airlines do so at either 1:1 or 2:1, depending on the program and card tier.
The instant conversion through the app is the real differentiator. Most other bank reward programs require you to call or fill out a request, and transfers can take days. With the TravelOne, you open the app, pick a partner, and the miles land almost immediately.
A few of these partners are also available through Magnify's Mag Miles. You can earn Air India Maharaja Club miles and Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles on everyday spending through the Magnify app, no credit card needed.
For the latest transfer ratios, check the Magnify app.
Other Redemption Options
Points can also be redeemed via HSBC PhoneBanking or the Online@HSBC internet banking portal. But the airline and hotel instant conversion is the main reason to hold this card, and redeeming through other channels will almost certainly give you worse value per point.
Lounge Access
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Domestic lounges | 6 visits per year (HSBC TravelOne Lounge Program, 50+ lounges) |
| International lounges | 4 visits per year via LoungeKey |
10 lounge visits total per year. The domestic network covers 50+ lounges across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Chandigarh, and more. International access is through LoungeKey.
Airport Transfers
4 complimentary chauffeur-driven airport transfers per year, domestic airports only, max 1 per quarter. Provided by Ecos Mobility.
Insurance
| Coverage | Amount | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase Protection | Up to USD 20,000/year | |
| Lost Card Liability | Up to INR 3,00,000 | Covers misuse from 24 hours before to 7 days after reporting. ICICI Lombard. Primary cardholders only. |
Fuel Surcharge
1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between INR 400 and INR 4,000 at all fuel stations across India. Fuel transactions don't earn any reward points.
Forex
The foreign currency markup is 3.5%. For a card with "Travel" in its name, that's disappointing. The HSBC Premier card charges just 0.99% on the same type of transactions.
The partial offset: forex transactions earn the accelerated 4X rate (4 points per INR 100). So you're paying more in markup but earning more points. Whether that trade-off works for you depends on how much you spend internationally and how you value the points. For most people doing occasional international spending, the 3.5% will sting more than the extra points are worth. For heavy domestic travel spenders who occasionally transact abroad, it's less of an issue since the bulk of value comes from domestic airline bookings.
DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion) is also at 3.5%.
Lifestyle Perks
- 15% off flights and hotels on Yatra, EaseMyTrip, Paytm Travel, Cleartrip, and Goibibo (various promo codes)
- 11% off StayVista bookings (max 2 per year, max INR 3,000 saving per booking)
- 20% off at AdaniOne duty free (min INR 8,000 spend, once per year)
- District by Zomato: 10% off events, dining discounts, and buy-one-get-one movie tickets (twice a month)
- 4 complimentary golf rounds and 12 lessons per year (Mastercard World benefit)
Eligibility & Support
Unlike the HSBC Premier card, the TravelOne doesn't require an existing HSBC banking relationship.
- Salaried: Minimum INR 6,00,000 per year
- Self-employed: Minimum INR 12,00,000 per year (ITR)
- Age: 18 to 65
- Available in 18 cities across India
- Documents: Salary slip, PAN, identity proof, address proof
- Support: 1800 267 3456 / 1800 121 2288 (international: +91-80-71898001)
- App: HSBC India Mobile Banking App
Verdict
Until late 2025, the Axis Atlas was the default recommendation for anyone in India serious about earning airline miles. With Atlas no longer being issued to new applicants, the picture has changed. The HSBC TravelOne is now the clearest choice for anyone who wants flexible, transferable points without needing an HSBC Premier banking relationship.
20 transfer partners at mostly 1:1 ratios, instant app-based conversions, 4X on travel and forex, 10 lounge visits, and (new for 2026) 4 complimentary chauffeur airport transfers. No other card in the ₹5,000 fee bracket gives you this much flexibility on where your points go.
The 3.5% forex markup is the one weak spot. If you spend heavily abroad, the HSBC Premier (0.99% forex) or a dedicated forex card is a better fit. And the exclusion list is long. Fuel, rent, utilities, insurance, education, and wallet loads all earn zero, so check your spending categories before committing.
But for domestic travel spenders who want airline miles across 15 programs and hotel points across 5 chains, the TravelOne is currently the best-in-class points card at this price point in India. You can track your HSBC Reward Points and every other card's transfer partners on the Magnify app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the annual fee for the HSBC TravelOne credit card?
The HSBC TravelOne has a joining and annual fee of ₹4,999 + GST. The annual fee is waived if you spend ₹8 lakh in a financial year. The fee is charged at your card anniversary and reversed once you hit the threshold.
What is the forex markup on the HSBC TravelOne?
The forex markup on the HSBC TravelOne is 3.5%. DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion) is also charged at 3.5%. The one silver lining: foreign currency transactions earn the accelerated 4X reward rate (4 points per ₹100).
How many airline partners does the HSBC TravelOne have?
15 airline transfer partners: Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, British Airways Avios, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Qatar Airways Privilege Club (also Avios), Qantas Frequent Flyer, Etihad Guest, Turkish Miles&Smiles, United MileagePlus, Thai Royal Orchid Plus, Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles, Air India Maharaja Club, JAL Mileage Bank, EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings, and airasia rewards. Plus 5 hotel programs: Accor ALL, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, Shangri-La Circle, and Wyndham Rewards.
Does the HSBC TravelOne include free airport transfers?
Yes. The HSBC TravelOne includes 4 complimentary chauffeur-driven airport transfers per year at domestic airports (maximum 1 per quarter), provided by Ecos Mobility. This is a new benefit added for 2026.
How much lounge access does the HSBC TravelOne offer?
10 lounge visits per year: 6 domestic visits via the HSBC TravelOne Lounge Program (50+ lounges across India) and 4 international visits via LoungeKey.
What are the HSBC TravelOne earning exclusions?
The HSBC TravelOne does not earn reward points on fuel, utilities, rent, insurance, education, government or tax payments, gold and jewellery, e-wallet loads, money transfers, cash advances, or fees and charges. Most of these (fuel, rent, utilities, insurance) still count towards the ₹8 lakh annual fee waiver threshold. They just don't earn points.
What is the base reward rate on the HSBC TravelOne?
The HSBC TravelOne earns 2 HSBC Reward Points per ₹100 on all eligible spends with no cap, plus an accelerated 4 points per ₹100 on airlines, travel aggregators, and foreign currency transactions. The accelerated rate is capped at 50,000 points per calendar month.
Who is eligible for the HSBC TravelOne credit card?
Salaried applicants need a minimum annual income of ₹6,00,000. Self-employed applicants need ₹12,00,000 per year based on ITR. Age: 18 to 65. Available in 18 cities across India. Unlike the HSBC Premier card, no existing HSBC banking relationship is required.
Is the HSBC TravelOne good for earning Avios?
Yes. The HSBC TravelOne transfers 1:1 instantly to both British Airways Avios and Qatar Airways Privilege Club (also Avios), directly from the HSBC India mobile banking app. It is one of the easiest ways to earn Avios in India without an American Express or HSBC Premier relationship.
Is the HSBC TravelOne better than HSBC Premier?
For travel rewards and airline miles, the HSBC TravelOne is the better choice: 20 transfer partners, 4X on travel, and no banking relationship required. For heavy international spending, HSBC Premier wins with its 0.99% forex markup (versus 3.5% on TravelOne). Premier also requires an HSBC Premier banking relationship.
Track HSBC Reward Points transfer ratios and find the best redemption value on the Magnify app.
