IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card Review

IRCTC HDFC Bank credit card Review

Fee

Joining Fee: ₹500+GST
Annual Fee: ₹500+GST

Type

Co-Branded, Cashback

Return

1% to 10%

Rating

4.3/5

Network

RuPay

Benefits

Railway Lounge Access

Table of Contents

HDFC Bank has launched a new co-branded credit card with IRCTC on the RuPay platform, becoming the third issuer to partner with IRCTC after SBI Card and Bank of Baroda. With three options now available, frequent railway travelers have more choices tailored to their needs. This new IRCTC HDFC Bank credit card raises the question: how does it stack up against the existing cards from SBI Card and Bank of Baroda in terms of rewards, benefits, and value? Choosing the right card can lead to significant savings and exclusive perks for regular train travelers.

In this article, we explore the features and benefits of the IRCTC HDFC Bank credit card and compare it with the SBI Card and Bank of Baroda options, helping you decide which one suits you best.

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Fees

Joining Fee₹500+GST ~₹590
Welcome Benefit₹500 Amazon GV on 1st transaction within 37 days of issuance
Annual Fee₹500+GST ~₹590
Annual Fee WaiverSpend ₹1.5 Lakh in a membership year
IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card Review: Fees

The HDFC Bank IRCTC Credit Card has a joining fee that matches the IRCTC BoB and IRCTC SBI Platinum credit cards. However, its annual fee is slightly higher, costing ₹150 more than the other two cards.

Rewards

Spend CategoryRewards
Railway Bookings5 CashPoints/₹100 ~5%
UPI Spends1 CashPoint/₹100 ~1%
Other Purchases1 CashPoint/₹100 ~1%
Fuel, Wallet, Govt. Transactions, Education, RentNo Rewards
IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card Review: Fees

In addition to the 5% cashback on Railway Bookings, we get an extra 5% cashback on using SmartBuy to book railway tickets. While, this feature has been devalued to 1%/3X rewards for other HDFC Bank credit card, the IRCTC HDFC Bank credit card still gets 5% extra for SmartBuy rail bookings. We also get a 1% transaction charges waiver on the IRCTC website for transaction amounts between ₹400 and ₹5000. This is capped at ₹1000 per statement cycle.

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  • The 5X HDFC Bank Reward Points on partner IRCTC spends are capped at a maximum of 1,000 Reward Points per month and 12,000 Reward Points annually. This corresponds to a spending limit of ₹20,000 per month and ₹2.4 lakh per year.
  • The 5% cashback on IRCTC train ticket bookings made through HDFC Bank SmartBuy is capped at a maximum of ₹1,000 per month and ₹12,000 annually.
  • UPI spend rewards are capped at 500 CashPoints per calendar month.

Milestone Benefits

A milestone benefit is available, offering a ₹500 gift voucher every quarter (90 days from the issuance date) for spending ₹30,000 or more during the period. This adds another 1.6% to the reward rate. For booking IRCTC railway tickets, the total reward rate goes up to 11.6%.

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Complimentary IRCTC Railway Lounge Access

Varanasi Railway Lounge 2
Image from @RailMinIndia on X

The IRCTC HDFC Bank credit card offers 8 complimentary visits per year to IRCTC railway lounges, with a limit of 2 visits per quarter. Cardholders can enjoy complimentary access at 11 designated IRCTC railway lounges. This benefit is available to both primary and add-on cardholders.

Lounge TypeStateCityAddress
Executive LoungeDelhiNew Delhi (AG)Platform No. 16, New Delhi Railway Station, Ajmeri Gate, New Delhi, Delhi 110002
Executive LoungeDelhiNew Delhi (PG)Platform No. 1, First Floor, Paharganj Side, New Delhi Railway Station, New Delhi, Delhi 110055
Executive LoungeRajasthanJaipurPlatform No. 1, Jaipur Railway Station, Shyam Nagar, Chomu, Rajasthan 303702
Executive LoungeUttar PradeshAgraPlatform No. 1, Agra Cantt Railway Station, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001
Executive LoungeGujaratAhmedabadPlatform No. 1, Kalupur Railway Station, Ahmedabad – 380002
Executive LoungeWest BengalKolkata (Sealdah)Platform No. 8, First Floor, Sealdah Railway Station, Sealdah – 700014
Executive LoungeTamil NaduMaduraiPlatform No. 1, Madurai Railway Junction, Railway Junction Road, Madurai Main, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625001
Executive LoungeUttar PradeshVaranasiPlatform No. 1, Cantt Railway Station, Varanasi – 221002, Uttar Pradesh, India
Premium LoungeWest BengalAsansol1st Floor, Platform No. 2, Asansol Railway Station, Railpar Station Road, Dist – Bardhaman, Drysdale Rd, Railpar, Asansol, West Bengal 713301
Beverage LoungeWest BengalAsansolNear RMS Office, Platform No. 5, Asansol Railway Station, Railpar Station Road, Dist – Bardhaman, Drysdale Rd, Railpar, Asansol, West Bengal 713301
Premium LoungeWest BengalDurgapurMain Entrance, Near Enquiry Office, Durgapur Railway Station, B C, Doctor Bidhan Chandra Roy Avenue, Durgapur, West Bengal 713201

Rewards Redemption

IRCTC HDFC Bank credit card Review

The earned CashPoints are valid for two years from the date of issuance. Each CashPoint can be redeemed at ₹1 on the SmartBuy website when booking train tickets.

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  • Log in to HDFC Bank SmartBuy and select the IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card under Privileges.
  • Enter journey details and proceed to the payment page.
  • At the payment gateway, choose one of the following payment options: Points + Credit Card or Credit Card Only
  • A Reward Point Slider is available on the payment page to specify the number of points to redeem.
  • Redemption can cover up to 70% of the fare for train tickets.
  • A minimum of 100 points is needed for redemption.

Other Key Benefits & Charges

  • Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000, with a maximum waiver of ₹250 per statement cycle.
  • Foreign Currency Markup: 3.5%+GST

Conclusion

The IRCTC HDFC Bank credit card stands out as a better option compared to the IRCTC SBI and BoB credit cards. Here’s why:

  1. 10% Value across all classes
    • The IRCTC HDFC Bank credit card provides a 10% value back on railway bookings across all classes, including sleeper class.
    • In contrast, the IRCTC SBI and BoB cards primarily focus on rewarding AC class bookings, making the HDFC card more versatile and beneficial for a broader range of travelers.
  2. SmartBuy Advantage
    • The SmartBuy portal is a significant differentiator for the IRCTC HDFC Bank credit card, offering additional benefits such as:
      • 5% cashback on instant voucher purchases.
      • Access to exclusive cashback on other SmartBuy merchants.
  3. Redemption Flexibility
    • Unlike the IRCTC BoB and SBI cards, where rewards are accumulated in the IRCTC loyalty account, the IRCTC HDFC Bank credit card allows direct redemption of reward points through the SmartBuy portal.

If you’re considering an IRCTC co-branded credit card, the HDFC Bank RuPay IRCTC Credit Card is an excellent choice. Its reward structure, broader booking benefits, and flexibility in point redemption make it a top pick for frequent railway travelers and those looking for additional value through SmartBuy.

FAQs

HDFC Bank Rupay IRCTC Credit Card

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Fees
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