Let’s clear up the biggest myth right from the start: earning valuable rewards with travel credit cards isn’t just about splurging—it’s about spending smartly. Yes, spending a decent amount each year is key, but the real power lies in how you leverage those spends.

Cards like HDFC Infinia offering up to 33% returns on shopping, flights, and hotels, or Axis Atlas giving you 20% returns on travel when converted to Accor, make this the golden age for credit card rewards.

Once you understand the system, you can turn those points into free flights or upgrades on airlines like Qatar Airways, Air France, and Singapore Airlines, lounge access, or free hotel stays with top-tier brands like ITC or Taj through partnerships.

So, if you’re ready to turn your regular spending into serious travel perks, let’s dive into how to make these cards work in your favour.

Maximise Rewards with the Axis Atlas Card: A Traveller's Best Friend

If you’re a frequent traveller and you’re spending around ₹60K a month on groceries, dining, and flights, the Axis Atlas Credit Card is your best friend. Here’s how you can stack up those sweet Edge Miles.

1. Regular Spending (Groceries, Dining, Fashion, etc.)
   For your everyday purchases, you earn 2 Edge Miles per ₹100 spent.
   So, if you’re spending ₹50,000 on groceries, dining, and shopping, here’s the breakdown:
   ₹50,000 ÷ ₹100 = 500
   500 × 2 = 1000 Edge Miles

2. Travel Spending (Flights, Hotels, etc.)
   For travel purchases, you get 5 Edge Miles per ₹100 spent.
   If you spend ₹12,500 on flights and hotels, here’s the calculation:
   ₹12,500 ÷ ₹100 = 125
   125 × 5 = 625 Edge Miles

Total Edge Miles

Monthly, 1000 EM (regular spending) + 625 EM (travel spending) = 1625 Edge Miles monthly
Annually, 1625 Edge Miles per month × 12 months = 19,500 Edge Miles annually
Plus, the 2.5K joining bonus and 5K milestone bonus, you’ll hit a total of:
19,500 + 2,500 + 5,000 = 27,000 Edge Miles at the end of the year.

How to Redeem Your Edge Miles

• Transfer to Airlines (e.g., Singapore Airlines, Air India, Etihad): You can get up to ₹60K worth of travel benefits.

• Use Them at Accor Hotels (Fairmont, Sofitel, Novotel, Ibis, etc.): You could redeem them for up to ₹1 lakh worth of hotel stays.

Spending Breakdown

To earn these rewards, you’ll need to spend about ₹6 lakhs on regular swiping (groceries, shopping, dining, utilities via Amazon Pay gift cards on GyFTR).
Then, add ₹1.5 lakh spent on flights and hotels (directly on airline or hotel sites). This will get you those juicy rewards while travelling in style!

So, if you're already making these expenses, it’s a no-brainer to earn rewards for your everyday purchases. You get great value for every swipe, whether it’s for flights, hotels, or regular shopping.

Getting 2 lakhs Worth of Flights and Hotels with HDFC Diners Club

If you're spending ₹1.35 lakh per month and want to rack up massive rewards without going for those super high spend thresholds, the HDFC Diners Club Card is your best friend. Here’s how it works for you:

Monthly Spend Breakdown:

1. Insurance & Utilities

For things like insurance and utilities, you get 5 points for every ₹150 spent.

If you spend ₹40,000 in these categories, you earn:
₹40,000 ÷ ₹150 = 267
267 × 5 = 1,333 points

1. Zomato, Ola, Myntra, Amazon (3X points)

For these spends, you get 15 points for every ₹150 (that’s 3X points).

If you spend ₹75,000 on these services, you earn:
₹75,000 ÷ ₹150 = 500
500 × 15 = 7,500 points

1. Flights (5X) & Hotels (10X)

For flights and hotels, you earn 25 points for every ₹150 on flights and 50 points for every ₹150 on hotels.

• For a ₹20,000 spend on travel, you earn:
  ₹20,000 ÷ ₹150 = 133
  133 × 25 = 3,325 points (For Flights)
  133 × 50 = 6,650 points (For Hotels)

Total Monthly Points:

• 1,333 points (Insurance & Utilities)

• 7,500 points (Zomato, Ola, Myntra, Amazon)

• 3,325 points (Flights)

• 6,650 points (Hotels)
  Total = 14,000 points per month

Annual Points Breakdown

• 14,000 points × 12 months = 168,000 points annually

• Plus, Milestone Benefits: You get 10,000 extra points each quarter, or 40,000 points annually.

