The CardBuzz blog
Card-by-card write-ups from our team, features, fees, lounge access and who each card actually suits. For the numbers after every cap and exclusion, head to the card pages.
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Deals & OffersCompanion Tickets and Upgrade Vouchers on Indian Credit Cards
Among the most aspirational card perks in India are the companion flight ticket — a second seat effectively free — and cabin-upgrade vouchers. Both exist on select premium cards, and both come wrapped in conditions that
How-To GuidesFlight Delay and Baggage Insurance on Credit Cards: How the Cover Triggers
Many mid-tier and premium Indian credit cards bundle complimentary travel insurance — including flight-delay and baggage-delay cover. The benefit is real, but it triggers only under specific conditions, and the claim goe
News & DevaluationsReward Point Breakage: Why Unredeemed Points Are Pure Profit
Every loyalty programme is built on a quiet assumption: a meaningful share of the points it issues will never be redeemed. The industry calls it breakage, and it is one of the most profitable lines in the rewards busines
Card ReviewsHow Hotel Co-Brand Credit Cards Work: Free Nights and Points Mechanics
Hotel co-brand cards sell a dream — free nights at aspirational properties — funded by a mechanics stack of points, elite status, and anniversary awards. Each layer has its own rules.
Card ReviewsHow Airline Co-Brand Credit Cards Work: Earn Rates, Mile Expiry, and Redemption
Airline co-brand credit cards promise a simple deal — spend on the card, fly on the miles. The mechanics underneath are less simple: earn rates, mile-expiry rules, and redemption frictions decide whether the card is a tr
Card ReviewsTata Neu HDFC Bank Cards Explained: How NeuCoins Work
The Tata Neu HDFC Bank cards are built around a single loyalty currency — NeuCoins — earned across the Tata ecosystem. Understanding how NeuCoins accrue, where they can be spent, and where they cannot is the whole game w
How-To GuidesKotak Mahindra Credit Card Upgrade Paths in 2026
Kotak Mahindra Bank's card range spans lifetime-free entry products, the popular mid-tier earners, and the premium White and Insignia cards at the top. The upgrade mechanics follow the industry playbook, with Kotak's own
How-To GuidesIDFC First Bank Credit Card Upgrade Paths in 2026
IDFC First Bank built its card franchise on lifetime-free positioning and straightforward rewards, and its upgrade ladder reflects that philosophy: fewer fee cliffs than legacy banks, but the same appraisal logic underne
How-To GuidesHousewarming Expenses on Credit Cards: Deposits, Setup Costs, and Smart Splits
Moving into a new home triggers a burst of large, varied spending — rental deposits, movers, initial furnishing, and a hundred small setup purchases. It is one of the few life events where deliberate card strategy pays f
How-To GuidesTracking Your Credit Card Application: Status Meanings and Timelines
After submitting a credit card application, the waiting period is opaque by design — but the status labels issuers show actually map to distinct stages. Reading them correctly tells the applicant whether to wait, act, or
How-To GuidesVideo KYC for Credit Cards: How Digital Verification Works
Opening a credit card without visiting a branch or meeting an agent is now routine, and video KYC is the mechanism that makes it possible. It is a regulated process with specific steps — knowing them in advance avoids fa
How-To GuidesInsurance Premium Payments on Cards: Surcharges and Reward Exclusions
Annual insurance premiums are among the largest single card transactions a household makes — which makes the fine print around them disproportionately important. Premiums sit at the intersection of three card mechanics: