The HDFC Infinia Credit Card is widely regarded as one of the most powerful premium cards in the country, featuring a metallic design, unlimited global airport lounge access, and an exceptional rewards program that offers 5 reward points per ₹150 spent—including on insurance and utility payments. Each reward point holds a strong redemption value of ₹1 when used for flight, hotel, or select merchandise bookings via SmartBuy. The card also includes a complimentary Club Marriott membership with benefits like 20% discounts and 1+1 buffets at ITC Hotels, making it ideal for affluent users who demand premium lifestyle, travel, and dining privileges.
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However, HDFC Infinia is also hard to get. For those who don’t qualify, here are three top-tier alternatives that stand out in India’s luxury credit card space.
In this article we will discuss each of these credit cards delivering high-value rewards, extensive travel access, and exclusive lifestyle perks that rival Infinia in key areas.
1. HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Credit Card
The HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Credit Card is a premium offering tailored for high-income individuals who seek luxury travel and lifestyle benefits. It comes with global lounge access, high reward rates, and exclusive memberships.
Who is eligible for HDFC Diners Club?
To apply, salaried individuals must be between 21 and 60 years of age and earn at least ₹2.5 lakh per month. Self-employed applicants must be between 21 and 65 years of age with an annual income of ₹30 lakh or more as per their ITR.
HDFC Diners Club’s Reward Structure
You earn 5 reward points for every ₹150 spent on retail purchases. On the HDFC SmartBuy platform, you can earn up to 10X reward points on select categories such as travel and shopping. Dining at standalone restaurants on weekends earns 2X reward points, up to 1,000 points per day.
On weekends, you can earn double reward points at standalone restaurants. Additionally, you receive a 10% discount through Swiggy Dineout at over 35,000 restaurants.
Reward points are worth ₹1 per point on flight and hotel bookings via SmartBuy (usable for up to 70% of the booking amount). For air miles, 1 reward point equals up to 1 air mile. For gift vouchers and products, each point is worth ₹0.50. Cashback redemptions offer ₹0.30 per point.
Lounge Access
The card provides unlimited complimentary access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide for both primary and add-on cardholders.
HDFC Diners Club Benefits
Cardholders who spend ₹1.5 lakh within 90 days of issuance receive complimentary memberships to Club Marriott, Amazon Prime, and Swiggy One.
You receive 6 complimentary golf games per calendar quarter at select international and domestic golf courses.
You also get 10,000 bonus reward points on spending ₹ 4 lakhs in every quarter and annual fee waiver on spending ₹ 8 lakhs in the preceding year.
The card includes air accident cover of ₹2 crore, emergency overseas hospitalisation up to ₹50 lakh, baggage delay cover up to ₹55,000, and credit liability protection up to ₹9 lakh.
Fees and Charges
The joining and annual renewal fee is ₹10,000 plus GST. This fee is waived if you spend ₹8 lakh or more in the previous year. Finance charges are 1.99% per month (23.88% per annum), and the foreign currency markup is 2%.
2. Axis Atlas Credit Card
The Axis Atlas Credit Card is designed for frequent travelers and high spenders. It offers travel-focused rewards, lounge access, and dining discounts through the EDGE Miles program.
Who is eligible for Axis Atlas Credit Card?
Applicants must be Indian residents aged between 18 and 70 years. Salaried individuals should earn ₹12 lakh annually, while self-employed individuals should earn ₹15 lakh per year.
Axis Atlas Credit Card Reward Structure
For travel bookings (via Travel EDGE, airline sites, or hotel portals), you earn 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 spent up to a monthly cap of ₹2 lakh. Beyond that, the rate drops to 2 miles per ₹100. For all other eligible spends, you earn 2 EDGE Miles per ₹100.
Each EDGE Mile is worth ₹1 on redemption. You can transfer EDGE Miles to airline partners at a conversion rate of 1 EDGE Mile = 2 Partner Miles, making it highly beneficial for frequent flyers.
Lounge Access
Cardholders get 18 free domestic lounge visits and 12 international lounge visits per year at select airports.
Axis Atlas Credit Card Benefits
New users earn 2,500 EDGE Miles after making their first transaction within 37 days. These miles are valued at ₹1 per mile but cannot be converted into cash.
You receive 25% off restaurant bills through EazyDiner, up to ₹800 per month. The offer is applicable once a month on bills of ₹2,500 or more.
Spending ₹7.5 lakh or ₹15 lakh in a membership year unlocks additional milestone rewards, enhancing the overall value of the card.
Fees and Charges
The card has a non-waivable joining and annual fee of ₹5,000 plus GST. Interest on carried balances is 3.75% per month (55.55% per annum). Foreign currency transactions incur a 3.5% markup. Late fees range from ₹0 to ₹1,200, and certain spend types may attract a 1% surcharge if thresholds are crossed.
3. ICICI Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card
The ICICI Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card is an invite-only product designed for high-net-worth individuals. It offers luxury benefits across travel, dining, entertainment, and insurance.
Who is eligible for ICICI Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card?
This card is available only through invitation. Interested individuals must contact their ICICI Relationship Manager to assess eligibility and initiate the application process.
ICICI Emeralde Reward Structure
You earn 3% in Reward Points on utility bill payments. Additional accelerated rewards are offered on ICICI iShop:
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18% (6X points) on grocery shopping
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12X points on hotel bookings
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6X points on flight bookings
Each point is worth ₹1 and can be used for travel, lifestyle, or brand vouchers through ICICI’s redemption platforms.
Lounge Access
The card provides unlimited access to both domestic and international airport lounges for the primary and add-on cardholders.
