How did you move from cashback to reward points card? Share your story

[cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.]

Redemption is something that I haven't explored much. There are many ways of earning points but when it comes to redemptions, it is tricky.
Cashback cards are easy because either we get direct statement credit (like HDFC Swiggy, SBI cashback, HDFC Live+, Axis Airtel etc)
or we get semi-cashback as coins or wallet balance (like Amazon Pay ICICI, HDFC Tata Neu etc)

But when it comes to points, we get points and we need to use those points in one way or other to extract the value out of it.
There are many ways but with the popularity of social media everyone came to know that converting points to buy home appliances is bad because we don't get any good value out of it. People have popularised that hotels and flights are the best way to get maximum value.

Now, with the popularity of Axis, everyone is transferring ER or EM to Accor at 5:2. 10:1, 5:1 and 1:2 or 1:1 ratios.
Accor points are pegged to Euro so you get better returns. Some hotels that people can look at within India is Ibis, Novotel, & Sofitel.

Coming to Mariott, HDFC has a cobranded card, so all points on it goes directly to Mariott account.
Then next easiest is Amex 1:1 transfer for Mariott. Mariott takes a 2nd seat because food is generally not included with the booking and room rates are costlier.

After these kind of hotel transfers, then we have airline transfer, where same like hotel, we transfer to airline account and book award seats.

Then another method of using points is Smartbuy or ishop - where we can directly use those points and book flights or hotels.
But in this case, they may not have the option for choosing different seat types - they may list only the cheapest or lowest options.
Still better than the hassles of transferring. (Plus we also don't get any loyalty benefits of booking directly)

Considering all these, it makes sense for each one to choose cards according to their spend pattern and redemption preference. There is no one best card for all. It is a combo of various factors.

 

[Z_S]

Redemption is something that I haven't explored much. There are many ways of earning points but when it comes to redemptions, it is tricky.
Cashback cards are easy because either we get direct statement credit (like HDFC Swiggy, SBI cashback, HDFC Live+, Axis Airtel etc)
or we get semi-cashback as coins or wallet balance (like Amazon Pay ICICI, HDFC Tata Neu etc)

But when it comes to points, we get points and we need to use those points in one way or other to extract the value out of it.
There are many ways but with the popularity of social media everyone came to know that converting points to buy home appliances is bad because we don't get any good value out of it. People have popularised that hotels and flights are the best way to get maximum value.

Now, with the popularity of Axis, everyone is transferring ER or EM to Accor at 5:2. 10:1, 5:1 and 1:2 or 1:1 ratios.
Accor points are pegged to Euro so you get better returns. Some hotels that people can look at within India is Ibis, Novotel, & Sofitel.

Coming to Mariott, HDFC has a cobranded card, so all points on it goes directly to Mariott account.
Then next easiest is Amex 1:1 transfer for Mariott. Mariott takes a 2nd seat because food is generally not included with the booking and room rates are costlier.

After these kind of hotel transfers, then we have airline transfer, where same like hotel, we transfer to airline account and book award seats.

Then another method of using points is Smartbuy or ishop - where we can directly use those points and book flights or hotels.
But in this case, they may not have the option for choosing different seat types - they may list only the cheapest or lowest options.
Still better than the hassles of transferring. (Plus we also don't get any loyalty benefits of booking directly)

Considering all these, it makes sense for each one to choose cards according to their spend pattern and redemption preference. There is no one best card for all. It is a combo of various factors.

Now to who is using flipkart and doing shopping regularly,they have also good option of converting super coins into marriott points..

It will be i think beneficial for such using flipkart regularly and making huge orders on it

 

[shashank08]

Initially i also thought if i want to take a card then it must be LTF card as most of the cards I hold are LTF.
Earlier was offered infinia FYF didn't take it as it was not LTF.

Then after looking at my spend pattern and needs, I felt I will be able to extract value using cards line infinia or EPM.

So recently acquired EPM as I am poor person for Infinia. 😂😂

Enjoying the EPM and this is where I moved from cashback to RPs based card.

I did following calculation before shifting to RP based card..

First criteria was reversal of fee in the form of RPs..

I have on an average 15k per month utility expenses which earlier used to pay using tata neu or airtel axis.
Then uber/ola cabs which comes around 3-4K per month.
Grocery from Flipkart and jio mart.
Then term insurance premium.