Total Annual Points = 168,000 + 40,000 = 206,000 points

What Can You Do with These Points?

You’ve earned a whopping 206,000 points, which is worth around ₹2 lakh in value. You can redeem them for flights, hotels, or even buy things like an iPhone or gold on the SmartBuy portal.

How to Fly Business Class to Your Dream Destination with Amex/Axis

Let’s suppose you’ve been spending smart and raked up 60,000 Amex or Axis points to score a Business Class seat worth ₹4 lakh—all for free!

Step 1: Transfer Amex/Axis Points to Marriott Bonvoy

Start with those 60,000 Amex or Axis points and transfer them at a 1:1 ratio to Marriott Bonvoy points. This gives you 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Step 2: Transfer Marriott Points to Alaska Airlines

Now, transfer those 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to Alaska Airlines at a 3:1 ratio. For every 3 Marriott points, you get 1 Alaska Airlines mile. So, with 60,000 Marriott points, you get 20,000 Alaska Airmiles (and 5,000 bonus miles for transferring), bringing the total to 25,000 Alaska Airmiles.

Step 3: Use Airmiles for Qatar Airways Q Suite Business Class

Now you’ve got 25,000 Alaska Airmiles, and here’s where the magic happens! Since Alaska Airlines is part of the OneWorld Alliance, you can use your Airmiles to book Qatar Airways Q Suite Business Class.

• Delhi to Doha: You’ll need 15,000 Airmiles for a Business Class seat (or 7,500 Airmiles for economy).

• Doha to Your Dream Destination: For another 15,000 Airmiles in Business Class, you’re all set to reach your target destination.

Total Cost:

• 15,000 Airmiles (Delhi – Doha, Business)

• 15,000 Airmiles (Doha – Target destination, Business)

• Total = 30,000 Airmiles, worth ₹4 lakh in flights!

You’ve just used 60,000 points to unlock a Business Class journey that would normally cost you a fortune. With this strategy, you can fly in style without breaking the bank. Time to pack your bags for your dream destination, and do it in luxury for free!

Scoring 3-4 Nights of Free Luxury Stays with Amex Platinum

Looking to score some serious hotel stays without emptying your pockets? The American Express Platinum Travel Card is one of your best bets! Here's how you can earn 3-4 nights of free luxury stays with just your regular spending.

Spending Strategy

To make the most of this, you should aim for a minimum spend of ₹4 lakh annually on the card. This will get you around 48,000 Membership Rewards points for your regular spending.

If you get creative, like purchasing vouchers and planning your spending right, you can rack up well over 48,000 points. This figure is just the minimum.

Transferring Points to Marriott

Once you’ve got your 48,000 points, you can transfer them to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio, meaning you’re essentially turning 48,000 Amex points into 48,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Here’s the kicker: Amex has a special partnership with Marriott where they offer 30% more points when you transfer. So, your 48,000 points now become 62,400 points after the bonus.

How to Maximize Those 62,400 Points

With 62,400 Marriott Bonvoy points, you can book stays at luxury hotels—and here’s where the magic happens. You can now book hotels that typically cost around ₹80,000 to ₹90,000 per night! That’s 3-4 nights of amazing luxury stays for what would otherwise be a hefty bill.

The Bottom Line

With the Amex Platinum Travel Card, you’re looking at a minimum 20% return on your spend, and that's on the low end. By transferring your points to Marriott Bonvoy, you’re getting free luxury stays and making your money work way harder than before. So, rack up those points, transfer them, and start booking your dream hotel stays—all without breaking the bank.

Amex often gets a bad rap for limited acceptance, but you can make the most of it by buying Amazon gift cards, loading them into your Amazon Pay balance, and using it to pay bills like utilities, Uber, Ola, or BigBasket—maximizing your points without worrying about where the card is accepted.

Maximising Value from Big-Budget Once-in-a-Lifetime Travel Spends

Here’s how you can use the Axis Atlas Credit Card to seriously cut down that bill and travel in style—by racking up points from your big budget spends.

Step 1: Racking Up the Points

With the Axis Atlas Credit Card, you earn 5 Edge Miles (EM) for every ₹100 spent. Now, if you're planning a big spend, like flights and hotels for a honeymoon, or booking hotels for your wedding guests, here's how it adds up:

• A ₹15 lakh spend (for flights, hotels, and shopping) will earn you 75,000 Edge Miles.

