HSBC Premier Travel Mastercard Introduces DragonPass Lounge Access

We're only midway through July, and yet the flurry of lounge-related announcements just keeps rolling in.

Hot on the heels of lounge access changes from UOB and others, HSBC Malaysia has now confirmed that starting 13 August 2025, the HSBC Premier Travel Mastercard will offer airport lounge access via the DragonPass network.

Source: HSBC Malaysia

Let’s take a closer look at what this means—and whether it makes any real difference.

What is DragonPass?

DragonPass is a global airport lounge membership program that began in China and has since expanded rapidly across Asia and beyond. It aims to provide travellers with more than just lounges—offering a complete suite of airport services.

Here’s what you need to know about DragonPass:

• Extensive Lounge Access: Over 1,300 airport lounges globally, with strong coverage across Asia.

• Airport Dining Discounts: Cardholders enjoy exclusive discounts at selected airport restaurants and cafés.

• Fast Track Security: Available at select airports, helping cardholders skip the long queues.

• Wellness and Spa Services: Depending on the membership, perks may include access to airport gyms, yoga rooms, and even spas.

• Limousine and Meet & Greet Services: DragonPass offers access to curated transport and personal assistance at select airports.

• Flexible Membership Models: Ranges from pay-per-use to unlimited visits, each with varying fees and benefits.

• Widespread Credit Card Integration: Particularly popular in Asia and Canada, many banks bundle DragonPass access with their premium credit cards.

  
  

How Does It Stack Up Against Priority Pass and LoungeKey?

All three platforms—DragonPass, Priority Pass, and LoungeKey—grant access to airport lounges, but the way they operate varies:

Priority Pass boasts the largest network, with 1,500+ lounges and dining partners across 140 countries. It's a veteran in the space and is available for direct purchase or bundled with premium cards worldwide.

LoungeKey, while also managed by the Collinson Group (the same parent as Priority Pass), is exclusively tied to credit card partnerships. You can’t buy access to LoungeKey; it only comes bundled with eligible cards, and the network overlaps significantly with Priority.

DragonPass, on the other hand, distinguishes itself with its emphasis on additional perks like dining discounts, fast-track services, and wellness options. It's also more widely bundled across banks in Asia-Pacific.

Does DragonPass Actually Elevate the HSBC Premier Travel Mastercard?

Now here’s the elephant in the room: Is lounge access via DragonPass enough to make the HSBC Premier Travel Mastercard worth considering?

In short, not really.

First, you’ll need to qualify as a Premier Elite customer, which requires a colossal RM3 million in Assets Under Management (AUM) with HSBC Malaysia.

Let’s not mince words. I’ve long held the view that the HSBC Premier Travel Mastercard is one of the least compelling high-net-worth credit cards in Malaysia.

From an airline miles standpoint, the card suffers from dismal Miles Per Ringgit (MPR) rates—even worse than what you’d get from sub-RM100K income tier cards.

Existing Lounge Acess Proposition

Beyond that, the card offers little in terms of meaningful travel perks. There's no airport limo benefit, no Grab ride reimbursements, and until now, even lounge access was sorely lacking.

While DragonPass technically fills that gap, it still falls short of being a major draw—especially when you consider what other banks are offering in this space.

Take the UOB Privilege Banking Visa Infinite, for instance. With just RM500K in AUM (that’s one-sixth of HSBC’s requirement), you get 12 DragonPass lounge visits annually, plus the ability to bring a guest. You also get far superior MPR rates, airport limo service, and arguably one of the best credit card ecosystems for Asia Miles and KrisFlyer.

Put side by side, the HSBC Premier Travel Mastercard starts to look like a case study in how not to design a credit card for affluent users.

Final Thoughts

While HSBC Malaysia’s move to integrate DragonPass into the Premier Travel Mastercard is a step in the right direction, it ultimately feels like a patch rather than a game-changer.

For existing cardholders—particularly legacy customers grandfathered into the product—this may come as a small win. But for new-to-bank prospects, the RM3 million AUM threshold remains a huge ask for very little upside. When compared to other cards in the market that offer stronger miles conversion, better lounge access, and far more useful travel perks at a lower entry point, this feels like too little, too.

Unless HSBC Malaysia is planning a major overhaul of its travel rewards proposition, the inclusion of DragonPass isn’t going to move the needle—either in cardholder satisfaction or customer acquisition. At best, it’s a checkbox ticked. At worst, it’s an expensive afterthought.

Let’s hope future updates are more ambitious. Because right now, the HSBC Premier Travel Mastercard is struggling to justify its place in any serious travel strategy.