HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card Review: Maximize Rewards & Benefits
The HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card is designed for high-spending individuals who seek premium rewards and exclusive benefits. This card offers a compelling mix of travel, lifestyle, and dining perks, making it an attractive option for those who enjoy luxury experiences. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or a gourmet enthusiast, this card aims to enhance your lifestyle with its comprehensive suite of features.
Credit Card Overview
| Card Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Card Type | Mastercard |
| Best For | Premium, Travel, Dining, Lifestyle |
| Joining Fee & Annual Fee | ₹10,000 + Applicable Taxes (Renewal fee waived on spending ₹5 Lakhs in 12 months) |
| Key Benefits |
|
Key Features & Benefits
The HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card comes loaded with an array of features and benefits designed to cater to the needs of its affluent clientele. These benefits span across various categories, ensuring that cardholders enjoy a premium experience in travel, dining, lifestyle, and more. Let’s delve into the specifics of what makes this card stand out.
Welcome Benefits
New cardholders are greeted with attractive welcome benefits designed to provide immediate value. These benefits are unlocked upon meeting specific spending criteria within the initial months of card issuance.
- Complimentary Annual Memberships:
- Club Marriott: Enjoy dining and accommodation benefits at participating Marriott hotels.
- Times Prime: Access a variety of offers and discounts across multiple brands.
- Amazon Prime: Enjoy free and fast delivery, access to streaming content, and more.
- Swiggy One (3 Months): Get free delivery and exclusive discounts on food orders.
- MMT BLACK: Access premium travel benefits with MakeMyTrip.
- Spending Requirement: Spend ₹1.5 lakhs within the first 90 days or upon first-year fee realization to avail these memberships.
Tracking and Availing Welcome Benefits:
- Visit the Diners Club Black Smartbuy Milestone Page.
- In the Welcome Benefits section, choose the membership to download.
- Click on “Generate Voucher code.”
- The voucher code/gift card details will be sent to your registered email ID.
Terms and Conditions:
- The Welcome Benefit Period is defined as 90 days from the card issuance or the last upgrade/downgrade date.
- All memberships will be unlocked upon achieving the benefits spend criteria.
- Benefits will be unlocked within 48 hours of achieving the spend criteria.
- Once unlocked, cardholders can download the memberships within 60 days from the end of the Welcome Benefit Period.
- Membership validity will be mentioned in the communication received via email.
- Memberships must be redeemed at the respective merchant’s website/portal/app.
Travel Perks
For frequent travelers, the HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card offers an impressive suite of travel-related benefits, ensuring a seamless and luxurious travel experience.
- Unlimited Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy unlimited access to over 1000 lounges worldwide for both primary and add-on card members.
- Air Accident Insurance: Coverage of up to ₹2 crore.
- Emergency Overseas Hospitalization: Coverage of up to ₹50 Lacs.
- Travel Insurance: Cover of up to ₹55,000 on baggage delay (capped at $10 per hour, restricted to 8 hours).
- Foreign Currency Markup: A competitive foreign currency markup of 2% on all foreign currency spends.
Dining & Lifestyle
Cardholders can indulge in a variety of dining and lifestyle benefits that add a touch of luxury to everyday experiences.
- Complimentary Memberships: Enjoy annual memberships to Club Marriott, Times Prime, Amazon Prime, Swiggy One, and MMT BLACK.
- Weekend Dining: Earn 2X Reward Points on weekend dining at standalone restaurants.
- Good Food Trail Program: Flat 10% extra off on dining bills at 35,000+ restaurants through HDFC Bank x Swiggy Dineout.
- Diners Exclusive Offers:
- Fast Track Airport Experience: Skip the line for check-in and receive baggage assistance.
- Dining Delight: Access exclusive dining offers.
- Luxury Spas: Access some of the finest spas within India at special rates.
Other Perks
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations across India (on minimum transaction of ₹400, max cashback of ₹1000 per statement cycle).
- Credit Liability Cover: Up to ₹9 Lakh.
- 24/7 Concierge Services: Exclusive concierge services available via toll-free number 1800118887 (India) or landline 022 42320226.
- Smart EMI: Option to convert big spends into EMI after purchase.
- Contactless Payment: Enabled for fast, convenient, and secure payments at retail outlets.
Reward Points & Redemption Options
The HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card offers a robust reward points program designed to incentivize spending and provide valuable redemption options. Understanding how to earn and redeem these points is crucial for maximizing the card’s benefits.
Earning Rates
- Base Reward Points: Earn 5 Reward Points for every ₹150 spent on retail purchases.
- SmartBuy: Earn up to 10X Reward Points on spends made via SmartBuy.
- Weekend Dining: Earn 2X Reward Points on weekend dining.
Redemption Methods
- SmartBuy (Flights/Hotels): 1 Reward Point = ₹1.00
- Airmiles: Up to 1.00 Airmile (partners include InterMiles, Singapore Airlines (KrisFlyer Miles), Club Vistara).
