Infinia Infinia worthiness

[VGisHere]

I went through Infinia Metal Card review and noted some points.

Pros -
1. Unlimited lounge access (domestic, international) for both primary, add-on (up to 3) card holders! (Big pro, need not keep track or multiple cards)!
2. Unlimited Golf games/coaching (not sure how many people actually claim, but would still keep it)!
3. Some ITC hotels tie-up benefits!
4. Insurance cover (definitely worthy)


Reward Rate Structure -
1. 3.3% RP on normal/every transaction.
Redemption - 1% for statement credit, 1.65% for smartbuy shopping, 3.3% for Smartbuy (Apple, Tanishq, Flights, Hotels) + AirMiles conversion.

2. 33% RP for flights/hotels on Smartbuy.
Redemption - 10% for statement credit, 16.5% for smartbuy shopping, 33% for Smartbuy (Apple, Tanishq, Flights, Hotels) + AirMiles conversion.

3. 16.5% RP for Smartbuy (Amazon, Gift voucher)
Redemption - 5% for statement credit, 8.25% for smartbuy shopping, 16.5% for Smartbuy (Apple, Tanishq, Flights, Hotels) + AirMiles conversion.

4. 9.9% RP for Smartbuy (Flipkart, Train booking)
Redemption - 3% for statement credit, 5% for smartbuy shopping, 9.9% for Smartbuy (Apple, Tanishq, Flights, Hotels) + AirMiles conversion.


Cons -
1. High Fees (12.5k + GST) = Rs. 14750
2. Welcome/Renewal Benefit = 12.5k points (recovered only if used on Smartbuy for Apple/Tanishq/Flights/Hotels OR Airmiles conversion) (big con)
3. Capping of payment up to 70% of the price with RPs
4. Very high NRV eligibility criteria (filters out big chunk)
5. Capping for Smartbuy transactions (15k per month) (so if you book hotel/flights for 45k, that's it!)
6. Forex markup - 2% + GST (higher than bunch of cards in market)
7. High fee waiver criteria (10L)
8. Capping for insurance transactions (5k per day, i.e., 1.5L spend)
9. Rent payment RP (Not eligible) + charges 1% extra
10. Redemption capping - 1.5L RP for flights/hotels; 50k for Tanishq per month; 50k against statement balance


So, after all these Cons, I'm wondering why are some people still going for Infinia card?
Is it only the unlimited domestic/international lounge access for self and add on card holders?
Or am I missing something basic here?
What strategies do people use to maximise benefit out of this card?
For people holding Axis Magnus, does this card make sense at all (except for lounge access)?

 

[Cardmarvel]

At the moment, it’s not a great card to have if you possess Magnus because the reward rate is much lower and like you said, the daily/monthly cap makes it even less attractive for large expenses.

But given that the annual fees is mostly returned via points, it’s not a bad card either, if you can redeem points at 1:1 ratio. The unlimited lounge access is quite handy, so is golf if you play regularly or even just to learn the basics of the sport

Axis will someday devalue ER to miles/hotel points conversion ratio and/or 25k monthly milestone. At that point, Infinia might regain its spot

 

[VGisHere]

A curious question, is there any other card in the market which offer unlimited domestic/international lounge access to primary as well as add on card holders?

 

[diablorojo8]

diners black offers it

 

[Deleted member 11974]

A curious question, is there any other card in the market which offer unlimited domestic/international lounge access to primary as well as add on card holders?

Axis magnus,axis reserve,amex platinum charge and Icici emralde give that if I am not wrong

 

[samba113]

How can buy tanishq giftcard with 10x points?

 

[tdot]

A curious question, is there any other card in the market which offer unlimited domestic/international lounge access to primary as well as add on card holders?

Axis Reserve gives Unlimited lounge visits to Primary card holder and upto 12 for add on card holders.

 

[CCUser_1999]

A curious question, is there any other card in the market which offer unlimited domestic/international lounge access to primary as well as add on card holders?

Few cards that I know
- Diner Black
- Axis Magnus
- AMEX Platnum Charge
- HDFC Infinia
- BOB Eterna (Only for Domestic)

 

[neogen]

Why I am still holding Infinia? Because it's lifetime free, else not worth TBH.

