Verified 6 Aug
Sandeep Varadarajan
Asked 6 Apr 2026
Yes the rewards sound amazing in marketing, but the redemption catalogue is full of products at inflated MRP. The statement credit redemption is almost always the best value. Skip the merchandise, skip the flight bookings, take the cash.
Forex markup comparison: Amex = 3.5%, HDFC Infinia/Diners Black = 2.0%, Axis Atlas = 3.5% but with milestone fee waivers, ICICI Emeralde = 3.5%, Standard Chartered = 3.5%. If you travel more than twice a year, the math favours Infinia or Diners Black.
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The card network matters more than the bank for acceptance and forex. Here's how each one stacks up in India.
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A Mastercard premium tier card.
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A Mastercard basic card.
Suggest a lifetime free credit card suitable for salaried employees. I want good rewards on utility bill payments without paying any joining or annual fee.
