Infinia Infinia worthiness

[VGisHere]

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)?

 

[jack333]

Hotels is a mixed bag. But I still use it when the final price difference between OTAs and Smartbuy is <10%. 80-85% of the times I found the price difference to be less than 7-8%. I am anyways willing to discount Infinia points at 0.9 so it works for me.

In one instance while booking Grand Mercure Mysuru, I found the smartbuy pricing to be better than Accor member rate (half board rate). So search and take a call

I think where Infinia and other OTAs also fail to some extent is the member special rates on some hotel chains. In these cases, the difference can exceed 10%

Even for 5 stars also it is 10-15% more as we get additional coupon and card discounts on makemytrip and other apps. Sometimes i wonder the real cashback which infinia can also give is not more than 5% (which sbi cashback card gives) as they make us use the points on inflated hotel and flights. Best use of infinia points can be tanishq voucher.
I've found makemytrip rates after discount coupons to also match if not better than member's rate of itc hotels.

 

[sourpai]

Yes... Agree. As I mentioned, hotels is a mixed bag. Whenever the price difference is less than 10%, I book via Smartbuy. For rest of the occasions other booking methods can be used. It works for me on many occasions and does not on a few

You will always have these caveats when booking anything related to reward points. Whether it is Vistara (limited award seat availability), MB points, booking flights using miles etc.

Expectation should be as follows when it comes to Infinia points -
1. Value extracted per point via Smartbuy to be ~0.9
2. Flights will work ~75 - 80% of times with < ~10% price difference including convenience fees
3. Hotels will work for ~50% of the times with < ~10% price difference between other portals

 

[djaz]

1. Is there any limit on the reward points accrual / calendar month on inifinia card?
2. what is the best way to make Infinia CC due payments? I dont see HDFC DC card payment option to get 1% cashback

 

[sxchzy]

1. Is there any limit on the reward points accrual / calendar month on inifinia card?

no

2. what is the best way to make Infinia CC due payments? I dont see HDFC DC card payment option to get 1% cashback

freecharge se karo

 

[typhoon]

no one can beat skyscanner + sbi Cashback CC

i can beat it.

 

[NikhilTravelLover]

no

freecharge se karo

Isn't it like this?
1. Regular rewards points-no limit.
2. Accelarated reward points-15,000 per month.

 

[sxchzy]

Isn't it like this?
1. Regular rewards points-no limit.

correct

2. Accelarated reward points-15,000 per month.

yes capping hai

 

[djaz]

Isn't it like this?
1. Regular rewards points-no limit.
2. Accelarated reward points-15,000 per month.

oh ok, Thanks

 

[Calm Radiance]

Another devaluation to end the year:
Infinia is devalued effective Jan 15, 2024.

Conversion rate from HDFC Infinia Reward Points to Accor ALL, Turkish Airmiles and Avianca Life Miles (Star Alliance) will be reduced from 1:1 to 2:1.

 

[mojo_jojo123]

Another devaluation to end the year:
Infinia is devalued effective Jan 15, 2024.

Conversion rate from HDFC Infinia Reward Points to Accor ALL, Turkish Airmiles and Avianca Life Miles (Star Alliance) will be reduced from 1:1 to 2:1.

is it same for DCB ?

 

[mojo_jojo123]

i can beat it.

how can for mix spends .. not just Amazon / Flipkart etc?

 

[WandereR]

Another devaluation to end the year:
Infinia is devalued effective Jan 15, 2024.

Conversion rate from HDFC Infinia Reward Points to Accor ALL, Turkish Airmiles and Avianca Life Miles (Star Alliance) will be reduced from 1:1 to 2:1.

SS please .

 

[insight]

i can beat it.

Do share how

 

[techt]

Reward Rate Structure -
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.

Does this SmartBuy Shopping vouchers include AmazonPay Gift Vouchers ?

 

[Thangarajan D]

Does this SmartBuy Shopping vouchers include AmazonPay Gift Vouchers ?

Yes, you can buy it in Smartbuy

 

[techt]

Yes, you can buy it in Smartbuy

Lets say I want to buy only the APV and redeem the earned points too against APVs . Effectively the reward rate is 8.25% only right ?

 

[sourpai]

Lets say I want to buy only the APV and redeem the earned points too against APVs . Effectively the reward rate is 8.25% only right ?

Effective reward rate will be ~6.9% as there is 2.95% charge while buying APV on Smartbuy

 

[techt]

Effective reward rate will be ~6.9% as there is 2.95% charge while buying APV on Smartbuy

It is a sour pie then.
Oh My Mod ! what a head ache to buy APVs daily due to limits on buys for this extra 2%.

 

[sourpai]

It is a sour pie then.
Oh My Mod ! what a head ache to buy APVs daily due to limits on buys for this extra 2%.

Bas baithe baithe maje le rahe ho 😎

 

[techt]

Bas baithe baithe maje le rahe ho 😎

I do travel. But those travels are not available in SmartBuy.