Best Airline Credit Cards in India

Annual Fee: Rs. 4,999 plus taxes

Renewal Fee: Rs. 4,999 plus taxes

Travel Benefits:

1. One complimentary Premium Economy Ticket Voucher, One Class Upgrade Voucher, and Complimentary Club Vistara Silver Membership are welcome benefits.
2. Earn six CV Points on every Rs. 200 spent on transactions up to Rs. 1 Lakh in each statement cycle.
3. Earn four CV Points on every Rs. 200 spent on transactions above Rs. 1 Lakh in each statement cycle.
4. Earn one CV Point on every Rs. 200 spent on fuel, insurance, utility bills, rent payments, and wallet load.
5. Get up to five complimentary Premium Economy Class tickets in a year.
6. Receive up to 6,000 bonus CV points upon reaching spending milestones.
7. Enjoy two complimentary visits to domestic airport lounges and spas per quarter*.
8. Avail of one complimentary visit to the international airport lounge per quarter*.
9. Benefit from a low forex markup fee of 2.99%.

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

Annual Fee: Rs. 5,000

Renewal Fee: Rs. 5,000

Travel Benefits:

1. Earn 2500 EDGE Miles on your first transaction within 37 days of card setup.
2. Get five EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent on the Travel EDGE portal, airline tickets, and hotel bookings.
3. Silver Tier members receive eight domestic and four international lounge visits, plus 2,500 EDGE Miles upon spending Rs. 3 lakh.
4. Gold Tier members enjoy 12 domestic and six international lounge visits, along with 5,000 EDGE Miles upon spending Rs. 7.5 lakh and airport concierge services.
5. Platinum Tier members are entitled to 18 domestic and 12 international lounge visits, 10,000 EDGE Miles upon spending Rs. 15 lakh, airport concierge services, and two complimentary airport pick-ups.
6. Avail of the dynamic currency conversion facility with a 1% markup fee.

Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card

Annual Fee: Rs. 3,000

Renewal Fee: Rs. 3,000

Travel Benefits:

1. Receive one Complimentary Premium Economy ticket as a welcome benefit.
2. Enjoy a Complimentary Maharaja Club Vistara Silver Membership for the first year.
3. Earn four Maharaja Club Vistara Points for every Rs. 200 spent.
4. Redeem rewards for booking flights and other upgrades
5. Get Bonus CV points and up to four complimentary Premium Economy tickets upon achieving spending milestones.
   
6. Benefit from a lost card liability cover of up to 100% of the credit limit.

InterMiles HDFC Signature Credit Card

Annual Fee: Rs. 2,500

Renewal Fee: Rs. 2,500 (Waived off on spending Rs. 3 lakh in a year)

Travel Benefits:

1. Enjoy a complimentary InterMiles Silver Membership.
2. Receive up to 8,000 bonus InterMiles upon joining.
3. Get a Rs. 750 flight discount voucher for the first year.
4. Obtain a Rs. 2,000 hotel discount voucher for the first year.
5. Earn six InterMiles per Rs. 150 on all spends.
6. Earn 12 InterMiles per Rs. 150 spent on hotel and flight bookings via the InterMiles website.
7. Avail a 5% discount on Etihad Airways Economy Class tickets and a 10% discount on Etihad Airways Business Class tickets booked through the InterMiles website.
8. Receive complimentary Priority Pass Membership with five free visits every year to international lounges.
9. Enjoy 16 free domestic lounge visits under the Visa Lounge Access Program per year (four per quarter).

Kotak IndiGo Ka-ching 6E Rewards XL Credit Card

Annual Fee: 1,500

Renewal Fee: 1,500

Travel Benefits:

1. Receive a complimentary IndiGo air ticket worth Rs. 3,000 as a welcome gift.
2. Take advantage of 6E Prime add-ons valued at Rs. 1099. Receive help, a free dinner, a preferred seat, and priority check-in.
3. Get access to eight lounges a year, with two every three months.
4. Earn six points on every Rs. 100 spent on IndiGo airlines.
5. Earn three points on every Rs. 100 spent on partner merchants in the dining, grocery, and entertainment categories.
6. Earn two points on every Rs. 100 spent on other categories.
   

Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card

Annual Fee: Rs. 350

Renewal Fee: Rs. 350 (Waived off on spending at least Rs. 50,000 annually)

Travel Benefits:

1. Get a 20% instant discount on domestic and international hotel bookings.
2. Enjoy a 10% instant discount on domestic and international flight bookings.
3. Avail Rs. 125 off on bus ticket bookings.
4. Earn ten reward points on every Rs. 100 spent at standalone airline websites or hotel websites, mobile applications, or outlets, except for any travel aggregators.
5. Each Reward Point is equivalent to Re. 0.25 if redeemed through the Standard Chartered 360 rewards portal.
6. Receive two complimentary domestic lounge visit per calendar year.
7. Enjoy two complimentary international lounge visits per year through Priority Pass.

MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Signature Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 2,500

Annual Fee: Nil

Travel Benefits:

1. Receive 1,500 My Cash and a MakeMyTrip holiday voucher worth Rs. 2,500 as welcome benefits.
2. Enjoy a complimentary MMTBLACK Exclusive membership.
3. Earn 1.25 My Cash per Rs. 200 spent on domestic transactions outside MakeMyTrip.
4. Earn 1.50 My Cash per Rs. 200 spent on international transactions outside MakeMyTrip.
5. Get two My Cash per Rs. 200 spent on flight bookings via MakeMyTrip.
6. Earn four My Cash per Rs. 200 spent on hotel or holiday bookings via MakeMyTrip.
7. Access one complimentary railway lounge per quarter at participating lounges in India.
8. Receive two complimentary domestic airport lounge accesses by spending Rs. 5,000 in the quarter.
9. Enjoy one international lounge access and one spa session per year at exclusive airports in India through a complimentary Dreamfolks membership.

HDFC Bank Infinia Metal Edition

Joining Fee: Rs. 12,500

Renewal Fee: Rs. 12,500

Travel Benefits:

1. Enjoy complimentary nights and buffets at participating ITC hotels.
2. Receive complimentary Club Marriott membership for the first year.
3. Get unlimited access to airport lounges across the globe for the Primary and Add-on members at more than 1000 airports.
4. Earn five Reward Points on spending Rs. 150 per transaction.
5. Access global Personal Concierge services 24/7.

How to Apply for Airline Credit Cards Online?

You can apply for an airline credit card online via the bank's official website or via the BankBazaar website.

Steps to Apply for Airline Credit Cards Online

Step 1: Visit the bank's official website.

Step 2: Choose an airline credit card that matches your requirements.

Step 3: Click on 'Apply' and visit the online application page.

Step 4: On the application page, enter all the required information in the designated fields.

Step 5: Double-check the entered information before submitting the application.

Step 6: On successful submission of the application, you will get an application reference number. You should record this for future reference.

Step 7: Once the bank receives it, your application is reviewed and if your profile is eligible for the card, you will receive a call in 3-4 working days. The further application process will be informed to you over a phone call or through an e-mail.

Banks take 7-10 days to process a credit card application. If you have any queries meanwhile, you can use the application reference number to track your credit card application status online.

Steps to Apply for an Airline Credit Card Through BankBazaar

Step 1: Go to www.bankbazaar.com

Step 2: From the main menu, select 'Credit Cards'

Step 3: The credit card page will display a list of airline credit cards. You can choose one based on your travel needs.

Step 4: Beside the shortlisted card, you can find the 'Check Eligibility' option. Click on the same and check your eligibility by providing the required details.

Step 5: If your profile is eligible for the chosen card, you will be taken to the online application page, where you need to fill in all the required details and click on 'Submit'.

