How-To Guides
Practical guides to EMIs, reward redemptions, lounge access, fee waivers and getting more from your cards.
1937 posts · Page 83 of 162
How-To GuidesTokenised card-on-file vs e-mandate: two recurring rails, different rules
"My card is saved with the merchant" and "I have a mandate with my bank" sound like the same thing. They're not. India runs two separate rails for recurring card payments — tokenised card-on-file and e-mandate — with dif
How-To GuidesWhy recurring payments fail: the mandate-failure rescue playbook
A recurring payment fails. The streaming service emails "update your payment method." Your SIP bounces. Your insurance premium doesn't go through and you're suddenly uninsured for a week. Mandate failures are common, usu
How-To GuidesSetting up autopay on your credit card: mandates, standing instructions, and billers
Autopay on a credit card is how you stop missing due dates without thinking about it: the bank debits your card or bank account for a bill on schedule, every cycle. There are two different things people call "autopay," a
How-To GuidesHow RBI's e-mandate framework actually works: registration, AFA, and the ₹15,000 rule
Every subscription on your credit card — Netflix, Spotify, your cloud backup, that gym membership — runs on a piece of plumbing called an e-mandate. It was designed by the RBI, and since April 2026 it runs under a single
How-To GuidesWhen points beat cashback: the redemption decision framework
Every points earner eventually faces the same question at checkout from their own rewards portal: redeem these points for travel, or take the simple cashback/voucher and walk away? This guide gives you a decision framewo
How-To GuidesStopovers and open jaws: stretching one award across two trips
The most underused trick in award travel is also the oldest: many frequent-flyer programs let you add a stopover (a multi-day stay in a connecting city) or book an open jaw (fly into one city, home from another) on a sin
How-To GuidesKeeping miles alive: expiry and activity rules that matter
Miles die quietly. No statement screams at you; one day the balance is simply zero, or greyed out, because an inactivity clock you never noticed ran out. This guide covers the mechanics of expiry and activity rules acros
How-To GuidesTaxes and surcharges on award tickets: the hidden-cost math
An award ticket is rarely free. Beyond the miles, you pay taxes and sometimes carrier-imposed surcharges in cash — and on some redemptions these cash costs eat most of the ticket's value. This guide breaks down what you'
How-To GuidesTransfer bonuses: how they work and when they actually add value
Every so often, a card issuer or loyalty program announces a transfer bonus: move your points during the window and get extra miles on top — "20% more," "30% bonus," that sort of shape. Bonuses can be genuinely valuable
How-To GuidesEarn and burn: devaluation-proofing your miles balance
Miles are a depreciating asset. Airlines and hotel programs can raise award prices, worsen transfer ratios, or tighten expiry rules at any time — and they do, regularly, with minimal notice. "Earn and burn" is the discip
How-To GuidesDomestic award sweet spots for Indian travellers
You do not need a long-haul business-class dream to make miles worthwhile. For most Indian travellers, the highest-*frequency* value comes from domestic awards: short hops where cash fares spike during festivals and peak
How-To GuidesHotel points sweet spots: Marriott Bonvoy and Accor from Indian cards
Among hotel programs reachable from Indian credit cards, one name dominates the CardBuzz fact pack: Marriott Bonvoy, listed as a transfer partner on HDFC Infinia, Axis Magnus (EDGE Miles), and Amex Platinum Travel. This