Important Note: Content Outdated. Please refer to my latest review here: HDFC Regalia First Review
HDFC recently introduced two new variants of its Regalia line—Regalia First and Doctor’s Regalia—which began appearing on physical application forms around July 2016. These additions arrived soon after changes to the Allmiles card, and seem intended to create clearer distinctions among HDFC’s premium credit-card offerings. The changes suggest HDFC is segmenting benefits to steer some customers away from the original Regalia card. Below is a concise, updated look at the Regalia First features, rewards and important differences versus the original Regalia.
HDFC Regalia First Credit Card
HDFC Regalia First: Rewards and Value
The Regalia First retains the same point-earning structure as the original Regalia, but the monetary value assigned to each reward point is lower. Where the original Regalia values a reward point at approximately Rs. 0.75, Regalia First reduces that to Rs. 0.40, which significantly lowers effective cashback value.
- Standard rewards: 4 reward points for every Rs. 150 spent
- Accelerated rewards: 8 reward points for every Rs. 150 on select categories
- Reward point value: 1 reward point ≈ Rs. 0.40
Although the earning rates (points per rupee) remain the same, the key differences lie in the redemption value and lounge access allowances. The original Regalia offers 12 complimentary Priority Pass entries annually, while Regalia First is limited to 4 free Priority Pass accesses per year—matching the Allmiles arrangement.
Key Features of Regalia First
- Reward Rate: Roughly 1% value on standard spending, up to about 2% on accelerated categories (based on point valuation).
- Accelerated Rewards: 2X reward points on dining, select air bookings and purchases made on the Regalia portal.
- Complementary Airport Lounge Access: Up to 4 free Priority Pass visits per year, plus additional Visa or MasterCard lounge accesses as applicable (usually 2 per quarter through partner programs).
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 0% surcharge on eligible transactions (minimum txn INR 400; maximum waiver capped per statement cycle as per issuer rules).
- Foreign Exchange Markup Fee: Competitive forex markup (2% + applicable taxes at the time of publishing), useful for frequent international travellers.
- Insurance Benefits: Travel-related insurance including air accident coverage and overseas emergency medical protection subject to policy limits.
- Concierge Service: Global concierge assistance for travel and other lifestyle needs (service quality and usefulness may vary).
Compared to the original Regalia, Regalia First offers a similar points-based earning structure but with a lower redemption value and fewer complimentary Priority Pass lounge entries. Some other benefits—such as forex markup, insurance coverage and partner lounge access—may still be competitive depending on current issuer terms.
In practice, Regalia First feels like a visually similar, lower-benefit alternative to the original Regalia. If you already hold HDFC cards such as Allmiles or MoneyBack, upgrading to Regalia First may be straightforward; issuers often simplify upgrades within their card family. However, prospective applicants should weigh the reduced point value and limited lounge access against the card’s annual fee and alternatives in the market.
March 2017 update: HDFC changed the Priority Pass policy so that domestic lounge access via Priority Pass became chargeable (USD amount applied), effectively restricting complimentary use to international lounges in many cases. Cardholders still retain in-built Visa/MasterCard lounge programs according to the card’s benefits.
What do you think about this pared-down Regalia variant? Does the reduced value and fewer lounge visits make sense for the target customer? Share your views below.