So Infinia and EPM were suitable and I am too poor for infinia so went ahead with EPM.

So buying 12K Apay voucher from 2 different accounts. Giving 3700 RPs after deducting 354 rupees extra charges otherwise it is 4392.

So going to earn somewhere around 44000 RPs just by buying Apay vouchers.

And 12500 additional for the fee.

So total 56000 RPs per year.

Uber gives 5% uber cash on apay payment which can be used for rides booking.

Adding to that buying other shopping vouchers gives additional RPs.

So even with minimal spends I am able to extract good value.

 

[Hemang]

In HDFC reward points to cash value is 0.20p with redemption charge of 99+GST

Indusind only 50% points can be converted to cash. For eg 10000 points available means 5000 can be converted and 5K is maximum capping per month. They charge 149+GST for redemption

And their reward system points+cash is useless. Most-wanted vouchers are available at 10-20% points and balance cash with 99+GST

tbhi to keh rha hu ki points accumulate hone do and transfer them to interested third party and get cash in lieu of transfer of those points.

 

[cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.]

If Atlas dies, what next? this is one burning question and topic all over X and TF these days.

The main reason is that Atlas was great in earn rate and burn rate. 4% earning on a normal card is something special.
And Lot of transfer partners and easy to transfer to any.

Can buy gift vouchers and earn EM, can use for offline swipes, can overcome most of the exclusions using gift vouchers, education covered, milestone benefits - all these made atlas a super hit among card users.

Now with the news that Atlas applications will be stopped, devaluations coming, Horizon and Olympus in the rounds - all this makes everyone think - what next after Atlas?

Horizon is cheaper but has lesser earn rate (1EM), lesser transfer rate (1:1) and hence lesser benefits.
Olympus is costlier, lesser earn rate (1EM) but higher transfer rate (1:4) which makes it equal to Atlas, but no milestones and more exclusions than Atlas.

For someone who spends good on Atlas, may have to look at a combination of other cards to fill the gap that it creates.

There are many options floating around in social media - HDFC Regalia Gold, Amex Plat Travel, HSBC Travel One and few others.
Each has its own pros and cons. The first two can be thought of as good all rounders, while T1 is a travel skewed card.
The game is still evolcing, HSBC might introduce gift vouchers, ICICI may introduce transfer partners, HDFC may bring a travel card. - anything can happen.

There is infact a void created in the mid-segment card if Atlas gets devalued or closed. How to replace it totally depends on each person's spend categories and patterns - like travel spends, gift vouchers, milestones, and redemption preferences. Also, we need to be ready to change our strategy and plan as and when changes happen in this space.

 

[hender]

If Atlas dies, what next? this is one burning question and topic all over X and TF these days.

The main reason is that Atlas was great in earn rate and burn rate. 4% earning on a normal card is something special.
And Lot of transfer partners and easy to transfer to any.

Can buy gift vouchers and earn EM, can use for offline swipes, can overcome most of the exclusions using gift vouchers, education covered, milestone benefits - all these made atlas a super hit among card users.

Now with the news that Atlas applications will be stopped, devaluations coming, Horizon and Olympus in the rounds - all this makes everyone think - what next after Atlas?

Horizon is cheaper but has lesser earn rate (1EM), lesser transfer rate (1:1) and hence lesser benefits.
Olympus is costlier, lesser earn rate (1EM) but higher transfer rate (1:4) which makes it equal to Atlas, but no milestones and more exclusions than Atlas.

For someone who spends good on Atlas, may have to look at a combination of other cards to fill the gap that it creates.

There are many options floating around in social media - HDFC Regalia Gold, Amex Plat Travel, HSBC Travel One and few others.
Each has its own pros and cons. The first two can be thought of as good all rounders, while T1 is a travel skewed card.
The game is still evolcing, HSBC might introduce gift vouchers, ICICI may introduce transfer partners, HDFC may bring a travel card. - anything can happen.

There is infact a void created in the mid-segment card if Atlas gets devalued or closed. How to replace it totally depends on each person's spend categories and patterns - like travel spends, gift vouchers, milestones, and redemption preferences. Also, we need to be ready to change our strategy and plan as and when changes happen in this space.

Write up is detailed and nice 👍,
although it's feels to me more like - Market Crash - And traders looking for exit !!!