.Ever since the Reserve Bank of India removed the embargo on HDFC Bank to issue new credit cards, the latter hasn’t wasted time in pushing out new cards and recapturing its market share back in the market. In pursuit of finding elite customers who tend to spend big on their credit cards, HDFC Bank has launched the Infinia Metal Edition, its first metallic card.
It would be right to call the Infinia Metal Edition a minor upgrade to the existing Infinia card which it replaces in the credit card lineup. HDFC has mainly addressed the plastic build with the previous card which may not have found favor with customers looking for a more premium-looking card that can stand out from your average credit card. That said, looks are subjective and the new design may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
The best part about the new card is that it retains all the features of the existing Infinia cards and adds more (which are also being released on the existing Infinia card. The existing features that make this card perhaps the best credit card in India include:
- Unlimited airport lounge access across the globe for Primary and Add-on members
- 5 reward points on a spend of Rs 150 with an accelerated reward point system to earn 10x points through HDFC Smartbuy portal on shopping across leading e-commerce brands and booking flights, hotels, and trains
- Unlimited Complimentary golf games at leading courses across India and select courses across the world
- Medical emergency cover of up to Rs 50 lakh against medical emergencies during travel abroad and accidental death cover (air travel) of Rs 3 crore
What made the original card really attractive was the ability to use your reward points at a 1:1 conversion ratio when booking flights or hotels using the HDFC Smartbuy portal. That continues with the Infinia Metal Edition. Additionally, you will now be able to buy Apple products and Tanishq vouchers at the same conversion ratio using your reward points. New features that have been also added include:
- Complimentary nights & weekend buffet at participating ITC hotels
- Complimentary Club Marriott membership for the first year
With these features, it’s hard not to recommend HDFC Infinia Metal Edition to anyone looking for a premium credit card. However, the eligibility criteria doesn’t seem to have been changed. You still need an annual income of over Rs 40 lakhs (ITR) to be eligible for this card if you’re a new customer. This policy may be at HDFC Bank’s discretion to relax in case you’re a high spend customer or have a number of high-value products (FDs, insurance policies, Demat) from HDFC Bank.
There is one significant change from the existing Infinia card though. The annual fee for this card has been increased to Rs 12,500 (plus GST) annually from Rs 10,000 (plus GST) on Infinia. To waive it off, you need to spend Rs 10 lakhs annually on the card. Again a bump up from Rs 8 lakhs on the Infinia card. This makes it rather difficult to recommend this card to existing Infinia customers who get to enjoy the same benefits (albeit with a plastic card) for a lower fee. But with the discontinuation of the Infinia credit card, this is the price to pay to get your hands on one of the most premium and elite credit cards in India. Given the benefits, it’s still a great deal.
