HDFC Bank’s Infinia Credit Card, a dream card for every credit card enthusiast, is an evergreen super-premium credit card in India that has stood the test of time. If there is a single credit card that remains relevant even a decade after its launch, it would be HDFC Bank’s Infinia Credit Card.
The bank has recently launched a metal variant of the Infinia, named Infinia Metal Edition, featuring a metal form factor, while all other features remain the same. Here’s everything you need to know about the HDFC Infinia Credit Card in its current form.
Table of Contents
Overview
| Type | Super Premium Credit Card |
| Reward Rate | 3.3% – 33% |
| Annual Fee | 12,500 INR + GST |
| Best for | Regular spends, lounge access |
| USP | 5X/10X Rewards on Smartbuy Spends |
HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card is a feature-packed credit card offering multiple benefits including a good reward rate, lounge access, low forex markup fee & accelerated rewards on Smartbuy spends that can get you crazy returns, as high as 33% on select spends.
Joining Fees
| Joining / Annual Fee | Rs.12,500+GST |
| Welcome Benefit | 12,500 Points (12,500 INR value) |
| Renewal Fee | Rs.12,500+GST |
| Renewal Benefit | 12,500 Points (12,500 INR value) |
| Renewal Fee Waiver | Spend Rs.10L in the card anniversary year |
The good thing with HDFC Infinia Credit Card as compared to other super premium cards within the bank like Diners Black is that even if you don’t spend 10L a year, you’ll get the renewal benefit for the fee paid, which is good enough for all the benefits it comes with.
Design
Let’s talk about both the old and new designs, as shown in the above image: old(plastic) and new(metal), respectively.
When the bank transitioned to the metal variant a year ago, they introduced a new design, which, in my opinion, was one of the worst decisions ever made.
While designs are subjective, I don’t know anyone who likes the new design. It’s dark and dull, lacking any creative elements.
That being said, their old design is one of the best I’ve ever seen. The golden numbers and name embossed on the card used to look stunningly beautiful, just as you can see above.
Reward Points
| SPEND TYPE | REWARDS | REWARD RATE | MAX. CAP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Spends | 5 RP / 150 INR | 3.3% | 2L RP / Stmt Cycle |
| Hotels (Via Smartbuy) | 10X 25 RP / 150 INR | 33% | 15,000 RP / Shared (Max: 1.14L INR spend) |
| Flights / eVouchers (Via Smartbuy) | 5X 15 RP / 150 INR | 16.5% | 15,000 RP / Shared (Max: 2.28L INR spend) |
- Points Validity: 3 Years
- RP Capping on Grocery: 2000 RP / Calendar month
- RP Capping on Insurance: 5000 RP / day
- Capping on Smartbuy is on 9X/4X bonus points.
- EMI, Tax, Fuel, Rent & Wallet txns are excluded for Reward Points
- 1% fee on Rent Payments (Redgirraffe works differently)
While flights, hotels, and e-vouchers are popular areas of spends under SmartBuy, you can also earn accelerated 3X/5X/10X rewards on many other categories, as mentioned here.
If you’ve business spends like taxes on which you don’t earn rewards on Infinia, you might explore the newly launched HDFC BizBlack Credit Card as it not only gives you rewards on taxes but also offers attractive bonus points on select business spends.
Not to forget that HDFC Smartbuy T&C keeps changing quite often but have been largely stable in the past year or so.
Redemption
| Redemption Type | Redemption Ratio | MAX. Redemption (Calendar month) |
|---|---|---|
| Flights / Hotels | 1:1 | 1,50,000 RP (Shared Max. Cap) |
| Apple Products | 1:1 | 1,50,000 RP (Shared Max. Cap) |
| Tanishq Vouchers | 1:1 | 50,000 RP (part of 1.5L max cap) |
| Airmiles (airlines/hotels) | 1:1 | 1,50,000 RP (Shared Max. Cap) |
| Products/Vouchers | 1:0.5 | – |
| Cashback | 1:0.3 | – |
- Redemption Rule: 70% from reward points, 30% from Credit Card.
- You get 5X/10X points on the remaining 30% paid on card.
