HDFC Bank Diners ClubMiles is one of the recent launches in Diners credit cards lineup. It is below the Privilege in the Diners card range and is like Regalia First in the Visa/Mastercard range. But it is a better card than the Regalia First and also Regalia if compare the ‘Airmiles’ benefits. Here is a review of the Diners ClubMiles credit card and its rewards/benefits.
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Eligibility
The below eligibility criteria for the Diners ClubMiles card are for new customers to HDFC Bank. These are relaxed if one already has a savings account or is upgrading an existing HDFC credit card.
| Salaried | Net Monthly Income > Rs 30000 |
| Self Employed | ITR > Rs 3.6 Lakhs/Annum |
Fees and Charges
In most cases, Diners ClubMiles is issued as Lifetime Free. HDFC Bank is issuing LTF Diners ClubMiles credit cards currently as well with Smartpay/first year spend conditions.
| Joining/Renewal Fee | Rs 1000 – Issued LTF in most cases |
| Welcome Benefit | 1000 Reward Points if the joining fee is paid |
| Renewal Fee Waiver | Rs 1 Lakh spend in a membership year |
| Renewal Benefit | 1000 Reward Points if the renewal fee is paid |
Rewards
HDFC Bank Diners ClubMiles credit card earns 4 reward points for every Rs 150. So this translates to a somewhat average 1.3% return on your regular spending if redeemed for flights/hotels on Smartbuy.
| Rewards | 4 Reward Points per Rs 150 spend |
| Wallet Loads | No Rewards |
| Return on spends | 1.3% if points are used for booking flights/hotels on Smartbuy |
Smartbuy Rewards
For shopping on below merchants through Smartbuy, we get accelerated rewards which increase the overall reward rate. The Smartbuy cap for Diners ClubMiles is Rs 1000 per calendar month.
| Shopping Category | Smartbuy Cashback | Total Rewards (Smartbuy Cashback plus 4 RP per Rs 150) |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 5% | 6.3% |
| Flipkart | 1% | 2.3% |
| Instant Vouchers | 5% | 6.3% |
| MakeMyTrip – Hotels | 10% | 11.3% |
| Flights/Hotels | 5% | 6.3% |
| Trains | 5% | 6.3% |
| Buses | 5% | 6.3% |
| Imagine (Apple Reseller) | 5% | 6.3% |
Airport Lounge Access
Diners ClubMiles gets 6 complimentary lounge access in a year. The access is directly on the card on this list of lounges.
Rewards Redemption
Diners ClubMiles credit card provides multiple options for redeeming the reward points. The rewards can be redeemed on the Smartbuy redemption portal.
We get the option of redeeming for products for booking flights/hotels, gift vouchers, or even cash. What differs is the value offered for your rewards for these redemption options. If booking a flight or hotel, each reward point has a value of 50p. The best option is to go for an Airmiles transfer to Intermiles/Singapore Airlines/Club Vistara where we get 1 Airmiles for 1 RP. This is better than even what Regalia offers!
However, if we go for products, gift vouchers, or cash the value of each reward point drops to 20p. So, if you travel the best option is to book flights on Smartbuy using reward points or transfer them to one of the Airmiles partners.
| Redemption Option | HDFC Bank Diners ClubMiles Credit Card (Value of 1 RP) |
|---|---|
| Smartbuy (Flights/Hotels) | 50 paise |
| Airmiles – Intermiles, Singapore Airlines (Krisflyer), Club Vistara | 1 Airmiles |
| Rewards Catalogue (Including Vouchers) | Up to 35 paise |
| Cashback | 20 paise |
My View
HDFC Bank Diners ClubMiles is a good card for the entry-level segment. Its best benefit is the ability to get 1 Airmile for each RP on Intermiles/Krisflyer/Club Vistara. Even the higher segment cards like the Diners Privilege and Regalia do not have this benefit. With this benefit, ClubMiles also joins the elite club of super premium cards Infinia/DCB.
If not interested in Airmiles, the better option is to go for the Millennia or Regalia credit cards. Millennia gets good cashback on all spends and Regalia has good milestone benefits. As with other HDFC cards, using ClubMiles also sets us on the road for an upgrade to the Privilege and Diners Club Black cards in the future.
HDFC Bank Diners ClubMiles Credit Card