• Plus, you get a 10,000 bonus for hitting that ₹15 lakh target, so you’re looking at a grand total of 85,000 Edge Miles.

Step 2: Convert to Partner Programs

Here's where the magic happens: you can convert those 85,000 Edge Miles to a partner program and double the value, turning it into 170,000 Edge Miles. Now, let’s break it down:

• Move 100,000 Edge Miles to Air India Flying Returns for flights.

• Transfer the remaining 70,000 Edge Miles to Accor Hotels.

Step 3: Booking Your Flight and Stay

• A flight from Delhi to Paris can cost you as low as 25,000 points per person. For two people, that’s just 50,000 points.

• With 70,000 Accor points, you’re looking at ₹1.2-1.3 lakh worth of hotel stays. You can book 5 nights at a hotel in Paris for 50,000 rupees, take a train to the Netherlands, spending the remaining 70,000-80,000 at Sofitel or any other Accor property.

• Your return flight from Amsterdam to Delhi is also pretty affordable at 25,000 points per person, which means 50,000 points for both.

Step 4: Jet, Set, Go

In total, you’ve spent ₹15 lakh to earn 85,000 Edge Miles—and after converting them, you’ve financed a vacation worth ₹3 lakh, including flights and luxury hotels, for a net cost of zero. That's a 20% return on your spend. So, if you’ve got a big-ticket item like this coming up, using the Axis Atlas Credit Card can literally get you a vacation for free!

The Best Semi-Premium Cards for a ₹2L Salary

If you're earning a ₹2L salary and want to maximize your rewards without diving into the ultra-premium card territory, the Axis Atlas and HDFC DCM credit cards are two of the best semi-premium options you can go for. Here’s why:

1. Axis Atlas Credit Card

The Axis Atlas card offers a solid combo of 2 Edge Miles per ₹100 on regular spends and 5 Edge Miles per ₹100 on travel-related purchases. With a wide network of transfer partners, you can easily move your points to airlines and hotel programs like Singapore Airlines, Air India, or Etihad, giving you a ton of flexibility for reward redemptions. Plus, with the ₹2,500 joining bonus and low joining fee, it’s a steal for frequent travellers.

Bonus: It has a positive conversion ratio of 1:2 when transferring to partner programs. This means that 1 EDGE mile = 2 partner points on programs like KrisFlyer (Singapore Airlines), Flying Returns (Air India), Flying Blue (Air France), etc.

• Joining Fee: ₹5,000

• Bonus: ₹2,500

2. HDFC DCM (Diners Club Miles) Credit Card

The HDFC DCM card might not have a joining bonus, but it shines with its lower forex charges and better returns when booking flights and hotels through the SmartBuy portal. With a ₹10,000 joining fee, it’s still a top contender for travellers who are looking for an easy-to-use platform with excellent rewards. The SmartBuy portal offers up to 5X points for flights and hotel bookings, making it a great choice for frequent travellers looking to get the best bang for their buck. You also benefit from lower forex fees, which can save you money when spending abroad.

• Joining Fee: ₹10,000

• Bonus: None (but this is compensated by the benefits it offers)

The Best Card for Salaries Over ₹3L - HDFC Infinia

1. Max Out Your Rewards with GyFTR!

Here’s the deal: when you buy Amazon Pay vouchers through GyFTR with your Infinia card, you’re racking up 5X reward points! Now, there is a limit of ₹20,000 worth of vouchers per month, but that’s plenty to make some serious points.

Yes, there’s a small 3% convenience fee, but don’t sweat it. You’re going to make that back easily because of the points you’re stacking up, especially when you use those vouchers for your regular payments. You can pay for utility bills, groceries, shopping, whatever you need—all using these vouchers.

And here’s the kicker: normally, you don’t earn rewards on utility payments. But with GyFTR, you’re basically sneaky-earning points because those payments are being made indirectly via Amazon Pay vouchers.

So, it’s a win-win—you're earning 5X reward points and still getting your utility bills sorted without missing out on rewards.

2. Book Flights/Hotels and Earn Points to earn 15-30% Reward Points!

When you book your IndiGo flight (or any eligible airline) through SmartBuy, you can pay 70% of your ticket with reward points and the remaining 30% in cash. Let’s break it down with an example: if your flight costs ₹10,000, you’ll only pay ₹3,000 in cash, and the rest—₹7,000—goes on your points. Sweet.

