Maximize Your Rewards: Credit Cards with Quarterly and Annual Milestones

[helloworld]

When there is no credit card offer and I want to purchase something, I usually use card with high reward rate. But by doing this I often missed the opportunity to get more reward rate with Quarterly/Annual milestone benefits with other cards.

It's like I use card with 3.3% reward rate compared to 1.2% because I get instant high reward rate but if I waited and when crossed certain spends on that low 1.2%, it can give me 6.2%.

In this post, I try to gather or know about certain cards which provides better reward rate with Quarterly/Annual milestone benefits.

Note: Ignored monthly milestone cards because most need little longer to optimized spends.

Quarterly = 3 consecutive calender months (Jan to Mar, Apr to Jun, Jul to Sep, Oct to Dec)

Issuer & Card Name	Spend Requirement	Extra reward rate for achieving spend requirement	Additional notes (depends on categories)
HDFC Millennia	- Spend 1L in a Quarter	- Rs. 1000 voucher (+1%) or Lounge access	- Reward rate: 2% - 6%
HDFC Moneyback+	- Spend 50K in a Quarter	- Rs. 500 voucher (+1%) // UPI Support	- Reward rate: 1.5% - 6%
HDFC Regalia Gold	- Spend 1.5L in a Quarter - Spend 5L in a year - Spend 7.5L in a year	- Rs. 1500 worth vouchers - Rs. 5000 worth flight vouchers - Rs. 5000 worth flight vouchers	- Reward rate: 2.67% - 10.8%
HDFC Diners Privilege	- Spend 1.5L in a Quarter	- Rs. 1500 worth vouchers	- Reward rate: 2.33% - 7.67%
HDFC DCB Metal	- Spend 4L in a Quarter	- Rs. 10000 worth reward points	- Reward rate: 1.74%- 5.8%
AU Zenith	- Spend 2L in a Quarter	- Rs. 1000 voucher (+0.5%) - Birthday month additional 625Rs.	- Reward rate: 3% - 5.5%
AU Zenith+	- Spend 75k in a month	- Rs. 1000 worth reward points (+1.3%)	- Reward rate: 2.3% - 3.3%
SBI SimplyClick	- Spend 2L in a year	- Rs. 4000 Cleartrip/Yatra voucher	- Reward rate: 3% - 4%
SBI Prime	- Spend 50k in a Quarter - Spend 5L in a year - Spend 10K in Birthday month	- Rs. 1000 Pizza hut voucher - Rs. 7000 Yatra/Pantaloon voucher - Rs. 500 reward points	- Reward rate: 2.8% - 4.65%
BoB Eterna	- Spend 5L in a year	- Rs. 5000 worth reward points	- Reward rate: 1.75% - 4.75%
AMEX MRCC	- Spend 20K (4x1500 + 14K) in a month	- 2000 MR points	- Reward rate: ~5%+ (1MR = 0.33p + higher depends on redemption)
AMEX Gold Charge	- Spend 6K (6x1000) in a month	- 1000 MR points	- Reward rate: ~7%+ (1MR = 0.33p + higher depends on redemption)
AMEX PLatinum Travel	- Spend 1.9L in a year - Spend 4L in a year	- 15000 MR points - 25000 MR points & Taj Gift card worth Rs. 10000	- Reward rate: ~6% + Taj voucher
Axis Privilege	- Spend 2.5L in a year	- 10000 Edge Reward Points	- Reward rate: ~1.8%+ (1ER = 0.20p + higher depends on redemption)
Axis Atlas	- Spend 3L in a year - Spend 7.5L in a year - Spend 15L in a year	- 2500 Miles - 7500 Miles - 15000 Miles	- Reward rate: ~5%+ (1ER = 1Rs. + higher depends on redemption)
Kotak Myntra	- Spend 50k in a Quarter (Milestone Exclusions: Fuel, Rent, Wallet)	- 2 PVR Tickets of 250 Each	- Reward rate: ~1.25% - 2.25% (1.25 is CB reward rate)
Kotak Mojo	- Spend 75k in a Quarter (only 1st year)	- 2500 Mojo points	- Reward rate: ~1.7% - 2.33%

With milestones, some of the cards beat 2% cashback cards, if one find use of the mentioned voucher/reward points and spend consistently on Quarterly/Yearly milestone.

Note: Post only considered >2% reward value and >2 redemption options.

Cards provide >2% reward value but with single redemption (either movie or flight):

- Kotak PVR Platinum / PVR Gold (redemption for INOX tickets)
- Vistara Co-brand cards (IDFC, SBI, AXIS)
- AirIndia Co-brand cards (SBI)
- Kotak White / White Reserve (high spends needed)
- SBI Elite (high spends needed)
- HDFC IRCTC (redemption for train tickets)

Do share any other cards (I'm sure I missed some) or anything missing hidden *TnCs.

