I have been asked umpteen times that between HDFC Bank Regalia and Diners Club Privilege Credit Card, which one is better? Given that both these credit cards target the same premium segment and offer similar reward rate and features, this confusion is quite valid. However there are some subtle differences between the two which set them apart.
In this article I am going to compare these cards in-depth and will articulate the major differences so that you can make an informed choice. So let’s jump right in!
HDFC Regalia vs Diners Club Privilege
| HDFC Regalia | Diners Club Privilege | |
|---|---|---|
| Network | Visa Signature & MasterCard World | Diners Club |
| Monthly Income for Eligibility | Rs. 1.2 Lakhs and above | Rs. 40,000 and above |
| Annual Fee | Rs. 2,500 + GST | Rs. 2,500 + GST |
| Spend based annual fee waiver | Rs. 3 Lakhs | Rs. 3 Lakhs |
| Welcome Benefit | 2,500 reward points & Zomato Gold Membership | Yearly Memberships
|
| Renewal Benefit | 2,500 reward points | Nil |
| Reward Rate | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| 10X reward points | SmartBuy Portal | SmartBuy Portal and partner brands |
| AirMile transfer partners |
|
|
| Maxcap on bonus 10X reward points | 5,000 on SmartBuy |
|
| Yearly Milestone Benefits |
|
Annual memberships renewed on spending Rs. 5 Lakhs in a year |
| Monthly Milestone Benefits | Nil | BookMyShow voucher, TataCLiQ voucher or Ola Select membership worth Rs. 500 on spending Rs. 40,000 in a month |
| Airport Lounge Access |
|
12 per year including domestic and international |
| Airport Lounges in network | 1300+ | 1000+ |
| Complimentary Golf games | Nil | 2 Complimentary Golf games (Green fee waiver) per quarter |
| Revolving Credit Charges | 3.49% | 3.49% |
| Cash Advance Charges | 2.5% of amount withdrawn or Rs. 500, whichever is higher | 2.5% of amount withdrawn or Rs. 500, whichever is higher |
| Late Payment Charges | Up to Rs. 950 | Up to Rs. 950 |
| Overlimit Charges | 2.5% of overlimit amount, minimum Rs. 500 | 2.5% of overlimit amount, minimum Rs. 500 |
| Forex Markup | 2% + GST | 1.99% + GST |
| 24/7 Concierge | Available | Available |
| Credit Shield | Rs. 9 Lakhs | Rs. 9 Lakhs |
| Air Accidental Death Coverage | Rs. 1 Crore | Rs. 1 Crore |
| Emergency Overseas Hospitalization Coverage | Rs. 15 Lakhs | Rs. 25 Lakhs |
| Travel Insurance Cover | Nil | Rs. 55,000 on baggage delay |
| Domestic Acceptance | Excellent | Very Good (~95%) |
| International Acceptance | Excellent | Good (~75%) |
Bottomline
It’s evident from above comparison chart that Diners Club Privilege had little edge over Regalia in terms of features and rewards. Extra 10X partners and monthly milestone benefit push the reward rate beyond 1.3%. Access to complimentary Golf games twice per quarter will entice the Golf lovers. The annual memberships really come in handy and can save you some extra money.
However the acceptance of Diners Club Cards is questionable, especially international. If you travel internationally a lot, you may face issues with acceptance of Diners Club cards. Also, even though both cards have forex markup of ~2%, Visa/MasterCard has superior conversion rate (~1%) in comparison to Diners Club. Hence stick with Regalia if you travel a lot and want better acceptance.
What is your take on HDFC Bank Regalia and Diners Club Privilege Credit Cards? If you have to choose, which one would you go for? Let me know in comments below.
