Infinia vs Magnus vs Atlas

[raviemailid]

BACKGROUND STORY:

I had no credit card till June 2021 because of bad credit. I had defaulted on a couple of credit cards about a decade ago and had decided to stick to debit cards and real money for my needs. All of this was going good - I was paying full money for amazon, Flipkart shopping, full money for Zomato, Swiggy, Uber and for anything that you can think of. Life was simple.

But I always wished if I had a credit card - especially the Amazon ICICI credit card - I was a moderate user of Amazon and having the luxury of 5% cash back on everything was nothing short of a dream for me. This thought pushed me to apply for it and it got rejected, obviously. I approached the bank - visited the branch nearby, something that I hadn't done for 5 years. ICICI bank was good and friendly - helped me close my old credit card and issued me a credit card against an FD. Well, they also took 2L cheque for opening some premium account. I didn't need all that but the excitement of getting a CC was worth that stupid 2L FD (that FD is still running with them) and I was issued a Coral credit card. I was happy. 6 months later, after many applications and requests, I was issued an Amazon ICICI Pay credit card and then, after some time, I got Flipkart Axis.

I was on cloud 9 - all my credit card dreams were fulfilled, I was saving 5% flat from FK and Amazon plus some sundry 4% cashback from other apps and a flat 1.5% cashback on all the spends for FK Axis. I moved all my expenses to CC and migrated to cred for bill payments. I also got my hands on Zomato RBL card (which became shoprite card), IndusInd Legend and SBI BPCL card. All of this was good for some 10 months. Then in one of my persuasive conversations with my HDFC RM, the bank I have the longest and heaviest relationship with, but also the one refusing to issue me a credit card, sprang a surprise. Guess I had bothered her to death saying how can you not give me a credit card when I am your classic customer and ICICI and Axis can. RM, utterly fed-up with me, apologized again and threw a last straw towards me - "sir, are you from IIT/IIM or any premier institute?" I was like, "What do you mean, I am from IIM."

I was issued Diners Club Black - which introduced me to 3.3% cashback and the luxuries of credit cards. I was elated and boasted about it to my wife. Hell, I got her an add-on card for lounge visits. Life was all good for another 10 months.

Then in June - I was introduced to GYFTR - those reward multipliers of 2x, and 3x were insane. I was like - why on earth I am not using these? Then in GYFTR, I saw Infinia listed with better reward points. I went to the HDFC portal and saw that I couldn't apply for it - it was an invitation only. This led me to do more research then I came across sites like TechnoFino, Cardinsider etc and I was totally blown away. I felt how novice of me to be happy with DCB when Magnus was killing it. I tried for Magnus in July and I was issued one. But then, I got the update of devaluation and in a panic state, I cancelled the card when it was issued. The card was still delivered to me though but it is cancelled now.

Now - I was greedy, I wanted Infinia! Spoke to RM, and being the amazing lady she is, she said I can get the paid one - and I have the paid one with me now, using it for the last 1 week. But I have understood that 3.3% is all I have except SmartBuy and GYFTR. So I have been looking for ways to find the ideal card combination for me. Hence the research.

WHY COMPARING THESE?

I have 4 main categories of expenses. The expenses that can be covered with GYFTR, second the direct hotel and flights, 3rd normal hotel and flights and 4 other expenses like insurance, fees (can't use Apay) etc. I feel stupid to have cancelled the Magnus, but I guess that may have been a blessing in disguise. Had it stayed with me, I would have tried for Burgundy status and that is not something I'd like to do with Axis bank.

Below table runs a sample point calculation for my annualized expenses. The three cards in question (Infinia, Magnus and Atlas) has a very acceptable annual charge, so I am ignoring that totally.



Magnus is considered with Burgundy benefits. For Smartbuy considering it is 5x and 10x, I have taken 7x and Traveledge is 5x. It is clear that Atlas is a very strong card but then, I thought, what if I have Atlas+Infinia combination?

So if I use Infinia for GYFTR and SmartBuy I get 33333+46667 = 80000 and Atlas for direct and general, it is 80000+24000=104000, total 184000. Add 15K milestone of Atlas and 20K joining miles from Infinia and Atlas, I have a total of 2,19,000 miles. 12% return against total expense.

Atlas expense can only be used for flight and hotel, whereas Infinia can be routed to Apple and Tanishq and trains as well. This does look like a good main 2 driver cards to use. What do you all think?

I was slightly tempted by Magnus+Burgundy, but I don't want to shift to premium banking of Axis - and as you see from the table, I am not loosing much. What other cards would you recommend?

