HDFC 6E Rewards IndiGo Credit Card — DISCONTINUED (Status & What to Do)
Per HDFC Bank’s official notice: the HDFC 6E Rewards IndiGo Credit Card (and the XL variant) was discontinued on 31 Oct 2025. The 6E Rewards program was phased out from 1 Nov 2025. Existing cardholders received SMS/email notifications on 26 Aug 2025 and have been migrated to a different HDFC credit card. You cannot apply for this card any more. If you’re looking for an IndiGo co-brand card, see Kotak 6E Rewards XL instead.
The entry tier in HDFC’s IndiGo co-brand range — designed for occasional IndiGo flyers who want flight discounts and complimentary BluChip points without the ₹1,500 fee of the XL variant. Comes with a 6E Prime add-on bundle that punches well above its ₹500 fee.
Fees and charges at a glance
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹500 + GST (one-time) |
| Annual fee (2nd year onwards) | ₹500 + GST |
| Annual fee waiver condition | Spend ₹1,50,000 in the previous year |
| Add-on card fee | Free for life |
| Finance charges | 3.75% per month (45% p.a.) |
| Cash advance fee | 2.5% of amount or ₹500 (whichever is higher) |
| Late payment fee | Up to ₹1,300 based on outstanding |
| Foreign currency markup | 3.5% + GST |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% on ₹400–₹5,000 transactions, capped ₹250/month |
Reward structure — how 6E Rewards work
The card earns 6E Rewards Points (IndiGo’s own currency, not HDFC’s PayBack or SmartBuy programme). Each 6E Reward Point is worth exactly ₹1 toward IndiGo flight bookings, cabin upgrades, seat selection, meals, baggage and other ancillaries. Outside IndiGo, points are not redeemable.
| Spend Category | 6E Rewards earned | Effective Value Back |
|---|---|---|
| IndiGo flight bookings (via goindigo.in or app) | 2.5% of spend in 6E Rewards | 2.5% |
| Grocery, dining (with no special promotion) | 2% of spend | 2.0% |
| Entertainment (movies, OTT) | 1% of spend | 1.0% |
| All other spend | 1% of spend | 1.0% |
The 6E Prime bundle — the real value driver
The biggest reason to apply for this card over a generic 1% cashback card is the bundled 6E Prime add-on benefits, which are baked into the card and worth materially more than the ₹500 annual fee for any actual IndiGo traveller:
| 6E Prime Benefit | Value |
|---|---|
| Complimentary seat selection | Up to ₹500 per flight saved |
| Free meal on board | ₹200–₹400 per flight saved |
| Priority check-in | Skip the regular queue |
| Fast-forward boarding (priority Group 1) | Boarding ahead of all other groups |
| Per-flight savings | Roughly ₹700–₹900 of value |
Welcome benefit and milestones
- Joining benefit: ₹500 IndiGo voucher credited to your IndiGo account within 30 days of card activation
- First-transaction bonus: 2X 6E Rewards on the first IndiGo booking made within 90 days of card issuance
- Spend-based milestone: Additional 6E Prime benefits stay valid as long as the card is active and renewed
Insurance and protection
- Lost card liability: ₹50,000 cover post-reporting
- Air accident insurance: ₹25 lakh (primary cardholder, on flights paid via this card)
- No purchase protection or extended warranty
Where the HDFC 6E Rewards IndiGo falls short
HDFC 6E Rewards IndiGo Credit Card vs the XL version
HDFC offers two IndiGo co-brands. Choosing between them depends on how often you fly and whether you value lounge access.
| Feature | 6E Rewards (₹500/yr) | 6E Rewards XL (₹1,500/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| IndiGo flight earn | 2.5% | 5% |
| Other spend earn | 1–2% | 2–3% |
| 6E Prime included | Yes (basic) | Yes (premium) |
| Domestic lounge visits | None | 8 per year |
| Welcome voucher | ₹500 | ₹1,500 |
| Worth it from | 2 IndiGo trips/yr | 4+ IndiGo trips/yr OR you value lounge |
Annual value calculator
Estimate your annual value from the HDFC 6E Rewards IndiGo
Eligibility and documents
- Age: 21–60 years (primary applicant)
- Income: ₹25,000+ per month (salaried) / ₹6 lakh+ ITR (self-employed)
- KYC: PAN, Aadhaar, latest salary slip / 6-month bank statement, address proof
- Credit score: CIBIL 750+ recommended
- Existing HDFC customers (savings, loan, mutual fund) often get pre-approved offers with reduced documentation
Compared with alternatives
| Card | Travel earn | Annual fee | Lounge / extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC 6E Rewards IndiGo | 2.5% on IndiGo | ₹500 | 6E Prime bundle |
| HDFC 6E Rewards XL | 5% on IndiGo | ₹1,500 | 8 lounges + 6E Prime+ |
| Axis Vistara Signature | 2 CV Points / ₹200 | ₹3,000 | 1 free Vistara ticket on milestone |
| SBI Air India Signature | 30 reward pts / ₹100 on AI | ₹4,999 | 4 lounges |
| Axis Atlas | 5 EDGE Miles / ₹100 on travel | ₹5,000 | 8 lounges + status |
For someone flying 2–4 IndiGo trips a year, the 6E Rewards Plain (this card) at ₹500 fee is the lowest entry point into airline-co-brand value. Step up to the XL only if you fly IndiGo 5+ times annually or want the lounge access.
Bottom line — should you get it?
The HDFC 6E Rewards IndiGo Credit Card makes sense for occasional IndiGo flyers who don’t yet need lounge access. The bundled 6E Prime benefits (free seat, free meal, priority boarding) reliably save you ₹700–₹900 per flight, which means just two IndiGo round trips a year cover the entire annual fee — and any 6E Reward points earned become net positive value. The 1:1 redemption rate against IndiGo bookings is one of the cleanest reward conversions in the Indian co-brand market.
Skip this card if (a) you fly IndiGo more than 5 times a year (the XL version delivers materially more value), (b) you fly Air India / Vistara / SpiceJet primarily (the points are useless), or (c) you want lounge access at the entry-tier price (consider the Axis ACE or Federal Bank Signet instead — neither has lounge but they offer better general rewards).
Verdict 7.8 / 10 for IndiGo loyalists
A focused, sensibly-priced co-brand for the casual IndiGo flyer. Don’t overthink it — if you book 2+ IndiGo trips a year, the 6E Prime alone justifies the fee.