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ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card Launched

ICICI Bank has launched the Emerald Private Metal Credit Card, which offers all the benefits of the ICICI Emerald Credit Card along with a few additional benefits.

Welcome Benefits:
  1. Taj Epicure membership for the first year. [You'll get one stay voucher with this]
  2. Receive 12,500 bonus reward points after annual fee payment each year.
  3. EazyDiner Prime membership (renewed annually).
Main Benefits:
  1. Unlimited golf games/lessons for the primary cardholder.
  2. Unlimited domestic airport lounge access using the Emerald Private Metal Credit Card for both the primary and add-on cardholders.
  3. Unlimited international airport lounge access using Priority Pass for both the primary and add-on cardholders.
  4. Buy one, get one free movie/event ticket from BookMyShow twice per month. Maximum Discount: Rs. 750 per ticket.
  5. Up to Rs. 12,000 refund for a maximum of 2 transactions per year on tickets booked exclusively with the Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card.
  6. Discounted markup fees: 2%.
  7. 1% fuel surcharge waiver for all transactions up to Rs. 4000. Maximum surcharges waiver - Rs. 1000 per statement cycle.
  8. No Extra Charges/Penalty For: Cash Withdrawal, Over limit, Late payment.
  9. You can get 3 complimentary add-on cards
Reward System:
Earn 6 reward points for every Rs. 200 spent.
No reward points on Tax Payment, Rent payments, EMI and Fuel purchases.

Reward Points Value:
Flight/Hotel Booking: 1 reward point = Rs. 1
Gift Vouchers*: 1 reward point = Rs. 1
Rewards Catalogue [other products]: 1 reward point = Rs. 0.60
Statement Credit: 1 reward point = Rs. 0.40

*Brands' Gift Vouchers available under the 1:1 redemption ratio include:
  • Travel Category: MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, Yatra, ClearTrip, Hyaat, Marriott International, ITC Hotels, Taj Hotels.

    View attachment 36109
  • Electronics: Apple
  • Luxury Brands: Tanishq, Mothercare [Luxe], G-Star Raw [Luxe], Giorgio Armani [Luxe], Emporio Armani [Luxe], Canali [Luxe], Coach [Luxe], Tumi [Luxe], Scotch & Soda [Luxe], Jimmy Choo [Luxe]
There are lots of other brand vouchers available, but for those, you'll get a value of 1 reward point = Rs. 0.60. I think you have a decent option available under the 1:1 redemption category. ITC, Hyatt, Marriott, Taj, and other travel-related vouchers are worth considering. So, in terms of redemption options, I must say this is a decent card. And I think this is better than HDFC SmartBuy portal flight or hotel booking redemption system. The main downside of SmartBuy portal flight or hotel booking redemption is that you can't use 100% reward points. However, in the case of ICICI Emeralde Private Metal Card, you can just get an MMT voucher or any other travel voucher and book your flights or hotels.

Reward Rate:
Flight/Hotel Booking: 3%
Gift Vouchers: 3%
Rewards Catalogue: 1.8%
Statement Credit: 1.2%

Reward Redemption:
You can redeem your ICICI Bank Reward Points across Catalogues, from movie and travel vouchers to lifestyle products, mobiles, appliances, statement credit and more.
Redemption of Reward Points against statement balance (cashback redemption) is capped at 50,000 Reward Points per Statement cycle.

Reward Capping:
  • Reward Points earned on Insurance transaction will be capped at 5,000 Reward Points per statement cycle. [Spends required to reach maximum reward- Rs. 1,66,800]
  • Reward Points earned on grocery transaction will be capped at 1,000 Reward Points per statement cycle. [Spends required to reach maximum reward- Rs. 33,400]
  • Reward Points earned on Utilities transaction will be capped at 1,000 Reward Points per statement cycle. [Spends required to reach maximum reward- Rs. 33,400]
  • Reward Points earned on Education transaction will be capped at 1,000 Reward Points per statement cycle. [Spends required to reach maximum reward- Rs. 33,400]

Milestone Benefits:
Spend Rs. 8 lakhs per year and receive 2 air travel vouchers worth Rs. 3000 each (total Rs. 6000) from EaseMyTrip. Reward Rate: 0.75%.
Spends 4 Lakhs and get first EaseMyTrip voucher worth Rs. 3000/-​
Spends 8 Lakhs and get your second EaseMyTrip voucher worth Rs. 3000/-​

Charges:
Joining Fee: Rs. 12,499 + GST.
Annual Fee: Rs. 12,499 + GST.
Annual Fee Reversal Criteria: Spend Rs. 10 lakhs in the next card membership year to have your annual fee reversed.

Card Replacement Fees: Rs. 3500/-

Opinion:
The ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card is the flagship credit card of ICICI Bank. When considering the reward rate, I must say this card offers decent value back on spending. The main drawback is that ICICI Bank does not offer a reward points transfer feature like HDFC Bank or Axis Bank.
Typically, credit cards of this nature provide the option to transfer points. However, in this case, we can only redeem our reward points for brand gift vouchers. I hope ICICI Bank will address this issue and introduce some transfer partners soon. You'll receive 12,500 reward points worth Rs. 12,500 on joining, so mathematically you'll only need to pay the GST (Approx. Rs. 2250/-) each year, similar to the SC Ultimate credit card. Additionally, you'll receive Taj Epicure membership for the first year with this card, allowing you to enjoy a complimentary stay at a Taj hotel. This benefit can help offset your card's joining fees effectively.
Overall, this is a good credit card, unlike other gemstone cards, as it offers a better reward rate. If you are seeking a premium credit card but don't plan to redeem your reward points for airline miles and instead prefer gift vouchers, then this credit card is for you.
 
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If i use smart buy, same hotel, same category, its showing as
6094 inc tax/n x 5 nights
= 30470.

HDFC INFINIA
If I book this hotel through SmartBuy using Infinia, the calculation would be like:
=(30470/150) * 50 (5rp*10x) = 10,156 reward points. You can use them as 1:1 for next transaction on Hotels/Flights/Tanishq (70% of the lot). With redemption in cash, it would be = 10156 * 0.30 = 3000/- which you can redeem in next billing cycle.

ICICI Emeralde Metal:
5696 inc tax/n x 5 nights = 28480.
Pay using Emeralde = (28480/200)*6 = 854 RPs = 854 *0.4 = 341/- cash


Please correct me if I am wrong. You have to compare with Infinia and NOT Regalia as Emeralde metal is Infinia competitor so compare Appels to apples.
I was referring to the redemption part, not earning part, HDFC Infinia is better than emeralde in terms of reward earning rate, it has accelerated reward earning option, but not available in emeralde private metal.
 
If i use smart buy, same hotel, same category, its showing as
6094 inc tax/n x 5 nights
= 30470.

HDFC INFINIA
If I book this hotel through SmartBuy using Infinia, the calculation would be like:
=(30470/150) * 50 (5rp*10x) = 10,156 reward points. You can use them as 1:1 for next transaction on Hotels/Flights/Tanishq (70% of the lot). With redemption in cash, it would be = 10156 * 0.30 = 3000/- which you can redeem in next billing cycle.

ICICI Emeralde Metal:
5696 inc tax/n x 5 nights = 28480.
Pay using Emeralde = (28480/200)*6 = 854 RPs = 854 *0.4 = 341/- cash


Please correct me if I am wrong. You have to compare with Infinia and NOT Regalia as Emeralde metal is Infinia competitor so compare Appels to apples.
Ok i get your point 😁

Now, lets compare these 2 cards with another top card - magnus (new TnC with no monthly extra rewards)

Suppose cost is 30470 in travel edge.
So if i use magnus card, which is 12 erp / 200.

30470/200 = 152 *12 = 1824 erp
(5x travel edge) = 1824 *5 = 9120 erp
Cash cost of 1 erp = 0.30 p
So we will get 9120 *0.30 = 2736 cash

*UPDATED* Thanks to @manzb

And if this done AFTER 2L, its 35erp / 200.
30470/200 = 152 *35 = 5320 erp
Cash cost of 1 erp = 0.30 p
So we get 5320 *0.30 = 1596 cash

Is my calculation correct ?
Infinia still on top 264 cash extra (below 2L) and still on top by 1404 cash extra (above 2L).

So, infinia and magnus is almost same in earning part in this scenario, with magnus, stay below 2L per month use in travel edge portal to get max erp.

This earning part is final ? I dont have infinia yet. Gotta use with what i have, trying to get max return from my cards. Have to save this for future use.