- Product Catalogue (Vouchers/Products): Up to ₹0.50
- Cashback: ₹0.30
Milestone Benefits
HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card holders can select any 2 benefits amongst cult.fit Live 1 month membership or BookMyShow or TataCLiQ or Ola cabs vouchers worth Rs. 500 every month on spends of Rs. 80,000.
Here is a detailed table to provide comprehensive overview of milestone benefit with spends and reward
| Milestone | Spending Required | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Milestone | ₹80,000 | Choose any 2:
|
| Welcome Milestone | ₹1,50,000 within 90 days or upon first-year fee realization | Complimentary annual memberships of Club Marriott, Times Prime, Amazon Prime, Swiggy One (3 months), MMT BLACK |
| Annual Spend Milestone | ₹8,00,000 | Complimentary annual memberships of Club Marriott, Times Prime, Amazon Prime, Swiggy One (3 months), MMT BLACK |
Fees & Charges Breakdown
Understanding the fees and charges associated with the HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card is essential to avoid unexpected costs and make informed financial decisions. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the key fees and charges:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee & Annual Fee | ₹10,000 + Applicable Taxes (Renewal fee waived on spending ₹5 Lakhs in 12 months) |
| Interest Rate (APR) | Please refer to HDFC Bank’s website for the most current interest rate. |
| Foreign Currency Markup | 2% on all foreign currency spends |
| Late Payment Fees | Please refer to HDFC Bank’s website for the most current late payment fee structure. |
| EMI Charges | Please refer to HDFC Bank’s website for detailed information on EMI interest rates and processing fees. |
Eligibility & Application Process
To be eligible for the HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card, applicants must meet specific criteria related to age, income, and residency. Meeting these requirements ensures that the card is issued to individuals who can manage credit responsibly and benefit from its premium features.
- For Salaried Indian Nationals:
- Age: Minimum 21 years, Maximum 60 years.
- Income: Net Monthly Income > ₹2.5 Lakhs per month.
- For Self-Employed Indian Nationals:
- Age: Minimum 21 years, Maximum 65 years.
- Income: ITR > ₹30 Lakhs per annum.
Required Documents:
While the exact list of documents may vary, applicants typically need to provide:
- Proof of Identity (e.g., PAN card, Aadhaar card, Passport)
- Proof of Address (e.g., Aadhaar card, Utility bill, Passport)
- Income Proof (e.g., Salary slips, ITR)
Ideal Usage Scenario
To maximize the benefits of the HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card, it’s essential to strategize your spending. By aligning your spending habits with the card’s reward structure, you can accumulate significant reward points and unlock valuable milestone benefits. Here’s a simulated spending strategy to optimize your returns:
| Spending Category | Monthly Spending | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online Shopping (via SmartBuy) | ₹40,000 | Leverage 10X reward points on SmartBuy for maximum returns. |
| Dining (Weekends) | ₹20,000 | Utilize 2X reward points on weekend dining. |
| Travel | ₹10,000 | Book flights and hotels through SmartBuy to maximize reward points. |
| Other Retail Spends | ₹10,000 | General spending to reach milestone targets. |
| Total Monthly Spending | ₹80,000 |
Annual Calculation:
- Total Annual Spending: ₹80,000 * 12 = ₹9,60,000
- Reward Points Earned:
- Online Shopping: (₹40,000/150) * 10 * 12 = 32,000 RP
- Weekend Dining: (₹20,000/150) * 2 * 12 = 3,200 RP
- Travel: (₹10,000/150) * 5 * 12 = 4,000 RP
- Other Retail Spends: (₹10,000/150) * 5 * 12 = 4,000 RP
- Total Reward Points: 32,000 + 3,200 + 4,000 + 4,000 = 43,200 RP
- Value of Reward Points (SmartBuy Redemption): 43,200 RP * ₹1.00 = ₹43,200
Milestone Benefits:
- Monthly Milestone: Spend ₹80,000 monthly to unlock two vouchers worth ₹500 each (e.g., BookMyShow, TataCLiQ).
- Annual Milestone: Achieve annual spending of ₹8,00,000 to renew complimentary memberships (Club Marriott, Times Prime, etc.).
Net Savings Calculation:
- Total Value of Rewards: ₹43,200 (Reward Points) + (₹500 * 2 * 12) (Monthly Vouchers) = ₹43,200 + ₹12,000 = ₹55,200
- Annual Fee: ₹10,000 (waived if spending exceeds ₹5 Lakhs)
- Net Savings: ₹55,200 – ₹0 (Annual Fee Waived) = ₹55,200
Spending Simulation:
If you adjust your spending habits to maximize SmartBuy transactions, you could significantly increase your reward points and overall savings. For instance, shifting more retail spending to SmartBuy could boost your annual reward earnings by an additional 10,000-15,000 points.
Hidden Terms & Conditions Explained
Like any premium credit card, the HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card has specific terms and conditions that cardholders should be aware of to avoid surprises. Here’s a breakdown of some key clauses:
- Reward Points Expiry & Caps:
- Be mindful of the validity period of reward points. Ensure timely redemption to avoid expiry.
