[ghodlur]

A query to all Credit card experts.

Ever since HDFC Infinia stopped giving reward points on fuel, rent, educational expenses and not counting towards Milestones either (correct me if I am wrong here), I have been looking out for an alternate credit card which could serve me the above purpose and my search came to a stop at 2 cards. Club Vistara IDFC First and Club Vistara SBI prime, both are co branded cards as seen and do meet my above expenses requirements. The only thing which is holding me back is that the RP's will be in the form of Club Vistara (CV) points which can be uncashed against the flight tickets only. Most of my travel sectors do not have the Vistara flights, however thinking if I can make use for any International flights where Vistara operates.

Any thoughts on the same, if anyone has any of the above cards pls share your experience. Any other card which can be taken instead of these 2, kindly suggest.

The links to both the cards and their benefits are as below.

https://cardmaven.in/club-vistara-id...t-credit-card/

https://cardmaven.in/club-vistara-sb...-prime-review/

My monhtly expenses are - Rental: 40k, Fuel: 5k, Education: 15k

[condor]

Came across online that HDFC is now introducing a Indian Oil co-branded card. Had searched for such a card earlier, but had not found one (only HP/BPCL were around).

[adi.mariner]

Originally Posted by condor

Came across online that HDFC is now introducing a Indian Oil co-branded card. Had searched for such a card earlier, but had not found one (only HP/BPCL were around).

I got my Indian Oil HDFC card just last month. Better to use than Bank of Baroda HPCL Energie card. The BoB card was very cumbersome to use with the App and the fuel surcharge not getting refunded on time (if the card is used normally and without the HPCL App).

[condor]

Originally Posted by adi.mariner

Better to use than Bank of Baroda HPCL Energie card. The BoB card was very cumbersome to use with the App and the fuel surcharge not getting refunded on time .

I was on the look out for an IOCL cobranded card since I use IOCL for both petrol & diesel. Once in a way it's Reliance. BPCL/HPCL only if I dont find a good IOCL bunk when I need to re-fuel. Hence, had not gone for the HPCL/BPCL cards.

[thanixravindran]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

A query to all Credit card experts.

Ever since HDFC Infinia stopped giving reward points on fuel, rent, educational expenses and not counting towards Milestones either (correct me if I am wrong here)

My monhtly expenses are - Rental: 40k, Fuel: 5k, Education: 15k

HDFC Infinia or DCB still gives reward points for Educational expenses. It is counted towards milestone also. No RP for wallet load, fuel, rent and Government transactions. So please check why you are not getting RP for educational spends.

For rent, if you have valid rental agreement, please register in Red Giraffe and add as biller in HDFC bill pay. Not only first rent transaction is free, it still was giving RP till few months ago. Only RG fee of 0.46% will be applicable.

For fuel, please check whether you are okay to stick with HP petrol. In that case, you can use HP pay app which can be loaded with HP pay voucher that can be purchased through Amazon Pay balance which can be purchased from Smartbuy.

With all above, you can still continue with Infinia itself. Give it a try and then consider moving to other cards

[neelkumar]

Originally Posted by BudgetFailure

Was it LTF?

No, I tried a lot for LTF, but I was given an FYF. Still ok considering I already accumulated around 12k points in 2 months of receiving this

[BudgetFailure]

Originally Posted by neelkumar

No, I tried a lot for LTF, but I was given an FYF. Still ok considering I already accumulated around 12k points in 2 months of receiving this

One question, do you always need to carry the PP for domestic/international lounges or just the credit card is sufficient? Reason asking is because with DCB it's quite convenient to just have a single card for everything.

I have the FYF upgrade offer for a few months, but I am very much reluctant giving any kind of fee for a credit card (even though it would get waived for my usage), never had a non LTF credit card in my 11 years history.

[neelkumar]

Originally Posted by BudgetFailure

One question, do you always need to carry the PP for domestic/international lounges or just the credit card is sufficient?

Same, with DCB there was no such confusion or hassle. I haven't used Infinia for lounge access till now. But as far as I know, within India Infinia card is sufficient. But outside India, you need to carry both the Infinia and PP card.

Originally Posted by BudgetFailure

I have the FYF upgrade offer for a few months, but I am very much reluctant giving any kind of fee for a credit card (even though it would get waived for my usage), never had a non LTF credit card in my 11 years history.

If your usage is more, then it is ok to take that upgrade. I have moved all my spends to this card and earning decent amount of points which can cover the annual fee by themselves many times over.

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by BudgetFailure

One question, do you always need to carry the PP for domestic/international lounges or just the credit card is sufficient? Reason asking is because with DCB it's quite convenient to just have a single card for everything.

