HSBC TravelOne Credit Card Review: 1:1 Airline Miles for a ₹4,999 Fee
HSBC TravelOne earns 2 reward points per ₹100 on most spends and 4 per ₹100 on flights, travel aggregators and foreign currency spends, and the points transfer 1:1 to airline programmes such as Air India Maharaja Club, Flying Blue, British Airways and Etihad. The ₹4,999 plus GST annual fee is reversed only above ₹8,00,000 of yearly spend, so it pays off for regular flyers who use miles, not occasional travellers.
Key facts
- Joining fee
- ₹4,999 + GST
- Annual fee
- ₹4,999 + GST. Annual fee, including GST, fully reversed if total eligible spend across primary and add-on cards in the anniversary year exceeds Rs 8,00,000
- Base reward
- 2 reward points for every Rs 100 spent, no cap
- Best category
- Flights, travel aggregators and foreign currency spends: 4 reward points per Rs 100
- Lounge
- Domestic: 6 complimentary domestic lounge visits a year International: 4 complimentary international lounge visits a year (LoungeKey)
- Forex markup
- 3.5% of the amount
- Network
- Mastercard
Opens the bank's own page for this card. Approval and the credit limit are the bank's decision.
In short
A sound card for regular flyers who transfer points to airline programmes, as long as they spend ₹8,00,000 a year or get more than the ₹5,898.82 fee back in miles and lounge visits.
Best for
- Frequent flyers collecting Air India Maharaja Club, Flying Blue, British Airways or Etihad miles
- Travellers who will use 6 domestic and 4 international lounge visits a year
- Big spenders crossing ₹8,00,000 a year, and ₹12,00,000 for 10,000 bonus points
Skip it if
- You want cashback or a fixed rupee value for points
- You spend a lot abroad and want a low markup, as forex is 3.5%
- Most of your spend is utilities, rent, insurance or fuel, which earn no points
Highlights
- 2 points per ₹100, and 4 per ₹100 on flights, travel aggregators and foreign spends
- 1:1 transfers to select airline and hotel programmes
- 6 domestic and 4 international lounge visits a year
- Fee ₹4,999 plus GST, reversed above ₹8,00,000 a year
- Points valid for 3 years
What HSBC TravelOne is built for
TravelOne is HSBC India's Mastercard for people who think in miles more than rupees. It pays reward points, and their best use is a transfer to airline and hotel programmes at 1 point to 1 mile. The card is open to new applicants and sit above Live+ in HSBC's range, with a fee five times higher.
It suits someone who fly a few times a year, books through airlines or travel aggregators, and already collects Air India Maharaja Club, Flying Blue, British Airways or Etihad miles. If you never transfer, you're left with gift cards and merchandise, where HSBC don't publish what a point is worth.
What matters most
- Earn: 2 points per ₹100 on most spends and 4 per ₹100 on flights, travel aggregators and foreign currency spends. The 4-point rate is capped at 50,000 points a calendar month, which needs ₹12,50,000 of such spend (50,000 / 4 x ₹100), so practically nobody will reaching it.
- Lounges: 6 domestic and 4 international visits a year, the international ones through LoungeKey, with no spend condition stated.
- Fee: ₹4,999 plus GST each year, reversed only above ₹8,00,000 of yearly spend.
Changes and status
We found no dated change to TravelOne's fee, earn rate or lounges for 2024 to 2026 in HSBC's pages read on 5 November 2026. The 2026 change people mix up is on the sister card: from 26 July 2026 HSBC cut the forex markup on Live+ to 1.99%, while TravelOne still charge 3.5%.
What TravelOne costs to hold
Joining and annual fees are ₹4,999 each, with GST on top. At 18% that adds ₹899.82, so ₹5,898.82 leaves your account each time. Add-on cards are free and their spend count with yours.
The ₹8 lakh waiver in monthly terms
If the primary and add-on cards together put more than ₹8,00,000 of eligible spend through in the anniversary year, HSBC hands back the annual fee along with its GST. That's ₹66,667 a month (₹8,00,000 / 12). A household putting ₹50,000 a month on it falls short by ₹2,00,000 a year, so most people should plan on paying the fee and judge the card on what it give back.
