SimplifyCards take
A quick decision view before the full facts.
Good fit if: you want a card built for premium travel, lounge, and SmartBuy.
Why it can work
It combines complimentary airport lounge access, a low 2% forex markup, and accelerated rewards on SmartBuy hotels.
Where value may drop
The renewal fee is waived only on Rs 8 lakh of annual spend. Fuel, rent, and wallet loads don't earn rewards. Monthly reward caps apply on the top categories.
Quick facts
The key fields before the full details.
Reward calculator
Enter your monthly spend to estimate how many reward points you earn and what they are worth.
Milestone rewards
Milestone value is estimated and only counts once you reach each spend threshold.
What your points are worth
Same points, very different value depending on how you redeem.
How you earn it
| Category | Monthly spend | Reward Points/yr |
|---|---|---|
| Other spends | Rs 8,000 | 3,200 |
Estimates only. Reward rates, caps, and redemption values follow each bank's current terms and can change.
Best for / avoid if
Who this card suits — and who should skip it.
Best for SmartBuy Hotels
Up to 10X Reward Points (10 RP / Rs 150 spent via SmartBuy)
Best for airport lounge access
Unlimited complimentary lounge visits a year across domestic and international.
Best for international spends
A low 2% forex markup keeps overseas and forex transactions cheaper.
Best for travel and redemptions
Earns reward points you can put toward flights, hotels, or transfer partners.
Avoid if your spend is low
The Rs 10,000 fee waives only at Rs 8 lakh/year, and some benefits can be spend-gated.
Avoid if you spend big on fuel, rent, and wallet loads
These categories are excluded and won't earn rewards.
Avoid if you expect uncapped rewards
Top reward categories are capped each month, so very high spends don't scale linearly.
Rewards and redemption
Earn rates, caps, and how points convert to value.
| Category | Rate | Daily cap | Monthly cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| smartbuy hotels | Up to 10X Reward Points (10 RP / Rs 150 spent via SmartBuy) | 10,000 reward points | 10,000 reward points |
| smartbuy flights | Up to 5X Reward Points (5 RP / Rs 150 spent via SmartBuy) | 10,000 reward points | 10,000 reward points |
| smartbuy gyftr | Up to 3X Reward Points (15 RP / Rs 150 spent on instant vouchers via SmartBuy) | 10,000 reward points | 10,000 reward points |
| weekend dining | 10 Reward Points / Rs 150 on weekend dining at standalone restaurants | 1,000 reward points | - |
| others | 5 Reward Points / Rs 150 | - | - |
Redemption
| Airline | Programme | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Air France / KLM | Flying Blue | 1:1 |
| Finnair | Finnair Plus | 1:1 |
| AirAsia | AirAsia rewards | 1:1 |
| Vietnam Airlines | Lotusmiles | 1:1 |
| Air Canada | Aeroplan | 2:1 |
| Air India | Maharaja Club | 2:1 |
| Avianca | LifeMiles | 2:1 |
| British Airways | Executive Club | 2:1 |
| Cathay Pacific | Asia Miles | 2:1 |
| Etihad Airways | Etihad Guest | 2:1 |
| Qatar Airways | Privilege Club | 2:1 |
| Singapore Airlines | KrisFlyer | 2:1 |
| Thai Airways | Royal Orchid Plus | 2:1 |
| Turkish Airlines | Miles&Smiles | 2:1 |
| United Airlines | MileagePlus | 2:1 |
| SpiceJet | SpiceClub | 2:1 |
| Hotel group | Programme | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| IHG | IHG One Rewards | 1:1 |
| Wyndham | Wyndham Rewards | 1:1 |
| Radisson | Radisson Rewards | 1:1 |
| Accor | ALL (Accor Live Limitless) | 2:1 |
| Club ITC | Club ITC Green Points | 2:1 |
| Marriott | Marriott Bonvoy | 2:1 |
Lounge and milestone rules
The spend conditions worth knowing before you rely on a benefit.
- Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access worldwide for primary and add-on cardholders.
- Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access worldwide for primary and add-on cardholders.
Exclusions
Categories that earn no rewards on this card.
- fuel
- rent
- wallet loads
- government transactions
- cash withdrawal
- emi transactions
- fees and charges
- online skill-based gaming
- education payments through third-party apps
Benefits and fine print
Welcome, renewal, and other listed benefits.
Joining benefits
- Complimentary annual memberships of Club Marriott, Amazon Prime, and Swiggy One upon spending Rs 1.5 Lakh in the first 90 days of card issuance
Additional benefits
- 6 complimentary golf games per quarter, up to 24 rounds annually
- Up to 40% off on dining with Swiggy Dineout
- SmartEMI conversion after purchase
Additional details
- Reward Points earnings are capped at 75,000 per statement cycle
- Reward Points on grocery transactions are capped at 2,000 per calendar month
- Reward Points on utility transactions are capped at 2,000 per calendar month
- Reward Points on insurance transactions are capped at 5,000 per calendar month (effective 1 July 2025)
Latest updates
Recent changes to this card.
- Effective 15 May 2026, HDFC Bank has revised its Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) markup fee to 1.75% on INR-denominated international transactions or transactions with merchants registered overseas.
- Effective 1 July 2025, HDFC Bank revised the reward points capping on insurance spends to 5,000 reward points per calendar month.
- Grocery and utility transactions remain capped at 2,000 reward points per calendar month.
Eligibility
Check this before you apply.
Salaried
- Indian national
- Age 21 to 60 years
- Net monthly income greater than Rs 2.5 lakh
Self-employed
- Indian national
- Age 21 to 65 years
- Net income greater than Rs 30 lakh per annum
Compare before you decide
Alternatives based on what you might want instead.
HDFC Bank Infinia Metal Edition Credit Card
Best for premium travel, lounge, smartbuy.
RBL Bank Icon Credit Card
Best for dining, travel, lounge.
Standard Chartered Beyond Credit Card
Best for priority banking, travel, lounge.
Tips
Practical notes from verified sources.
Activate HDFC Global Value Program to get an additional 1% cashback on international spends.
Use the Finnair 1:1 Avios transfer workaround to transfer points to British Airways or Qatar Airways at a 1:1 ratio. Transfer to Finnair Plus (1:1) first, then link accounts to move those Avios 1:1 to British Airways or Qatar Airways, bypassing the direct 2:1 transfer ratio.