HDFC Bank had planned to launch an Infinia Metal Edition around late September 2021, but the launch was delayed by a couple of weeks. The Infinia Metal Edition is now officially available and brings a few notable changes to the existing Infinia proposition.
Key features and changes in the Infinia Metal Edition
- New metal card design.
- Ability to redeem reward points for Apple products and Tanishq vouchers at a 1:1 ratio (70:30 conversion rule still applies).
- Removal of 2X rewards on dining; the same change will affect non-metal Infinia cards from 1st December 2021.
- Annual fee: Rs. 12,500 + GST, with 12,500 welcome points on fee payment.
- Fee waiver on renewal requires Rs. 10 lakh annual spend (previously Rs. 8 lakh).
- Complimentary Club Marriott membership for the first year.
- Complimentary ITC benefits including two plus one complimentary nights and a one plus one weekend buffet at participating hotels.
- All other existing features of the current plastic Infinia card remain unchanged.
- For full fees and charges, see HDFC Bank’s Infinia Metal Edition fee schedule on the bank’s site.
An important clause in the new terms states:
All Product Features (excluding Welcome/Renewal Reward Points) captured in ‘Features’ tab are also applicable for Infinia cards sourced before 18th Oct’21
In practical terms, this means that holders of the existing plastic Infinia will continue to enjoy almost all the product features offered by the new metal version, with the main difference being the physical metal card itself.
I can already see the Tanishq voucher available for 1:1 redemption on SmartBuy for a plastic Infinia, so it appears HDFC has rolled the new privileges into the Infinia product line broadly, simply distinguishing it with the “Metal” branding.
First impressions
Design:
In my view, the existing plastic Infinia’s design looks better than the new metal variant.
Benefits:
- It is disappointing to lose 2X rewards on dining.
- ITC hotel benefits are a welcome addition and will be useful for some cardholders.
- Apple and Tanishq redemptions are positive but the 70:30 rule reduces the effective value for many redemptions.
Overall, the design change and benefit updates are not particularly compelling. For rewards-focused users, however, Infinia continues to be one of the strongest premium credit cards in India.
How to upgrade?
HDFC is likely to roll out upgrade invitations in phases, starting with high spenders. If you’re eligible, expect a straightforward upgrade process from the plastic to the metal card.
Some Infinia cardholders have already received email invitations and can see upgrade offers through net-banking.
Existing plastic Infinia cardholders who agreed to the original fee (Rs. 10,000) are likely to retain their current pricing if they choose not to upgrade, since their original terms remain binding. This complicates a blanket swap to the metal card for all users.
The upgrade approach mirrors HDFC’s prior rollouts for other premium cards, where metal or refreshed variants were offered to select cardholders first.
In summary, upgrading mainly provides the metal card and a higher renewal fee structure; most product benefits appear to be shared between the metal and plastic variants. For many customers, the change is largely cosmetic, while core reward economics remain attractive for those who prioritize point accumulation.
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