Interest, late fee and cash
Interest is 3.75% a month, 45% a year, from the transaction date on any balance you carry. The late fee equal 100% of the Minimum Payment Due, at least ₹250 and at most ₹1,200 a month, and HSBC levies it only when your minimum payment is still outstanding three days past the due date. Cash withdrawals cost 2.5% (at least ₹500) and attract finance charges from day one.
Forex, the expensive part
The forex markup is 3.5% plus GST, which is quite a costly price for a travel card. ₹1,00,000 spent abroad costs ₹3,500 in markup plus ₹630 GST, so ₹4,130. That spend earns 4,000 points, so each point must be worth about ₹1.03 (₹4,130 / 4,000) just to cover the markup, and HSBC puts no rupee value on a point.
- Rental payments carry a 1% processing fee plus taxes, and there's no fuel surcharge waiver.
- Going over your limit, which needs your opt-in under RBI rules, costs the higher of 2.5% or ₹500, plus GST.
- Bounced cheque or failed NACH: ₹500.
No separate wallet, utility or education fee appears in the charges, though none of those earn points. GST is extra on every charge.
HSBC TravelOne: fees and charges
| Joining fee | ₹4,999 + GST |
|---|---|
| Annual or renewal fee | ₹4,999 + GST |
| Annual fee waiver | Annual fee, including GST, fully reversed if total eligible spend across primary and add-on cards in the anniversary year exceeds Rs 8,00,000 |
| Add-on card fee | Nil |
| GST | Charged on top of the fees and charges listed |
| In the bank’s words | Joining fee INR4,999; annual fee INR4,999, or free if you spend more than INR 800,000 a year. Add-on cards free. |
| Interest on unpaid balances | Up to 3.75% a month (45% a year) |
| Late payment fee | 100% of the Minimum Payment Due, minimum Rs 250 and maximum Rs 1,200 a month; charged only if the minimum payment does not reach HSBC within 3 days of the payment due date |
| Cash withdrawal | 2.5% of the amount, minimum Rs 500; finance charge from the date of withdrawal |
| Over-limit fee | 2.5% of the over-limit amount or Rs 500, whichever is higher, plus GST |
| Forex markup | 3.5% of the amount |
| Other fees |
|
How TravelOne points are earned
The base rate is 2 reward points per ₹100, with no cap. Flights on airline merchant codes, travel aggregators and foreign currency spends earn 4 per ₹100 up to 50,000 points a calendar month, then drop back to 2. Add-on spend earns too, and the caps counts primary and add-on together.
Nothing is earned on utilities, tax, rent, insurance, fuel, e-wallets, jewellery, money transfers, education and government or Instant EMI, which for a salaried budget knock out the electricity bill, the premium and the petrol.
What a point is worth
At 1:1 a point becomes one mile with Air India Maharaja Club, Flying Blue, British Airways, Etihad and other select partners. For gift cards, merchandise or Travel with Points HSBC publishes no rupee value, and no redemption fee is stated. Points are valid 3 years from end of the calendar month in which you earned them.
Welcome and milestone
Log on to the HSBC app and spend ₹25,000 in the first 30 days, and you get ₹1,000 cashback, a ₹3,000 PostCard voucher and 3 months of EazyDiner Prime. Spending more than ₹12,00,000 in a year adds 10,000 bonus points. Purchase protection is up to USD 20,000 a year through ICICI Lombard; the other covers is in HSBC's service guide, unchecked by us.
Three worked examples
With no rupee value per point, we count points (miles at 1:1) and the value a mile needs to cover the fee.
| Monthly spend | Light: ₹25,000 | Typical: ₹60,000 | Heavy: ₹1,20,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights and travel aggregators (4 per ₹100) | ₹3,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹25,000 |
| Foreign currency spends (4 per ₹100) | ₹0 | ₹5,000 | ₹15,000 |
| Everyday spends (2 per ₹100) | ₹16,000 | ₹35,000 | ₹70,000 |
| Utilities, insurance and fuel (no points) | ₹6,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹10,000 |
| Points a month | 440 | 1,300 | 3,000 |
| Points a year, with milestone | 5,280 | 15,600 | 46,000 |
| Annual fee with GST | ₹5,898.82 | ₹5,898.82 | Reversed |
| Value a mile needs to cover the fee | ₹1.12 | ₹0.38 | No fee to cover |
Light, ₹25,000 a month. ₹3,000 on flights earns 120 points and ₹16,000 of everyday spend earns 320, so 440 a month and 5,280 a year. A year is ₹3,00,000 (₹25,000 x 12), far below ₹8,00,000, so a mile must be worth about ₹1.12 (₹5,898.82 / 5,280) before the card break even.
