HDFC Bank has launched a premium offering called the Regalia Gold Credit Card. The Regalia family is well-established in the market, and Regalia Gold aims to provide a richer travel and lifestyle experience compared with other variants.
Positioned above the Regalia and Regalia First cards, Regalia Gold is one of HDFC’s stronger premium options at this price point. Below is a concise breakdown of the card’s features, fees, rewards and benefits.
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Joining Fees
- Membership Benefits
- Rewards
- Milestone Benefits
- Redemption
- Lounge Access
- Airport Transfers
- Forex Markup Fee
- Eligibility
- How to Apply?
- Bottomline
Overview
| Type | Premium Credit Card |
| Reward Rate | 1.3% – 26.4% |
| Best for | Airport lounge access |
| USP | Priority Pass for add-on cards & quarterly milestone benefits |
At its fee level, Regalia Gold comes with a strong mix of travel perks and reward options. It is distinct from the standard Regalia and Regalia First cards, which have seen devaluations in recent times.
Although it has been available for a while, Regalia Gold became particularly attractive after other Regalia variants experienced reductions to their lounge benefits.
Joining Fees
| Joining Fee | INR 2,500 + GST (sometimes issued as FYF) |
| Welcome Benefit | INR 2,500 voucher (on paid cards) |
| Renewal / Annual Fee | INR 2,500 + GST |
| Renewal Benefit | Nil |
| Renewal Fee waiver | On spending > INR 4,00,000 |
The renewal fee can be waived with sufficient annual spending, though paid-card holders do not receive a recurring renewal benefit. Despite that, the card offers compelling travel and lifestyle perks for its fee.
Membership Benefits
- Complimentary Swiggy One
- MMT Black Elite Membership
These memberships are included as part of the welcome benefit for the first year and may not automatically renew annually. To activate these memberships, cardholders must spend INR 1,00,000 within 90 days of issuance. Benefits unlock within 48 hours after meeting the spend criteria.
Rewards
| SPEND TYPE | Reward Points | REWARD RATE (POINTS TRANSFER) | REWARD RATE (Accor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Spends | 4 / 150 INR | ~1.3% | ~2.6% |
| Accelerated Spends (5X) | 20 / 150 INR | ~6.6% | ~13.2% |
| Smartbuy Flights / Vouchers (Upto 5X) | 20 / 150 INR | ~6.6% | ~13.2% |
| Smartbuy Hotels (10X) | 40 / 150 INR | ~13.2% | ~26.4% |
- Brands for accelerated spends: Marks & Spencer, Myntra, Nykaa & Reliance Digital. Cap: 5,000 reward points/month.
- Smartbuy cap: 4,000 RP monthly / 2,000 RP daily.
- Grocery reward capping: 2,000 reward points per month for grocery purchases.
- No rewards on fuel, wallets, rent and tax payments.
The base earn rate is modest for this category, so the card’s accelerated and Smartbuy rates are where you can extract better value. Milestone benefits further enhance the overall return if you meet the spending thresholds.
Milestone Benefits
| SPEND REQUIREMENT | MILESTONE BENEFIT | VOUCHER TYPE |
|---|---|---|
| INR 1.5 Lakh per quarter | INR 1,500 | Brand vouchers |
| INR 5 Lakh | INR 5,000 | Flight vouchers |
| INR 7.5 Lakh | INR 5,000 | Flight vouchers |
- Voucher brands: Marriott, Myntra, Marks & Spencer or Reliance Digital.
- Flight voucher: Intended for a single flight booking as per terms and conditions.
- Quarterly spends: Calculated by calendar quarter.
HDFC’s move to quarterly milestone calculations is welcome, as monthly milestones can be restrictive. If you achieve the top milestone, the additional voucher value boosts the effective reward percentage, though vouchers must be redeemed carefully to realize full value.
Redemption
Redemptions are available via multiple channels:
- Flights / hotel bookings: 1 RP = INR 0.5 via Smartbuy portal.
- Airline / hotel partners: Up to 1 RP = 0.5 partner points via Smartbuy.
- Exclusive Gold catalogue: 1 RP = INR 0.65 on select premium brand vouchers via Smartbuy.
- Statement credit: 1 RP = INR 0.20 (generally poor value).
The Exclusive Gold catalogue often provides higher value, including premium electronics and lifestyle brands. Transferring points to Accor Hotels is another strong choice, as it can deliver near INR 1 per point in value for certain redemptions. Keep in mind the regular earn rate is modest, so accumulating large balances takes time unless you leverage accelerated categories and milestones.
Lounge Access
| ACCESS TYPE | ACCESS VIA | ACCESS LIMIT |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | Visa / Mastercard | 12 visits/year |
| International (Primary) | Priority Pass | 6/year (shared) |
| International (Add-on) | Priority Pass | 6/year (shared) |
Domestic access with 12 annual visits is ample for most users. A notable advantage is that each add-on card receives its own Priority Pass card, making Regalia Gold well-suited for family travellers who require international lounge access for multiple cardholders.
The domestic lounge list for Regalia Gold is broader than other Regalia variants and is comparable to higher-tier cards. Priority Pass enrollment requires a minimum of four retail transactions on the card.
Airport Transfers
- 2 complimentary airport transfers per quarter.
- Requirement: flight tickets must be booked via the Regalia Gold Smartbuy portal.
You can generate one voucher per eligible flight booking, up to two vouchers per quarter. The voucher typically appears as an INR 300 ride credit usable for airport pick-up or drop-off. This is a useful benefit, though communication about it may be limited across platforms, so verify availability with Smartbuy when booking.
Forex Markup Fee
- Forex markup fee: 2% + GST (approximately 2.36%).
- Reward rate on international spends: 1.3% (same as domestic).
- Net return: Around break-even or slightly negative unless milestone benefits apply.
For international spending, the foreign exchange fee reduces net returns, though enrolling in HDFC’s Global Value program can add incremental cashback on international transactions and improve overall value.
Eligibility
- Income: Monthly income > INR 1,00,000 or INR 12 Lakh per annum for self-employed applicants.
- Upgrade: Often available for customers with an existing HDFC credit limit of ~INR 3 Lakh.
HDFC has offered upgrade paths for many existing Regalia and Regalia First cardholders. If you currently hold another Regalia variant, upgrading to Regalia Gold is worth considering for improved lounge access, airport transfer vouchers and stronger overall benefits.
How to Apply?
The fastest way to apply is online. You can apply via HDFC’s online channel or an authorised application link. Branch applications are possible but typically take longer to process.
Bottomline
- Cardexpert Rating: 4.2/5
Overall, HDFC Regalia Gold is a competitive premium lifestyle card that suits frequent travellers and families. Its unique provision of Priority Passes for add-on cardholders and quarterly milestone structure add meaningful value. To fully benefit, cardholders should track voucher expiries and plan redemptions carefully.
If you have experience with the HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.