HDFC Financial institution’s Infinia Credit score Card, a dream card for each bank card fanatic, is an evergreen super-premium bank card in India that has stood the take a look at of time. If there’s a single bank card that continues to be related even a decade after its launch, it will be HDFC Financial institution’s Infinia Credit score Card.
The financial institution has just lately launched a metallic variant of the Infinia, named Infinia Metallic Version, that includes a metallic kind issue, whereas all different options stay the identical. Right here’s every little thing it’s good to know in regards to the HDFC Infinia Credit score Card in its present kind.
Overview
| Sort | Tremendous Premium Credit score Card |
| Reward Charge | 3.3% – 33% |
| Annual Payment | 12,500 INR + GST |
| Finest for | Common spends, lounge entry |
| USP | 5X/10X Rewards on Smartbuy Spends |
HDFC Financial institution Infinia Credit score Card is a feature-packed bank card providing a number of advantages together with a very good reward price, lounge entry, low foreign exchange markup payment & accelerated rewards on Smartbuy spends that may get you loopy returns, as excessive as 33% on choose spends.
Becoming a member of Charges
| Becoming a member of / Annual Payment | Rs.12,500+GST |
| Welcome Profit | 12,500 Factors (12,500 INR worth) |
| Renewal Payment | Rs.12,500+GST |
| Renewal Profit | 12,500 Factors (12,500 INR worth) |
| Renewal Payment Waiver | Spend Rs.10L within the card anniversary yr |
The nice factor with HDFC Infinia Credit score Card as in comparison with different tremendous premium playing cards throughout the financial institution like Diners Black is that even for those who don’t spend 10L a yr, you’ll get the renewal profit for the payment paid, which is sweet sufficient for all the advantages it comes with.
Design
Let’s speak about each the previous and new designs, as proven within the above picture: previous(plastic) and new(metallic), respectively.
When the financial institution transitioned to the metallic variant a yr in the past, they launched a brand new design, which, in my view, was one of many worst selections ever made.
Whereas designs are subjective, I don’t know anybody who likes the brand new design. It’s darkish and boring, missing any inventive parts.
That being mentioned, their previous design is likely one of the greatest I’ve ever seen. The golden numbers and identify embossed on the cardboard used to look stunningly stunning, simply as you may see above.
Reward Factors
| SPEND TYPE | REWARDS | REWARD RATE | MAX. CAP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Spends | 1X 5 RP / 150 INR |
3.3% | 2L RP / Stmt Cycle |
| Accommodations (By way of Smartbuy) |
10X 50 RP / 150 INR |
33% | 15,000 RP / Shared (Max: 50K INR spend) |
| Flights / eVouchers (By way of Smartbuy) |
5X 25 RP / 150 INR |
16.5% | 15,000 RP / Shared (Max: 1.14L INR spend) |
- Factors Validity: 3 Years
- RP Capping on Grocery: 2000 RP / Calendar month
- RP Capping on Insurance coverage: 5000 RP / day
- Capping on Smartbuy is on 9X/4X bonus factors.
- EMI, Tax, Gas, Hire & Pockets txns are excluded for Reward Factors
- 1% payment on Hire Funds
Whereas flights, accommodations, and e-vouchers are fashionable areas of spends below SmartBuy, you can even earn accelerated 3X/5X/10X rewards on many different classes, as talked about right here.
In the event you’ve enterprise spends like taxes on which you don’t earn rewards on Infinia, you may discover the newly launched HDFC BizBlack Credit score Card because it not solely offers you rewards on taxes but in addition provides engaging bonus factors on choose enterprise spends.
To not neglect that HDFC Smartbuy T&C retains altering very often however have been largely secure up to now yr or so.
Redemption
| Redemption Sort | Redemption Ratio | MAX. Redemption (Calendar month) |
|---|---|---|
| Flights / Accommodations | 1:1 | 1,50,000 RP (Shared Max. Cap) |
| Apple Merchandise | 1:1 | 1,50,000 RP (Shared Max. Cap) |
| Tanishq Vouchers | 1:1 | 50,000 RP (a part of 1.5L max cap) |
| Airmiles (airways/accommodations) | 1:1 / 2:1 | 1,50,000 RP (Shared Max. Cap) |
| Merchandise/Vouchers | 1:0.5 | – |
| Cashback | 1:0.3 | – |
- Redemption Rule: 70% from reward factors, 30% from Credit score Card.
- You get 5X/10X factors on the remaining 30% paid on card.
Normally flights & accommodations are the most effective choices to redeem HDFC Infinia Credit score Card reward factors.
For a short while nonetheless, airmiles was an incredible choice because it permits one to switch factors at 1:1 for many companions together with Accor/lifemiles. I hope that returns to Infinia or at-least Infinia Reserve in future.
Foreign exchange Markup Payment
- Overseas Foreign money Markup Payment: 2%+GST = 2.36%
- Rewards: 3.3% + 1%
- Web Achieve: 4.3% – 2.36% = ~2% (acquire)
Similar to most different tremendous premium bank cards, HDFC Infinia Credit score Card additionally comes at a reduced foreign exchange markup payment of two%.
And for those who activate the International Worth Program you get 1% extra cashback thereby getting you a internet 2% acquire on foreign exchange spends.
Airport Lounge Entry
| ACCESS TYPE | VIA | LIMIT | GUEST ACCESS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Lounge Entry | Visa/MC | Limitless | – |
| Worldwide Lounge Entry | Precedence Cross | Limitless | – |
The Home & Worldwide airport Lounge entry profit just isn’t just for the first cardholder but in addition extends to all Add-on cardmembers as nicely.
To not neglect that the Precedence Cross on HDFC Infinia is likely one of the only a few playing cards within the nation that may additionally give complimentary entry to home lounges. It comes helpful at instances when different playing cards will not be accepted in choose lounges, like Mumbai Arrival lounge and even the brand new Precedence Cross Lounge in Chennai.
Golf Profit
- Complimentary Video games/Classes: Limitless
- Protection: 20 home / 140 worldwide Golf Programs
- Only one reserving could be held at a time
- Min. / Max. Advance Reserving Interval: 4 Days / 14 Days
The Golf profit on HDFC Infinia Credit score Card is sort of respectable because it not solely covers most golf curses in India but in addition a very good variety of Worldwide Golf Programs.
Different Advantages
- Keep for 3-nights and pay for 2 at collaborating ITC accommodations.
- 1+1 complimentary buffet at collaborating ITC accommodations.
- Complimentary Membership Marriott membership for first yr that gives as much as 20% reductions for Eating and keep throughout Asia – Pacific area
- Gas Surcharge Waiver: on transactions between Rs.400 and Rs.1,00,000
Infinia vs Infinia Metallic
Within the above picture you may see: Infinia(plastic, previous design), Infinia(plastic new design) and Infinia(Metallic Version), respectively
The first distinction between Infinia plastic & metallic is it’s metallic kind issue that comes with a further payment of two,500 INR and a barely increased eligibility requirement. All else stay the identical.
In the event you’re on the plastic Infinia with previous design and substitute the cardboard, you’re going to get the plastic Infinia with new design as proven above.
In the event you want the Infinia Metallic Version, You’ll must request your RM for an improve.
Is Infinia good in 2024?
It will depend on who’s asking that.
- Airmiles fanatic? Then No!
- Choose easy redemptions? Then Sure!
Their legendary Smartbuy 10X program is likely one of the greatest within the business which has now grow to be a typical function throughout many tremendous premium playing cards.
Nevertheless, in 2024 it lacks the wow issue as a result of the competitors has been aggressive, like, Axis Magnus Burgundy Credit score Card with sky excessive reward charges on excessive common spends and Sure Financial institution’s Marquee Credit score Card that has beneficiant rewards on on-line spends.
Nevertheless, the draw back with Axis/Sure Financial institution playing cards are that they’ll’t be trusted for a very long time as they preserve devaluing typically, which isn’t the case with HDFC Infinia.
My Expertise
I’ve been holding HDFC Infinia Credit score Card for nicely over half a decade and it’s definitely probably the greatest bank cards on the market unquestionably.
Whereas I’ve not been utilizing Infinia a lot currently due to a lot increased returns on Axis Magnus, issues are getting again to regular and I’ve began utilizing HDFC Infinia once more particularly after I don’t desire to take a look at Axis Financial institution’s lengthy checklist of exclusions.
Eligibility
- Recent Card: ITR: >45L p.a. (or) Imperia/Infiniti banking relationship with ITR near what’s required.
- Improve: >8L Credit score Restrict with >7.5L spends in final 6 months
Above are the same old methods by which most get their HDFC Infinia Credit score Card. Although, there are different methods like getting one via FD, by taking funding merchandise, and many others which retains altering occasionally.
General, it’s not that powerful to get HDFC Infinia in 2024 in comparison with how powerful it was some 5 years in the past.
The way to Apply?
You could apply on-line for those who’re making use of for a recent card and eligible through ITR route. In any other case, you could go to the department and apply with the assistance of RM/BM.
Bottomline
The HDFC Financial institution Infinia Credit score Card is undoubtedly one of many greatest bank cards accessible within the nation for rich Indians.
From limitless lounge entry for the whole household to engaging rewards, low foreign exchange prices and golf advantages, it’s a must have bank card in your pockets so long as you’re eligible for it.
That mentioned, there’s room for enchancment, particularly for reward seekers who’ve skilled the mind-blowing worth of air miles. So, a 1:1 switch ratio with factors switch companions like Accor and Aeroplan can be good to have, maybe on the upcoming HDFC Infinia Reserve.