Infinia Infinia worthiness

VGisHere · Jun 3, 2023

I went through Infinia Metal Card review and noted some points.

Pros -
1. Unlimited lounge access (domestic, international) for both primary, add-on (up to 3) card holders! (Big pro, need not keep track or multiple cards)!
2. Unlimited Golf games/coaching (not sure how many people actually claim, but would still keep it)!
3. Some ITC hotels tie-up benefits!
4. Insurance cover (definitely worthy)

Reward Rate Structure -
1. 3.3% RP on normal/every transaction.
Redemption - 1% for statement credit, 1.65% for smartbuy shopping, 3.3% for Smartbuy (Apple, Tanishq, Flights, Hotels) + AirMiles conversion.

2. 33% RP for flights/hotels on Smartbuy.
Redemption - 10% for statement credit, 16.5% for smartbuy shopping, 33% for Smartbuy (Apple, Tanishq, Flights, Hotels) + AirMiles conversion.

3. 16.5% RP for Smartbuy (Amazon, Gift voucher)
Redemption - 5% for statement credit, 8.25% for smartbuy shopping, 16.5% for Smartbuy (Apple, Tanishq, Flights, Hotels) + AirMiles conversion.

4. 9.9% RP for Smartbuy (Flipkart, Train booking)
Redemption - 3% for statement credit, 5% for smartbuy shopping, 9.9% for Smartbuy (Apple, Tanishq, Flights, Hotels) + AirMiles conversion.

Cons -
1. High Fees (12.5k + GST) = Rs. 14750
2. Welcome/Renewal Benefit = 12.5k points (recovered only if used on Smartbuy for Apple/Tanishq/Flights/Hotels OR Airmiles conversion) (big con)
3. Capping of payment up to 70% of the price with RPs
4. Very high NRV eligibility criteria (filters out big chunk)
5. Capping for Smartbuy transactions (15k per month) (so if you book hotel/flights for 45k, that's it!)
6. Forex markup - 2% + GST (higher than bunch of cards in market)
7. High fee waiver criteria (10L)
8. Capping for insurance transactions (5k per day, i.e., 1.5L spend)
9. Rent payment RP (Not eligible) + charges 1% extra
10. Redemption capping - 1.5L RP for flights/hotels; 50k for Tanishq per month; 50k against statement balance

So, after all these Cons, I'm wondering why are some people still going for Infinia card?
Is it only the unlimited domestic/international lounge access for self and add on card holders?
Or am I missing something basic here?
What strategies do people use to maximise benefit out of this card?
For people holding Axis Magnus, does this card make sense at all (except for lounge access)?

faltooAdmi · Jun 4, 2023

gurubhai said:
I think just like DCB, the salary criteria and some other criteria will be there too.. apart from just the college degree..

But I have not heard anyone getting ltf Infinia based on IIT/IIM .
Are you guys aware of any such case ?

CC-Muncher · Jun 4, 2023

faltooAdmi said:
But I have not heard anyone getting ltf Infinia based on IIT/IIM .
Are you guys aware of any such case ?

Old but this is what is active as per RM

HDFC Bank gives Lifetime Free Infinia & Diners Black Upgrades

HDFC Bank just started the new year on a high note. As you might know, HDFC Bank has been very aggressive in giving generous Limit enhancement offers during Covid-19. They’ve done it twice already in last one year. And now they’re taking one more aggressive step and upgrading many cardmembers to

www.cardexpert.in

faltooAdmi · Jun 4, 2023

Akio said:
Old but this is what is active as per RM

HDFC Bank gives Lifetime Free Infinia & Diners Black Upgrades

HDFC Bank just started the new year on a high note. As you might know, HDFC Bank has been very aggressive in giving generous Limit enhancement offers during Covid-19. They’ve done it twice already in last one year. And now they’re taking one more aggressive step and upgrading many cardmembers to

www.cardexpert.in

Yes during covid period many got their pvc Infinia as ltf. As per this forum haven't seen any one getting ltf Infinia metal now.

gurubhai · Jun 4, 2023

yeah that covid story is different.
Also we should not forget that a lot of times in past these RM just say stuff and when you actually follow up them, they start ignoring your calls :|

NewUser · Jun 4, 2023

VGisHere said:
Cons -
1. High Fees (12.5k + GST) = Rs. 14750
2. Welcome/Renewal Benefit = 12.5k points (recovered only if used on Smartbuy for Apple/Tanishq/Flights/Hotels OR Airmiles conversion) (big con)

Since the renewal benefit can be 1:1 points to rupee conversion ratio, the effective price for the card is ₹2.25k only.

VGisHere said:
So, after all these Cons, I'm wondering why are some people still going for Infinia card?
What strategies do people use to maximise benefit out of this card?

It's simple for me actually.
I do a flight travel to hometown at least twice a year, with my wife. So most of the points are redeemed 1:1.
I recharge Amazon pay via smartbuy to get 16%(5x) cashback(1:1) and use it for all utility bills, basic pay where payment via Amazon wallet is allowed. For other purchases such as goods(Amazon/Flipkart shopping voucher), household(BigBasket) and occasional food ordering(Swiggy/Zomato), I rely on Smartbuy only. Since most of my purchases are covered by Infinia+Smartbuy, other cards in my folio sit in a box.

On a different note, occasionally I get confused looks from some vendors when they tap/swipe the card(since it's metal).

hrishig · Jun 4, 2023

DCB/Infinia was king of cards at one point in time (33% return on almost everything) but now went down drastically over the years. However, this card can complement Magus if you know how to use it correctly.

