Shall i keep my ICICI Emeralde Private Metal Card?

[Shubham330]

Hi Team,

I am planning to close my ICICI EMP but wanted to have opinion from this community.

There is no standout feature of this card which is useful for me.

For movie benefits I have Sapphiro LTF. The limit is upto 500 off but that's sufficient for me.

For Lounge access have Regalia Gold and Axis Atlas.

Base return of 3% is less than that of 4% of Axis atlas.

Apart from this three I dint found any stand out feature of EMP.

 

[ManojGowda]

Hi Team,

I am planning to close my ICICI EMP but wanted to have opinion from this community.

There is no standout feature of this card which is useful for me.

For movie benefits I have Sapphiro LTF. The limit is upto 500 off but that's sufficient for me.

For Lounge access have Regalia Gold and Axis Atlas.

Base return of 3% is less than that of 4% of Axis atlas.

Apart from this three I dint found any stand out feature of EMP.

Atlas gives you better returns for regular spends and you said it yourself Sapphiro for BMS.

The only stand out feature would be Unlimited lounge access. If you got this covered, go ahead and close it. The annual fee ain't worth for any ICICI cards.

 

[magnusfan]

Quick fact check: Points on emerald private can be redeemed as statement credits?

 

[Shubham330]

Quick fact check: Points on emerald private can be redeemed as statement credits?

At 0.3 ₹ value.

Gives 1pt =1 ₹ for below things
Rewards Useful only for premium brand voucher which i'll never go for.
Air india transfer (only option Useful for me though im not frequent traveler)
Apple product. (Not Useful for me)

 

[Shubham330]

Atlas gives you better returns for regular spends and you said it yourself Sapphiro for BMS.

The only stand out feature would be Unlimited lounge access. If you got this covered, go ahead and close it. The annual fee ain't worth for any ICICI cards.

My exact though. Thanks brother.

 

[sousnake]

At 0.3 ₹ value.

Gives 1pt =1 ₹ for below things
Rewards Useful only for premium brand voucher which i'll never go for.
Air india transfer (only option Useful for me though im not frequent traveler)
Apple product. (Not Useful for me)

can you tell why did you took it at first place?

 

[RDR]

Is ICICI offering any waivers or points for the second year? @Shubham330

 

[Indrajeet100]

It all depends on what spends you have. RG is best used till 7.5lacs. After that no milestone. In Emerald metal fees are essentially GST as you get same number of points for renewal fees. Card is good 3% with little exclusions and if can use Easemytrip vouchers, decent returns. Will suggest you keep it till RG gets upgraded to Infinia/ DCB.

 

[Anupama_Jha]

can you tell why did you took it at first place?

Must be FYF or card collection spree

 

[Shubham330]

can you tell why did you took it at first place?

Initially it was giving 1₹ for credit statement. So took it.

 

[Shubham330]

It all depends on what spends you have. RG is best used till 7.5lacs. After that no milestone. In Emerald metal fees are essentially GST as you get same number of points for renewal fees. Card is good 3% with little exclusions and if can use Easemytrip vouchers, decent returns. Will suggest you keep it till RG gets upgraded to Infinia/ DCB.

Thought of that to keep it till get infinia. But acquing infinia is long journey for me. I'll be getting amex plat charge for me along with infinia.

So thinking of closing Emeralde metal now. Will use amex traval till 4L mileston
Then Amex Charge + hdfc RG + atlas.
Eventually will get RG upgraded to infinia
Then it will be
Amex + infinia. Will give thought on Atlas at that time whether to keep or not.

@Indrajeet100 your opinion on this thought?

 

[Shubham330]

Is ICICI offering any waivers or points for the second year? @Shubham330

Nope.
.
.
.

 

[Indrajeet100]

Thought of that to keep it till get infinia. But acquing infinia is long journey for me. I'll be getting amex plat charge for me along with infinia.

So thinking of closing Emeralde metal now. Will use amex traval till 4L mileston
Then Amex Charge + hdfc RG + atlas.
Eventually will get RG upgraded to infinia
Then it will be
Amex + infinia. Will give thought on Atlas at that time whether to keep or not.

@Indrajeet100 your opinion on this thought?

You would already have invite to upgrade to Amex Platinum if you are using Travel. I assume you have that kind of spend to extract Platinum benefits. Atlas is not bad if you can use Acoor points otherwise Emerald metal gives better options in terms of redemption. But what you have outlined makes logical sense. Spend heavily on RG to get Infinia faster.

 

[Shubham330]

You would already have invite to upgrade to Amex Platinum if you are using Travel. I assume you have that kind of spend to extract Platinum benefits. Atlas is not bad if you can use Acoor points otherwise Emerald metal gives better options in terms of redemption. But what you have outlined makes logical sense. Spend heavily on RG to get Infinia faster.

Infinia application is under process through ULIP.

Getting amex plat charge for 35k+ GST. So can extract benefits of that amount.

and ya. Atlas and amex mostly looking for hotel or flight redemption.

 

[Anupama_Jha]

Infinia application is under process through ULIP.

Getting amex plat charge for 35k+ GST. So can extract benefits of that amount.

and ya. Atlas and amex mostly looking for hotel or flight redemption.

Great 😃 Bro touching new heights every yr👏🏻

 

[Indrajeet100]

Infinia application is under process through ULIP.

Getting amex plat charge for 35k+ GST. So can extract benefits of that amount.

and ya. Atlas and amex mostly looking for hotel or flight redemption.

In that case, you don't really need Emerald Metal. Would suggest to keep one ICICI Card other than Amazon just to avail offers.

 

[kvndsz512]

@Shubham330 even if u use ur card for like 1-2L a yr u will be getting back ur gst part also.. mostly there are alot of icici cc instant discount offers.. if u use the emi purchase and cancel method more then better to close but if u do a full swipe its ok to keep it for a while till it is not devalued further... I guess u can use the points for tanishq gv maybe or amazon gv are at 0.7 rate i guess not sure ... if 0.7 per point then amazon gv is also a good redemption option...

 

[Shubham330]

In that case, you don't really need Emerald Metal. Would suggest to keep one ICICI Card other than Amazon just to avail offers.

Yes. Have Sapphiro LTF for icici offers and bookmyshow bogo

 

[Shubham330]

In that case, you don't really need Emerald Metal. Would suggest to keep one ICICI Card other than Amazon just to avail offers.

Yes. Have Sapphiro LTF for icici offers and bookmyshow

@Shubham330 even if u use ur card for like 1-2L a yr u will be getting back ur gst part also.. mostly there are alot of icici cc instant discount offers.. if u use the emi purchase and cancel method more then better to close but if u do a full swipe its ok to keep it for a while till it is not devalued further... I guess u can use the points for tanishq gv maybe or amazon gv are at 0.7 rate i guess not sure ... if 0.7 per point then amazon gv is also a good redemption option...

With other more rewarding cards such as atlas, infinia or amex plat. its difficult to spend even 1 -2 L on this card.

 

[kvndsz512]

Yes. Have Sapphiro LTF for icici offers and bookmyshow

With other more rewarding cards such as atlas, infinia or amex plat. its difficult to spend even 1 -2 L on this card.

yes thats there but if for instant discount it can be used i guess.. rest if 1-2L also can't spend then not worth keeping it