From now on, I gotta use my magnus with travel edge for flights booking (is same as other websites), hotel bookings are almost 2k extra, so i will use mmt for that.
 
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Ok i get your point 😁

Now, lets compare these 2 cards with another top card - magnus (new TnC with no monthly extra rewards)

Suppose cost is 30470 in travel edge.
So if i use magnus card, which is 12 erp / 200.

30470/200 = 152 *12 = 1824 erp
(5x travel edge) = 1824 *5 = 9120 erp
Cash cost of 1 erp = 0.30 p
So we will get 9120 *0.30 = 2736 cash

And if this above 1.5L, its 35erp / 200.
30470/200 = 152 *35 = 5320 erp
(5x travel edge) = 5320 *5 = 26600 erp
Cash cost of 1 erp = 0.30 p
So we get 26600 *0.30 = 7989 cash

Is my calculation correct ?
Infinia still on top with 264 cash extra (below 1.5L) and 4980 below magnus (above 1.5L).

So this earning part is final ? I dont have infinia yet. Gotta use with what i have, trying to get max return from my cards. Have to save this for future use.
Magnus calculation is wrong

For travel edge you don't get both. You just get 5X. So basically 60 points per 200 upto 2 lacs.
travel edge spend is not considered for 150K milestone benefits (neither Gyftr spend is considered).
 
Magnus calculation is wrong

For travel edge you don't get both. You just get 5X. So basically 60 points per 200 upto 2 lacs.
travel edge spend is not considered for 150K milestone benefits (neither Gyftr spend is considered).
You are correct.

60 ep/200 if < 2L in travel edge portal.

35 ep/200 if > 2L in travel edge portal. (So after 2L+, its not 12ep atleast, its 35).

Updated my above post. Can you confirm now @manzb Thanks.
 

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You are correct.

60 ep/200 if < 2L in travel edge portal.

35 ep/200 if > 2L in travel edge portal. (So after 2L+, its not 12ep atleast, its 35).

Updated my above post. Can you confirm now @manzb Thanks.
Not sure why someone will get a super premium credit card to get cash value from loyalty points. Typically most go for other redemptions for best value. For Infinia it is Smartbuy that gives best value whereas Magnus it is Hotel and Airline transfer partners. SO if you are looking for cash equivalent, go for Infinia. But if you are looking for better value by indirect means (booking free hotel rooms and free air tickets etc) then go for Magnus.

After deval, regular magnus is not that useful, as Atlas gives better value than magnus in most cases if you are playing the Hotel and Airline loyalty game.
 
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Not sure why someone will get a super premium credit card to get cash value from loyalty points. Typically most go for other redemptions for best value. For Infinia it is Smartbuy that gives best value whereas Magnus it is Hotel and Airline transfer partners. SO if you are looking for cash equivalent, go for Infinia. But if you are looking for better value by indirect means (booking free hotel rooms and free air tickets etc) then go for Magnus.

After deval, regular magnus is not that useful, as Atlas gives better value than magnus in most cases if you are playing the Hotel and Airline loyalty game.
Q. Why magnus.
A. 1. 1st metal cc, 2. Show off amongst peers, 3. Cause axis gave it without much hassle.

Q. Why not infinia ?
A. Hdfc doesnt even doing LE, since last 2 years on a regular using cc. Now showing millinnia upgrade only, which is a downgrade for my regalia first, after its deval. Regalia gold ke liye ghuma rahe hai, Infinia to duur ki baat hai lol

Q. Why looking for points?
A. I was happy with my emeralde plastic. After joining this forum, tum logo ne lalach dila diya ye card bhi le sakte hai, wo card bhi le sakte hai. Paid cards ko use karna to aata hai. Now that I got magnus, I am looking at the points system how stuff works to the max.
 
Just now a banking staff told me, wealth management ko call karo, emeralde band karwana hai, aapka upgrade kar dega metal mein, or plastic wala ltf kar dega.

Should I try ? LOL
 
Just now a banking staff told me, wealth management ko call karo, emeralde band karwana hai, aapka upgrade kar dega metal mein, or plastic wala ltf kar dega.

Should I try ? LOL
No harm in trying, whether you take it or not secondary.. first try and let us know if they are doing this
 

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