Card Comparison: Kotak IndiGo Credit Cards vs. HDFC IndiGo Credit Cards

Which is a better option, Kotak IndiGo Ka-ching 6E Rewards XL Credit Card OR 6E Rewards XL IndiGo HDFC Bank Credit Card?

Note that both these superior Ka-ching variants are mid-level cards, offering travel benefits specifically inclined towards IndiGo. Though the benefits are more or less the same, here are some differences to look out for:

• Both cards charge a joining fee of Rs. 2,500 and offer welcome benefits of worth more than Rs. 6,000, around Accor Dining, Accor Stay, and 6E prime add-on benefits. However, the Kotak variant claims an additional benefit over the HDFC variant via an IndiGo airline welcome ticket of Rs. 3,000. Here, you must note that HDFC 6E Rewards XL IndiGo HDFC Bank Credit Card, does offer a similar benefit, but labels it under ‘milestone benefit’ instead of ‘welcome benefit’. Though called differently, the benefit is the same on both cards, as you can redeem the complimentary ticket only on making 3 or more transactions in each of the first three months after the card is set up. Thereby, the welcome/milestone benefit offered on both cards are the same.

• Coming to reward points, both the premium Ka-ching XL cards offer similar rewards around dining, grocery, entertainment, and retail spending. However, when it comes to the reward for IndiGo spends, the Kotak Credit Card variant offers a comparatively higher reward of 6% on every Rs. 100 spent on IndiGo (in comparison to 5%  on every Rs. 100 spend offered by the HDFC variant). For instance, let us assume that you spend Rs. 3,000 on IndiGo, Rs. 1,000 collectively on grocery, entertainment, and dining, and Rs.1,000 on retail spending, on that basis you will earn rewards as follows:

Here, the difference in rewards earned via both these cards is only marginal and not that huge, specifically across IndiGo spends. However, with the HDFC Bank variant, additionally, you get up to 15% 6E rewards on IndiGo feature partners. Also, while both these credit cards do not offer any fuel surcharge waiver, yet, HDFC bank compensates it via the 2% rewards on fuel spends. Thus, even when Kotak IndiGo Ka-ching 6E Rewards XL Credit Card offers a higher rewards value on IndiGo spends, the overall reward value offered by 6E Rewards XL IndiGo HDFC Bank Credit Card is better.

On that note, you must note that overall HDFC 6E Rewards XL IndiGo HDFC Bank Credit Card appears as a clear winner, by offering an overall higher reward benefit in comparison to the Kotak XL variant at a similar joining fee of Rs. 2,500. However, you must note that, if you get the Kotak variant at a joining fee of Rs. 1,500 (as per the ongoing promotional offer), then it is not that bad a deal.

As clear from the table above, there is no extensive difference in the benefits offered by the regular variants of these ka-ching cards- Kotak IndiGo Ka-ching 6E Rewards Credit Card and 6E Rewards IndiGo HDFC Bank Credit Card. However, you must note the following:

• Both the cards come at a similar joining fee, and offer similar welcome benefits around Accor dining, Accor stays, and 6E prime add-on benefits, putting across a welcome benefit of more than Rs. 6,000. However, similar to premium variants, here as well the Kotak IndiGo Ka-ching 6E Rewards Credit Card claims to offer an IndiGo air ticket of Rs. 1,500, as a welcome benefit.
• However, this is again compensated by HDFC Bank, as the similar benefit with the same terms and conditions are offered under the label ‘milestone benefit’. Be it a welcome, or a milestone benefit the complimentary ticket can only be availed only on making 3 or more transactions in each of the first three months after card activation. Thereby, on that basis, both cards offer equal benefits on card activation.
• There is only a marginal difference when it comes to rewards offered on IndiGo spends, as with the Kotak card you earn 3% 6E rewards on IndiGo spends, whereas on the HDFC variant you earn 2.5% 6E rewards. In all other categories ( ‘dining, grocery, entertainment’ and retail spends), the 6E reward value offered is 2% and 1% respectively. However, here again, 6E Rewards IndiGo HDFC Bank Credit Card compensates with additional reward benefits of Up to 10% 6E rewards on IndiGo feature partners and 1% rewards on fuel spends. This compensation marks the HDFC variant as a more rewarding card in comparison to the Kotak variant.

• The regular variants offer no lounge access, but the premium variant of both banks offers 8 lounge access in a year.
• On premium variants, you earn 6E rewards up to 6% , whereas, on regular variants, it is limited to up to 3%.
• None of these cards offer a fuel surcharge waiver, however, both variants of HDFC offer 6E rewards on fuel spends. The reward range for fuel spends is higher in the premium variant at 2%, in comparison to 1% on regular variants.
• All four cards offer similar and equal welcome benefits, except for the value back of complimentary IndiGo tickets. While on the regular variant you get a ticket worth Rs. 1,500, with the premium variant the ticket amounts to Rs. 3,000.
• The range of additional rewards offered on HDFC cards is higher in the premium variant of 15% in comparison to regular variant that offers, 10% on the 6E rewards on IndiGo feature partners.
• While all three cards charge a forex markup fee of 3.5%, the HDFC premium variant-6E Rewards XL IndiGo HDFC Bank Credit Card charges the lowest forex comparatively of 2.5%.

On a concluding note, before choosing these cards, you must note that the joining/annual fee of these cards range from Rs. 500 to Rs. 2,500. If you are an IndiGo loyalist, choosing a card between these would give you a clear picture based on the comparison above. However, if you are not an IndiGo loyalist, you must check other travel credit cards within this fee range that offer better multi-dimensional benefits in comparison to the Ka-ching cards.

Additionally, if you are looking for benefits around airlines, instead of general travel bookings, then you must note that these cards, though comparative amongst them, fall short of providing other competitive benefits that other airline cards offer, such as discounts, vouchers, or additional rewards. For your help,  you can check the following cards for overall travel benefits, or for benefits inclined towards airlines: