In today’s highly competitive credit card market, it is crucial to choose a card that offers valuable rewards and benefits. While researching on this topic, I discovered that my current credit card lacked special rewards and charged hefty renewal fees, leading to its closure. This prompted me to explore the best credit cards available, focusing on HDFC Bank and Axis Bank, the two leading players in the industry.
Starting with HDFC Bank, there are several credit cards that stand out in terms of benefits and rewards. One of the top contenders is the HDFC Regalia Credit Card. This premium card offers a plethora of benefits such as complimentary airport lounge access, travel and dining privileges, and accelerated reward points earning. The HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card is another notable option, providing exclusive benefits like airport lounge access, golf privileges, and milestone rewards. These high-end cards cater to individuals seeking luxury experiences and elevated lifestyle benefits.
Moving on to Axis Bank, the Axis Bank Vistara Infinite Credit Card shines as a premium offering. It provides an array of travel benefits, including complimentary Vistara flight tickets, airport lounge access, and accelerated reward points earning on travel-related expenses. Additionally, the Axis Bank Select Credit Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers offering lounge access, exclusive services, and travel insurance coverage.
While these high-end cards offer exceptional perks, it’s worth noting that HDFC Bank and Axis Bank also provide a range of entry-level credit cards. These cards cater to individuals seeking basic features and benefits without the need for high spending or an extensive credit history.
Both HDFC Bank and Axis Bank offer a variety of credit cards catering to different needs and preferences, herewe will talk about the cards that will give you the best benefits and how can you easily avail them.
When comparing HDFC Bank’s Regalia Gold Credit Card with Axis Bank’s Magnus Credit Card, the first aspect to consider is the joining and renewal fees. The Regalia Gold Credit Card has a joining fee of ₹2,500 plus taxes, while the Magnus Credit Card has a significantly higher joining fee of ₹10,000 plus taxes. Similarly, the renewal fees for both cards are ₹2,500 plus taxes and ₹10,000 plus taxes respectively.
However, there is a notable difference in the renewal fee reversal criteria. HDFC Bank’s Gold Credit Card offers a fee reversal if you spend more than ₹4 lakh annually, whereas the Magnus Credit Card requires a higher annual expenditure of ₹15 lakhs for the fee reversal. This indicates that with HDFC Bank, you can avail of the fee reversal by spending a lesser amount compared to Axis Bank.
If we talk about the benefits offered by these cards, with the Magnus Credit Card, for the renewal fee of ₹10,000, you have the option to receive a Tata Cliq voucher or a domestic flight ticket worth up to ₹10,000. This means that by paying the renewal fee, you can avail of one free flight or choose a voucher for online shopping on Tata Cliq.
When considering the HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card, the benefits offered at a joining fee of ₹2,500 are quite impressive. Not only do you receive vouchers worth ₹2,500, but you also gain access to exclusive perks such as the Blacklight membership of MakeMyTrip and the Club Vistara Silver Tier membership. The Club Vistara membership might be an overlooked benefit for many cardholders. This membership allows you to upgrade your flight class by one level, even if you have initially booked an economy class ticket. Additionally, you can enjoy extra baggage allowance when you spend ₹1 lakh within 90 days.
If we look into the reward points aspect, which is crucial when assessing a credit card’s value, with the HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card, you earn 20 reward points for every ₹150 spent on Myntra, Marks and Spencer, Nika, and Alliance Digital. For all other expenses, you receive 4 reward points per ₹150 spent. Notably, Marks and Spencer purchases fetch 2 reward points, translating to a 1.2% cashback. This cashback percentage is quite competitive and adds to the overall attractiveness of the card.
Considering these benefits, even individuals with a monthly expenditure of ₹35,000 can find significant value in the HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card. The combination of joining vouchers, exclusive memberships, upgrade options, extra baggage allowance, and competitive reward points makes it a compelling choice.
When comparing the HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card and the Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card, it’s important to consider the cashback and reward points structure. The Magnus Credit Card offers a generous 7% cashback, which is an excellent rate. On the other hand, the Regalia Gold Credit Card provides 4 reward points per ₹150 spent, with the value of each reward point being 20 paisa. This translates to approximately 1.33% cashback. Additionally, the Regalia Gold Credit Card offers 5 times reward points on travel-related expenses, allowing for higher reward earnings on such transactions. Ultimately, the cashback percentage and reward point structure should be evaluated based on individual spending patterns and preferences.