I have never used my Infinia card for any lounges - domestic or international, the Priority Pass card was sufficient all the times.

[MyLife_MyCar]

Originally Posted by neelkumar

But outside India, you need to carry both the Infinia and PP card.

Really? This is surprising, given that DCB alone is sufficient for lounges outside India also. I thought Infinia being superior to it should also suffice alone.

On a different but still related note, lounges in US are crappy. Or should I say the airports themselves are boring! If there is a long layover or flight getting delayed, one would die of boredom there. Why US airports are not as attractive and fun as Middle East or Southeast Asian (incl. India) airports?

[Everlearner]

Originally Posted by thanixravindran

For fuel, please check whether you are okay to stick with HP petrol. In that case, you can use HP pay app which can be loaded with HP pay voucher that can be purchased through Amazon Pay balance which can be purchased from Smartbuy.

Can you help with detailed steps how to do this. I have downloaded the HP Pay app. When I try to purchase HP pay vouchers, I see only Paytm UPI as payment option. I also could not find HP Pay vouchers on smartbuy/gyftr portal or on Amazon.

Originally Posted by thanixravindran

HDFC Infinia or DCB still gives reward points for Educational expenses. It is counted towards milestone also. No RP for wallet load, fuel, rent and Government transactions. So please check why you are not getting RP for educational spends.

Does Infinia card give reward points for NPS contribution?

[fiat_tarun]

HDFC is flooding me with emails to upgrade my DCB LTF to the new DCB metal FYF.

There is such a marginal benefit of DCB metal over plastic and with no benefit on payment of annual fees it makes no sense.

[tejas08]

Oh Boy! Been a while I have been away from the Credit Card discussions here.

Seems like HDFC Cards are back in discussion after the Axis Pump & Dump.

Originally Posted by BudgetFailure

One question, do you always need to carry the PP for domestic/international lounges or just the credit card is sufficient? Reason asking is because with DCB it's quite convenient to just have a single card for everything.

I have the FYF upgrade offer for a few months, but I am very much reluctant giving any kind of fee for a credit card (even though it would get waived for my usage), never had a non LTF credit card in my 11 years history.

Priority Pass of Infinia suffices in both Domestic & International Lounges. HDFC Infinia and Citi Prestige are the only two cards (Or may be one more) which allow usage of Priority Pass on Domestic Lounges without any charges.

As for not wanting to upgrade to a non-LTF card, all I can say is that you are missing out on a lot of rewards. I have been a Paid DCB & later Paid Infinia user since May 2019. Never paid fees as I hit the fee waiver always through this time. But more importantly, have earned Reward Points worth easily over a million rupees through the rampant usage of Smartbuy Portal.

This is just one of the Trips taken using Credit Card Reward Points

https://twitter.com/tejasghongadi/st...61347743391843

Originally Posted by neelkumar

Same, with DCB there was no such confusion or hassle. I haven't used Infinia for lounge access till now. But as far as I know, within India Infinia card is sufficient. But outside India, you need to carry both the Infinia and PP card.

Originally Posted by MyLife_MyCar

Really? This is surprising, given that DCB alone is sufficient for lounges outside India also. I thought Infinia being superior to it should also suffice alone.

PP suffices for both domestic & International Lounges but you will almost always end up carrying Infinia with you as your primary card.

A Small Pro-Tip - Activate Global Value Program on Regalia / DCB / Infinia and get 1% Cashback upto Rs. 1000 a month on all Forex Spends.

[BudgetFailure]

Originally Posted by tejas08

As for not wanting to upgrade to a non-LTF card, all I can say is that you are missing out on a lot of rewards. I have been a Paid DCB & later Paid Infinia user since May 2019. Never paid fees as I hit the fee waiver always through this time. But more importantly, have earned Reward Points worth easily over a million rupees through the rampant usage of Smartbuy Portal.

Yeah I know, based on my calcs I could have gotten triple the rewards on my last 1 year purchases. It is just that the LTF bug that I have, I am not able to let go my Diners.

Guess what , this weekend I am going to reevaluate my decisions and decide if I should get rid of this LTF thing I am stuck on.

[MyLife_MyCar]

Originally Posted by tejas08

I have been a Paid DCB & later Paid Infinia user since May 2019.

Originally Posted by BudgetFailure

Guess what , this weekend I am going to reevaluate my decisions and decide if I should get rid of this LTF thing I am stuck on.

Question - do we need to have hdfc bank account to be eligible for Infinia? I randomly asked an hdfc guy and he insisted that I open a bank account for it.