Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Last Updated 12th October 2024.
HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Edition is a high-end credit card that HDFC Bank offers in association with Diners Club. It is intended for rich clients who want to enjoy lavish benefits and rewards for lifestyle, travel and dining. Here’s a comprehensive analysis of its prime elements:
Contents
Charges and Welcome Benefits
| Joining Fees | ₹10,000 + GST or FYF (Upgrade) |
| Welcome Benefits | Complimentary* Annual memberships of Club Marriott, Amazon Prime, Swiggy One |
| Renewal Fees | ₹10,000 + GST |
| Renewal Benefits | NIL |
| Renewal Fee Waiver | Spend ₹8L or more in a year. |
- *Applicable on ₹1.5 L spent within 90 days of card issuance
HDFC has done away with reward points on both joining and annual fees paid for HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Edition which is surprising since it’s a premium reward points-based travel card.
Reward Points Accrual
| Spends Area | Reward Rate | Maximum Capping per Calendar Month |
| All retail* spends | 5 Reward Points per ₹150 spent (1X) | 75,000 Reward Points in a month |
| Weekend Dining | 10 Reward Points per ₹150 spent (2X) | 1000 Reward Points per day |
*Except for Fuel, Rental Payments, Packers and Movers, Government Transactions, Wallet loads, and Easy EMI transactions.
- Reward points are valid only for 3 years from the date of accumulation
- Reward points accrued for Insurance transactions will have a maximum cap of 5,000 per day
- Rewards Points accrued for Utility, Telecom & Grocery transactions will have a maximum cap of 2,000 per month
HDFC Bank has a dedicated portal named SmartBuy with which we get some extra rewards and cashback.
SmartBuy Benefits
| Accelerated Reward Rate | Maximum Reward Points per Calendar Month | Maximum Reward Points per Day |
| Upto 10X | 10000 | 10000 |
- SmartBuy supports merchants like Flipkart, MakeMyTrip, IGP, Apple Tresor, and likes. It also supports multiple partners for travel bookings like IRCTC, RedBus, MMT and Yatra.
Reward Points Redemption
| Modes of Redemption | Value per point | Reward Rate |
| Flights and Hotel bookings via SmartBuy | 1 RP = ₹1 | ~3.33%(1X) ~16.65%(5X) ~33.33%(10X) |
| Products and Vouchers via Netbanking or SmartBuy | 1 RP = upto ₹0.50 | ~1.66%(1X) ~8.32%(5X) ~16.65%(10X) |
| Cashback (Statement Credit) | 1 RP = ₹0.30 | ~0.99%(1X) ~4.99%(5X) ~9.9%(10X) |
| Airmiles/Hotel Loyalty Points | 1 RP = up to 1 Miles/ Points | Anything! |
- Customers can redeem up to 70% of the cost with points on travel bookings (Flights, hotels and experiences). The balance amount will need to be paid via credit card.
The best redemptions on HDFC Diners Club Black would be airmiles or hotel transfer partners or else you can go for travel redemptions from the SmartBuy portal.
We have compiled a list of all the Airmiles Transfer Partners and Hotel Loyalty Partners for HDFC Diners Club Black.
Milestone Benefits
- Get 10,000 Bonus Reward Points on spends of ₹ 4 lakhs every calendar quarter.
HDFC Diners Club Black users can easily track their milestones and redeem voucher codes for their welcome benefits from the dedicated HDFC Diners Club Smartbuy Portal.
Other Benefits
Airport Lounge Access
Access Via – Credit Card
Complimentary Domestic Limit – Unlimited (Shared between Primary & maximum 3 Add-on cardholders).
Access Via – Credit Card/Digital Priority Pass
Complimentary International Limit – Unlimited (Shared between Primary & Add-on cards)
- You can apply for a Digital Priority Pass for yourself and 3 add-on members on your HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card
Golf Benefits
If you are a golf lover then it offers:
- 6 Complimentary Golf games every quarter across the finest courses in the world
Good Food Trail Program
- Get a 10% instant discount over the existing discount on all your restaurant bill payments via Swiggy Dineout
- Offer inclusive of Restaurant and Swiggy Discount. Offer valid only on payments done via the Swiggy App
Fuel Surcharge Waiver
No fuel surcharge waiver is applicable on this card
Concierge Services
Enjoy the exclusive 24/7 Concierge Services on your HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card.
Toll-free: 1800118887
Landline: 022 42320226
Email: dinersblack.support@smartbuyoffers.co
Forex Markup Charges
- FCY Markup Fee: 2%+GST
- Reward Rate: 3.33%
- Net: 0.97% (Profit)
Rental Surcharge
- Rental Surcharge Fee: 1%+GST of the total amount paid
- Reward Rate: 0%
Eligibility
Officially the bank has the following criteria but can vary as per your relationship with the bank.
For Salaried Indian national
- Age: Min 21 years & Max 60 Years
- Net Monthly Income > Rs 2 Lakh
For Self Employed Indian national
- Age: Min 21 years & Max 65 Years
- ITR > Rs 30 Lakhs per annum.
Unofficially, If you are an existing HDFC Credit Cardholder, you can ask for an upgrade if there is a 5L limit on your existing card.
TechnoFino Recommends
HDFC Diners Club Black is India’s top super-premium credit card, designed to meet nearly all your needs. With unlimited complimentary lounge access and exclusive offers on dining and hotel bookings, it easily justifies its high annual fee. If you appreciate the value of paid cards and meet the eligibility requirements, this card could be your gateway to a world of infinite possibilities.
What are your thoughts about this card? Feel free to share in the comments below
Chief Editor, TechnoFino.
Personal finance nerd! Physics enthusiast and trainer. When not into Physics, he is minting points and hunting for the next best credit card for himself.
Reward rate – Forex comes out to be 0.97%, not 1.15%
Correction:
Reward Points are valid for 3 years not 2 years
5000 points cap per day for Insurance not 2000 points
thanks
There is no mention about Golf Games – 6 complimentary golf games every quarter worldwide.
Point related to validity of reward points and max cap on the insurance is 5k.
Kindly add in the Miles Transfer Partners information to this post as well.
How do you compare it with infinia metal? Lets say someone is able to manage a spend of 15 lakh/yr which is better between infinia metal and diners metal
Great
Would utility transaction (like tuition fees via third party app) fetch points and be considered for joining bonus spend criteria and milestone spend criteria. Are there any surcharges involved for such transactions.
Eligibility criteria has been changed. Net Monthly Income > Rs 2.5 Lakhs