Usually flights & hotels are the best options to redeem HDFC Infinia Credit Card reward points.
For a short time however, airmiles used to be an amazing option as it allows one to transfer points at 1:1 for most partners including Accor/lifemiles. I hope that returns to Infinia or at-least Infinia Reserve in future.
Forex Markup Fee
- Foreign Currency Markup Fee: 2%+GST = 2.36%
- Rewards: 3.3% + 1%
- Net Gain: 4.3% – 2.36% = ~2% (gain)
Just like most other super premium credit cards, HDFC Infinia Credit Card also comes at a discounted forex markup fee of 2%.
And if you activate the Global Value Program you get 1% additional cashback thereby getting you a net 2% gain on forex spends.
Airport Lounge Access
| ACCESS TYPE | VIA | LIMIT | GUEST ACCESS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic Lounge Access | Visa/MC | Unlimited | – |
| International Lounge Access | Priority Pass | Unlimited | – |
The Domestic & International airport Lounge access benefit is not only for the primary cardholder but also extends to all Add-on cardmembers as well.
Golf Benefit
- Complimentary Games/Lessons: Unlimited
- Coverage: 20 domestic / 140 international Golf Courses
- Only 1 booking can be held at a time
- Min. / Max. Advance Booking Period: 4 Days / 14 Days
The Golf benefit on HDFC Infinia Credit Card is quite decent as it not only covers most golf curses in India but also a good number of International Golf Courses.
Infinia vs Infinia Metal
In the above image you can see: Infinia(plastic, old design), Infinia(plastic new design) and Infinia(Metal Edition), respectively
The primary difference between Infinia plastic & metal is it’s metal form factor that comes with an additional fee of 2,500 INR and a slightly higher eligibility requirement. All else remain the same.
If you’re on the plastic Infinia with old design and replace the card, you will get the plastic Infinia with new design as shown above.
If you need the Infinia Metal Edition, You’ll need to request your RM for an upgrade.
Is Infinia good in 2024?
It depends on who’s asking that.
- Airmiles fanatic? Then No!
- Prefer simple redemptions? Then Yes!
Their legendary Smartbuy 10X program is one of the best in the industry which has now become a standard feature across many super premium cards.
However, in 2024 it lacks the wow factor because the competition has been aggressive, like, Axis Magnus Burgundy Credit Card with sky high reward rates on high regular spends and Yes Bank’s Marquee Credit Card that has generous rewards on online spends.
However, the downside with Axis/Yes Bank cards are that they can’t be trusted for a long time as they keep devaluing often, which isn’t the case with HDFC Infinia.
My Experience
I’ve been holding HDFC Infinia Credit Card for well over half a decade and it’s certainly one of the best credit cards out there without a doubt.
While I’ve not been using Infinia much lately because of much higher returns on Axis Magnus, things are getting back to normal and I’ve started using HDFC Infinia again especially when I don’t prefer to look at Axis Bank’s long list of exclusions.
Eligibility
- Fresh Card: ITR: >45L p.a. (or) Imperia/Infiniti banking relationship with ITR close to what’s required.
- Upgrade: >8L Credit Limit with >7.5L spends in last 6 months
Above are the usual ways by which most get their HDFC Infinia Credit Card. Though, there are other ways like getting one through FD, by taking investment products, etc which keeps changing from time to time.
Overall, it’s not that tough to get HDFC Infinia in 2024 compared to how tough it used to be some 5 years ago.
How to Apply?
You may apply online if you’re applying for a fresh card and eligible via ITR route. Otherwise, you may visit the branch and apply with the help of RM/BM.
Bottomline
- Cardexpert Rating: 4.8/5
The HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card is undoubtedly one of the best credit cards available in the country for wealthy Indians.
From unlimited lounge access for the entire family to attractive rewards, low forex charges and golf benefits, it’s a must-have credit card in your wallet as long as you’re eligible for it.
That said, there is room for improvement, especially for reward seekers who have experienced the mind-blowing value of air miles. So, a 1:1 transfer ratio with points transfer partners like Accor and Aeroplan would be good to have, perhaps on the upcoming HDFC Infinia Reserve.
