HSBC Premier offering you a free hotel stay – and the best Avios non-Amex credit card

I have covered the HSBC Premier World Elite MasterCard in some detail in the past – my full review is here.  It is a VERY attractive MasterCard product if you want to earn Avios.

There is a £195 annual fee but you will receive 40,000 Avios points for spending £12,000 in the first year*.  You also earn an unbeatable 1 Avios per £1 on your MasterCard AND get access to 500 airport lounges worldwide via LoungeKey.

Travel insurance is also included as part of the HSBC Premier current account benefits.  Other credit card benefits include a £20 Uber credit each time you spend £500+ on an airline ticket.  Full details can be found here.

The standard HSBC Premier MasterCard is also attractive.  As you can see in my review here, the card is free – albeit there is no sign up bonus – and you earn 0.5 Avios for every £1 you spend.

HSBC points can also be transferred to Etihad, Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific at the same attractive rates.

Join HSBC Premier

The only snag with these cards is that you MUST have a HSBC Premier current account.

HSBC Premier has tough eligibility criteria.  See here and click on the Eligibility button to see the details.

As well as opening a HSBC Premier current account, you must ALSO have £50,000 invested with HSBC, either in a savings account or via an investment product.

Alternatively, if you earn over £100,000, you qualify if you just have a HSBC mortgage or any investment or insurance product.

If you earn six figures and are attracted by the HSBC Premier credit card package, there is a new bribe available to persuade you to switch.

Join now and HSBC will give you a free night in one of 50 ‘premium’ hotels across the UK.

Details of the deal can be found here.  I am generally suspicious about deals like this, because you never know how much flexibility you will be given on dates.  That said, as HSBC Premier is behind it I would hope that you will not have serious difficulties.

Here is the small print:

HSBC Premier Customers can stay in one of 50 premium hotels from around the UK when they switch to HSBC Premier using the Current Account Switch Service. You can choose venues based on your preference of the type of experience you want to enjoy.

For each venue, you will have a specially created HSBC package which enables you to experience something unique or you can simply go to the venue and indulge in a night away.

You will receive a Premier booklet containing information about the specially selected venues and experiences, along with terms and conditions and details of the booking phone number. 

Hotel booking subject to availability. Offer available from 29 December 2017. Package includes cost of one night in selected hotels for two people. Other charges may apply for additional services. We reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time. Vouchers to be used by 19 March 2019.

The offer is available to new customers only* who are UK resident, and it is subject to availability. The offer is limited to one per customer or joint relationship on eligible HSBC Premier Bank Accounts. Our partner, MLP will be booking and providing this offer on behalf of HSBC Premier. Terms and conditions apply.

* ‘New customers’ means customers who have not held an HSBC current account since 1 January 2015.

Once your Premier bank account is open, you will be able to apply for either the HSBC Premier or HSBC Premier World Elite credit cards and start earning Avios, or Etihad, Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific airline miles, at the generous HSBC rates.

(* The sign-up bonus is a little messy.  You receive 40,000 HSBC Premier points, worth 20,000 Avios, for taking out the card.  You receive a further 40,000 points after spending £12,000 in a year.  However, you will not receive these points until after you have renewed the card for a second year, paying a 2nd £195 fee.)

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Want to earn more points from credit cards? – April 2025 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

In 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Earning miles and points from small business cards

If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:

American Express Business Platinum

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

Capital on Tap Visa

NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review