But it gets better! For every flight booked via SmartBuy, you get a crazy 5X points bonus. Normally, you get 3.3% points back on your purchase, but with the 5X multiplier, you're actually getting 16.5% reward points! So for that ₹3,000 cash payment, you’re looking at almost 500 points back.

Meanwhile, hotel bookings give you a multiplier as high as 10X, which means 3.3 * 10, which is 33%. On a hotel booking worth 5000, you’re looking at a return of 1650 points!

Basically, you’re booking a flight using your points, and then stacking up fresh points in the process. You get to use your rewards for future flights, while making even more points for the next adventure.

Here's a list of the multipliers on the HDFC Infinia card.

HDFC Bank has removed the cap of 7,500 points on Smartbuy Rewards per day on the Infinia Credit Card, and now you can earn a total 15,000 Rewards Points bonus in one day by spending on the Infinia if required.

3. Earn on International Payments Like a Boss

Sign up for the Global Value Program or Global Cashback Program, which gives you 1% cashback on international spends up to ₹1 lakh per calendar month. Sounds good, right?

Now, combine that with the usual 3.3% reward points you get on your purchases, and boom—you're looking at 4.3% total rewards on your international spends.

Now, there’s a little 2% forex charge that applies to international transactions, but even after that, you’re still looking at 2% to 2.3% reward points back. So, even though the forex fee cuts into the cashback, you're still making a solid return in rewards, and it adds up over time—especially if you’re spending on things like online shopping, travel, or dining abroad.

Quick Summary: Maximising Credit Card Reward Points

Here's a quick summary of all the ways you can boost your reward points beyond the standard rates for your travel credit card:

• Earn Extra Points with Bonus Categories: Use cards that offer higher points for specific purchases (e.g., 3x on dining, 5x on travel) to accumulate points faster.

• Buy Gift Cards to Maximise Points: Purchase gift cards for things you'd buy anyway (e.g., Amazon, airlines) through bonus categories to earn more points.

• Transfer Points Between Programs: Maximise value by transferring points between credit card rewards and airline/hotel loyalty programs at favourable ratios.

• Leverage Transfer Bonuses for Airline Miles: Take advantage of transfer bonus promotions (e.g., 25%-100%) to double your miles when transferring points to airline partners.

• Double-Dip with Online Shopping Portals: Shop via credit card portals to earn extra points for purchases at retailers you already use.

• Sign-Up Bonuses for Big Point Boosts: Open new credit cards for high-value sign-up bonuses and use points for free travel by transferring to partners.

• Redeem Points During Sales: Book flights and hotel stays during promotions offering discounted points redemption.

• Maximise Hotel Loyalty Benefits: Use travel credit cards affiliated with hotel chains to earn extra points and receive perks like upgrades and elite status.

• Pool Points for Larger Redemptions: Combine points from family or friends using the same credit card programs for bigger rewards.

• Offset Annual Fees with Perks: Use credit cards with annual travel credits and lounge access to offset the cost of fees and enhance travel experiences.

How to Use GyFTR with Credit Cards

GyFTR (Give Your Feedback and Rewards) is a platform that allows credit cardholders to purchase gift vouchers using their reward points. It acts as an intermediary where you can redeem your credit card points for vouchers from various retailers and service providers, such as Amazon, Flipkart, Taj Hotels, and more.

What makes GyFTR useful is that it lets you buy gift cards for categories that often offer bonus points (like dining, groceries, or travel), so you can rack up extra rewards even when you’re making everyday purchases. It essentially lets you maximize the value of your credit card points by converting them into vouchers you can use at popular brands and stores.

1. Hit Milestone Rewards with Axis Magnus

With the Axis Magnus Credit Card, you can earn 25,000 bonus points (worth ₹5,000) by spending ₹1 lakh in a month. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is by purchasing vouchers through GyFTR.

Simply buy ₹1 lakh worth of vouchers from brands like Amazon, Flipkart, or Taj Hotels. When you do this, you'll earn regular reward points as well as the milestone bonus. For example, with a ₹1 lakh spend, you earn 6,000 regular points (calculated as ₹1 lakh ÷ ₹200 × 12 points). In addition, you’ll receive the 25,000 milestone bonus points, bringing your total to 31,000 points. These points can then be redeemed for various travel or shopping rewards.

Redemption Example:

• Transfer 31,000 points to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio.

• Redeem for 2 nights at Fairfield Marriott Goa (₹7,500/night).