Typical, ₹60,000 a month. ₹10,000 of flights and ₹5,000 abroad earn 600 points and ₹35,000 of everyday spend adds 700: 1,300 a month, 15,600 a year. A year is ₹7,20,000 (₹60,000 x 12), still under ₹8,00,000, so a mile needs to be worth about ₹0.38 (₹5,898.82 / 15,600). The ₹5,000 abroad also cost ₹175 a month in markup (₹5,000 x 3.5%) plus GST.
Heavy, ₹1,20,000 a month. Flights of ₹25,000 earn 1,000 points, foreign spends of ₹15,000 earn 600 and everyday spends of ₹70,000 earn 1,400: 3,000 a month, 36,000 a year. Leaving out the ₹10,000 that earns nothing, eligible spend is ₹13,20,000 a year (₹1,10,000 x 12), past both ₹8,00,000 and ₹12,00,000, so 46,000 points (36,000 plus 10,000) and no annual fee. The markup on ₹15,000 a month, though, it comes to ₹6,300 a year (₹525 x 12) before GST.
HSBC TravelOne: higher-reward categories
| Category | Rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Flights (airline MCCs), travel aggregators (4111, 4131, 4722, 4723) and foreign currency spends | 4 reward points per Rs 100 | Accelerated earn capped at 50,000 reward points a month; regular 2 per Rs 100 after the cap, ₹50,000, calendar month |
HSBC TravelOne: how rewards work
| Earned as | Reward points |
|---|---|
| Base rate | 2 reward points for every Rs 100 spent, no cap |
| Minimum spend rules | Not published by the bank |
| No rewards on |
|
| Lower rewards on | None published |
| Value of a point |
|
| Redemption fee | Not stated |
| Expiry | Points valid 3 years from the end of the calendar month in which they are earned |
| Welcome benefits |
|
| Milestone benefits |
|
| Lounge access | Domestic: 6 complimentary domestic lounge visits a year International: 4 complimentary international lounge visits a year (LoungeKey) Condition: No spend condition stated |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | No fuel surcharge waiver (KFS: NA); no points on fuel |
| Insurance cover | Purchase protection up to USD 20,000 a year (ICICI Lombard); other covers per service guide |
Eligibility and how to apply for TravelOne
The rules match HSBC Live+. Salaried applicants should be 18 to 65 and earn at least ₹6,00,000 a year, about ₹50,000 a month; the self-employed need to be 25 to 65 and show ₹12,00,000 a year. You also has to be an Indian resident in one of HSBC's 21 cities, from Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi NCR to Amritsar, Coimbatore and Trivandrum.
Documents
The TravelOne page asks for your latest salary slip if salaried and proof of residence, identity proof and PAN card. HSBC page lists no separate income proof for self-employed applicants, so ask the bank what it accept.
Ways to apply
Apply on HSBC's website using video KYC, over the phone, or in a branch. Online applicants who complete video KYC is offered a ₹250 Amazon eGift voucher between 1 January 2026 and 31 March 2027. The RBI treats video KYC on par with in-person KYC.
How HSBC decides
Passing the published rules doesn't mean you will get the card. The RBI requires HSBC to assess your own financial means and the limits you hold with other lenders before setting yours. CRIF calls a score above 700 generally good, Experian puts the line at 750, and both use a 300 to 900 range. If HSBC declines, it must give the reasons in writing.
