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The card holder needs to be present though. A few weeks ago I saw a 21 year old being denied entry while trying to enter using his parent's card.

For Magnus also, you need to use the card for domestic and Priority Pass for international. Priority Pass will be chargeable for domestic.

My card was charged Rs. 1235 and then refunded. I have used Priority Pass, twice, both times at the lounge at Delhi T3. I forgot the name, it's the lounge at mezzanine level, close towards the food court.

Definitely, however they did not check identity to proof you are the bonafide holder of the card. Boarding pass had to be presented.

They tally the name on the boarding pass and the card, given that ID proof of the traveller is generally checked at the time of entering the airport.

Only in case of doubt, they seek ID proof.

For some cards a nominal transaction amount is processed to verify the authenticity. IIRC Diners was INR 2 and Master Card was INR 25 (which was instantly auto reversed post successful debit).

Generally lounge access is for the card holder. So yes ideally the boarding pass and card name has to match. Though it is complimentary to card holder, the lounge operator charges the card issuer. This is how it works internationally. In India, it is very common to allow access with just the card in anyone name. It is changing now due to the crowded lounges.

For access to family and friends along with you, you can use your card but add others as guests. Guest access mostly are chargeable with the exception of few cards which gives free but limited guest access. Here card will not be swiped many times for each guest but number of guests will be entered in the terminal and charged accordingly. My opinion is Paid lounge is not worth in domestic travel with family.

For family travel, I suggest getting add on card to your spouse as most cards give complimentary lounge access to add on card holder also. For kids, it is tricky as you cannot get add on for less than 18 years of age. In India, you can try to use any of the other card you are holding. If you are particular about kids entry through their own card, look for kids account with Rupay Platinum Debit card like HDFC which has limited free domestic lounge access.

Internationally, it will be the discretion of lounge in charge of the day to allow the kids or not or complimentary or chargeable as guest. Some lounges don't allow kids below 12. I have varied experience but mostly charged for my kid between 25 to 29 USD across Asia and Europe. Some are lenient like in Dubai they allowed to swipe another card for the kid to enter. Anyway, it is a small price to pay while traveling with family with long layover.

Please look up the airport website or lounge operator website like Dream folks, Dragon pass or Priority pass or Loungekey or lounges like Privium for details.

To all the people thinking of swiping Priority Pass in Domestic Lounges, please consider this: Priority Pass issued with HDFC Infinia, Citi Prestige, Axis Reserve, Axis Magnus are eligible to be swiped in Domestic Lounges.

All other Priority Pass will be charged 27$ if you swipe them at the Domestic or even India based International Lounges. These are meant to be used only in foreign countries' lounges.
Same goes for Dreamfolks.

I had the same opinion but I used my Priority Pass in 080 International lounge in Bengaluru KIA and was not charged for the same even though they informed me at the time of swiping. During a trip in October 2022, as usual the other lounge was filled with people and I wanted a calmer place with some better food and booze so went to 080 willing to pay for it. But somehow it was never charged so far even though it has been 10 months now. I was only charged once in Kochi airport when I purposely used Priority pass since we were one card short to accomodate the whole family.

As it turns out, the merchants are charged MDR for UPI transactions of 2000 and above by credit card. By defualt it is turned off, and transactions throw error. I found this from another non-fuel merchant. They can turn on via payment provider's app and it works.

So here is my query regarding credit cards.

Which is the best credit card available in the market in regards to cash back/points?

I have been using HDFC Infinia from over 5/6 years and last year got myself an Axis Bank Reserve credit card.
The marketing guy made me believe that the Reserve card would yield better returns only to realise later on that I was duped.
Also with Axis devaluing it's cards these days - I think it was a HUGE mistake taking the Axis Reserve Credit Card.

Now I am looking for a good credit card with excellent reward rates, preferably better than the HDFC Infinia.

any suggestions?

These are simple pleasures in life! :D

Which card's Priority Pass did you swipe?

Which cards provide access to the 080 lounge at the Bangalore Airport? The website is pretty vague and hence asking the experts here.

I have two with me, one from company via HDFC Corporate Airplus(I believe equivalent to regalia) and another my private priority pass which I got through HDFC Regalia. Not sure which one I used in 080 but both PPs have this condition that lounge visits in India is chargeable. In Kochi I had used my personal PP I remember well since I had already used the corporate pass until its limit.

What I dont understand is that both my credit cards have domestic lounge access and their accompanying PP have international lounge access, however they only mention that and nothing in specific to the location of the lounge. Whatever lounge is present after immigration is technically an international lounge. It is only my corporate priority pass which mentioned somewhere in the terms that international lounge visits within India are chargeable. Its very confusing for both me as a customer and the service provider.

Another grouse these days is that every other card allows free lounge access. Even my debit cards allow this even though its not mentioned in the value added services. Then there is no purpose of my credit card mentioning lounge visits as a special privilege and also specify a limit.

I am guessing the PP + domestic lounge access happened for your corporate card. Since for HDFC Regalia - PP swipe in India is charged. There is a specific mention on that when HDFC sends priority pass by means of a small line of text pasted on the card.

However, yes I have seen mention in some card review where priority pass swipe is considered free even in India. I am not able to recollect for which card it was - however my guess is that it was either for Axis Magnum or HDFC Infinia. Basically, for one card where lounge access is free for unlimited count both in domestic & international lounge, this was provided.

All my cards are visa/Amex (AmazonPay/MRCC/infinia & HSBC cashback).
Looking at the posts here on the UPI usage, thought I'll apply for a RuPay card and cancel the HSBC cashback card since it is an overlap with the AmazonPay card. I was mainly looking for a non-HPCL Rupay fuel card.

Last weekend I applied, online, for the HDFC Indian oil card, did the KYC and - it got rejected stating they don't issue more than 1 card per customer! Have written to the personal banker for support.

Then yesterday, I applied for a Kotak Indianoil card and that was also rejected stating "we will be unable to issue this card as it does not fit into the Bank's internal policies"

I have no outstanding loans (were closed some years back) have never missed a payment (cc bill/utility bills etc). Salaried with IT returns being filed over several years.

Now, wondering why the issuers are reluctant to issue a card? Any hints?

Guys, I have about 1.5 lakh points on diners.

Whats the best redemption (excluding tickets and hotels)??

Is there any other way of redemption which can give > 0.5 ratio?

I have faced a very similar situation recently. My profile also is very similar to yours (salaried, long history of IT returns filing, no missed payments, good CIBIL score, etc.).

To the best of my knowledge, HDFC Bank has a known policy of not issuing multiple credit cards to one person.

So on one Saturday, I decided to fill out the application for their Kotak IndianOil Rupay credit card. I have been an Optima account holder with Kotak and hold their League credit card for several years now. When I went to the branch, they told me that I'm eligible for a LTF White Card upgrade but not for the Rupay card and asked me to take that as it's their premium offering with lounge access, rewards, etc. I told him that I specifically need the Rupay card from them at this juncture and proceeded to fill out the application.

Within 3 days; I got the rejection. On probing further; they told me I already hold several cards so this one has been rejected. Curiously though, when I checked with the credit bureaus; there was no inquiry against my account. They rejected my application based on internal data alone. Strange.

I have a hunch that they don't want to give Rupay cards to the more premium customers with longer credit histories so that they can direct the spend towards alternative cards to earn a higher MDR and hence greater margins.

You'll have better luck going to banks where Rupay cards is a key offering and where you currently don't hold any existing relationships. This is my sense.