Introduction
The Diners Club Privilege Credit Card, offered by HDFC Bank, is a premium credit card designed to cater to the sophisticated lifestyle needs of its users. Known for its extensive rewards program, exclusive dining offers, and comprehensive travel benefits, this card aims to provide a seamless and luxurious experience for its cardholders. With a nominal annual fee and a plethora of features, the Diners Club Privilege Credit Card is positioned as an ideal choice for individuals who frequently spend on dining, travel, and entertainment. This review will delve into the various features, benefits, and user experiences associated with this credit card.
Card Features and Benefits
Rewards Program
The Diners Club Privilege Credit Card offers a robust rewards program designed to maximize the value of everyday spending:
- Reward Points Accrual:
- 4 Reward Points for every โน150 spent on retail purchases.
- 20 Reward Points for every โน150 spent on Swiggy and Zomato, with a cap of 2,500 additional points per month.
- Up to 10X Reward Points on purchases made via the Smartbuy platform.
- Reward Points Redemption:
- Redeem points for flights and hotel bookings via Smartbuy at a rate of 1 RP = โน0.5.
- Exclusive Privilege Dining Catalogue redemptions at select restaurants at 1 RP = โน0.50.
- Redemption options on the exclusive reward catalogue at 1 RP = โน0.35.
- Cashback redemption at a rate of 1 RP = โน0.20.
Key Features
- 'Buy 1 Get 1 Free' Offer:
- Available on movie and non-movie tickets booked via BookMyShow on weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday).
- Maximum discount of โน250 per ticket, up to 2 free tickets per calendar month.
- Enhanced Rewards:
- 5X Reward Points on purchases made via Swiggy and Zomato.
- Complimentary annual memberships for Swiggy One and Times Prime as a welcome benefit.
- Milestone Benefits:
- โน1,500 worth of vouchers from Marriott, Decathlon, and other partners on quarterly spends of โน1.5 lakh.
- Travel Benefits:
- 2 complimentary airport lounge accesses every calendar quarter worldwide for both primary and add-on card members.
- Up to 10X Rewards on booking flights and hotel stays via Smartbuy.
- Interest-Free Credit Period:
- Up to 50 days of interest-free credit from the date of purchase, subject to merchant charge submission.
- Credit Liability Cover:
- Coverage of up to โน9 lakh.
- Foreign Currency Markup:
- A nominal 2% markup on foreign currency transactions.
Additional Features
- Exclusive Dining Catalogue:
- Redeem reward points for higher value on the Exclusive Privilege Dining Catalogue via the Smartbuy platform.
- Travel Insurance:
- Comprehensive protection including accidental air death cover of โน1 crore, emergency overseas hospitalization cover up to โน25 lakh, and travel insurance for baggage delays.
- Revolving Credit:
- Option to convert large purchases into EMIs at a nominal interest rate.
- Customer Care:
- Dedicated customer service lines for domestic and international queries.
Travel Benefits
- Airport Lounge Access:
- Complimentary access to select domestic and international lounges for primary and add-on card members.
- Smartbuy Travel:
- Up to 10X rewards on booking flights and hotel stays via Smartbuy, enhancing the value proposition for frequent travelers.
Insurance and Protection
- Accidental Air Death Cover:
- Coverage of โน1 crore, providing peace of mind during travel.
- Emergency Overseas Hospitalization:
- Coverage up to โน25 lakh for unexpected medical expenses abroad.
- Travel Insurance:
- Coverage of up to โน50,000 for baggage delays, capped at $10 per hour and restricted to 8 hours.
- Credit Liability Cover:
- Protection up to โน9 lakh, safeguarding against unauthorized transactions.
User Experience
Application and Eligibility
Applying for the Diners Club Privilege Credit Card is a straightforward process, primarily facilitated through HDFC Bankโs official website or physical branches. Eligibility criteria are clear and designed to target both salaried and self-employed individuals:
- For Salaried Individuals:
- Age: 21 to 60 years.
- Minimum Net Monthly Income: โน70,000.
- For Self-Employed Individuals:
- Age: 21 to 65 years.
- Minimum Income: Annual ITR of โน8.4 lakh.
The application process involves submitting necessary documents such as proof of income, identity, and address. HDFC Bank's verification and approval process is efficient, often resulting in quick issuance of the card if all criteria are met.
Customer Service
HDFC Bank offers comprehensive customer support for Diners Club Privilege Credit Cardholders:
- Phone Banking:
- Domestic: 1800 1600 / 1800 2600 (available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
- International: +91 22 61606160.
- Smartbuy Concierge:
- Dedicated support line: 1860 425 1188.
