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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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Does the Priority Pass on this card work even for domestic lounges, like for Infinia? If not, would international airport terminals in India count under international or domestic usage?
 
Does the Priority Pass on this card work even for domestic lounges, like for Infinia? If not, would international airport terminals in India count under international or domestic usage?
Any lounge waiting for a flight that leaves India is considered an international lounge
 
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Does the Priority Pass on this card work even for domestic lounges, like for Infinia?
Can someone with knowledge please answer the first part of this question too? I don’t expect to be so as per docs, but still want to confirm if anyone tried and has actual experience.

Also ICICI RPs have validity of 3 years, I suppose it’s the same here too?

Has ICICI set up a different portal for EPM redemption or is it the same one? Can points pooled up from other cards be also used to redeem at EPM rates?
 
Does the Priority Pass on this card work even for domestic lounges, like for Infinia? If not, would international airport terminals in India count under international or domestic usage?
1) No, priority pass if used in any lounge within India is chargeable, except for the priority pass issued with Infinia.
2) International usage
 
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You’re reputation is unchallenged Dr, you’re a legend!
Thank you, but you need to click my name and then click "rate this user" and give max.+ points.
Come on, I know you can do it !

This is the motivation I need to answer everybody's questions & provide solutions.
Remember we experts are not getting paid for answering questions and giving free advice, we only do it for the dopamine
 
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1) No, priority pass if used in any lounge within India is chargeable
2) International usage
Sir / ma'am, you are wrong for point 1.

Infinia's Priority pass is not charged when used in India, most other cards do charge tho. I have tested this various times and so have a lot of other fellow TF members. I have seen a lot of other people mention this on here as well. It is there in the written T&C of lounge itself
 
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Sir / ma'am, you are wrong for point 1.

Infinia's Priority pass is not charged when used in India, most other cards do charge tho. I have tested this various times and so have a lot of other fellow TF members. I have seen a lot of other people mention this on here as well. It is there in the written T&C of lounge itself
Thanks I have made the correction
 
@drsel @SmartyAadi My question already had reference to the Infinia special case, and I was asking specifically if EPM has the same. Looks like we’ll have to wait for real EPM users to offer a definitive reply, also on my followup questions.
 
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@drsel @SmartyAadi My question already had reference to the Infinia special case, and I was asking specifically if EPM has the same. Looks like we’ll have to wait for real EPM users to offer a definitive reply, also on my followup questions.
Most unlikely, this is the exclusive infinia privilege.
Better not try because you will get charged after one month
 
@drsel @SmartyAadi My question already had reference to the Infinia special case, and I was asking specifically if EPM has the same. Looks like we’ll have to wait for real EPM users to offer a definitive reply, also on my followup questions.
Most tlikely EPM will not have this feature. For Infinia, most people were confident enough to use it since it is there in the 2nd point of the Lounge T&C at https://www.hdfcbank.com/content/bbp/repositories/723fb80a-2dde-42a3-9793-7ae1be57c87f/?path=/Personal/Pay/Cards/Credit Card/Credit Card Landing Page/Credit Cards/PDFs/Lounge-TnC.pdf


I checked the EPM page and nowhere does it mention anything even similar to what is there for Infinia so 99.99%, EPM will get charged for domestic lounges using PP.
 
Most tlikely EPM will not have this feature. For Infinia, most people were confident enough to use it since it is there in the 2nd point of the Lounge T&C at https://www.hdfcbank.com/content/bbp/repositories/723fb80a-2dde-42a3-9793-7ae1be57c87f/?path=/Personal/Pay/Cards/Credit Card/Credit Card Landing Page/Credit Cards/PDFs/Lounge-TnC.pdf
Yes even with unlimited domestic and unlimited International access on the priority pass issued with Magnus Burgundy, I dare not use it in any airport within India.

EPM will be the same, it is not exceptional like Infinia
I am not convinced that EPM is worth applying for
 
How to get Emeralde pvc as LTF? When checked in branch, they told only if it comes in app as LTF you can get. Through branch it is not possible. Is that right?
 
How to get Emeralde pvc as LTF? When checked in branch, they told only if it comes in app as LTF you can get. Through branch it is not possible. Is that right?
Mostly right.
Just now I read , it seems they withdrew unlimited spa facility ( need to confirm though)..
If that is the case, then emeralde pvc even ltf is a waste card. Nothing special at all
 
@drsel @SmartyAadi My question already had reference to the Infinia special case, and I was asking specifically if EPM has the same. Looks like we’ll have to wait for real EPM users to offer a definitive reply, also on my followup questions.
Domestic lounges with EPM PP would be charged.
As of now only Infinia PP, and digital PP that comes with DCB has complementary domestic lounge access.
If Rumors are to be believed , Magnus PP still gives complementary Domestic lounge access.
 
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