Is infinia/dcb still worth?

[Vineeth043]

Before upgrading to diners club black or infinia i just got a doubt.
We will generally get 10% instant discount on almost all sites like amazon and Flipkart with icici/sbi or other cards(excluding card reward points) and we will also get 10% to 20% instant discount in booking flights or hotels as well.
So what's the profit in buying those vouchers from smartbuy at 16.67% reward rate and using those rewards in booking flights and hotels at full price without any cashback? Are we really making profit with those cards which comes with high annual fee after waiting for very long.
And we have to accumulate those reward points for many days that's another headache.
I accept that few vouchers give more than 16.67% but most of the regular using vouchers are not.

Am not against these cards but just wanted to know the real users experience so that i can take better decision😊

 

[sv004]

Dcb and infinia both have 3.3 per default reward rate and even more on smartbuy. Icici and sbi offers are sometimes present and absent . U keep accumulating points and use it when u need to travel or book hotel. So its still very much worth it

 

[anotheruser]

Plus, if you travel via flights, you get unconditional, unlimited lounge access for primary and add-on card holders. No per quarter limits (almost all non premium cards) or minimum spend in past quarter limits (ICICI).

 

[Vineeth043]

Dcb and infinia both have 3.3 per default reward rate and even more on smartbuy. Icici and sbi offers are sometimes present and absent . U keep accumulating points and use it when u need to travel or book hotel. So its still very much worth it

Yeah default reward rate is what we can consider

 

[NewUser]

We will generally get 10% instant discount on almost all sites like amazon and Flipkart with icici/sbi or other cards(excluding card reward points) and we will also get 10% to 20% instant discount in booking flights or hotels as well.

There are hoards of other features like lounge access, flight booking as already mentioned in other comments.
However, if we talk only about vouchers, they provide vouchers at a discount for many sites, not just Amazon and Flipkart. So you probably need just one card for Swiggy, ShopperStop, Bigbasket, online subscriptions and other leading brands.

 

[manzb]

Just now have closed DCB after using it for last 5-6 years. There is hardly any benefits left that one can easily get out of it. With lower benefits, my expenses have all shifted to Magnus, Vistara Infinite and Ultimate. With lower spend, they are insisting on annual charges and it is not worth keeping the card after paying almost 12K annual charges. Regarding only remaining benefits of DCB

1. Lounge access - All the balance 3 cards of mine has unlimited lounge access ( I also have Amex travel card plus ICICI Sapphiro)
2. 3.3% return- SC Unlimited has 3.3% return on all spend (no exclusion) and this card is almost free (you get 5000 worth points for 5900 annual fees)
3. Travel offers- magnus has much better offer with 5X in travel edge and overall better rewarding

Only issue is that Magnus needs a better understanding of how to manage the points. If you can, you should be able to play with the reward points better to get better value.

 

[NOOBY]

With lower spend, they are insisting on annual charges

how low were your spends and for how long ?

 

[sv004]

Just now have closed DCB after using it for last 5-6 years. There is hardly any benefits left that one can easily get out of it. With lower benefits, my expenses have all shifted to Magnus, Vistara Infinite and Ultimate. With lower spend, they are insisting on annual charges and it is not worth keeping the card after paying almost 12K annual charges. Regarding only remaining benefits of DCB

1. Lounge access - All the balance 3 cards of mine has unlimited lounge access ( I also have Amex travel card plus ICICI Sapphiro)
2. 3.3% return- SC Unlimited has 3.3% return on all spend (no exclusion) and this card is almost free (you get 5000 worth points for 5900 annual fees)
3. Travel offers- magnus has much better offer with 5X in travel edge and overall better rewarding

Only issue is that Magnus needs a better understanding of how to manage the points. If you can, you should be able to play with the reward points better to get better value.

Magnus is better only if u spend more than one lac every month. With vistara you are bound to vistara airlines which may not be available where u are planning

 

[manzb]

how low were your spends and for how long ?

Verl little ...
annual spend is less than 20/30K in 2022..
2021 approx 2.5 lacs
2020- may be around 4.5 lacs (as lots of benefits were still there)
Currently I hardly look at this card for any spend as Magnus etc has a better value. In any case they have devalued the card by leaps and bound in last 12-18 months.

 

[manzb]

Magnus is better only if u spend more than one lac every month. With vistara you are bound to vistara airlines which may not be available where u are planning

Mine is more than 100K for most months.. At least 10mths if not 12.
Vistara Infinite-Is just a back up. Nowadays, even that is not being used. But annual payments gives u a free biz tkt and 3 upgrade vouchers. They themselves are good to cover the annual fees. Also the best value of Magnus points are via CV points in domestic circuit (for economy travel).

 

[sv004]

Mine is more than 100K for most months.. At least 10mths if not 12.
Vistara Infinite-Is just a back up. Nowadays, even that is not being used. But annual payments gives u a free biz tkt and 3 upgrade vouchers. They themselves are good to cover the annual fees. Also the best value of Magnus points are via CV points in domestic circuit (for economy travel).

Ok then magnus is best for u

 

[sv004]

Mine is more than 100K for most months.. At least 10mths if not 12.
Vistara Infinite-Is just a back up. Nowadays, even that is not being used. But annual payments gives u a free biz tkt and 3 upgrade vouchers. They themselves are good to cover the annual fees. Also the best value of Magnus points are via CV points in domestic circuit (for economy travel).

How did u apply for magnus btw?

 

[manzb]

How did u apply for magnus btw?

Online. It was quick and smooth. No add on card though 😢

 

[sv004]

Ok thank u . U appllied ctc or via itr?

 

[manzb]

Ok thank u . U appllied ctc or via itr?

CTC.. as I already had Infinia while applying

 

[sv004]

CTC.. as I already had Infinia while applying

Ohk so u closed dcb and upgraded to infinia ?

 

[manzb]

Ohk so u closed dcb and upgraded to infinia ?

No .. just closed the card

 

[ashishB]

From 15th Feb 2023, Dineout Passport will be withdrawn. This is after the take over of the same by Swiggy

 

[sv004]

No .. just closed the card

After dcb closure how many days u applied for Infinia

 

[manzb]

After dcb closure how many days u applied for Infinia

I have no intention to apply for any HDFC card now. Will wait for HDFC's offer to counter Magnus offensive.