The bank ensures that cardholders have access to prompt and effective assistance for queries, transactions, and services, enhancing the overall user experience.
Contactless Payment
The Diners Club Privilege Credit Card supports contactless payments, offering a convenient, secure, and fast way to complete transactions:
- Contactless Payment Limit:
- Payments up to โน5,000 can be made without entering a PIN.
- For transactions equal to or above โน5,000, the cardholder must enter the PIN for security purposes.
The card is equipped with the contactless symbol, making it easy to identify and use for tap-and-go transactions at compatible point-of-sale (POS) terminals.
Additional Perks and Benefits
Dining and Entertainment
The Diners Club Privilege Credit Card provides exceptional dining and entertainment benefits, making it an ideal choice for food enthusiasts and entertainment seekers:
- 'Buy 1 Get 1 Free' on Movie/Non-Movie Tickets:
- Available through BookMyShow on weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).
- Maximum discount of โน250 per ticket, with up to 2 free tickets per calendar month.
- 5X Reward Points on Swiggy and Zomato:
- Additional 4X Reward Points (capped at 2,500 points per month) for purchases on these popular food delivery platforms.
- Good Food Trail Program:
- Up to 20% off on restaurant bills via Swiggy Dineout at over 20,000 restaurants.
- Discounts are inclusive of restaurant and Swiggy discounts and valid only on payments made via the Swiggy app.
Milestone Benefits
The card offers attractive milestone benefits to reward substantial spending:
- Quarterly Spend Vouchers:
- โน1,500 worth vouchers from partners like Marriott, Decathlon, Barbeque Nation, O2 Spa, or Lakme Salon on quarterly spends of โน1.5 lakh.
- Welcome Benefits:
- Complimentary annual memberships of Swiggy One and Times Prime on spending โน75,000 within the first 90 days of card issuance.
- Easy tracking and redemption of milestone benefits via the Smartbuy platform.
Renewal Offer
The Diners Club Privilege Credit Card encourages continued use with a lucrative renewal offer:
- Annual Fee Waiver:
- Waiver of the next yearโs renewal fee on spending โน3 lakh in the card anniversary year.
Smart EMI
The card offers flexibility for large purchases by allowing cardholders to convert transactions into EMIs:
- Smart EMI Option:
- Convert significant spends into manageable EMIs.
- Detailed information and terms are available on the HDFC Bank website.
Contactless Payment
As previously mentioned, the card is enabled for contactless payments, providing a fast, convenient, and secure payment method at retail outlets.
Diners Exclusive Offers
The Diners Club Privilege Credit Card offers several exclusive perks to enhance the luxury experience of its cardholders:
- Fast Track Airport Experience:
- Skip check-in lines and receive baggage assistance for a hassle-free travel experience.
- Dining Delight:
- Exclusive dining offers ranging from gourmet cuisine to local delicacies.
- Luxury Spas:
- Access to some of the finest spas within India at special rates.
- Small Medium Enterprise (SME) Offers:
- Tailor-made offers such as workspaces, business insurance, and wellness discounts to meet business needs.
Comparative Analysis
Diners Club Privilege Credit Card vs. HDFC Regalia Credit Card
| ๏ปฟFeature | Diners Club Privilege Credit Card | HDFC Regalia Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | โน2,500 + taxes | โน2,500 + taxes |
| Welcome Benefits | Swiggy One and Times Prime memberships | 2,500 Reward Points |
| Rewards Program | 4 RP/โน150 spent, 20 RP/โน150 on Swiggy/Zomato | 4 RP/โน150 spent |
| Milestone Benefits | โน1,500 vouchers on โน1.5 lakh quarterly spends | 2,500 RP on โน3 lakh annual spends |
| Dining Offers | Buy 1 Get 1 Free on BookMyShow, 5X RP on Swiggy/Zomato | Up to 15% off at partner restaurants |
| Lounge Access | 2 complimentary accesses per quarter worldwide | 6 complimentary visits per year (domestic & international) |
| Travel Benefits | Up to 10X RP on Smartbuy travel bookings | Complimentary Priority Pass membership |
| Insurance | โน1 crore air accident cover, โน25 lakh emergency hospitalization | โน1 crore air accident cover |
| Foreign Currency Markup | 2% | 2% |
| Credit Liability Cover | โน9 lakh | Not specified |
Diners Club Privilege Credit Card vs. SBI Card Elite
| Feature | Diners Club Privilege Credit Card | SBI Card Elite |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | ?2,500 + taxes | ?4,999 + taxes |
| Welcome Benefits | Swiggy One and Times Prime memberships | ?5,000 worth welcome vouchers |
