One of the most talked-about promotions in the Indian credit card market is HDFC Bank’s 10X rewards program. The original 10X benefit for Diners cards included 10X points on international spends, but that specific wing of the program ended with the January 2018 update.
The reward enhancement has returned in a revised form: a 5X points promotion on international in-store (POS) transactions. This offer resembles the 5X promotion that ran in April–May 2018. Importantly, the current 5X benefit applies to a wider range of HDFC cards, including popular products such as HDFC Regalia, and is not restricted only to Diners variants. Below are the details you need to know.
Offer Details
- The Offer: 5X reward points on international in-store (POS) spends. This promotion does not apply to international online transactions.
- Promo Period: 1–28 February 2019.
- Excluded Cards: Jet and Bharat variants, and credit cards that do not have a rewards-point feature.
- Fulfilment: Bonus points credited within 90 days (by 31 May 2019).
- Max Cap: 10,000 reward points per card during the promotional period.
Although 5X is less generous than the earlier 10X promotion, its return is welcome. Because this is a limited-time offer, there is always a chance HDFC might bring back a higher multiplier such as 10X during peak travel seasons or future promotions.
Combined with HDFC’s Global Value program, these accelerated points can deliver strong returns on international spending made with HDFC credit cards.
Estimated value from 5X points (examples):
- Diners Premium / Diners Club Miles / HDFC Regalia: approximate effective value ~6.5% on eligible spends (subject to card-specific conversion and redemption values).
- Diners Black / HDFC Infinia: approximate effective value ~16.5% on eligible spends (subject to card-specific conversion and redemption values).
Note: This 5X promotion was rolled out broadly and was not limited to selected or targeted cardholders.
Bottomline
Accelerated reward points on HDFC cards are valuable when you travel. The previous 10X promotion on Diners cards produced excellent returns during travel periods—I personally benefited from the program during a year-end trip and enjoyed the extra rewards. The current 5X promotion remains attractive for international POS spends, though depending on your usage patterns, other offers such as 10X on forex reloads could be more beneficial for specific needs.
What do you think about HDFC’s 5X offer on international POS spends? Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments section below.