Moving on to lounge access, both cards offer complimentary domestic lounge access. The Magnus Credit Card provides 12 complimentary domestic lounges, while the Regalia Gold Credit Card offers unlimited lounge access for the primary cardholder. However, the Regalia Gold Credit Card also provides an international Priority Pass membership with 6 complimentary international lounge visits. The choice between the two would depend on the frequency of international travel and the preference for unlimited domestic lounge access.
In terms of entertainment benefits, the Magnus Credit Card offers discounts on BookMyShow and Easy Diner, along with discounts on Swiggy. Additionally, spending thresholds on the card provide vouchers ranging from ₹1,500 to ₹5,000. Comparatively, the Regalia Gold Credit Card does not mention specific entertainment benefits in the provided information. Individuals should consider their preferences for dining and entertainment discounts when deciding between the two cards.
Lastly, let’s explore entry-level cards, which are suitable for individuals with limited credit history or lower income. These cards offer good benefits despite their entry-level status. While specific entry-level cards from HDFC Bank and Axis Bank are not mentioned in the given information, it’s worth noting that these cards often provide features such as reward points on spending, fuel surcharge waivers, and introductory offers. They serve as a stepping stone for individuals to establish credit and enjoy basic perks while building their financial profiles.
When it comes to entry-level cards, both HDFC Bank and Axis Bank offer compelling options. Specifically, the Axis Bank Flipkart Card stands out as an appealing choice. With a nominal fee of ₹500, the card offers a fee reversal benefit.
The key advantage of the Axis Bank Flipkart Card is the attractive cashback rate. By making purchases on Flipkart or Myntra, cardholders receive a generous 5% cashback. This means that if you spend ₹1 lakh, you can earn ₹5,000 in cashback, which is a substantial benefit. Moreover, the card provides a 4% cashback on transactions made on Swiggy, Uber, and at PVR cinemas. This enables you to earn cashback on your everyday activities, including food orders, transportation, and entertainment. For all other expenses, the card offers a respectable 1.5% cashback.
The combination of competitive cashback rates, fee reversal, and the popularity of Flipkart and Myntra make the Axis Bank Flipkart Card an appealing choice for individuals seeking an entry-level credit card. It allows you to earn significant cashback on your purchases and enjoy the benefits of leading e-commerce platforms and popular service providers.
When it comes to travel cards with exclusive benefits, three options stand out. These cards offer exceptional perks, including the opportunity to obtain complimentary business class tickets.
HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card standout feature of this card is the opportunity to earn up to 5 reward points on every ₹150 spent, which can be redeemed for a variety of rewards and travel options. While the HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card offers an impressive range of benefits, it does not explicitly mention the provision of complimentary business class tickets.
Axis Bank Vistara Infinite Credit Card is designed for frequent travelers, particularly those who prefer Vistara Airlines. Cardholders can enjoy benefits such as complimentary lounge access, accelerated reward points on Vistara flights, and attractive welcome bonuses. However, while the Axis Bank Vistara Infinite Credit Card provides excellent travel-related benefits, it does not mention offering complimentary business class tickets.
HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card offers an array of exclusive privileges, including airport lounge access, exclusive services, and comprehensive travel insurance coverage. What sets this card apart is the opportunity to earn and redeem reward points for flights and hotel bookings through the HDFC Bank Travel and Entertainment Portal. While it doesn’t explicitly mention complimentary business class tickets, the extensive reward points program enhances the potential for substantial travel benefits.
Considering the specific requirement of obtaining complimentary business class tickets, the HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card appears to be the most suitable choice. However, it is important to note that obtaining such tickets typically requires meeting certain spending thresholds and complying with specific terms and conditions outlined by the respective banks.
The HDFC Bank Indigo card is an entry-level card that offers various benefits for travelers. Upon joining, there is a joining fee of INR 1500, and the same amount is charged as the renewal fee. The card provides a complimentary flight ticket worth INR 3000 when you travel with Indigo. Additionally, cardholders receive a complimentary hotel voucher of up to INR 5000.
