HSBC TravelOne Credit Card: The Ultimate Travel Companion for Indian Travellers

In the competitive landscape of travel credit cards in India, finding the perfect card that balances rewards, flexibility, and comprehensive benefits can be challenging. Enter the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card – a premium travel-focused credit card that has quickly established itself as a top contender for frequent travelers seeking maximum value from their spending. Here's why this card deserves serious consideration as the best travel credit card for Indian travelers.

What Makes HSBC TravelOne Stand Out?

The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card unlocks instant travel rewards and elevated travel experiences everywhere you go with the one and only travel card you need. Launched in India after successful rollouts in Singapore and Malaysia, this card brings global expertise to the Indian market with features specifically tailored for modern travelers.

Accelerated Rewards on Travel Spending

One of the most compelling features of the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is its generous rewards structure designed specifically for travel enthusiasts:

2X Rewards on Travel Categories

The card earns double reward points on spending on flights, travel aggregators and foreign currency transactions. This means per Rs.100 spent on airline, travel OTA, and forex spend, the card offers four reward points.

Base Rewards on Everything Else

For every Rs.100 spent on other categories, the card offers two reward points. This ensures you're earning rewards on all your purchases, not just travel-related ones.

Up to 6X Rewards on HSBC Marketplace

The card offers 12, 8 and 4 reward points on every Rs. 100 spent on hotels bookings, flight bookings and car rentals respectively via HSBC Rewards Marketplace, along with 4 reward points on every Rs. 100 spent on flights, travel aggregators, and in foreign currency, and 2 reward points on every Rs. 100 spent on other spending categories.

Generous Monthly Cap

You can earn 4 RP per ₹100 on flights, hotels, travel aggregators, and foreign currency spends, with a monthly cap of 50,000 RP – equivalent to ₹12,50,000 in spending, which is quite generous.

Instant Redemption: A Game-Changer

What truly sets the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card apart is its instant redemption feature. The first HSBC credit card to offer instant redemptions with an extensive selection of airline and hotel partners, all within the convenience of your mobile app.

Extensive Partner Network

HSBC TravelOne credit card users can convert their reward points in 1:1 ratio into airmiles for Air India, Air Canada, Air France–KLM, British Airways, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Hainan Airlines, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Qantas Airlines, Qatar Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines and Vietnam Airlines.

For hotel enthusiasts, you can convert your accrued reward points into hotel loyalty points of Accor, IHG® Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in the ratio of 1:1.

Exceptional Value with Accor

According to industry experts, Accor is the only partner that straight away gives great value. The milestone benefit enhances the base reward rate of the card from 2% to 2.8% (or 5% for Accor), which looks quite lucrative.

Milestone Rewards That Matter

The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card rewards high spenders with attractive milestone benefits:

Receive 10,000 bonus reward points on annual spend above Rs.12 lakh. What makes this particularly valuable is that all spends count toward this milestone, including categories like insurance, education, and utilities, which typically don't earn base rewards on the TravelOne credit card.

By reaching this spending threshold, you effectively gain an additional reward rate of 0.83%, along with an annual fee waiver making it a great incentive for high spenders.

Comprehensive Airport Lounge Access

Travel in comfort with complimentary lounge access both domestically and internationally:

Get 6 local and 4 international airport lounge visits every year. The card provides domestic airport lounge access with 6 visits/year with Mastercard and international airport lounge access with 4 visits/year with LoungeKey, granting access to domestic airport lounges such as Loyalty Lounge, Adani Lounge, Earth Lounge, Travel Club Lounge, Encalm Lounge, Bird Lounge, and more located in major airports including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, and others.

Welcome Benefits Worth Considering

The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card offers attractive joining benefits for new cardholders:

Download and log on to the HSBC India Mobile Banking app and spend INR10,000 within the first 30 days of opening your credit card account to get 3 months EazyDiner Prime Membership Plus, get 3,000 bonus reward points when you spend INR100,000 in the first 90 days.

More specifically, cardholders will be eligible for ₹1,000 cashback, a ₹3,000 PostCard voucher, and a 3-month EazyDiner Prime Membership.

Exclusive Travel Discounts

The card provides substantial savings on popular travel platforms:

On bookings with Yatra, EaseMyTrip, Paytm Travel, and Cleartrip, the card offers 15% discount. These partnerships with major online travel agencies make booking your next trip more affordable.

Additionally, cardholders enjoy:

• 11% off on hotel bookings at StayVista (max 2 bookings per card per year, max saving ₹3,000 per booking)

• Up to 20% off on duty-free shopping via AdaniOne (min order ₹8,000, once per card per year, max saving ₹3,000)

• Up to 10% off on events and dining with Zomato

Additional Lifestyle Benefits

Beyond travel, the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card offers compelling lifestyle perks:

Golf Privileges

The card offers four complimentary golf rounds and 12 free lessons annually (one each per month), plus 50% off green fees for extra games.

Travel Protection

Get up to USD20,000 purchase protection every year.

Entertainment Offers

Buy One Get Free on movie ticket bookings at District, twice each month, up to ₹200.

