Infinia user looking for a realistic long-term single card setup
Currently holding HDFC Infinia (with 2 add-ons). While I should meet the existing spend criteria, I’m not confident about consistently hitting ₹18L annually going forward — so I don’t want to rely on retention.
Trying to simplify — I want to stick to just one primary card. Not interested in juggling multiple cards or optimising spends across categories.
Profile:
- ~₹3.9L/month in-hand
- ₹50K–₹1L monthly card spends
- Frequent domestic travel (primary redemption use-case)
- CIBIL : 805
What has worked well for me with Infinia:
- SmartBuy flights/hotels (primary value driver)
- ~15–16% effective returns via vouchers
- Straightforward redemption for flights
- Unlimited lounge access (including add-ons — important)
What I care about:
- Strong travel rewards (not just cashback)
- Simple earning + redemption (no heavy optimisation)
- Good lounge access (add-on coverage preferred)
- Stability of benefits (don’t want to keep chasing devaluations)
What I’m not looking for:
- Entry/mid-tier cards (Regalia, Millennia, etc.)
- Pure cashback setups
- Multi-card strategies
Cards I’ve been evaluating:
- Axis Reserve / Magnus Burgundy
- Amex Platinum Travel / Platinum Charge (concern: low acceptance → would likely need a backup, which I want to avoid)
- ICICI Emeralde Private Metal
Would appreciate inputs from people who’ve used these on:
- Realistic reward rates (vs advertised)
- Ease of redeeming for flights/hotels
- Lounge access experience (especially for add-ons)
- Any recent devaluations or gotchas