The HSBC Revolution card has updated its rewards terms and conditions to exclude 2 key hotel/accommodation Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) from earning bonus points, starting next year.
Removed bonus categories
From 1 January 2024, transactions with the following MCCs will stop earning bonus points:
❌ 4722 (Travel Agencies and Tour Operators)
❌ 7011 (Lodging – Hotels, Motels, Resorts, Central Reservation Services (Not Elsewhere Classified)
So, what does this mean in layman’s terms?
In other words, MCC 4722 transactions at online travel/tour agencies will no longer get you an earn rate of 4 miles per dollar (mpd).
❌ Agoda
❌ Expedia
❌ Trip.com
❌ Klook
❌ Pelago
Newly-excluded MCC 7011 covers a wide range of transactions too, including some lodging/hotel operators like ❌ Airbnb and ❌ some hotels.
Accommodations that will continue to earn bonus points
However, larger chain hotels, like those under Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt or Hilton may have their own MCCs, which will still earn you bonus points going forward.
This includes:
- Sheraton (MCC 3503)
- Hilton (MCC 3504)
- Marriott (MCC 3509)
- Intercontinental (MCC 3512)
- Hyatt (MCC 3640)
If it wasn’t clear, the keyword is MAY. Some major chain hotels may still use MCC 7011, which will not earn any bonus points on this card.
Because of this uncertainty, I will stop using this card for anything related to accommodations.
Updated bonus MCCs
Here’s the updated table of MCCs that will be awarded bonus points (from 1 Jan 2024):
| Category | Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) |
|---|---|
| Travel-related such as Airlines, Car Rental, Lodging, Cruise Lines and Travel Agencies | 3000 to 3350, 3351 to 3500, 3501 to 3999, 4411, 4511 |
| Department Stores and Retail Stores | 4816, 5045, 5262, 5309, 5310, 5311, 5331, 5399, 5611, 5621, 5631, 5641, 5651, 5655, 5661, 5691, 5699, 5732 to 5735, 5912, 5942, 5944 to 5949, 5964 to 5970, 5992, 5999 |
| Supermarkets, Dining and Food Delivery | 5411, 5441, 5462, 5499, 5811, 5812, 5813, 5814 |
| Others such as Transportation and Membership Clubs | 4121, 7997 |
Should you keep or cancel the card?
The HSBC Revolution Visa card has been in Suitesmile’s list of must-have cards in Singapore for many years.
This is because, cardholders can receive a great 4 mpd earn rate on key spending categories like:
✅ Dining (Contactless)
✅ Groceries (Online or Contactless)
✅ General Shopping (Online or Contactless)
✅ Food Delivery (Online)
✅ Ride-Hailing (Online)
✅ Flight Tickets (Online or Contactless)
✅ Car Rental (Online or Contactless)
❌ Hotels/Lodging (Online or Contactless)
❌ Tour Agencies (Online or Contactless)
While it hurts to lose the ability to earn 4 mpd on accommodations and tour agencies, HSBC Revolution will continue to be a must-have card because of the other key categories, and for the following reasons:
✅ No annual fee, ever
✅ No minimum spending required to earn 4 mpd (max. $1,000 per month)
✅ 3-year points validity (from earned month)
✅ Option to redeem points as cashback (4 mpd = 2.5% cashback)
💡Click on the + More info button below to instantly view the key details of the card.
Promo 1: Fulfilled by HSBC
Reward
42,000 points
(16.8k miles equivalent)
✅ Be a new credit cardholder of the bank
✅ Apply by 30 Sep 2026
✅ Provide marketing consent during application
✅ Spend at least S$1,000 by the end of the following calendar month after card approval date
Promo 2: Fulfilled by SingSaver
Reward (choose one)
• S$420 cash
• Dyson Airstrait (worth S$799)
• Dyson V8 Cyclone vacuum (worth S$559)
• Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds + S$50 eCapitaVoucher (worth S$529)
✅ Be a new credit cardholder of the bank
✅ Apply by 24 Aug 2026
✅ Provide marketing consent during application
✅ Spend at least S$500 by the end of the following calendar month after card approval date
✅ Submit rewards redemption form that you receive via email (from SingSaver)
Earn 4 mpd on contactless and online spending; boost earn rate to 8 mpd with a minimum deposit of S$50,000
Card details
Key details of the HSBC Revolution Card
Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$30,000 – S$65,000
• Foreigner: S$65,000Annual fee: No annual fee, ever
Earn 4 mpd on selected contactless and online spending, up to S$1,000 per calendar month
Boost bonus earn rate to 8 mpd (up to S$1,200 per calendar month) with a minimum deposit of S$50,000
No minimum spending
3-year miles expiry term
7 useful miles transfer partners
Free miles transfers to frequent flyer programs
Instant miles transfers
No annual fee, ever
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ Poor transfer ratio to KrisFlyer
⚠️ Bonus categories are MCC-sensitive
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
Alternative cards for those excluded categories
You can continue to earn 4 to 6 mpd on travel agency and accommodation transactions with MCCs 4722 and 7011 on the following cards:
Fulfilled by SingSaver
Reward
S$95 cash
✅ Be a new credit cardholder of the bank
✅ Apply by 31 Aug 2026
✅ Spend at least S$500 within 30 days after card approval date
✅ Submit rewards redemption form that you receive via email (from SingSaver)
Earn 4 mpd on one chosen bonus category
Card details
Key details of the UOB Lady’s Card
Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$15,000 – S$30,000
• Foreigner: S$40,000Annual fee: S$196.20 (first year waived; request waiver every year)
Earn 4 mpd on 1 chosen bonus category, up to S$1,000 per calendar month
No minimum spending
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ Bonus categories are MCC-sensitive
⚠️ 2-year miles expiry term
⚠️ Only 2 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
Earn 4 mpd on online spending
Card details
Key details of the DBS Woman’s World Card
Card rating :
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income: S$80,000 (not strict)
Annual fee: S$196.20 (first year waived; request waiver every year)
Earn 4 mpd on online spending, up to S$1,000 per calendar month
No minimum spending
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ 1-year miles expiry term
⚠️ Only 3 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
Bottom line
From 1 Jan 2024, HSBC Revolution cardholders will stop receiving 4 mpd on travel agency and most accommodation spending.
However, due to its hassle-free nature, the card will continue to be essential for mile-chasers in Singapore, albeit with a little less shine.



