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Hi 👋🏻
You have a credit card. You've heard people use it to fly cheaply or get free hotel stays. You're not entirely sure how. This newsletter explains exactly that.
Which card should I get for travel?
It depends on where you spend money day to day.
In the US, Amex Gold earns 4x points on dining and 3x on flights. Chase Sapphire Preferred lets you move points to 14 airline and hotel programs at a 1:1 ratio, so 1,000 points become 1,000 miles in whichever program you choose.
For Indian readers, HDFC Diners Club Black gives unlimited lounge access and transfers to multiple airline partners at a reasonable fee. HDFC Infinia is the premium option with better travel booking rewards, but it is invite-only. If you want open airline mile transfers, HSBC TravelOne allows 1:1 transfers to multiple programs and is available for general applications.
If you mostly fly one airline, get that airline's card. If not, a flexible points card will serve you better.
How do points actually save me money?
Every time you swipe your card on groceries, bills, or flights, points accumulate in the background. Those points can pay for travel, but many people redeem them for Amazon vouchers or cashback, which offers the least value.
A Delhi to Dubai return ticket during peak season costs ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 in cash. Through Air India's Maharaja Club program, which revised its pricing in April 2026, the same route costs 12,000 points one way. Six months of regular card expenses and you likely have enough to cover that flight.
Delhi to Singapore and Bangkok are priced the same, 12,000 points one way. Standard routes, standard availability, trips people actually take.
The only difference between someone who books these on points and someone paying cash is that one person knows their card’s worth.
What perks actually have cash value?
Lounge access: You are sitting at the airport for two hours before a flight. Outside the lounge, a meal and a couple of drinks easily cost ₹800 to ₹1,500. Inside the lounge, which is covered. HDFC Infinia and Diners Club Black give unlimited lounge access through Priority Pass. Four trips a year and you have already recovered ₹4,000 to ₹6,000 in airport expenses alone.
Checked bag fees: If you fly US carriers, co-branded airline cards waive the first checked bag. On American Airlines, that is $35 per person each way. Two people on a round trip, that is $140 saved before a single point is counted.
Travel insurance: Premium cards cover trip cancellations, lost baggage, and delays when the trip is booked on that card. Standalone travel insurance typically costs 4 to 8 percent of the total trip value. On a ₹1,00,000 trip, that is ₹4,000 to ₹8,000 you do not need to spend separately.
Hotel breakfast: Amex Platinum gives Hilton Gold status without a single hotel stay. Outside the US, Hilton Gold includes a complimentary continental breakfast. On a seven-night trip, that is one meal a day covered.
Is the annual fee worth paying?
Take HDFC Infinia. The annual fee is ₹12,500. On joining, you get 12,500 reward points back, which covers the fee if redeemed for flights or hotel bookings. Add unlimited lounge access and a complimentary Club Marriott membership in the first year, and the card has already returned more than it cost.
One thing worth knowing. Infinia is invite-only. If you do not qualify yet, HDFC Diners Club Black offers a similar setup at ₹10,000 annually and is more accessible.
Use the benefits and the fee pays for itself. Skip them and it does not.
Thank you!
One thing that does not change
Credit card interest in India runs between 30% and 48% per year. If you carry a balance, that charge will cost you far more than any points or perks the card offers.
Pay the full bill every month, and the card works for you. Do not, and it works against you.
See you on Tuesday!
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Check the website: shop.rentless.in