Magus points are always rounded off to 200; Infinia can use for anything less than 200 or something like 599, 799.
Infinia has a global value program, making it better than Magnus for international travel.
A combination of these cards is very beneficial if you travel internationally with kids below 18 years old. Details:-
1. Magnus and infinia both can give you unlimited national/ international lounge access for add on ( which can’t be taken for anyone below 18 years)
2. So for a family of 4 ( Parents + 2 kids), only Magnus / infinia will give you only two lounge access.
3. Take both cards, and you will have two lounge access per card which can be used for a family of 4.

If you travel internationally once or twice a year with family, you will get tremendous value just from family lounge access, more or double the cost of these two cards.

There are other cases but the post is becoming too long, so I will stop 

momo · Jun 4, 2023

Smartbuy is the easiest no non-sense platform to use. Whatever flight/hotels you can book on cleartrip/MMT, you can book headache-free on Smartbuy with 70% points. Unlike airmiles with imagnus, which are a game that requires 10s of hours to research and execute correctly to book tickets/hotels.

The reward rate is low, but sometimes the benefit is something that you cannot get with miles. Recently I couldn't get vistara tickets via CV points because the CV points seats were sold out, but I could easily get the same tickets on smartbuy. So it's good to have infnia as backup card, especially for large spends after the 1L milestone. Nothing beats magnus until 1L of course.

thegame · Jun 4, 2023

any info on what is the NRV value to be maintained? to request the bank for Infinia paid card

technom · Jun 4, 2023

thegame said:
any info on what is the NRV value to be maintained? to request the bank for Infinia paid card

Imperia status is mostly enough with good credit score + salary closer to or more than 1.5-2L

NRV of 10L (savings) or TRV of 30L (Savings+FD etc) is the requirement for Imperia from what I'm told

thegame · Jun 4, 2023

mad.technomaniac said:
Imperia status is mostly enough with good credit score + salary closer to or more than 1.5-2L

NRV of 10L (savings) or TRV of 30L (Savings+FD etc) is the requirement for Imperia from what I'm told

thanks... I checked with my local area HDFC branch and they were clueless even after checking with their credit card local team

VGisHere · Jun 4, 2023

I remember coming across a dedicated e-mail for Infinia (for applying related queries) in this forum, but can't seem to find it again.
One thing I vaguely remember, it was not grievance redressal e-mail ID but something more related to Infinia.

I guess one could share relevant docs to that mail in case one wants to apply for the same!

Any ideas?
Also, I don't really see a value in shifting from Classic to Imperial even if one could!
So, is it really important to have Imperia banking for Infinia?

thegame · Jun 4, 2023

VGisHere said:
I remember coming across a dedicated e-mail for Infinia (for applying related queries) in this forum, but can't seem to find it again.
One thing I vaguely remember, it was not grievance redressal e-mail ID but something more related to Infinia.

I guess one could share relevant docs to that mail in case one wants to apply for the same!

Any ideas?
Also, I don't really see a value in shifting from Classic to Imperial even if one could!
So, is it really important to have Imperia banking for Infinia?

SavingsMax account has LifeTime free Platinum DC so can't RM help if one has SavingsMax account and 30L in Savings/FDs for Inifinia?

eatpepsi · Jun 9, 2023

I

phagocyte536 said:
It is definitely a non nonsense card compared to the likes of Magnus. Might be a bit less rewarding but the mental load is almost nil.

I have to agree with this, ever since I got Magnus, I am realising how complicated the rewards redemption game is for it... Infinia is a straight shooter...

eatpepsi · Jun 9, 2023

Akio said:
also, Gyftr limit is separate from smartbuy, so one can subtract that

I don't think so.. Can you share any info regarding it...

eatpepsi · Jun 9, 2023

CARDBITRAGE said:
Also, is the smartbuy points cap applicable for primary+add on as a whole? Or does each individual card have its own capping.

Is combined, not individual...

eatpepsi · Jun 9, 2023

momo said:
Smartbuy is the easiest no non-sense platform to use. Whatever flight/hotels you can book on cleartrip/MMT, you can book headache-free on Smartbuy with 70% points. Unlike airmiles with imagnus, which are a game that requires 10s of hours to research and execute correctly to book tickets/hotels.

The reward rate is low, but sometimes the benefit is something that you cannot get with miles. Recently I couldn't get vistara tickets via CV points because the CV points seats were sold out, but I could easily get the same tickets on smartbuy. So it's good to have infnia as backup card, especially for large spends after the 1L milestone. Nothing beats magnus until 1L of course.

Indeed, if my expected expenditure for the month is going to cross 1 lac, I focus on magnus and achieve that milestone , otherwise I stick to spending with infinia...

shashiAS · Jun 17, 2023

Guys i want to all best things about infinia and T&C also (smartbyportal)
Like is their any limit on Amazon shopping voucher and which is the best vouchers to buy in smartby by infinia and any other important things.
Thank you guys .

4uziaul · Jun 17, 2023

This thread might help you out

Thread 'Infinia worthiness' https://www.technofino.in/community/threads/infinia-worthiness.13370/

VGisHere · Jun 17, 2023

4uziaul said:
This thread might help you out

Thread 'Infinia worthiness' https://www.technofino.in/community/threads/infinia-worthiness.13370/

Well, the irony is,
It is the same thread!

4uziaul · Jun 17, 2023

VGisHere said:
Well, the irony is,
It is the same thread!

Actually, the mod merged the thread. 🤣 When he asked this question, it was in a separate thread. 😂

Infinia Infinia worthiness

TF Premier

TF Premier

TF Ace

TF Premier

TF Ace

TF Premier

TF Select

TF Buzz

TF Premier

TF Premier

TF Premier

TF Premier

TF Premier

TF Select

TF Select

TF Select

TF Select

TF Buzz

TF Pioneer

TF Premier

TF Pioneer

Similar threads