ICICI Emeralde Benefits
Upon card activation and fee payment, cardholders receive a one-year Taj Epicure Preferred Membership, 12,500 ICICI Reward Points (credited within 45 days), and a 12-month EazyDiner Prime Membership. The EazyDiner benefit renews annually upon payment of the card’s renewal fee.
You can enjoy unlimited complimentary golf rounds and lessons at premium courses across India at no extra cost.
Spending ₹4 lakh in a membership year earns you an EaseMyTrip voucher. Spending ₹8 lakh earns an additional one.
You receive Buy-One-Get-One-Free offers on BookMyShow events, capped at ₹750 per ticket, twice per month. This applies to movies, concerts, and live events.
You receive exclusive discounts at top restaurants in India through ICICI’s Culinary Treats Programme.
A 1% fuel surcharge waiver is provided at all fuel stations in India, subject to ICICI terms.
Insurance and Protection
You get air accident coverage of ₹3 crore. Travel insurance includes:
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Baggage loss: Up to ₹84,000
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Baggage damage/loss: ₹25,000
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Baggage delay: ₹21,000
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Flight delay: ₹17,500
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Missed connection: ₹21,000
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Passport loss: ₹35,000
Credit liability protection includes ₹1 lakh against misuse and ₹50,000 for fraudulent transactions.
Fees and Charges
The joining and annual fee is ₹12,499 plus GST. If you spend over ₹10 lakh in a year, the renewal fee is waived. Carried balances attract 3.75% monthly interest (40.80% annually). Late payment charges range from ₹100 to ₹1,300.
Comparing HDFC Infinia with HDFC Diners Club, Axis Atlas and ICICI Emeralde
| Feature | HDFC Infinia | HDFC Diners Club Black Metal | Axis Atlas | ICICI Emeralde Private Metal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card Type | Invite-only, premium metal | Premium metal card | Travel-focused card | Invite-only metal card |
| Eligibility | By invitation only | ₹2.5L/month (salaried) or ₹30L/year (self-employed) | ₹12L (salaried), ₹15L (self-employed) | Invite-only via ICICI RM |
| Joining/Annual Fee | ₹12,500 + GST | ₹10,000 + GST (waived on ₹8L annual spend) | ₹5,000 + GST (non-waivable) | ₹12,499 + GST (waived on ₹10L spend) |
| Reward Rate | 5 RP/₹150 on all spends | 5 RP/₹150; up to 10X on SmartBuy; 2X on dining | 5 EDGE Miles/₹100 on travel; 2 on others | 3% on utilities; 6X–12X on iShop & travel |
| Reward Value | ₹1/RP on flights, hotels, SmartBuy | ₹1/RP on travel (SmartBuy); ₹0.5 on vouchers | ₹1/Mile; 1 EDGE Mile = 2 Partner Miles | ₹1/point; redeem for vouchers, travel, lifestyle |
| Airport Lounge Access | Unlimited global (Primary + Add-on) | Unlimited global (Primary + Add-on) | 18 domestic + 12 international visits/year | Unlimited domestic & international (Primary + Add-on) |
| Dining Benefits | Club Marriott 20% off + 1+1 buffets | Swiggy Dineout 10% off + 2X weekend RPs | 25% off via EazyDiner (1x/month, ₹800 cap) | Culinary Treats discounts + EazyDiner Prime |
| Golf Access | Yes, select courses | 6 complimentary games/quarter | Not specified | Unlimited rounds and lessons |
| Insurance Coverage | Air: ₹3 Cr, overseas hospitalisation : ₹50L, Credit: ₹9L | Air: ₹2 Cr, Hospitalization: ₹50L, Credit: ₹9L | Basic travel insurance | Air: ₹3 Cr, Baggage Loss: ₹84K, Fraud: ₹1L |
| Milestone Benefits | 12,500 RPs on joining fees & fee waiver @ ₹10L | 10,000 RPs/₹4L per quarter + fee waiver @ ₹8L | EDGE Miles bonus @ ₹7.5L & ₹15L spend | EaseMyTrip vouchers at ₹4L & ₹8L spend |
| Extra Lifestyle Perks | Club Marriott Membership | Amazon Prime, Swiggy One, Club Marriott | EDGE Miles signup bonus (2,500 miles) | Taj Epicure Membership, BookMyShow BOGO offers |
| Forex Markup | 2% | 2% | 3.5% | Not disclosed (likely ~2%) |
| Interest Rate (Monthly/Annually) | ~1.99% / ~24% | 1.99% / 23.88% | 3.75% / 55.55% | 3.75% / 40.80% |
India’s top credit cards now offer more than just payments—they come with luxury travel, rewards, and lifestyle benefits. While the HDFC Infinia is seen as a powerful credit card, it might be hard to get. Thankfully, other great options like the HDFC Diners Club Black Metal, Axis Bank Atlas, and ICICI Emeralde Private Metal cards give you similar high-end features.
The best card for you depends on how you spend, travel, and what perks you value most. Whether you want airport lounge access, travel rewards, or exclusive discounts, these cards offer premium benefits for people who enjoy a more comfortable and rewarding lifestyle.
Please note – The above comparison is for informational purposes only and features may vary based on issuer updates or eligibility criteria. Always check the latest terms and conditions from the respective card issuers before applying. 1 Finance Pvt. Ltd. functions as an independent entity and does not issue or offer credit cards. The content provided is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial advice. We encourage you to conduct your own in-depth research and analysis before making any financial decisions. If you’re unsure about any financial matters, it’s advisable to consult a qualified, unbiased financial advisor.