Some card comparisons:

Atlas vs Regalia Gold vs Horizon:

https://www.technofino.in/community/threads/atlas-vs-regalia-gold.26500/

YES Marquee vs Reserv 3x vs Reserv 5x

https://www.technofino.in/community/threads/yes-marquee-vs-yes-reserv-3x-vs-yes-reserv-5x.24652/

AMEX MRCC vs Gold vs Travel vs Reserve

https://www.technofino.in/community/threads/amex-mrcc-vs-gold-vs-travel-vs-reserve.30606/

Let me know if anyone looking for referral.

Disclaimer: @morturn : Credit cards with quarterly or yearly milestones reward customers for exceeding certain spending levels within specified time frames. While credit cards might increase incentives and promote frugal spending, it is critical to avoid overspending and examine any potential annual fees. Always confirm that the card's advantages are in line with your spending patterns and financial goals.

Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 30872]

Statement credit 20 paisa
And voucher 35 paisa
Is az or fk egv available?
Any charges for redemption?

 

[Vasuki]

When there is no credit card offer and I want to purchase something, I usually use card with high reward rate. But by doing this I often missed the opportunity to get more reward rate with Quarterly/Annual milestone benefits with other cards.

It's like I use card with 3.3% reward rate compared to 1.2% because I get instant high reward rate but if I waited and when crossed certain spends on that low 1.2%, it can give me 6.2%.

In this post, I try to gather or know about certain cards which provides better reward rate with Quarterly/Annual milestone benefits.

Note: Ignored monthly milestone cards because I need little longer to accumulate and optimized spends.

Quarterly = 3 consecutive calender months (Jan to Mar, Apr to Jun, Jul to Sep, Oct to Dec)

Issuer & Card Name	Spend Requirement	Extra reward rate for achieving spend requirement	Additional notes
HDFC Millennia	Spend 1L in a Quarter	Rs. 1000 voucher (1%)	- Voucher options: Amzn, FK etc. - Reward rate: 2% - 6% (depends on categories & per Quarter)
HDFC Moneyback+	Spend 50K in a Quarter	Rs. 500 voucher (1%)	- Voucher options: Amzn, FK etc. - Reward rate: 1.5% - 6% (Quarter)
HDFC Regalia Gold	- Spend 1.5L in a Quarter - Spend 5L in a year	- Rs. 1500 worth vouchers - Rs. 5000 worth flight vouchers	Reward rate: max. 1.6% - 3.3%
AU Zenith	- Spend 2L in a Quarter	- Rs. 1000 voucher (0.5%) - Birthday month additional 625Rs.	- Voucher options: Amzn, FK etc. - Reward rate: 3% - 5.5%
SBI SimplyClick	Spend 2L in a year	Rs. 4000 Cleartrip voucher	- Voucher options: Cleartrip - Reward rate: 2.25% - 4.5% (Annual)
SBI Prime	- Spend 50k in a Quarter - Spend 5L in a year - Spend 10K in Birthday month	- Rs. 1000 Pizza hut voucher - Rs. 7000 Yatra/Pantaloon voucher - Rs. 500 reward points	- Voucher options: Pizza hut/Pantaloon - Reward rate: 2.5% - 4.5% (Quarter) + 1.4% (yearly)
BoB Eterna	Spend 5L in a year	Rs. 5000 worth reward points	Reward rate: 1.75% - 4.75%
AMEX MRCC	Spend 20K (4x1500 + 14K) in a month	2000 MR points	Reward rate:~2%-5%+ (1MR = 0.30p + higher depends on redemption)
AMEX Gold Charge	Spend 6K (6x1000) in a month	1000 MR points	Reward rate: ~3%-6%+ (1MR = 0.30p + higher depends on redemption)
AMEX PLatinum Travel	- Spend 1.9L in a year - Spend 4L in a year	- 15000 MR points - 25000 MR points & Taj Gift card worth Rs. 10000	Reward rate: ~3%-6% + taj voucher
Axis Select	Spend 3L in a year	5000 Edge points	Reward rate:2.6%+ - 5.5%+ (1Ed = 0.4p + higher if redeemed for airmiles)
Axis Privilege	Spend 2.5L in a year	3000 Edge points	Reward rate: 2.4%+ (1Ed = 0.4p + higher if redeemed for airmiles)

With milestones, some of the cards beat Axis ACE* (Considering difficulty to get this card and everyone saying it's should be in wallet*), if one find use of the mentioned voucher/reward points and spend consistently on Quarterly/Yearly milestone.

Do share any other cards (I'm sure I missed some) or anything missing hidden *TnCs.

Thanks!

Remove axis
My blood boils

 

[helloworld]

Statement credit 20 paisa
And voucher 35 paisa
Is az or fk egv available?
Any charges for redemption?

vouchers upto 35 paisa (depends on brand)
available at 0.20p
118Rs.

this is as of today, no guarantee for these vouchers tomorrow..

btw, RG is meant for travel redemption not for amzn vouchers.

 

[Deleted member 30872]

vouchers upto 35 paisa (depends on brand)
available at 0.20p
118Rs.

this is as of today, no guarantee for these vouchers tomorrow..

btw, RG is meant for travel redemption not for amzn vouchers.

Oh thank you, travel cards are not useful to me
If you know any other cards, pls let me know

 

[D7162]

SBI Elite - 50000 bonus points(12500 INR) on spending 8 lakh, increase reward rate by 1.56% - overall reward rate 2.06%

 

[helloworld]

Oh thank you, travel cards are not useful to me
If you know any other cards, pls let me know

which is useful to you..?

Please suggest me my 10th credit card

Hi, I am looking to get my 10th credit card. Here are the current cards which I have & their credit limit: STANDARD CHARTERED Platinum Rewards (LTF) ICICI Amazon Pay (LTF) HDFC Millenia (LTF) IDFC Millenia (LTF) AXIS My Zone (LTF) SBI Cashback (FYF) AU Xcite Ace (LTF) INDUSIND Legend (LTF)...

www.technofino.in

 

[TheGuy]

@helloworld here why have you missed out on -AU Zenith+, Vistara Cards, Air India, Kotak White, Axis Privilege, Axis Select etc? (as your posts are quite comprehensive)

 

[CCsearcher]

Does this mean that HDFC millenia is better than HDFC Regalia gold? :-/ :O

 

[Vasuki]

Does this mean that HDFC millenia is better than HDFC Regalia gold? :-/ :O

It is .

Just because sbi cashback came
It lost charm because of 1k limit & exclusion

 

[helloworld]

@helloworld here why have you missed out on -AU Zenith+, Vistara Cards, Air India, Kotak White, Axis Privilege, Axis Select etc? (as your posts are quite comprehensive)

normally post about getting >2% and >2 redemption options.

zenith+ with milestone its 2.33% and for 3.33% only dining, travel, international (which is not good rate consider its 5k fee card). Zenith has 4% categories and can get as LTF but not with zenith+ // will include

Vistara / Air India - good card but single redemption option and value % can only confirm until redemption, sector, time of travel. Usually not included travel cards for this reason.

Axis Privilege / Select - Just deleted today (need to adjust 20th April, changes).

Update: Added zenith+ and Privilege. Select not good, not getting 2% unless we transfer them. Can you help with Select with best return % (just incase if I missed any)?

 

[Sourabh_13]

HDFC IRCTC Credit card gives ₹500 Amazon/Flipkart/Others voucher on ₹30K spends in a quarter.

Base reward rate is 1%. Being a RuPay card, the milestone is easily achievable.

 

[TheGuy]

Can you help with Select with best return % (just incase if I missed any)?

Nice of you to update so soon. 🙂
I would love to contribute here but no wiki editing privileges and also don't have Select CC. Only Milestone Cards (significant) I am using are MRCC, SimplyClick and Vistara PE one. I have been using this post for making decision, since I recently only shifted CC Doctrine to Milestone Cards ( due to small txn value and some category exemptions).

 

[senasenthil]

Does this mean that HDFC millenia is better than HDFC Regalia gold? :-/ :O

In fact, I am offered Millenia as an upgrade to Regalia

 

[helloworld]

Does this mean that HDFC millenia is better than HDFC Regalia gold? :-/ :O

for cashback, it is.. for travel gold

 

[m4b]

Edit Note:
1. Other cards that offer Milestone rewards are poor or too complex or I didn't want to research-
-Axis Magnus
- Axis Select
- Kotak White
- SBI Elite
- HDFC IRCTC
- SBI IRCTC Premier
- Axis Atlas

Wait what!
YOU MAD?
This thread needs an update
😛

 

[helloworld]

Wait what!
YOU MAD?
This thread needs an update
;p

edited . .

 

[TheGuy]

YOU MAD?

you can always update it. don't be useless TF Ace. contribute. highlighted 2 conditions and avoided 3rd- i didn't want to search.

 

[m4b]

you can always update it. don't be useless TF Ace. contribute. highlighted 2 conditions and avoided 3rd- i didn't want to search.

Why do you have to be such arrogant!? I am useless in many things, I just pointed out why Atlas was considered to be the poor one!

 

[TheGuy]

Why do you have to be such arrogant!?

I am sorry for use of such language. This was not the intention.
Qualm was that you could update it. 🙂 (and no I don't consider atlas poor- it my 2nd fav card)

 

[m4b]

I am sorry for use of such language. This was not the intention.
Qualm was that you could update it. 🙂 (and no I don't consider atlas poor- it my 2nd fav card)

No issues, got your point.
But
1. I can't update as I am not the OG author.
2. I have limited knowledge of milestone-based cards.