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AU Small Finance Bank’s two premium credit cards — AU Zenith and AU Zenith+ — are gaining popularity due to their rewards programs and lifestyle benefits. While AU Zenith+ is considered to be a premium ‘metal’ variant of AU Zenith, it falls short when it comes to the rewards program. However, AU Zenith+ makes up for it with its premium travel and lifestyle benefits.
So, if you’re confused about which card to choose and wondering whether “Plus” is truly a premium upgrade over AU Zenith, here’s a detailed comparison to see how these two cards stack up against each other.
Rewards Program: AU Zenith’s Edge Over AU Zenith+
Both cards offer accelerated rewards on dining and international spends, along with a base reward rate on other spends, including insurance and utilities, as per the below details.
| Particular | AU Zenith | AU Zenith+ |
| Dining | 20 reward points per Rs. 100 spent | 2 reward points per Rs. 100 spent |
| International | 10 reward points per Rs. 100 spent | 2 reward points per Rs. 100 spent |
| Other Spends | – 10 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on grocery & departmental stores
– 1 reward point per Rs. 100 spent on insurance, utility & telecom spends |
– 2 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on travel
– 1 reward point per Rs. 100 on other spends |
| Reward Redemption Options | E-vouchers of top brands, Merchandise, Mobile/DTH recharges and Flight/Hotel bookings & more | |
In terms of core reward benefits, Zenith comes out as a stronger option due to 3 main reasons:
- A higher reward earning rate of up to 20 points per Rs. 100 spent on dining and internationally
- Caters to everyday expenses like grocery and departmental store spends (which is not available on Zenith+)
- Comes with a higher base rate of 5 points per Rs. 100 spent
However, Zenith’s redemption value is lower at Rs. 0.25 per reward point, compared to Zenith+, which allows reward redemption at a 1:1 ratio. Yet, despite the lower redemption value, Zenith Card still pulls ahead, as its high reward earning rate compensates for it by offering a value back of up to 5%, whereas Zenith+ offers up to 2%.
Value Back Comparison: How much can you save?
Given below is a comparison of how much you can save through each of these cards:
| Category | Monthly Spends (in Rs.) | Rewards Earned via AU Zenith | Rewards Earned via AU Zenith+ |
| Dining | 10,000 | 2,000 | 200 |
| International | 30,000 | 3,000 | 600 |
| Travel | 20,000 | 1,000 | 400 |
| Grocery | 10,000 | 1,000 | 100 |
| Departmental Stores | 10,000 | 1,000 | 100 |
| Insurance | 5,000 | 50 | 50 |
| Utility | 10,000 | 100 | 100 |
| Other Spends | 20,000 | 1,000 | 200 |
| Total | 1,15,000 | 9,150 = Rs. 2,288 | 1,750 = Rs. 1,750 |
Due to a higher reward earning rate, AU Zenith cardholders will earn 9,150 reward points worth Rs. 2,288 (at a redemption value of 1 RP = Rs. 0.25), whereas Zenith+ cardholders will earn 1,750 reward points worth Rs. 1,750. Therefore, even with a 1:1 redemption ratio, Zenith+ falls behind in terms of overall value back, primarily because of the significantly higher reward earning rate of the Zenith Card.
Travel Benefits: Why AU Zenith+ Stands Out
Both cards offer travel benefits, including complimentary lounge access, low forex markup fee, and more. Here’s a detailed comparison of these benefits to help you understand which card offers better value in this segment:
| Particular | AU Zenith | AU Zenith+ |
| Forex Markup Fee | 1.99% | 0.99% |
| Domestic Lounge Access | 8 domestic lounge visits per year* | 16 domestic lounge visits per year* |
| International Lounge Access | 8 international lounge visits per year via Priority Pass | 16 international lounge visits per year via Priority Pass |
| Airport Meet & Assist | – | 4 complimentary airport meet & assist services per year |
| Railway Lounge Access | 8 railway lounge access per year | – |
*This benefit is offered on spending Rs. 20,000 in the previous quarter.
While both cards offer similar travel benefits, Zenith+ stands out by offering a higher frequency of domestic and international lounge access, along with a lower forex markup fee of 0.99%, compared to 1.99% on the Zenith Card. Despite a lower annual fee, Zenith+ offers airport meet-and-assist services, enhancing its overall value for premium travellers. Though Zenith+ does not offer complimentary railway lounge access, it should not be considered a major drawback as it offers better overall travel benefits.
Other Lifestyle Benefits: AU Zenith+ Takes the Lead
| Particular | AU Zenith | AU Zenith+ |
| Joining/ Annual Fee | Rs. 7,999 + Applicable Taxes | Rs. 4,999 + Applicable Taxes |
| Joining Fee Waiver | On spending Rs. 1.25 Lakh within 90 days of card setup | – |
| Annual Fee Waiver | On annual spends of Rs. 5 Lakh | On annual spends of Rs. 8 Lakh |
| Movie Benefits | – | Up to 16 free movie/ event tickets via BookMyShow per year |
| Golf Benefits | – | 8 complimentary golf games/ lessons per year |
| Annual Milestone Benefit | Complimentary Taj Epicure Membership on on annual retail spends of Rs. 8 Lakh | Complimentary Taj Epicure membership on annual retail spends of Rs. 12 Lakh |
| Other Milestone Benefit | Brand vouchers worth Rs. 1,000 on quarterly retail spends of Rs. 2 Lakh | 1,000 reward points on monthly retail spends of Rs. 75,000 |
| Welcome Benefits | – | Luxury brand vouchers or reward points worth Rs. 5,000 |
| Bonus Rewards | 2,500 bonus reward points on completing one retail transaction on birthday | 5,000 bonus reward points on card renewal fee payment |
At a comparatively lower annual fee of Rs. 4,999, the Zenith+ Card offers better lifestyle benefits, including free movie tickets, complimentary golf games, and luxury brand vouchers as welcome benefits, making it a preferable option for consumers seeking an all-rounder card with decent lifestyle benefits.
AU Zenith Vs. AU Zenith+: How to Choose?
Although both cards offer similar benefits, the major differences lie between their rewards program and travel & lifestyle benefits. The Zenith Card is ideal for consumers who are more focused on earning rewards, while the Zenith+ Card is a better choice for those seeking extended travel and lifestyle benefits, such as complimentary lounge access, a low forex markup fee, free movie tickets, airport meet-and-assist, etc.
However, keep in mind that a higher reward earning rate should not be the sole criteria when choosing a card. You should analyze whether the overall benefits of the card align with your lifestyle or not. If the travel and lifestyle benefits offered by the Zenith+ Card meet your needs, it would be a better option. On the other hand, if you want to maximize benefits through the reward points, the Zenith Card would offer better value back.
