ICICI Bank continuously improves its rewards structure through the important launch of its iShop portal. ICICI debit and credit cardholders receive additional reward points through iShop which enables them to earn points when they use the portal for airline reservations and hotel bookings and shopping voucher purchases.
IShop represents a strategic move against growing market competition between banks and credit card rewards programs. HDFC SmartBuy stands as one of the most prominent rewards platforms that banks use alongside several other institutions operating in this sector. The iShop program stands out because its rewards program extends to all customers holding ICICI credit cards and debit cards along with those using bank-enabled net banking services thus offering the most comprehensive benefits in India.
The iShop portal faces competition amongst banking rewards systems while new ICICI customers should be encouraged because of its advantages. Let’s dive into the details.
The portal offers increased reward point accumulation for customers who purchase travel and shopping items.
Through its iShop rewards program ICICI Bank delivers substantial advantages to travelers and shoppers who conduct their activities regularly. The portal’s high earning speeds positions it as one of the top reward portals in Indian banking industry.
Purchasing flights through iShop allows customers to earn six times the reward points amount.
Choosing hotels through the booking portal unlocks double the points than any other purchase option at 12X levels.
Receiving 6X reward points is possible through iShop by purchasing shopping vouchers from major brands.
The platform offers customers the best opportunity to earn rewards because they can accrue points by shopping through iShop instead of using external booking sites.
“I usually book hotels through aggregator websites like MakeMyTrip. If I book a hotel via iShop, will I still get the 12X reward points, or do I need to book directly with specific hotel chains?”
Users who normally book hotels through MakeMyTrip and similar aggregator sites wonder if they will receive the 12X reward points after booking through iShop. Your eligibility for the 12X reward points depends on the transaction classification.
Rewards points worth 12 times come from booking hotels through iShop’s specified partners and completing the transactions according to iShop’s specified terms. Aggregator websites can meet the requirements but you should always verify hotels on the iShop platform to receive iShop benefits.
When hotel bookings need to be placed directly through hotel chains as required by iShop then transactions made through MakeMyTrip or similar services will prevent the customer from earning these bonus points. The 12X bonus points are available to you if MakeMyTrip (or any designated platform from the same category) exists in the iShop partner list.
After logging into iShop you should verify the remaining merchants that qualify for points then strictly follow their booking procedures. Before making your booking contact customer support to confirm whether you will receive the 12X rewards.
I just booked a hotel through iShop and I must say, it will be the most popular platform for reward based bookings if ICICI continues to keep the reward rates where they are right now.
I used my Emeralde PMC and this is mind boggling. Seems like we are back to the era of peak Axis Magnus or accelerated reward points through Infinia. Are their some hidden T&Cs?
Honestly, to get the maximum benefit out of this new portal, there are only two cards worth getting -
ICICI Times prime Black and Emeralde Private Metal Card.
While times prime card is easily available but fees is 20k/y with waiver at 25L spends. I honestly don’t see so many people paying 20k in yearly fee or spending 25 lakhs in a year. The milestone rewards are not exciting enough.
EPM is hard to get card same as Infinia so currently it is out of question for a lot of people.
I am excited to see how many people actually make some good use of this portal
One thing that changes post the ishop launch is that hdfc infinia/dcb demand will be less. Because folks will apply for icici/axis. I pray now Kotak should also join the race because they have to gain the lost ground.
Personally I feel ICICI CC and their rewards are the crappiest among all, only Amazon pay card is decent with unlimited rewards on amazon spends. Emeralde is good if you really need unlimited lounge access, but how many of us practically need “unlimited” lounge access and also it has high entry barrier just like infinia.
ICICI iShop portal is currently in early stages. We’ll get to know the reality in coming months. No doubt ICICI has stepped up in the rewards game big time, but need to be patient & not simply jump on Emeralde wagon.
ICICI iShop is very new right now. I would like to give it some time to see how they hold up. They might reduce point value or impose restrictions on total value of the transaction, similar to how Axis devalued the points of magnus. Hdfc has stabilized the process
The 12X bonus points will be available for everyone who purchases from MakeMyTrip or any designated platform in this category that appears within the iShop partner list.
You can access 3% points through the mobile app since you used your Emerald Private Card but the 6X reward points will be added per the bank’s reward processing schedule. Reward programs stipulate their terms for bonus point addition which determines when the points are added following a transaction.
It is wise to verify the terms under which the bonus points are awarded and communicate with customer support if bonus points fail to arrive by their designated time period. Contact me for assistance with the issue if needed.
The iShop Rewards Portal from ICICI Bank makes it very simple to accrue and use reward points. Users of ICICI credit and debit cards can use their reward points to book travel, shop for goods, and receive rewards.
WHY SPECIAL?
Yon can use reward points to buy gadgets, home appliances, fashion items, and more.
You can book flights, hotels, and holiday packages using points.
You also may redeem points for Amazon, Flipkart, and other brand vouchers.
Log in through ICICI Net Banking or Mobile Banking.
Who Gets the Most Advantage?
Regular customers who wish to use reward points to save money.
Tourists seeking to reserve rooms and flights at no additional expense.
Anyone looking to easily maximize their ICICI reward points.
ICICI’s iShop Rewards Portal is honestly one of the biggest surprises in the credit card rewards space lately. At first, I thought it was just another gimmick like some of the other bank reward programs, but after using it for a few bookings, I can say it’s actually a game-changer—at least for now.
The biggest win? 12X points on hotel bookings, 6X on flights, and 6X on shopping vouchers. I booked a hotel through iShop instead of my usual route (MakeMyTrip), and the difference in rewards was massive. But here’s the catch: the 12X bonus only works if the hotel is listed as an iShop partner—so it’s not as straightforward as just booking anywhere.
I also tried booking a flight through iShop, and the 6X points kicked in automatically, which was a nice bonus. But the one thing I’m still waiting on is when the extra points actually get credited—it seems like there’s a delay, and some people have said it takes weeks.
For anyone looking to maximize rewards, I’d say this portal is worth trying out, but only if you already have an ICICI card that earns well. From what I’ve seen, the Emeralde Private Metal (EPM) and Times Prime Black Card give the best returns, but EPM is super exclusive. If you don’t have one of those, the rewards might not be as exciting.
That said, banks have a habit of nerfing rewards after launching flashy programs, so I’m cautiously optimistic. If ICICI keeps iShop as rewarding as it is now, it could actually steal customers away from HDFC’s SmartBuy. But let’s see how long it lasts.