When compared with other popular airline-agnostic cards like the Axis Atlas, which offers up to 10% value-back on travel spends, HSBC TravelOne’s 2% reward rate on general travel spends appears less competitive. However, HSBC TravelOne stands out by offering accelerated value-back on travel aggregator platforms. Since many consumers prefer booking through these portals due to competitive rates, this benefit could result in significant savings. Moreover, the ‘Travel with Points’ option on HSBC Rewards Marketplace under which you can pay full or partial travel booking value using the accrued reward points and the remaining through your card, lets you earn up to 12% back. This feature propels HSBC TravelOne ahead of its competitors. It is also worth noting that Axis Atlas has certain restrictions on reward transfers, with redemption partners categorized into Group A and Group B, each subject to separate capping. When selecting between the two, consumers should carefully evaluate the benefits of each card, reward redemption preferences and associated terms and conditions.