InterMiles HDFC Bank Diners Club Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Introduction

The InterMiles HDFC Bank Diners Club Credit Card, issued by HDFC Bank and operating on the Diners Club network, was positioned as a premium travel and lifestyle credit card. It offered a robust rewards program centered around InterMiles, providing accelerated earnings on travel bookings and retail spends. Key differentiating benefits included complimentary InterMiles Gold membership, extensive domestic and international lounge access, and unlimited golf privileges. However, it is important to note that this card has been phased out and its product features were discontinued effective December 15, 2024, with existing cardholders being migrated to other HDFC Bank credit cards.

Welcome Benefits

• Complimentary InterMiles Gold membership for the first year.
• Up to 25,000 bonus InterMiles, broken down as:
  • 10,000 bonus InterMiles on spending over ₹20,000 within the first 30 days of card setup.
  • 15,000 bonus InterMiles on total retail spends of ₹1,50,000 or more within the first 90 days.
• 2,500 Reward points on card activation and renewal.
• Flight discount vouchers worth ₹2,000 for the first year.
• Hotel discount vouchers worth ₹3,000 for the first year.

Fees & Charges Breakdown

• Joining Fee: ₹5,000 + applicable taxes.
• Renewal Fee: ₹5,000 + applicable taxes.
• Spend-Based Waiver: Renewal fee is waived if ₹8 Lakhs or more is spent in the previous year. In case of a fee waiver, flight/hotel discount vouchers are not received.
• Reward Redemption Fee: ₹99 + applicable taxes.
• Foreign Currency Markup: 2% on all international spends.
• DCC Transactions: 1% mark-up applicable on Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) transactions.
• Interest Rates: 1.99% per month (lowest revolving credit rate).
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations across India on a minimum transaction of ₹400. Maximum waiver capped at ₹1,000 every billing cycle.
• Cash Advance Charges: Higher of ₹500 or 2.5% of the amount withdrawn.
• Add-on Card Fee: No explicit fee mentioned for up to 3 add-on cards for immediate family members (over 18 years).
• Rental Transactions Fee: 1% fee applicable on rental transactions from the second rental transaction of the calendar month.

Rewards & Cashback Structure

• Earning Rate:
  • 8 InterMiles for every ₹150 spent on retail transactions.
  • 16 InterMiles for every ₹150 spent on flight and hotel bookings through intermiles.com.
  • 2.5X bonus InterMiles for Etihad Airways tickets booked on www.intermiles.com/flights.
  • Up to 10X reward points on select partner platforms like SmartBuy and weekend dining.
  • Earn 10,000 bonus InterMiles every year on spending ₹20,000 or more within the first 30 days after card renewal.
• Reward Exclusions:
  • InterMiles cannot be accrued on fuel spends, cash advances, or e-wallet loading transactions.
  • InterMiles accrued will be reversed if a retail transaction is converted into SmartEMI.
• Reward Capping:
  • InterMiles accrued for Insurance transactions are capped at a maximum of 2,000 InterMiles per transaction/day.
  • Grocery capping to 1,000 Reward points in a month.
• Reward Redemption:
  • InterMiles can be redeemed easily against travel-related bookings through intermiles.com.
  • InterMiles once credited to the customer’s InterMiles Account cannot be converted to Reward Points.