P.S - I have applied for Atlas, the card is coming in a week!

Thank you for reading.

 

[drsel]

. I plan to keep 4 major cards 1) Infinia for all the GYFTR vouchers and SmartBuy 2) Tata Rupay for UPI and Rupay benefit payments 3) SBI BPCL Octane for Fuel 7.25% cashback and 4) Atlas for everything else.

2) Tata neu coins are not the same as cash, they are just a discount on Big basket, Tata cliq and other Tata websites
I get 20% discount on Big basket and 15% discount on Tata Cliq anyway

3) when you convert SBI points for Amazon pay, you realise the value is only 12 paisa and not 25 Paisa
so only 3% return + 1% fuel surcharge reversal.

4) Atlas for everything else is the best option

 

[raviemailid]

Tata neu coins are not the same as cash, they are just a discount on Big basket, Tata cliq and other Tata websites
I get 20% discount on Big basket and 15% discount on Tata Cliq anyway

Yep, Tata Neu card is crap. Just that need to have a UPI credit card in portfolio - I have it.

when you convert SBI points for Amazon pay, you realise the value is only 12 paisa and not 25 Paisa
so only 3% return + 1% fuel surcharge reversal.

SBI points get converted at 7.25% for fuel purchase, I don't have a need to convert them for Amazon.

Just added Sapphire Amex and MC dual card to portfolio. Haven't found a great use so far.

 

[nikhilesh71]

2) Tata neu coins are not the same as cash, they are just a discount on Big basket, Tata cliq and other Tata websites
I get 20% discount on Big basket and 15% discount on Tata Cliq anyway

3) when you convert SBI points for Amazon pay, you realise the value is only 12 paisa and not 25 Paisa
so only 3% return + 1% fuel surcharge reversal.

4) Atlas for everything else is the best option

Neu coins are cash equivalent. Just booked an air Asia flight without paying any penny.

 

[drsel]

Neu coins are cash equivalent. Just booked an air Asia flight without paying any penny.

Super how much was the airfare and how did you manage to get so many Neu coins?

 

[nikhilesh71]

Super how much was the airfare and how did you manage to get so many Neu coins?

It was 8500 something. There are multiple avenues to ear new coins, Recently tata premier league through which I converted my neu card to LTF status. Got complimentary Taj dinings vouchers. UPI spends earns neu coins as well. Also this is one of the best ways to shop for groceries. With 25% effective discount, it turns out cheaper than even Dmart. Tata keeps rolling out very frequent offer for extra new coins. Neu app is best for groceries, medicine, air asia flights & taj bookings.

 

[drsel]

It was 8500 something. There are multiple avenues to ear new coins, Recently tata premier league through which I converted my neu card to LTF status. Got complimentary Taj dinings vouchers. UPI spends earns neu coins as well. Also this is one of the best ways to shop for groceries. With 25% effective discount, it turns out cheaper than even Dmart. Tata keeps rolling out very frequent offer for extra new coins. Neu app is best for groceries, medicine, air asia flights & taj bookings.

So how is buying groceries directly on big basket app different from buying Bigbasket groceries on Tata Neu app?
Do you get 5% coins only on the Tata neu app and not on the big basket app?

 

[jack333]

So how is the buying groceries directly on big basket app different from buying Big basket on Tata Neu app?
Do you get 5% coins only on the Tata neu app and not on the big basket app?

I think 20% is via Indus dc and 5% extra neu coins for purchasing via neu app

 

[jack333]

2) Tata neu coins are not the same as cash, they are just a discount on Big basket, Tata cliq and other Tata websites
I get 20% discount on Big basket and 15% discount on Tata Cliq anyway

3) when you convert SBI points for Amazon pay, you realise the value is only 12 paisa and not 25 Paisa
so only 3% return + 1% fuel surcharge reversal.

4) Atlas for everything else is the best option

1. Atlas is highly mcc dependent. You won't get 10% if they don't tag hotel or flight mcc
2. Magnus burgundy is overall better than infinia everywhere except for gift vouchers at smartbuy. They've even removed the convenience charges for ASV now

 

[drsel]

1. Atlas is highly mcc dependent. You won't get 10% if they don't tag hotel or flight mcc
2. Magnus burgundy is overall better than infinia everywhere except for gift vouchers at smartbuy. They've even removed the convenience charges for ASV now

Everyone knows that Traveledge give 24% return,
but Mumbai Dubai Mumbai return airfare on Traveledge is 10% more than Cleartrip for the exact same flight, after including the discount and 1400 convenience fee

 

[nikhilesh71]

I think 20% is via Indus dc and 5% extra neu coins for purchasing via neu app

Yes, correct. AU royale DC also gives 20% just as an alternate.

