Synopsis: As premium credit card users seek better rewards and travel perks along with the introduction of Regalia Gold, the debate between the HDFC Regalia and the HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card is at an all-time high. This article covers the important points to distinguish whether the upgrade would add value or not.
Indian credit card issuers are constantly on the lookout for providing best benefit at affordable fees by offering its users various rewards, travel perks, and milestone benefits. HDFC Bank’s Regalia series has long been widely known among salaried individuals and travelers because of its reward points ratio and travel benefits.
However, after the launch of Regalia Gold the confusion is valid for many as to which offers the most benefits. The upgraded variant promises stronger milestone rewards, accelerated earnings at select brands, and enhanced travel benefits. But does the upgrade justify the switch? Let us understand the incremental benefits before making the move.
1) HDFC Regalia Credit Card – (No Longer Accepting New Applications)
- HDFC Regalia has a forex markup of 3.50%
- Benefits:
- Up to 5X reward points on flight booking, hotels, and vouchers purchased via SmartBuy
- 4 reward points on every ₹150 spent
- ₹1000 cashback on shopping through in-app
- On a spent of ₹1 lakh get 2 complimentary airport lounge access each quarter
- Up to 7.5% off on partnered restaurants through Swiggy dineout programme
- ₹1 Crore insurance coverage for accidental air accident
- ₹15 lakh insurance coverage for overseas hospitalisation
2) HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card
- Joining Fee: ₹2,500 + taxes and Annual Fee: ₹2,500 + taxes (Waivable on an spend of ₹4 Lakh/annum)
- Forex markup: 2%
- Benefits:
- Annual membership of both Swiggy One and MMT Black as welcome gift on spend of ₹1 lakh within the 90 days of card issuance
- Complimentary flight ticket worth ₹5000 on total spends of ₹7,50,000 in card anniversary
- ₹1500 worth Myntra or Nykaa voucher on reaching quarterly spend of ₹1.5 lakhs
- Up to 10% discount on partnered restaurants via Swiggy dineout
- ₹1 Crore insurance coverage for accidental air accident
- ₹15 lakh insurance coverage for overseas hospitalization
- 12 complimentary domestic airport lounge access and 6 Complimentary international airport Lounge Access per calendar year using Priority Pass
Where HDFC Regalia Gold Adds More Value
- Lower Forex Markup: The reduction in forex markup from 3.5% to 2% is a huge win for international shopping. Those who travel overseas often can benefit from this major offer.
- Milestone Rewards: The old Regalia majorly rewards through points accumulation. Regalia Gold, however, introduced a milestone benefits:
- ₹1,500 worth Myntra or Nykaa voucher every quarter on ₹1.5 lakh spend and ₹5,000 worth flight voucher at ₹7.5 lakh annual spend
- Stronger Brand Partnerships: Regalia Gold provides 5X to 10X rewards at brands like Myntra, Nykaa, Reliance Digital, and Jockey. Those who spend significantly on these platforms would benefit at a great margin.
- Better Lounge Access: Regalia Gold offers 12 domestic lounge visits annually and 6 international lounge visits via Priority Pass. This is a very beneficial travel upgrade compared to Regalia’s spend-based lounge access.
Why One Should Upgrade?
Upgrading from HDFC Bank Regalia to Regalia Gold makes you eligible for a complimentary MakeMyTrip (MMT) Black Gold membership, along with Swiggy One, as part of the welcome benefits and also Club Vistara Silver Tier Membership. However, this is not automatic; you must spend ₹1 lakh or more within 90 days of the upgrade/card issuance to activate these memberships.
To apply or upgrade to HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card, please visit the official website
Detailed Comparison at Glance
| Feature | HDFC Regalia | HDFC Regalia Gold |
| Annual Fee Waiver | ₹3 lakh annual spend | ₹4 lakh annual spend |
| Forex Markup | 3.50% | 2% |
| Base Reward Rate | 4 RP per ₹150 | 4 RP per ₹150 |
| Accelerated Rewards | Up to 5X via SmartBuy | 5X–10X at partner brands |
| Quarterly Milestone | Lounge access on ₹1 lakh spend | ₹1,500 voucher on ₹1.5 lakh spend |
| Annual Milestone | Limited bonus points | ₹5,000 flight voucher at ₹7.5 lakh spend |
| Domestic Lounge Access | 2 per quarter (on spend condition) | 12 per year |
| International Lounge | Limited / conditional | 6 per year via Priority Pass |
| Dining Discount | Up to 7.5% via Swiggy Dineout | Up to 10% via Swiggy Dineout |
| Insurance Cover | ₹1 Cr accidental, ₹15L medical | Same as Regalia |
| Welcome Benefit | Standard | Club Vistara Silver + MMT Black (on milestone spend) |
Also read: HDFC Marriot Bonvoy vs Regalia Gold: Which Card Gives More Value for Every ₹100 Spent?
Final Verdict
The HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card is not merely a rebranded version of the HDFC Regalia Credit Card. It is a redesigned version of Regalia with added benefits and different processes to unlock offers. The new Gold version is more appropriate for the modern way of spending. However, Regalia, though not accepting new users, still provides a sufficient amount of benefits.
Written by Kenbi Riba