Key Advantage: Travel Aggregator Rewards

A critical differentiator that gives HSBC TravelOne an edge over competitors like Axis Atlas is its rewards on travel aggregators. A key differentiator between the Axis Atlas and HSBC TravelOne cards is that HSBC awards points on spends made through travel aggregators like MMT, Cleartrip, and others. This is particularly beneficial for hotel bookings, as one can double-dip with other offers.

Transparent Fee Structure

The joining fee when you take out a new card is INR4,999. Afterwards, the annual fee is INR4,999, or free if you spend more than INR 800,000 a year. This fee waiver threshold makes the card effectively free for high spenders who can easily meet the ₹8 lakh annual spend requirement.

Eligibility and Availability

The card is available to residents of major Indian cities. Applicants should have residence or office in these cities: Chennai, Gurgaon, Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), Pune, Noida, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kochi, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, or Kolkata.

Easy Redemption Process

Redeeming your hard-earned points is straightforward through the HSBC India mobile app:

Instantly redeem reward points for flights, hotel bookings, vouchers, or merchandise using the HSBC India mobile app. The process is simple and can be completed in just a few taps.

Competitive Position in the Market

While cards like HDFC Infinia and Axis Atlas are often considered top-tier travel cards, the HSBC TravelOne holds its own with unique advantages:

HSBC TravelOne Credit Card in India is a wonderfully rewarding card in the segment, thanks to the recent introduction of Accelerated rewards.

Industry reviews note that the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is a solid travel credit card, especially for those who prioritize instant redemptions and a wide range of airline and hotel transfer options. However, it faces tough competition from alternatives like Axis Atlas and HDFC Infinia, which offer better forex rates and domestic usability. If you are a frequent traveler looking for flexible redemptions and international spending perks, this card could be a strong contender.

Who Should Get This Card?

The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is ideal for:

1. Frequent Travelers: Those who regularly book flights and hotels will maximize the 2X rewards on travel spending

2. OTA Users: If you prefer booking through travel aggregators like MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, or Yatra, this card rewards those transactions unlike some competitors

3. Flexible Redeemers: Travelers who value the ability to transfer points to multiple airline and hotel programs at 1:1 ratios

4. High Spenders: Those who can meet the ₹12 lakh annual milestone to earn bonus points and fee waivers

5. International Travelers: With rewards on foreign currency transactions and international lounge access

Considerations Before Applying

While the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card offers numerous benefits, there are some factors to consider:

Foreign Exchange Markup

The card carries a Forex charge of 3.5% for international transactions, which can significantly impact the overall rewards. This is higher than some premium competitors.

Reward Exclusions

The following transactions are ineligible for rewards: utilities, insurance, jewellery, education, government payments, real estate, financial services, money transfers, e-wallets, and fuel purchases.

No Renewal Benefits

Notably, the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card does not provide any renewal benefits.

The Verdict: Why HSBC TravelOne Excels

The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card distinguishes itself as one of the best travel credit cards for Indian travelers through several key strengths:

1. Instant Redemption: The ability to convert points to miles and hotel points instantly through the mobile app is unmatched in convenience

2. Comprehensive Partner Network: With 15+ airline partners and major hotel chains accepting 1:1 transfers, you have maximum flexibility

3. Travel Aggregator Rewards: Unlike many competitors, you earn accelerated rewards even when booking through OTAs, which is how most Indians book travel

4. Up to 12% Value Back: Through the HSBC Rewards Marketplace, you can achieve exceptional value on travel bookings

5. Generous Lounge Access: 10 total lounge visits annually (6 domestic + 4 international) without spending requirements

6. Milestone Rewards: The ₹12 lakh milestone bonus effectively increases your reward rate and waives the annual fee

7. Lifestyle Integration: Beyond travel, the card offers dining, entertainment, and golf benefits for a well-rounded premium experience

Final Thoughts

The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is a solid choice for travel lovers, especially if you enjoy booking flights, hotels, and other travel-related expenses through platforms like Yatra, EaseMyTrip, and Paytm. One of the best parts of this card is that you can convert your reward points into Airmiles, hotel points, or vouchers. So whether you're flying or staying in hotels, you have options on how to use your rewards.

For Indian travelers who prioritize flexibility, instant gratification in redemptions, and comprehensive travel benefits, the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card represents an excellent choice. While it may not be perfect for everyone – particularly those seeking the absolute lowest forex markup or those who can't meet the spending thresholds – it offers a compelling package that rivals and in some ways surpasses more established competitors.

The card's focus on practical benefits that Indian travelers actually use – OTA bookings, instant redemptions, and a wide partner network – makes it a smart choice for anyone serious about maximizing their travel rewards. With HSBC's global expertise and commitment to the travel segment, the TravelOne Credit Card is poised to remain a top contender in India's competitive travel credit card market.

Ready to elevate your travel experience? The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card might just be the travel companion you've been searching for.

Note: Credit card features, fees, and benefits are subject to change. Please verify current terms and conditions with HSBC before applying. Annual fees and eligibility criteria apply.