The Indigo card also offers reward points, with 5% cashback on Indigo purchases and 3% cashback on dining, grocery, and entertainment expenses. Furthermore, cardholders can access eight complimentary domestic lounges and enjoy complimentary food at partner dining establishments.
On the other hand, the Axis Bank’s Vistara credit card offers a range of benefits specifically tailored for Vistara airline customers. Cardholders receive a complimentary economy class ticket, along with 3% to 60% rewards on dining expenses. They also gain access to the Club Vistara base membership, earning 2 Club Vistara points for every INR 200 spent. These points can be redeemed for flight bookings, eliminating the need for cash payments.
The Vistara credit card provides eight complimentary lounge visits and offers a 25% discount of up to INR 800 through the Easy Diner program. Moreover, cardholders can earn up to three free economy tickets by spending INR 6 lakhs annually, making it an attractive option for frequent Vistara travelers.
If one spends INR 50,000 per month, they can earn three economy class free tickets in addition to other benefits. The card also offers 1,000 bonus Club Vistara points for spending INR 50,000 within the first 90 days. However, the Axis Bank’s Vistara Infinite credit card is more advantageous as it provides four business class tickets for yearly spending above INR 12 lakhs.
The mechanism behind earning points and rewards on credit card spending involves the banks receiving a percentage of the transaction (usually 2%) from the merchants. In turn, the banks provide rewards to their customers based on this percentage. Therefore, when you spend INR 100, the shopkeeper receives around INR 90 to INR 80, while the bank allocates the remaining percentage as rewards.
By spending INR 12 lakhs annually on the Axis Bank’s Vistara Infinite credit card, one can earn a deduction of INR 24,000 (2% of INR 12 lakhs). This deduction offsets a portion of the spending and provides an incentive for customers to continue using the card. As a travel card, the Vistara Infinite credit card offers the added benefit of four complimentary business class tickets for high-spending customers.
The Axis Bank’s Vistara credit card, especially the Infinite variant, provides a wide range of benefits for travelers, including complimentary flight tickets, lounge access, rewards on dining, and significant discounts. These features make it a desirable choice for those who frequently travel with Vistara.
When it comes to travel cards, two options stood out: Axis Bank’s Vistara credit card and HDFC Bank’s Regalia card. While the HDFC Bank Indigo card was mentioned earlier, the focus now shifts to these premium cards. Personally, I found Axis Bank’s Vistara credit card more appealing due to its numerous benefits and exclusivity.
The Axis Bank Vistara Infinite credit card offers an impressive perk – one complimentary business class ticket for any destination. The value of this ticket alone exceeds the INR 24,000 deduction earned through spending INR 12 lakhs annually. This benefit is particularly enticing for frequent travelers who desire the luxurious experience of business class without having to pay for it.
Moreover, the Vistara Infinite card provides Club Vistara gold membership, granting additional privileges and exclusive access. For every INR 200 spent, cardholders earn six Club Vistara points, which can be redeemed for various rewards. With eight complimentary lounge visits and six complimentary golf rounds, the card caters to both travel enthusiasts and golf aficionados.
Another noteworthy feature of the Axis Bank Vistara Infinite card is the 40% discount offered through the Easy Diner program, making dining experiences even more enjoyable. This card truly stands out as an exclusive travel card, offering free business class tickets, generous rewards, lounge access, golf benefits, and dining discounts.
On the other hand, HDFC Bank’s Regalia credit card is a super premium card with its own set of advantages. It offers a comprehensive range of benefits, including airport lounge access, golf privileges, and discounts on travel and dining. However, it lacks the allure of complimentary business class tickets like the Axis Bank Vistara Infinite card.
In conclusion, while both the Axis Bank Vistara Infinite card and the HDFC Bank Regalia card are exceptional choices for travel enthusiasts, the former’s offering of complimentary business class tickets, extensive rewards, and exclusive perks make it the more attractive option. The Axis Bank Vistara Infinite card truly stands out as an exceptional travel card, providing a premium experience for frequent travelers who seek the luxury of business class travel without the associated costs.