HSBC TravelOne: eligibility and documents
| Age (salaried) | 18 to 65 years |
|---|---|
| Age (self-employed) | 25 to 65 years |
| Income (salaried) | Minimum Rs 6,00,000 a year |
| Income (self-employed) | Minimum Rs 12,00,000 a year |
| Other conditions | Indian resident living in one of: Chennai, Gurgaon, Delhi NCR, Pune, Noida, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Amritsar, Baroda, Indore, Lucknow, Nagpur, Surat or Trivandrum. minIncomeMonthly is the annual salaried figure divided by 12. |
| Documents |
|
| How to apply | Online on hsbc.bank.in with video KYC (an Rs 250 Amazon eGift voucher is offered for online applications completed with video KYC, 1 Jan 2026 to 31 Mar 2027), by phone, or at a branch. Premier card only for HSBC Premier banking customers via branch or 1800 120 4722. |
| Card customer care | 1800 267 3456 / 1800 121 2208 (personal banking and credit cards, toll free, 6.30 am to 8.30 pm); Premier 1800 266 3456 / 1800 120 4722 (24x7) |
These are the bank's published conditions. Meeting them does not guarantee a card: approval and the credit limit are the bank's decision.
Is TravelOne worth it for you?
TravelOne makes most sense for a flyer who already know how they redeem miles. Book a few return flights a year, top up an Air India Maharaja Club or Flying Blue account, and the 1:1 transfer turns ordinary spending into miles at 2 per ₹100. The 10 lounge visits a year with no spend condition stated is a real perk on top.
It works less well for anyone wanting simple value. With no published rupee value for a point, you can't easily tell what 15,600 points a year is worth unless you price an award ticket yourself. The fee bites unless you cross ₹8,00,000 a year, and the 3.5% markup take back much of what foreign spends earn.
Skip it if your main spends are bills, fuel, rent and insurance, since none of that earns. Skip it too if you travel abroad a lot and want a low markup, because HSBC's own Live+ charges 1.99% and two cards in the next tab charge less than 3.5%. And anyone who carry a balance should look elsewhere, as 45% a year interest is far more than any mile is worth.
Pros
- Points transfer 1:1 to select airline and hotel programmes, including Air India Maharaja Club, Flying Blue, British Airways and Etihad
- 4 points per ₹100 on flights, travel aggregators and foreign spends, capped only at 50,000 points a month
- 6 domestic and 4 international lounge visits a year with no spend condition stated
- Points stay valid for 3 years from the end of the month they are earned
- Welcome ₹1,000 cashback and a ₹3,000 PostCard voucher for ₹25,000 spend in 30 days
- 10,000 bonus points for spending more than ₹12,00,000 a year
Cons
- Annual fee of ₹4,999 plus GST, reversed only above ₹8,00,000 of yearly spend
- 3.5% forex markup, against 1.99% on HSBC Live+
- No published rupee value for points outside airline and hotel transfers
- No points on utilities, insurance, rent, fuel, wallets, tax, education or government payments
- Offered only in HSBC's 21 listed cities
TravelOne against other travel cards
AU Zenith+
The AU Zenith+ Credit Card charges an identical ₹4,999 and uses the same ₹8,00,000 waiver line. It earns 1 point per ₹100, 2 on travel, dining and international spends, at a stated ₹1 a point, with 16 domestic and 16 international lounge visits a year and forex of 0.99%, falling to 0% from 1 December 2026. The catch is income, AU asks a monthly net income of ₹2.5 lakh.
ICICI Bank Sapphiro
The ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card earns 2 points per ₹100 at home and 4 per ₹100 abroad, with a ₹6,500 joining fee, a ₹3,500 annual fee and a waiver at ₹6 lakh. Domestic lounges need ₹75,000 of spend in the previous quarter, forex is also 3.5%, and there is no published point value or extra earn on domestic flights.
Axis Bank Magnus
The Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card is for bigger budgets: ₹12,500 a year, waived only at ₹25 lakh, and an income bar of ₹24 lakh a year. It earns 12 EDGE REWARD points per ₹200, 35 per ₹200 on monthly spends above ₹1.5 lakh, and convert 5 points into 2 partner miles. Forex is 2% and Priority Pass visits are unlimited.
Which one to pick
For 1:1 airline transfers at a mid-level fee, TravelOne is the pick. If your income clears ₹2.5 lakh a month, Zenith+ gives more lounges and a much more lower markup for the same fee. Sapphiro suits someone wanting a lower annual fee after year one, Magnus people spending well above ₹1.5 lakh a month, and HSBC's Live+ anyone wanting cashback. All HSBC cards are on our HSBC India page, and the card finder or the credit cards hub can shortlist by spend.