Travel, Lounge & Lifestyle Perks

• Lounge Access:
  • Unlimited airport lounge access to over 1,000 domestic lounges in India through the Domestic Lounge Program.
  • Access to leading international airport lounges all around the world through the Exclusive Lounge Program.
• Golf Privileges:
  • Unlimited complimentary golf games at leading golf courses in India and selected golf courses across the world.
  • Unlimited complimentary golf coaching at selected golf courses in India.
• Dining Benefits:
  • Complimentary Dineout Passport Membership, offering up to a 40% discount on dining when paying with the card.
  • Assured 25% discount at over 2,000 premium restaurants.
  • Additional 15% discount for InterMiles HDFC Bank Diners Club credit cardholders.
  • 1+1 on the buffet at more than 200 restaurants.
  • Early access to various events and festivals.
• Etihad Airways Benefits:
  • 10% discount on Etihad Airways Business Class tickets booked through flights.intermiles.com.
  • 5% discount on Etihad Airways Economy Class tickets booked through flights.intermiles.com.
• Insurance Benefits:
  • Air accident insurance cover amounting to ₹2 crores.
  • Emergency overseas hospitalization cover amounting to ₹50 lakhs.
  • Travel insurance cover up to ₹55,000 (on baggage delay, capped to $10 per hour restricted to 8 hours).
  • Credit liability cover of up to ₹9 lakhs.
• Other Lifestyle Perks:
  • Ola cabs, BookMyShow vouchers, TataCliQ vouchers on monthly spends over ₹80,000.

Card Eligibility Criteria & Income Requirements

• For Salaried Indian Nationals:
  • Age: Minimum 21 years and maximum 60 years.
  • Income: Net Monthly Income > ₹1,75,000.
• For Self-Employed Indian Nationals:
  • Age: Minimum 21 years and maximum 65 years.
  • Income: Annual Income Tax Return (ITR) > ₹21 Lakh per annum.
• Required Documents:
  • Identity Proof: Passport, Aadhaar card, Voter ID, Driving licence, PAN card, Passport size photograph.
  • Address Proof: Utility bills (electricity, water, gas, or telephone), Rental agreement, Passport, Aadhaar card, Voter ID.
  • Income Proof: Salary slips (for salaried individuals), Income Tax Returns (ITR), Form 16, Bank statements.

Credit Card Review

The InterMiles HDFC Bank Diners Club Credit Card was a premium offering designed for frequent travelers and individuals seeking a luxurious lifestyle. Despite its joining and renewal fee of ₹5,000, the card offered substantial value through its exclusive benefits, including InterMiles Gold membership, high reward earning rates, unlimited lounge access, and complimentary golf games. Its low finance charges (1.99% per month) and competitive foreign currency markup (2%) were significant advantages. The card was ideal for those with high spending habits, particularly on travel and dining, who could leverage the extensive InterMiles redemption options. However, prospective applicants should be aware that the card has been discontinued, and its features are no longer active for new or existing cardholders.

Important Product Details

• Discontinuation Status: The InterMiles HDFC Bank Diners Club Credit Card has been phased out and its product features were discontinued effective December 15, 2024. Existing cardholders have been migrated to other HDFC Bank credit cards.
• Positive Highlights:
  • Low revolving credit interest rate of 1.99% per month.
  • Low foreign currency markup fee of 2%.
  • Unlimited airport lounge access (domestic and international).
  • Unlimited complimentary golf games and coaching.
  • Comprehensive insurance coverage (air accident, overseas hospitalization, travel, credit liability).
  • Zero liability on lost card if reported immediately.
  • Contactless payment enabled for transactions up to ₹5,000 without PIN.
  • Up to 50 days of interest-free credit period.
• Add-on Cards: Up to 3 add-on cards can be availed for immediate family members (over 18 years). Card features are applicable for the Primary Card Holder only and not add-on card holders.

Other Details

• Card Management & Controls: Card controls (online, contactless, international usage, transaction limits) can be managed via HDFC Bank NetBanking, MobileBanking App, MyCards portal, PayZapp, WhatsApp Banking, and IVR (toll-free numbers: 1800 1600 or 1800 2600, overseas travel assistance: 022-61606160).
• Inactive Card Policy: The bank holds the authority to cancel a card if it remains inactive (no transactions made) for a consecutive period of 6 months, after a prior written notice is sent.
• GST on Fees: GST imposed on fees and charges will not be refunded in the event of any dispute.
• Terms and Conditions: The Most Important Terms and Conditions (MITC) for the card apply and should be reviewed thoroughly.