Infinia HDFC Infinia Priority Pass Charged for Access in Domestic Indian Airports

[Paradjanov]

View attachment 86202

Sad, but just got this official revert from Customer Services, no more PP for domestic lounges. Posting the link the Lounge Tnc in the email.

Yes, agreed. And thank you, @drsel. This is the clearest info on this, as it seems.

However, I just called HDFC Infinia Priority Services [at 1800 266 3310], from where an Executive confirmed that “there is no update” on any T&C concerning Infinia Cards, including on PP usage linked to Infinia Cards. Then, I clearly asked if PP usage still continues to be free/complementary within India for both primary and add-on PP holders, to which the answer was “Yes”. [I have the recording.]

I write this not to negate what @Vbhoj74 has written. I appreciate that he took the trouble of writing to the bank, which wrote back to him; and of course, a written communication is indeed of much higher worth that spoken words. However, I suspect that HDFC are themselves not sure how to play this. In any case, they are supposed to communicate to the customers any change in T&C. Personally speaking, I swiped my PP yesterday [09 March] at the 1st Floor lounge at GAU Airport. Would I be charged? I don’t think so. On what ground will they levy a charge if I was not notified of them in advance??

 

[Joh]

Yes, agreed. And thank you, @drsel. This is the clearest info on this, as it seems.

However, I just called HDFC Infinia Priority Services [at 1800 266 3310], from where an Executive confirmed that “there is no update” on any T&C concerning Infinia Cards, including on PP usage linked to Infinia Cards. Then, I clearly asked if PP usage still continues to be free/complementary within India for both primary and add-on PP holders, to which the answer was “Yes”. [I have the recording.]

I write this not to negate what @Vbhoj74 has written. I appreciate that he took the trouble of writing to the bank, which wrote back to him; and of course, a written communication is indeed of much higher worth that spoken words. However, I suspect that HDFC are themselves not sure how to play this. In any case, they are supposed to communicate to the customers any change in T&C. Personally speaking, I swiped my PP yesterday [09 March] at the 1st Floor lounge at GAU Airport. Would I be charged? I don’t think so. On what ground will they levy a charge if I was not notified of them in advance??

That is my stand too. Bank can change terms. But as a major bank they need to officially intimate beforehand, with some weeks gap, before it kicks in.

 

[infinia_finally]

I have also emailed them, explicitly asking for the effective date of new T&C. Let's see.

 

[financesavy]

I have also emailed them, explicitly asking for the effective date of new T&C. Let's see.

I called Infinia dedicated support and they said you can keep using PP for domestic lounge, I wanted to get this in writing so I sent an email and they replied exact opposite. I am not sure what would happen to my domestic PP usage on 3rd March.

 

[Lobogris]

In India, people have opinion on each & every topic....Any info on this forum, just take as a pinch of salt and do your own study.

Priority Pass issued by any bank is chargeable in India....I received PP from HDFC and ICICI banks and on welcome letter, they clearly mention do not use in India We are only talking about PP issued with the Infinia here. All others are chargeable while Infinia’s is free. Why understand the distinction? All PP are chargeable if used in India EXCEPT for those issued with HDFC Infinia. Try to understand the difference.

We are only talking about PP issued with the Infinia here. All PP are chargeable if used in India EXCEPT those issued with the Infinia. Please try to understand the distinction.

 

[theXfactor]

I too had raised a query regarding the ongoing discussion with infinia.services. Here is the response which sounds as if I have asked for something which needed further investigation. If the communication about this change to HDFC's staff is clear, they should communicate right away.😀

 

[Joh]

I called. They said it is free for domestic.

I mailed and they sent a generic reply stating use Infinia domestically and PP overseas.( Not specifically stating PP is no longer free for domestic use).

😏

 

[_ayush]

I too had raised a query regarding the ongoing discussion with infinia.services. Here is the response which sounds as if I have asked for something which needed further investigation. If the communication about this change to HDFC's staff is clear, they should communicate right away.😀

I received same reply.
For other's they have just asked to use Card in domestic lounges. Not specified if PP will be charged or not.

 

[stech18]

yes, they did not mention using PP within India will be chargeable.

 

[vishp]

Lol, based on the email replies, even the executives are keeping it vague, similar to the website. They mention to use PP outside of india, but have not mentioned that it will be charged if used within India.

 

[IKFLRT]

It seems someone has edited the Infinia page on the HDFC website and messed it up badly!

The hyperlink to the lounge access list is broken. If you call Infinia concierge services, each agent provides their own version—there’s no consistent answer.

The only concrete information comes from the grievance redressal team, who take their time to respond.

If Priority Pass domestic access has changed, Infinia cardholders deserve proper communication, and HDFC should match the lounge access coverage in India to that of Priority Pass.

 

[_ayush]

I think I got connected with a customer care guy who was reasonable. Earlier he mentioned it will be chargeable but on confronting that yesterday I was told it will be free, he checked the call recording, then checked with training team management.
His eventual response was this change is not rolled out yet. It will happen, not sure when but users will be provided proper info through mail and some notice period. For now it is complimentary.

 

[Joh]

But why is HDFC removing this access ( if in future)? I don't think it will be misused.

 

[_ayush]

But why is HDFC removing this access ( if in future)? I don't think it will be misused.

probably because of higher fees on using PP. also people misuse it as a guest access in lounges where both infina and pp are allowed.

 

[Joh]

probably because of higher fees on using PP. also people misuse it as a guest access in lounges where both infina and pp are allowed.

Then, restricting PP access to Primary holder is better option. IMO.

 

[theXfactor]

probably because of higher fees on using PP. also people misuse it as a guest access in lounges where both infina and pp are allowed.

don't think it's due to higher fee and all. If it's unlimited, for PP it's unlimited across the globe. But yes, they may like to restrict concurrent access with PP and card at the same time.

 

[infinia_finally]

I think I got connected with a customer care guy who was reasonable. Earlier he mentioned it will be chargeable but on confronting that yesterday I was told it will be free, he checked the call recording, then checked with training team management.
His eventual response was this change is not rolled out yet. It will happen, not sure when but users will be provided proper info through mail and some notice period. For now it is complimentary.

Now this makes sense. Thanks for confronting them with proper due diligence.
In summary, they have not even communicated properly internally. They have "Eventual consistency" model 🙂

 

[bonheur]

Guys, I suggest we please stop pursuing this. Enough people have reached out to them over call and especially email, can we please just quietly wait to hear back from grievance redressal? Asking repeated questions around a devaluation that most likely hasn’t will convince the bank that customers will happily accept the change and actually do it. 😊

 

[infinia_finally]

As I said earlier, they would just lie. Here's the response verbatim from HDFC. They claim they have not updated lounge T&C since September 2023 🙂

 

[IKFLRT]

As I said earlier, they would just lie. Here's the response verbatim from HDFC. They claim they have not updated lounge T&C since September 2023 🙂

then let's go with Infinia Smartbuy website and continue using PP however we want.

Unless I receive an official communication from them regarding PP access changes, I'm gonna keep using my PP for domestic access.