Step 6: On successful submission of the application, the screen will display an 'Application ID', which should be retained for all future queries.

You can track your application via the 'Track Application' feature on the BankBazaar website.

Eligibility Criteria for Airline Credit Cards

Each credit card issuer sets different eligibility criteria for applying credit cards. Mentioned below are the basic eligibility requirements to apply for an airline credit card:

1. You have to be an Indian citizen
2. You should be a salaried/self-employed professional/self-employed business holder
3. You should have a good credit history.
4. You should be between 21 years and 60 years.

Documents Required to Apply for Airline Credit Cards

The required documents to apply for an airline credit card vary from one bank to another. A few documents required by many banks are mentioned below:

1. Copy of identity proof such as an Aadhaar card, passport, etc.
2. Copy of PAN card
3. Two months' salary slips or IT Returns
4. Copy of address proof document such as Voter's ID, Aadhaar card, driving licence, electricity bill, passport.
5. One passport-size photograph
6. Duly signed application

Rewards Points on Airline Credit Cards

Unlike the reward points programme of a regular credit card, the reward points offered on airline credit cards will be accrued in the form of air miles. Each airline offers different air miles. For example, Air India offers Air India Miles. The accrued air miles can be redeemed for flight bookings, to transfer seats from economy class to business class, and a lot more.

Earning more air miles is also easy on airline credit cards as a few card issuers offer accelerated rewards on specific spends that can help you earn more air miles in less time.

How to Select the Most Suitable Airline Credit Card?

Consider these factors when choosing the best airline credit card for you:

1. Rewards Program: Look for a card with a generous rewards program that matches your travel habits.
2. Sign-up Bonus: Seek cards with attractive welcome bonuses to jump-start your travel savings.
3. Airline Partnerships: Check for airline partnerships linked to the card. More partnerships mean more flexibility in redeeming rewards.
4. Annual Fees: Evaluate annual fees in relation to the benefits offered. Make sure the perks justify the cost.
5. Interest Rates: Keep an eye on interest rates, as a lower rate can save you money if you carry a balance.
6. Travel Insurance: Opt for a card that offers comprehensive travel insurance coverage for added peace of mind.
7. Foreign Transaction Fees: For frequent international travellers, choose a card with minimal or no foreign transaction fees.

How to Choose the Best Credit Card for Domestic Travel?

Selecting the optimal credit card for domestic travel depends on several factors, including your spending habits and travel preferences. These cards typically offer travel-related perks like airport lounge access, complimentary domestic flight tickets, and rewards on travel expenses. Assess elements such as annual fees, reward programs, and specific travel benefits to identify the card that best suits your travel requirements and financial preferences.

Maximising the Benefits of Airline Credit Cards

Airline credit cards provide a plethora of advantages for frequent travellers. Here are some strategies to fully utilise your airline credit card benefits:

1. Utilise Your Rewards: Ensure timely redemption of your rewards, which can include free flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and cashback. Please keep track of your rewards balance and utilise them for your upcoming trips.
2. Leverage Perks: Take advantage of perks like complimentary checked bags, priority boarding, and airport lounge access offered by many airline credit cards to enhance your travel experience.
3. Strategic Spending: Channel your everyday expenses through the card to accumulate more miles or points. Each transaction contributes to your rewards, so optimise your spending.
4. Explore Partner Offers: Many cards have partnerships with hotels, dining establishments, and other businesses. Capitalise on these collaborations to enjoy additional benefits and rewards.
5. Upgrade Opportunities: Some cards provide options for flight upgrades or access to exclusive lounges. Check your eligibility for these upgrades and elevate your travel experience accordingly.
6. Stay Informed: Stay abreast of limited-time promotions or special offers from your card issuer. Remain vigilant to capitalise on opportunities for extra bonuses and rewards.

Credit cards make payments easy for all expenses online and offline while offering various benefits

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