HSBC TravelOne against similar cards
| Term | HSBC TravelOne Credit Card This card | AU Zenith+ Credit Card | ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card | Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank | HSBC India | AU Small Finance Bank (AU Bank) | ICICI Bank | Axis Bank |
| Joining fee | ₹4,999 + GST | ₹4,999 + GST | ₹6,500 + GST | ₹12,500 + GST |
| Annual fee and waiver | ₹4,999 + GST. Annual fee, including GST, fully reversed if total eligible spend across primary and add-on cards in the anniversary year exceeds Rs 8,00,000 | ₹4,999 + GST. For 2nd year onwards fee waiver: Rs. 8 Lakhs net retail spends done in previous card anniversary year | ₹3,500 + GST. Spend over ₹6 lakh and get your Annual Fee waived off for the next year | ₹12,500 + GST. Annual fee waived on eligible spends of INR 25 lakh in the preceding card anniversary year (rent, wallet, utilities, government, EMI conversions, cash, reversals, fees, insurance, gold/jewellery, fuel and gift cards excluded). Lifetime free (Nil fees) for customers with a Burgundy Salary Account opened on or after 1 July 2026 with net monthly salary of INR 2 lakh or more. |
| Base reward | 2 reward points for every Rs 100 spent, no cap | 1 Reward Point per Rs.100 spent across all merchant categories... (about 1% value) | 2 reward points per ₹100 on domestic spend | 12 EDGE REWARD Points per INR 200 on eligible spends up to INR 1.5 lakh in a... |
| Best category | Flights, travel aggregators and foreign currency spends: 4 reward points per Rs 100 | Travel, dining and international spends: about 2% value | International spend: 4 reward points per ₹100 | Monthly eligible spends above INR 1.5 lakh: 35 EDGE REWARD Points per INR 200 |
| Lounges | Domestic: 6 complimentary domestic lounge visits a year International: 4 complimentary international lounge visits a year (LoungeKey) | Domestic: 16 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits a year (4 per quarter) International: 16 complimentary international lounge visits a year (4 per quarter) with Priority Pass | Domestic: 4 domestic airport lounge accesses per quarter (primary) on ₹75,000 spend in the preceding quarter (dual Mastercard and Amex holders: 2 per variant) International: 2 complimentary international lounge accesses a year via Priority Pass (primary) | Domestic: Unlimited complimentary visits at select domestic airport lounges (card, not Priority Pass, from 28 Aug 2026); 4 guest visits a calendar year International: Unlimited complimentary visits with Priority Pass, plus 4 guest visits per year |
| Forex markup | 3.5% of the amount | 0.99% of the amount | 3.5% of the amount | 2% of the amount |
| Network | Mastercard | Visa, RuPay | Mastercard, American Express, RuPay | Mastercard |
| Published minimum income | ₹50,000 a month | ₹2,50,000 a month | ₹75,000 a month | ₹2,00,000 a month |
| Status | Taking applications | Taking applications | Taking applications | Taking applications |
Frequently asked questions
What is the HSBC TravelOne annual fee and when is it waived?
How much is one HSBC TravelOne reward point worth?
What income do I need for HSBC TravelOne?
How many lounge visits does TravelOne give, and what is the forex markup?
Has HSBC changed TravelOne in 2026?
Do bookings on travel aggregators earn 4 points on TravelOne?
Related
- HSBC India Credit Cards 2026: Live+, TravelOne, Premier and RuPay
- AU Zenith+ Credit Card Review: Points Worth ₹1 and 0% Forex From December
- ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card Review: Lounges, Golf and a ₹6,500 Fee
- Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card Review: Big Points Only Above ₹1.5 Lakh
- Credit Cards in India 2026: Choose by Spend, Know the Costs and Rules
Sources
- The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, India (HSBC India): Important Terms and Conditions (TravelOne); HSBC Rewards Marketplace Terms and Conditions; HSBC Credit Card Key Fact Statement; HSBC TravelOne Credit Card; HSBC TravelOne Credit Card (footnote); HSBC TravelOne rewards; HSBC TravelOne Service Guide; Contact HSBC
Last verified: 5 November 2026
Written by Rashmi Mandana, reviewed by BankCreds Financial Experts
BankCreds does not sell cards or take applications. Fees and rewards change; the bank's own terms on the day you apply are what count, and approval is the bank's decision.