HDFC Financial institution not too long ago introduced modifications to 3 of its mass market premium bank cards: BizPower, Diners Membership Privilege, and most significantly Regalia Gold on account of its sheer quantity of lively bank cards in circulation.
These modifications take impact between Could and July 2026. Right here’s all the things it’s essential know:
Modifications to Lounge Entry
Regalia Gold cardholders will get 3 home lounge visits per quarter (as an alternative of 12/Yr), provided that you spend at the very least ₹60,000 within the earlier quarter. The excellent news is that the 6 worldwide lounge visits per 12 months (through Precedence Go) stay unchanged with no spend requirement.
BizPower cardholders will get 2 home lounge visits per quarter (as an alternative of 16/Yr). There’s no minimal spend wanted, however the whole variety of visits is halved and restricted per quarter.
Diners Club Privilege cardholders will get 3 lounge visits per quarter (2 home + 1 worldwide), however once more, provided that they spend ₹60,000 or extra within the earlier quarter. The primary qualifying quarter for spend is April–June 2026.
It’s definitely good in a method that HDFC Financial institution is doing its bit to scale back the stress on busy lounges.
Different Playing cards
As lounge entry profit is primarily hit, listed here are a few of the alternate options in the event you’re a frequent traveller and wish way more entry per 12 months:
At this level, the HDFC Marriott Bonvoy Card (12 entry/Yr) is among the most suitable choice inside HDFC on this section, for many who need seamless lounge entry.
Past HDFC, there are certainly very many playing cards to select from, with Scapia Credit Card being probably the greatest that provides Limitless Lounge Entry (spend standards: 20,000 INR/m), comes as a Lifetime Free Card.
Boarding Edge on Regalia Gold
That is the brand new addition. After any flight, Regalia Gold holders can add their boarding go and select any two of those free advantages (per quarter) within the “arrival” metropolis:
- a complimentary spa session (at associate wellness centres),
- a free Uber airport switch (value ₹750),
- a complimentary buffet at taking part accommodations/eating places, or
- a free room improve at ITC Resorts properties for one evening.
Lodge companions embody ITC’s Luxurious Assortment, Welcomhotel, Storii, Mementoes, and Fortune manufacturers. These perks are along with lounge entry, not a substitute.
Modifications to Reward Price
Beginning Could 15, 2026, BizPower and Regalia Gold cardholders will see a change in how reward factors are earned.
The present fee of 4 factors per ₹150 spent is being revised to five factors per ₹200 spent. That drops the reward fee from 1.33% to 1.25% which is okay.
Moreover, BizPower is introducing a cap on tax-related transactions: you’ll solely earn reward factors on the primary 2 Earnings Tax and first 2 GST transactions per billing cycle. Something past that earns nothing. That is aimed toward stopping misuse by individuals who had been operating massive tax funds by the cardboard primarily to rack up factors.
What’s taking place?
One of many key causes for the unique HDFC Regalia to get devalued was that the financial institution may now not deal with the large lounge entry utilization on the cardboard.
Answer? Launch Regalia “Gold” and let folks transfer over in the event that they wished higher advantages.
Drawback? Plenty of them moved, many as free upgrades.
So the necessity to devalue cropped up once more, however this time, the financial institution determined to devalue the cardboard together with different playing cards within the section with out launching an alternate product.
And on the similar time, it tightened access to the Infinia, leaving no method out for many cardholders searching for a Visa/Mastercard different inside HDFC.
My Ideas
On Lounge Entry: Of all of the modifications, what I dislike most is the quarterly spend requirement and restrict for lounge entry. Whereas it is sensible from the financial institution’s perspective, it takes away the psychological peace of merely strolling right into a lounge with out a second thought.
As a substitute, it might have been much better if the financial institution provided an alternate yearly spend requirement, say, spend ₹4 lakh per 12 months and get 8 lounge visits for the 12 months.
That will save folks from doing pointless calculations each quarter, which is the least you’d count on in a premium section card.
On Boarding Edge: Whereas it’s good to have new advantages, I believe they might have completed it higher. For instance, the Uber profit is beneficial, however all the things else feels fairly non-essential.
Alternatively, including a Scapia like airport restaurant or purchasing profit would have been 10X extra invaluable to cardholders.
General: I really feel that is going to hit the “Regalia” model, a model they constructed over a decade. Earlier than it will get worse, it might be good in the event that they do one thing about it, so those that want lounge entry on Visa/Mastercard don’t find yourself transferring elsewhere.
Bottomline
HDFC Regalia Gold, amongst different playing cards, has basically misplaced its USP of seamless home lounge entry profit. On the similar time, they’ve added few advantages to make you are feeling higher.
That stated, it’s nonetheless a stable card, you may switch factors to airline and resort miles for glorious return on spend, particularly with companions like Accor, which has grow to be much more related after the current removal of Accor from Axis.
Should you already use these playing cards commonly, you’ll not really feel the ache. However in the event you’ve been holding the cardboard largely at no cost lounge visits with out a lot spends, it’s time to rethink your technique.
What do you consider the current modifications to HDFC Regalia Gold and different playing cards? Be happy to share your ideas within the feedback beneath.