- While there is no explicit mention of capping on reward points accrual, the 2X reward points on weekend dining are capped at 1000 RP per day
- Cashback Exclusions:
- Ensure that transactions qualify for reward points. Some transactions, like wallet reloads and rent payments, may be excluded.
- EMI Principal & Wallet Loading transactions will not contribute towards Welcome/Annual/Monthly Milestone spends.
- Lounge Access Restrictions:
- Unlimited access to 1000+ Lounges in India and worldwide for primary and add-on card members.
- Annual Fee Waiver Conditions:
- The annual fee of ₹10,000 is waived if you spend ₹5 Lakhs in 12 months. Ensure you meet this threshold to avoid the fee.
- Hidden Charges on EMI Conversions & Foreign Transactions:
- Be aware of processing fees and interest rates on EMI conversions.
- Foreign currency markup is 2% on all foreign currency spends.
Pros & Cons
To provide a balanced perspective, here’s a detailed comparison of the pros and cons of the HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card:
Pros
- Extensive Reward Program: High reward points earning potential with 5 RP for every ₹150 spent and accelerated rewards via SmartBuy and weekend dining.
- Premium Memberships: Complimentary memberships to Club Marriott, Times Prime, Amazon Prime, Swiggy One, and MMT BLACK.
- Unlimited Lounge Access: Unlimited airport lounge access for both primary and add-on card members.
- Comprehensive Insurance Coverage: Includes air accident insurance, emergency overseas hospitalization cover, and travel insurance.
- Low Foreign Currency Markup: A competitive foreign currency markup of 2%.
- Milestone Benefits: Additional benefits on achieving monthly and annual spending milestones.
Cons
- High Annual Fee: ₹10,000 annual fee, although it can be waived upon meeting a spending threshold of ₹5 Lakhs.
- Spending Requirements: Maximizing benefits requires significant monthly and annual spending.
- Reward Redemption Limitations: While reward points can be redeemed for various options, the value varies, with cashback offering the lowest return.
- Complexity: The array of benefits and conditions can be overwhelming for some users.
Final Verdict
The HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card is best suited for high-income individuals with substantial spending across various categories, particularly those who frequently travel, dine out, and shop online. If you can consistently meet the spending thresholds to waive the annual fee and maximize reward points through SmartBuy, this card offers excellent value.
However, if you prefer a simpler rewards structure or have lower spending habits, alternative credit cards with lower fees and straightforward cashback programs might be more suitable.
Start Your Journey with HDFC Diners Club Black Today
Ready to elevate your lifestyle with premium rewards and exclusive benefits? Apply for the HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card today and start enjoying a world of luxury and convenience. Apply Now
HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card – Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the joining and annual fee for the HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card?
The joining and annual fee is ₹10,000 plus applicable taxes. The renewal fee is waived if you spend ₹5 Lakhs in 12 months. - What are the welcome benefits offered with this card?
You get complimentary annual memberships to Club Marriott, Times Prime, Amazon Prime, Swiggy One (3 months), and MMT BLACK upon spending ₹1.5 lakhs within the first 90 days or upon first-year fee realization. - How many reward points do I earn for every ₹150 spent?
You earn 5 Reward Points for every ₹150 spent on retail purchases. - What is the foreign currency markup fee on this card?
The foreign currency markup fee is 2% on all foreign currency spends. - Does this card offer airport lounge access?
Yes, it offers unlimited airport lounge access to 1000+ lounges worldwide for both primary and add-on card members. - What insurance benefits are included with the HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card?
It includes air accident insurance cover worth ₹2 crore, emergency overseas hospitalization cover of ₹50 Lacs, and travel insurance cover of up to ₹55,000 on baggage delay. - How can I redeem my reward points?
You can redeem reward points for booking flight tickets/hotels via SmartBuy, for Airmiles, on exclusive reward redemption catalogues, or for cashback. - What is the value of 1 reward point when redeemed for cashback?
1 reward point is equivalent to ₹0.30 when redeemed for cashback. - How do I avail of the fuel surcharge waiver?
You get a 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations across India on minimum transactions of ₹400. The maximum cashback is ₹1000 per statement cycle. - What are the eligibility criteria for this credit card?
For salaried individuals, the net monthly income should be > ₹2.5 Lakhs. For self-employed individuals, ITR should be > ₹30 Lakhs per annum. The age criteria are 21-60 years for salaried and 21-65 years for self-employed. - Can I convert large purchases into EMIs with this card?
Yes, you can convert big spends into EMIs after purchase. - What is the 2X reward points offer on weekend dining?
You earn 2X reward points on spends at standalone restaurants during weekends, capped at 1000 RP per day. - How do I track my milestone spends to avail of the benefits?
Visit offers.smartbuy.hdfcbank.com/diners, click on Diners Club Benefits, and then Diners Club Black Milestones to check your Welcome, Monthly, and Annual Benefits. - What are the monthly milestone benefits offered with this card?
You can select any 2 benefits amongst cult.fit Live 1-month membership or BookMyShow or TataCLiQ or Ola cabs vouchers worth ₹500 every month on spends of ₹80,000. - Is there a credit liability cover on this card?
Yes, there is a credit liability cover of up to ₹9 Lakh.