 

[raviemailid]

Magnus burgundy is overall better than infinia

It sure is - but not sure when Axis will smoothen that experience. Magnus Burgundy is a nightmare right now to own.

Plus the whole 10L savings or 30L TRV is too much of a money block for a 1.5% gain over Infinia's potential headache-free solution (or 0.8% better than Atlas's ownership experience)

 

[jack333]

It sure is - but not sure when Axis will smoothen that experience. Magnus Burgundy is a nightmare right now to own.

Plus the whole 10L savings or 30L TRV is too much of a money block for a 1.5% gain over Infinia's potential headache-free solution (or 0.8% better than Atlas's ownership experience)

Yes currently best for only burgundy salary account holders as there is no mab requirement

 

[raviemailid]

burgundy salary account holders as there is no mab requirement

Even for this, I have been hearing conflicting details. I was told by Customer Care, and in some other posts, and over Twitter, that to eligible for Magnus Burgandy via Salary account, you'll still need to maintain 10L/30L, else you'll not get the "True" burgundy status.

 

[jack333]

Even for this, I have been hearing conflicting details. I was told by Customer Care, and in some other posts, and over Twitter, that to eligible for Magnus Burgandy via Salary account, you'll still need to maintain 10L/30L, else you'll not get the "True" burgundy status.

No its not required

 

[raviemailid]

So I am at a stage where I made some substantial transactions on Atlas and so far the returns are 4.15% Edge miles, (or 8.3% partner miles). Looks very good to me. That does include 5K edge miles for joining and 2500 edge miles for crossing 3L. It is 2.8% or 5.6% partner miles without the bonus miles.

I would have gotten 3.3% on those transactions with Infinia - so that looks a good 5% more. There is a definite hassle to redeem these miles though. It would have been so convenient to redeem these directly at the TravelEdge portal (like the Smartbuy). The hassle of finding the right flight, doing the conversion in miles, ensuring that you have an account with a partner airline as well, then adding those miles to the partner airline and booking a ticket is a massive hassle. If not for the 5% difference between Atlas and Infinia, I'll not bother going through all that.

Also, Atlas Edge Miles are usable only for flight/hotel - you can't use the Edge miles for vouchers at any ratio.

 

[navam]

So I am at a stage where I made some substantial transactions on Atlas and so far the returns are 4.15% Edge miles, (or 8.3% partner miles). Looks very good to me. That does include 5K edge miles for joining and 2500 edge miles for crossing 3L. It is 2.8% or 5.6% partner miles without the bonus miles.

I would have gotten 3.3% on those transactions with Infinia - so that looks a good 5% more. There is a definite hassle to redeem these miles though. It would have been so convenient to redeem these directly at the TravelEdge portal (like the Smartbuy). The hassle of finding the right flight, doing the conversion in miles, ensuring that you have an account with a partner airline as well, then adding those miles to the partner airline and booking a ticket is a massive hassle. If not for the 5% difference between Atlas and Infinia, I'll not bother going through all that.

Also, Atlas Edge Miles are usable only for flight/hotel - you can't use the Edge miles for vouchers at any ratio.

Sorry just cause I wasn't aware of this, sounds like you can't use atlas edge miles via smartbuy to transfer to partners? If so, how exactly do you use i then?

 

[raviemailid]

sounds like you can't use atlas edge miles via smartbuy to transfer to partners

Atlas Edge Miles needs to be transferred to partners via TravelEdge portal. SmartBuy is for HDFC Infinia and in SmartBuy, you can use the miles/points directly for the flight that you see there, you don't need to transfer to partners.

 

[navam]

Atlas Edge Miles needs to be transferred to partners via TravelEdge portal. SmartBuy is for HDFC Infinia and in SmartBuy, you can use the miles/points directly for the flight that you see there, you don't need to transfer to partners.

I misread and confused the shits Outta myself lol, thanks for fixing my head.

 

[raviemailid]

I am planning to pickup a fridge costing 1.4L. I can get this price against an EMI transaction only. Is there any card (Atlas, Infinia or Sapphiro) which allows EMI transaction for 1) Reward points 2) Milestone benefit 3) Easy fuss-free foreclosure and get reward points?

 

[jack333]

Axis, icici, and hdfc don't charge anything for emi cancellation. They refund processing fee, interest and gst whole amount. But you won't get any reward points or milestone benefits for cancelled emi transaction