Nerfed: HSBC Revolution will stop awarding 4 mpd on most hotel/accommodation spending

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):

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.

HSBC Revolution

Earn 4 mpd or 2.5% cashback on selected online/contactless spending

Apply now

🎁 Sign-up bonus

+ Card Summary

More information on the

HSBC Revolution Visa Card

Suitesmile rating:

---

✍️ Short summary
This card gives you a strong earn rate of 4 miles per dollar on online and contactless spending (in foreign currency too!) on certain spending categories like retail shopping, flight tickets, ride-hailing and dining (excl. fast food), up to $1,000 per calendar month.

Take note that cardholders will only earn 0.4 mpd on other categories and spending above $1,000 per calendar month.

This is a great fuss-free card that offers a great earn rate on key spending categories for most people, without any annual fee to worry about.

There’s a little quirk though. To transfer HSBC points to Frequent Flyer Programs, cardholders need to enroll in HSBC’s Mileage Programme, which costs $43.20 annually. Upon enrollment, cardholders can make unlimited points transfers, at no additional cost. (FYI: Most other cards charge about $25 fee per transfer)

Not into Miles or travel-hacking? Redeem your points for 2.5% cashback instead, on the aforementioned spending categories!

Cardholders also get complimentary access to the ENTERTAINER with HSBC app, where there are over a thousand 1-for-1 deals on dining, entertainment and hotels.

---

💸 Annual fee
No annual fee, ever

💼 Income requirement
$30,000/year

🤑 Foreign currency fee
3.25%

⏰ Points expiry
3 years from transaction
(37 to 38 months to be exact)

🫱‍🫲 Transfer partners
KrisFlyer and Asia Miles

💯 Transfer ratio
2.5 points = 1 mile

🧮 Transfer block
25,000 points (10,000 miles)

💲Transfer fee
$43.20 annually
(Unlimited transfers)

🤗 Points pooling
Points from this card cannot be combined with those from other HSBC cards and can only be transferred out separately.

❓How/When points are credited
Earn 1 base point per dollar spent, plus 9 bonus points for eligible online/contactless spending (equivalent to 4 mpd in total). Base points are credited immediately when the transaction is posted, while bonus points are credited by the end of the following calendar month.

📜 Terms & conditions

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:

UOB Lady’s

Earn 4 mpd on chosen bonus category

Apply now

🎁 Sign-up bonus

+ Card Summary

More information on the

UOB Lady’s Mastercard

Suitesmile rating:

---

✍️ Short summary
This card, which is also available to men, gives you a great earn rate of 4 miles per dollar on your pre-selected bonus category, up to $1,000 per calendar month.

Take note that cardholders will only earn 0.4 mpd on other categories and spending above $1,000 per calendar month.

Cardholders can choose/change a preferred bonus category every quarter.

The 7 bonus categories available are:

1. Beauty & Wellness (e.g. cosmetic stores, hair salons, spas)
2. Fashion (e.g. clothing, shoes stores)
3. Dining (e.g. restaurants, food delivery)
4. Family (e.g. supermarkets, children clothing stores)
5. Travel (e.g. flights, hotels, duty-free stores)
6. Transport (e.g. public transport, taxi, petrol)
7. Entertainment (e.g. bars, night clubs, cinemas)

Cardholders may check existing selected bonus category by calling UOB.

---

💸 Annual fee
$196.20
(First year waived)

💼 Income requirement
$30,000/year

🤑 Foreign currency fee
3.25%
(Avoid this fee by linking this card to Amaze!)

⏰ Points expiry
2 years from transaction

🫱‍🫲 Transfer partners
KrisFlyer and Asia Miles

💯 Transfer ratio
1 UNI$ = 2 miles

🧮 Transfer block
5,000 UNI$ (10,000 miles)

💲Transfer fee
$25 per transfer

🤗 Points pooling
UNI$ from this card can be combined with those from other UOB cards and transferred out together at once.

❓How/When points are credited
Earn 1 base UNI$ per $5 dollar spent, plus 9 bonus UNI$ for eligible transactions on the bonus category (equivalent to 4 mpd in total). Base and bonus points are credited immediately when the transaction is posted.

📜 Terms & conditions

DBS Woman’s World

Earn 4 mpd on online spending

Apply now

🎁 Sign-up bonus

+ Card Summary

More information on the

DBS Woman’s World Mastercard

Suitesmile rating:

---

✍️ Short summary
This card, which is also available to men, gives you a strong earn rate of 4 miles per dollar on online spending (in foreign currency too!) on key spending categories like online shopping, flights, hotels, food delivery and ride-hailing, up to $1,500 per calendar month.

The biggest drawback is that DBS points earned on this card have an expiry term of just 1 year. With a minimum transfer block of 5,000 points (10,000 miles), cardholders often find themselves with expiring “orphan” points of under 5,000, that can only be redeemed for low-value items like mall/dining vouchers.

---

💸 Annual fee
$196.20
(First year waived)

💼 Income requirement
$80,000/year
(Not strict. Many readers with lower income have reported that you can get an approval by applying without SingPass, then entering an annual income above $80k, before uploading your actual proof of income that is under $80k.)

🤑 Foreign currency fee
3.25%

⏰ Points expiry
1 year from transaction

🫱‍🫲 Transfer partners
KrisFlyer, Asia Miles, Qantas Frequent Flyer

💯 Transfer ratio
1 point = 2 miles

🧮 Transfer block
5,000 points (10,000 miles)

💲Transfer fee
$27 per transfer

🤗 Points pooling
Points from this card can be combined with those from other DBS cards and transferred out together at once.

❓How/When points are credited
Earn 1 base point per $5 dollar spent, plus 9 bonus points for eligible online transactions (equivalent to 4 mpd in total). Base points are credited immediately when the transaction is posted, while bonus points are credited around the middle of the following calendar month.

📜 Terms & conditions

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.