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 10 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.
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
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 12,500 fee waives only at Rs 10 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 | 15,000 reward points | 15,000 reward points |
| smartbuy flights | Up to 5X Reward Points | 15,000 reward points | 15,000 reward points |
| smartbuy gyftr | Up to 5X Reward Points | 15,000 reward points | 15,000 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.
- A verification transaction fee of Rs 2 is charged at domestic lounge terminals inside India for Visa cardholders, which is later reversed.
- Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access worldwide via Priority Pass (for both primary and add-on cardholders)
- Priority Pass lounge visits outside India by guests or visits exceeding the complimentary limit are charged at USD 27 + GST per person per visit. Add-on cardholders must use their own Priority Pass card; otherwise they are billed as guests.
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
- 12,500 Reward Points upon joining fee realization and card activation
- Complimentary Club Marriott membership for the first year, offering up to 25% discount on dining & stays across Asia-Pacific
Renewal benefits
- 12,500 Reward Points as renewal benefit after fee realization
Additional benefits
- Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access worldwide via Priority Pass (for both primary and add-on cardholders)
- Unlimited complimentary Golf lessons and games at leading courses in India and select courses worldwide
- 100% green fee waiver at select golf courses worldwide
- ITC Hotels: Book a stay for 3 nights and pay for 2 at participating hotels
- ITC Hotels: 1+1 complimentary buffet at participating hotels
- 24x7 global personal concierge assistance
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations across India on transactions between Rs 400 and Rs 1,00,000
- Luxury metal card design with premium lifestyle positioning
Additional details
- Earning is capped at a maximum of 2,00,000 Reward Points per statement cycle.
- Reward points on grocery spends, utility spends, and telecom spends are capped at 2,000 Reward Points per calendar month individually.
- Reward points on insurance spends are capped at 10,000 Reward Points per calendar month (effective 1st July 2025).
- Redemption is allowed a maximum of 5 times per calendar month.
- Redemption against statement balance (cashback) is capped at 50,000 points per calendar month.
- Redemption for travel bookings (flights/hotels) and Air Miles is capped at 1,50,000 Reward Points per calendar month.
- Redemption for Apple products and Tanishq vouchers via SmartBuy is at 1 RP = Rs 1, capped at 70% of bill value, with further caps of 1 Apple product per calendar quarter and 50,000 points per calendar quarter for Tanishq vouchers.
- Accidental Air Death Cover worth Rs 3 Crore, Overseas Emergency Hospitalization up to Rs 50 Lakhs, and Credit Shield Cover up to Rs 9 Lakhs.
Latest updates
Recent changes to this card.
- Effective 1 April 2026, HDFC introduced new program retention criteria requiring cardholders to maintain a minimum of ₹18 Lakhs in card spends or ₹50 Lakhs in relationship value per financial year.
- HDFC officially clarified that Infinia cardholders are exempt from late payment charges, overlimit fees, cash advance fees, and reward/cashback redemption fees.
Eligibility
Check this before you apply.
Salaried
- Available by invitation or through HDFC Bank's internal upgrade criteria
Self-employed
- Available by invitation or through HDFC Bank's internal upgrade criteria
Compare before you decide
Alternatives based on what you might want instead.
HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Metal Edition Credit Card
Best for premium travel, lounge, smartbuy.
HSBC Premier Credit Card
Best for premier, travel, lounge.
Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card for Burgundy
Best for premium travel, lounge, partner miles.
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.