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Five travel credit cards to consider if bitten by the wanderlust bug

  • Travel focussed cards come with welcome benefits, which in most cases is with more than the joining fees.
  • The reward program is such that you can redeem it for airline tickets etc.
  • Complimentary lounge access at airports is a key focus point for travellers.
Spending on travel makes you richer, as the saying goes. It helps one expand perspective, learn new things, live unique experiences and get cultural exposure by meeting new people.

If you are a frequent traveller, be to for work or because you are bitten by wanderlust, there are credit cards designed exclusively for you. These come with various exciting features and rewards on every travel spend and include redeeming points for air tickets, complimentary lounge access and priority check-in. We look at five travel credit cards for the wanderlust in you.

Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card

The complimentary premium economy ticket on joining makes it worthwhile. Also, the annual fees are waived off if you spend ₹60,000 in the first 90 days. The Club Vistara (CV) points that you collect when you spend on the card can be redeemed for upgrades and flights, plus you get bonus points on milestone spends. There is also complimentary lounge access thrown in.

Club Vistara SBI Credit Card

Here too, the complimentary economy class ticket is worth more than the joining fee. The milestone benefits are quite attractive too. If you spend ₹50,000 within 90 days of card issuance, you get 1,000 bonus CV points. Also you can get one economy class ticket each on annual spends of ₹1.25 lakhs, ₹2.5 lakhs and ₹5 lakhs. Plus, there is an insurance cover that covers 4 trip cancellations a year, each worth up to ₹3,500.

Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card

This one is not just a travel credit card, but a premium credit card with benefits across all categories, especially travel, and has an annual fee of ₹10,000. While the complimentary domestic ticket as a welcome gift is a good idea, the eight complimentary end-to-end concierge services at domestic airports is worth it.

While there is unlimited access to select lounges in India, you can also access unlimited international lounge visits with 8 additional guest visits. Further, there are also benefits under the lifestyle, entertainment, and health, and wellness category, The annual fee is waived off for a spend of ₹15 lakh in the preceding year.

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card

With this credit card, one can earn one membership point for every ₹50 spent, except on fuel, utilities, and some other expenses. Their membership rewards catalogue offers a wide range of options to redeem your points on entertainment, travel, dining, and products including electronics, apparel, and home essentials.

One can redeem points of higher value to get a Taj Stay voucher. The user can also get a complimentary standard priority pass membership which gives access to airport lounges all across the world, but one needs to pay a small fee every time the user accesses a lounge.

InterMiles HDFC Platinum Credit Card

This comes with a low joining fee of ₹1,000 which can be redeemed by spending ₹2.5 lakh in a year, but as a welcome bonus, one gets 3,000 bonus Intermiles which can be redeemed for flight tickets. One can also earn Intermiles on spends. However, they can be redeemed only on the Intermiles website. There are other benefits on dining, and a fuel surcharge waiver.


One also needs to understand their own requirements before choosing a card.




Welcome benefits

Joining/Annual fees

Reward Program

Lounge access

Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card

Complimentary premium economy class ticket voucher

₹3,000

4 CV points for every ₹200 spent which can be redeemed for upgrades, and flights

Priority check-in, additional baggage allowance, 2 complimentary lounge access per quarter

Club Vistara SBI Credit Card

Economy class ticket as e-gift voucher

₹1,499

3 CV points for every ₹300 spent

4 complimentary visits per year to domestic airport lounges (subject to a max of 1 per quarter)

Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card

Complimentary domestic flight ticket and a Tata CLiQ voucher worth ₹1,0000 as your annual benefit.

₹10,000

25,000 EDGE REWARDS Points worth ₹5,000 on monthly spends of ₹1Lakh.
5X EDGE REWARDS on travel spends via TRAVEL EDGE.

Unlimited domestic and internaitonal lounge visits

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card

Welcome gift of 10,000 membership rewards points redeemable for Flipkart vouchers, or Pay with points option in Amex Travel Online worth ₹3,000

₹3,500 Annual fees: ₹5,000

Earn 1 membership rewards point for every ₹50 spent

8 complimentary visits per year (limited to two complimentary visit per quarter) to airport lounges across India. Complimentary Priority Pass membership with fees waived off

InterMiles HDFC Bank Platinum Credit Card

3,000 bonus InterMiles

₹1,000

Earn 4 InterMiles on every ₹150 spent on retail spends
and 8 InterMiles on every ₹150 spent on every flight ticket and hotel booked on https://flights.intermiles.com

8 complimentary visits per year (2 per quarter) when one travels



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