• Savings: ₹15,000

2. Maximise Rewards with HDFC Infinia

The HDFC Infinia offers a massive 10x points (10 points per ₹150) when you purchase gift cards via GyFTR through SmartBuy. For example, if you spend ₹50,000 on vouchers through GyFTR, you’ll earn 333 regular points (₹50,000 ÷ ₹150 × 1).

Then, with the 10x bonus, those 333 points are multiplied by 10, giving you an additional 3,333 points. In total, you’ll earn 3,666 points, which is worth ₹3,666.

This is a great way to earn a ton of points quickly while purchasing gift cards for things you were planning to buy anyway.

Redemption Example:

• Use points to book flights on the HDFC rewards portal.

• Example: Delhi-Mumbai roundtrip costs ~3,500 points.

• Savings: ₹5,000 (cash price).

3. Save on Daily Expenses Using SBI Prime

With the SBI Prime Credit Card, you can earn 5 points per ₹100 when you purchase utility and grocery vouchers through GyFTR. For example, if you buy ₹10,000 worth of vouchers from stores like BigBasket, Amazon, or Flipkart, you will earn 500 reward points. To break it down: ₹10,000 ÷ ₹100 × 5 = 500 points. These points can then be redeemed for ₹500 worth of vouchers, making it a great way to earn rewards on everyday purchases while also saving on future expenses.

Use these vouchers to pay for groceries or bills you’d pay anyway, effectively maximising your reward points.

4. Partner-Specific Examples

Hotel Stays via Marriott Bonvoy

Points Needed: ~12,500 Bonvoy points for a Category 2 hotel.

Example Redemption: Fairfield by Marriott Goa for ₹7,500/night. Use 12,500 Magnus points for 1 night.

Flights via Qatar Airways

Points Needed: ~20,000 Avios for Delhi-Doha (Economy, One-Way).

Example Redemption: Book Delhi-Doha (₹20,000 value) using 20,000 Avios + ₹4,000 in taxes.

Tips to Optimise GyFTR

1. Use During Promotions: Watch for limited-time offers like discounts on Taj, Flipkart, or Amazon vouchers.

2. Stick to Flexible Vouchers: Choose brands you frequently shop at to avoid unused vouchers.

3. Pay Attention to Expiry Dates: Most GyFTR vouchers expire within 6-12 months, so plan accordingly.

4. Combine with Milestone Bonuses: Use GyFTR purchases to cross spending milestones on cards like Axis Magnus or AmEx Platinum Travel.

Rewards Calculation for ₹1 Lakh Spend

Axis Magnus (GyFTR Purchase):

• Regular Points: 6,000.

• Milestone Bonus: 25,000.

• Total Points: 31,000 (Value: ₹15,500 via Marriott or flights).

HDFC Infinia (GyFTR via SmartBuy):

• Regular Points: 333.

• 10x Bonus: 3,333.

• Total Points: 3,666 (Value: ₹3,666 via flights or hotels)

Why You’re Better Off Using Credit Cards Than Not

Let’s break it down: Every time you swipe your card at a POS (point of sale) terminal, you’re indirectly paying a 2% transaction fee to the credit card company.

Now, it’s not something you see directly on your bill, but it’s baked into the price. So, that ₹400 burger you grabbed yesterday? There was a 2% fee attached to it. Same goes for the ₹1,000 grocery shopping you did—hidden 2% transaction fee there too. Now, if you’re using UPI, debit cards, or even cash, you’re getting nothing back for those fees you’re essentially paying.

But here’s the catch—when you use a credit card, you’re getting rewards, cashback, or points back for your spending. You’re paying that same 2% fee, but you’re also earning rewards on top of it.

So, why not put that 2% fee to work for you? Instead of getting zilch with debit/UPI/cash, swipe your credit card and watch those points or cashback stack up.

With a Little Strategy, The World is Yours to Explore

From boosting your points by buying gift cards through GyFTR to booking flights with SmartBuy and stacking up those rewards on international spends, the possibilities are endless. The key takeaway? It’s all about making your everyday spends work for you—whether it’s through bonus categories, point transfers, or special offers.

You can turn your regular purchases into massive travel rewards with a little bit of strategy. Imagine booking flights with points, getting hotel stays for free, and enjoying a ton of perks like lounge access—all while racking up even more points for your next trip. The best part? It’s all about working the system—using your points to earn more and never leaving money on the table.