 

[sourpai]

Ability to book domestic tickets directly on Smartbuy at 1:1 is the biggest benefit. Isn't it?

Last month I did 2 round trips from Bangalore to Pune for 4 people. Total amount spent was ~38K on low cost airlines as no Vistara available. Amount covered via points was ~27K. I always found pricing on Smartbuy to be at par, simply because they have 4 partners now

Accelerated benefits give very good rewards. Straight up 15-16% value back for amazon / Myntra / FK and other vouchers. Fees is practically only 18% of 12,500 to me if 10L is not met.

 

[CMGCMG is verified member.]

Axis Reserve gives Unlimited lounge visits to Primary card holder and upto 12 for add on card holders.

Unlimited for primary and addon. Also has 12 guest access.

 

[PavanPavan is verified member.]

Use axis support and ask the same question 😁

 

[phagocyte536]

Ability to book domestic tickets directly on Smartbuy at 1:1 is the biggest benefit. Isn't it?

Last month I did 2 round trips from Bangalore to Pune for 4 people. Total amount spent was ~38K on low cost airlines as no Vistara available. Amount covered via points was ~27K. I always found pricing on Smartbuy to be at par, simply because they have 4 partners now

Accelerated benefits give very good rewards. Straight up 15-16% value back for amazon / Myntra / FK and other vouchers. Fees is practically only 18% of 12,500 to me if 10L is not met.

It is definitely a non nonsense card compared to the likes of Magnus. Might be a bit less rewarding but the mental load is almost nil.

 

[WandereR]

Few cards that I know
- Diner Black
- Axis Magnus
- AMEX Platnum Charge
- HDFC Infinia
- BOB Eterna (Only for Domestic)

Magnus also Only Domestic right?

16.5% RP for Smartbuy (Amazon, Train booking, Gift voucher)

Train booking is 3X not 5X so 10%

 

[Cardmarvel]

I went through Infinia Metal Card review and noted some points.

Pros -
1. Unlimited lounge access (domestic, international) for both primary, add-on (up to 3) card holders! (Big pro, need not keep track or multiple cards)!
2. Unlimited Golf games/coaching (not sure how many people actually claim, but would still keep it)!
3. Some ITC hotels tie-up benefits!
4. Insurance cover (definitely worthy)


Reward Rate Structure -


3. 16.5% RP for Smartbuy (Amazon, Train booking, Gift voucher)
Redemption - 5% for statement credit, 8.25% for smartbuy shopping, 16.5% for Smartbuy (Apple, Tanishq, Flights, Hotels) + AirMiles conversion.

Hotels are 33% on Smartbuy

 

[anirban.choudhuryanirban.choudhury is verified member.]

A curious question, is there any other card in the market which offer unlimited domestic/international lounge access to primary as well as add on card holders?

Unlimited International lounge access to add-ons

Axis Reserve via PP
IndusInd indulge/pioneer heritage metal via PP
HDFC dcb via diners network
HDFC infinia via PP
Amex plat charge via PP
Kotak white reserve via DF
Yes Private via lounge key

Unlimited domestic
Axis Magnus/Reserve
HDFC dcb/infinia
ICICI emeralde/emirates emeralde
Bob Eterna
IDBI Euphoria
IndusInd Pioneer heritage metal
Yes Private
Kotak white Reserve

 

[phagocyte536]

Hotels are 33% on Smartbuy

That 33% is effectively much lesser as MMT inflates the prices (basically you can't apply other coupon codes when booking through smartbuy)

 

[CCUser_1999]

Magnus also Only Domestic right?

Train booking is 3X not 5X so 10%

Yes its domestic only.

 

[great]

Still some juice left before disposing it...

 

[CC-Muncher]

Accelerated benefits give very good rewards. Straight up 15-16% value back for amazon / Myntra / FK and other vouchers. Fees is practically only 18% of 12,500 to me if 10L iso Not met.

Very well said!

One has to spend 15 lakh to reverse magnus fee. For reversing fee, overspending Doesn't makes sense at all. For most of the folks 15lakhs is too much to be spent on credit card alone.