| Rewards Program | 4 RP/?150 spent, 20 RP/?150 on Swiggy/Zomato | 2 RP/?100 spent, 10 RP/?100 on dining, grocery, departmental stores |
| Milestone Benefits | ?1,500 vouchers on ?1.5 lakh quarterly spends | 10,000 RP on ?3 lakh annual spends |
| Dining Offers | Buy 1 Get 1 Free on BookMyShow, 5X RP on Swiggy/Zomato | Up to 15% off at partner restaurants |
| Lounge Access | 2 complimentary accesses per quarter worldwide | 6 domestic and 2 international visits annually |
| Travel Benefits | Up to 10X RP on Smartbuy travel bookings | Complimentary Club Vistara Silver membership, Trident Privilege Red Tier membership |
| Insurance | ?1 crore air accident cover, ?25 lakh emergency hospitalization | ?50 lakh air accident cover, ?1 lakh wallet protection |
| Foreign Currency Markup | 2% | 1.99% |
| Credit Liability Cover | ?9 lakh | Not specified |
Diners Club Privilege Credit Card vs. Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card
| Feature | Diners Club Privilege Credit Card | Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | ?2,500 + taxes | ?10,000 + taxes |
| Welcome Benefits | Swiggy One and Times Prime memberships | Complimentary domestic flight tickets or equivalent vouchers |
| Rewards Program | 4 RP/?150 spent, 20 RP/?150 on Swiggy/Zomato | 12 EDGE RP/?200 spent |
| Milestone Benefits | ?1,500 vouchers on ?1.5 lakh quarterly spends | 25,000 EDGE RP on ?15 lakh annual spends |
| Dining Offers | Buy 1 Get 1 Free on BookMyShow, 5X RP on Swiggy/Zomato | Up to 15% off at partner restaurants, complimentary dining at luxury hotels |
| Lounge Access | 2 complimentary accesses per quarter worldwide | Unlimited domestic lounge access, 8 international visits annually |
| Travel Benefits | Up to 10X RP on Smartbuy travel bookings | Complimentary domestic and international concierge services |
| Insurance | ?1 crore air accident cover, ?25 lakh emergency hospitalization | ?2.5 crore air accident cover, ?1 crore travel medical insurance |
| Foreign Currency Markup | 2% | 2% |
| Credit Liability Cover | ?9 lakh | Not specified |
Conclusion and Overall Rating
The Diners Club Privilege Credit Card by HDFC Bank offers a comprehensive package of rewards and benefits tailored to the needs of high-spending individuals who prioritize dining, travel, and lifestyle experiences. Here are the key takeaways:
Strengths:
- Rewards Program: The card offers competitive rewards, especially for dining and travel-related expenses, with 5X Reward Points on Swiggy and Zomato, and up to 10X points on Smartbuy travel bookings.
- Dining and Entertainment: Exclusive 'Buy 1 Get 1 Free' offers on BookMyShow and significant discounts through the Good Food Trail program.
- Travel Benefits: Access to domestic and international lounges, comprehensive travel insurance, and significant air accident cover.
- Milestone Benefits: Quarterly vouchers and welcome benefits, including complimentary memberships to Swiggy One and Times Prime.
- Additional Perks: Enhanced protection with credit liability cover, contactless payment convenience, and competitive foreign currency markup.
Weaknesses:
- Annual Fee: While the fee is relatively nominal at โน2,500 + taxes, it might be higher than some entry-level cards but justified by the extensive benefits offered.
- Eligibility Criteria: The income requirements may restrict access to a broader audience, making it more suitable for high-income individuals.
Comparative Standing:
- Compared to the HDFC Regalia, the Diners Club Privilege offers similar travel and lounge access benefits but with enhanced dining rewards.
- Against the SBI Card Elite, it provides more targeted dining and travel perks, though the SBI Card Elite has a broader spectrum of milestone rewards and higher annual fees.
- When placed next to the Axis Bank Magnus, the Diners Club Privilege is more affordable with competitive rewards, though Magnus offers unparalleled travel insurance and luxury benefits for a significantly higher fee.
Overall Rating:
- Rewards Program: โ โ โ โ โ
- Travel and Dining Benefits: โ โ โ โ โ
- User Experience: โ โ โ โ โ
- Value for Money: โ โ โ โ โ
- Customer Service and Support: โ โ โ โ โ
Final Verdict: The Diners Club Privilege Credit Card is a compelling choice for those who frequently dine out and travel. It provides exceptional value through its rewards program, dining offers, and travel benefits. The cardโs strong insurance coverage and additional perks further enhance its attractiveness. While the annual fee and eligibility criteria may be a consideration, the extensive benefits justify the cost for those who can maximize the card's offerings.
