Best Travel Credit Cards in India 2025 | Compare & Apply on Paisabazaar

Travel credit cards are designed to help frequent travellers save a significant amount on flights and hotel bookings along with benefits on other travel spends. Users can save considerably through free flight tickets, air miles, discount with popular travel brands, complimentary lounge access, travel insurance and more. From cards co-branded with popular airlines/travel portals to cards that offer substantial savings in the form of air miles/rewards, the options are endless. To help you compare and make the right choice, here is the list of top travel credit cards in India.

Updated: 01-07-2025 05:07:25 AM

Video: Best Low Annual Fee Travel Credit Cards

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Note: Details mentioned in the video have been sourced from the issuer’s website as of May 2024. For updated information, refer to this page.

Best Travel Credit Cards in India for 2025

Travel credit cards are typically offered in collaboration with popular airlines or travel portals, allowing individuals to avail benefits on the collaborated brand. However, there are some cards through which you can earn Air Miles on your purchases and later redeem them against your travel bookings. So, here is a list of the best travel credit cards, including both co-branded and generic credit cards.

1. Axis Atlas Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 5,000
Annual Fee: Rs. 5,000

Key Features and Benefits:

Welcome benefit of up to 2,500 bonus EDGE Miles
5 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent on monthly travel spends of up to Rs. 2 Lakh
2 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent on monthly travel spends above Rs. 2 Lakh
2 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent across all categories
Redeem EDGE Miles through the Travel EDGE platform at a ratio of 1:1 (1 EDGE Mile= Rs. 1)
Value of 1 EDGE Mile = 2 Partner Points; except for 2 EDGE Miles = 1 Marriott Bonvoy Point
Up to 12 international lounge access in a year*
Up to 18 domestic lounge access in a year*
Milestone benefit of up to 5,000 EDGE Miles*

*Subject to annual spends.

Axis Atlas credit card is an excellent option for those who spend a substantial amount every month on travel as well as other expenses. The card offers 10% value-back on travel spends as reward points redeemable across 15+ airlines and hotels in 1:2 ratio. On spends beyond travel, users can get up to 4% value-back as 2 points per Rs. 100. Along with the highest conversion ratio, the card has a unique tier-based structure allowing high-spenders to extract maximum value from the card by reaching higher tiers with better benefits. However, being a travel credit card, the only disappointing bit is that this card charges a high forex mark-up fee of 3.5% and offers no concierge services.

2. Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 3,000
Annual Fee: Rs. 3,000

Key Features and Benefits:

5,000 EDGE Miles as joining benefit and 1,500 EDGE Miles on card renewal
5 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent on Travel EDGE portal and at direct airline websites/counters
2 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent on other spending categories
1 EDGE Mile = 1 Partner Point
Up to 8 international airport lounge visits per year, 2 per calendar quarter
Up to 32 domestic lounge visits for Visa cardholders and up to 24 domestic lounge visits for Mastercard users every year

Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card offers EDGE Miles with a 5% value-back on travel bookings and a base rate of 2% on other card spends. Though the value-back on travel spends is similar to that offered by Axis Atlas, Horizon offers this 5% rate only on Travel EDGE platform and standalone airline platforms. Axis Horizon’s EDGE Miles to travel points conversion ratio of 1:1 is quite good, but lower than Axis Atlas (1:2). Moreover, Axis Horizon offers a significantly high number of complimentary domestic lounge visits, without any spend-based condition. Substantial value-back on travel spends, lounge access and bonus EDGE Miles on renewal together make it one of the best travel credit cards in India.

3. HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 4,999
Annual Fee: Rs. 4,999

Key Features and Benefits:

4 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on flights, travel aggregators, and in foreign currency
2 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on other categories
6 complimentary domestic lounge visits every year
4 complimentary international lounge access per year
Exclusive discount offers on travel platforms like EaseMyTrip, Yatra, ClearTrip, etc.
4 complimentary golf rounds & 12 complimentary golf lessons per year
50% off on green fees for additional golf rounds
1,000 cashback, Postcard Hotels voucher worth Rs. 3,000 and 3 months EazyDiner Prime membership on spending Rs. 10,000 within first 30 days
10,000 bonus reward points on spending Rs. 12 Lakh or more in a year

HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is an airline-agnostic travel credit card that offers value back in the form of reward points. Cardholders can earn 4% value-back on travel spends through accelerated (2X) rewards points and redeem them with partner airlines and hotels at a 1:1 ratio, allowing them to save on their travel expenses. The card also provides exclusive discount offers on travel platforms like Yatra, EaseMyTrip, Cleartrip, PayTM, and StayVista Hotels, along with complimentary lounge access, which further enhances the value of this card for frequent travellers. Besides travel, TravelOne also offers lifestyle benefits such as complimentary golf rounds, dining discount, and more.

4. Axis Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 30,000
Annual Fee: Rs. 30,000 (Waived off on spending Rs. 30 Lakh in the preceding year)

Key Features & Benefits:

Luxe gift card/ The Postcard Hotels/ Yatra voucher worth Rs. 5,000 as welcome benefit
12 EDGE reward points per Rs. 200 spent on cumulative monthly spends of up to Rs. 1.5 Lakh
35 EDGE reward points per Rs. 200 spent above cumulative monthly spends of Rs. 1.5 Lakh
60 EDGE reward points per Rs. 200 spent on Travel EDGE portal up to cumulative monthly spends of Rs. 2 Lakh
35 EDGE reward points per Rs. 200 spent on Travel EDGE portal above monthly spends of Rs. 2 Lakh
Transfer accumulated EDGE reward points to partner miles in 5:4 ratio
Unlimited complimentary international lounge visits with Priority Pass and 4 additional guest visits per year
Unlimited visits to select domestic airport lounges for both primary and add-on cardholders (subject to spending Rs. 50,000 in the previous three months), along with 4 guest visits per year

While Axis Magnus lost most of its value after two rounds of devaluation, Magnus for Burgundy still stands strong as a travel card due to its 5:4 conversion ratio. The base rate itself translates to 4.8% value-back on travel, reaching even higher (up to 14%) if cardholders spend beyond the pre-set threshold. This makes the card a great option for high-spenders who can spend significantly across multiple categories and redeem the accumulated points for excellent travel value across 15+ partner airlines and hotels. Unlimited domestic and international lounge access along with a limited number of guest visits, low forex mark-up fee and 4 free airport meet and greet services further enhance its value for frequent travellers.

5. HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Edition Credit Card

HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 10,000
Annual Fee: Rs. 10,000

Key Features & Benefits:

Annual memberships of Club Marriott, Swiggy One and Amazon Prime on spending Rs 1.5 lakh during the first month
Unlimited lounge access to 1,000+ airport Lounges in India and across the world for primary and add-on card members
5 reward points on spending Rs. 150
Up to 10X reward points on SmartBuy
2X reward points on weekend dining
6 golf games per quarter across selected courses in the world
Low forex markup fee of 2%
10,000 bonus reward points on min. quarterly spends of Rs. 4 Lakh

HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Credit Card offers premium features to justify its high annual fee, starting with a strong reward rate of 3.33% across all spends including travel, unlimited airport lounge access, and other travel benefits like a low forex mark-up fee of 2% and concierge services to assist with travel plans and more. While it is ideal for international travellers, the card also offers decent benefits on other lifestyle categories, such as dining, movies, golf, and more. Overall, HDFC DC Black not only find a place in the list of best travel credit cards in India but also caters to lifestyle spends on dining, shopping and entertainment, which also make it a great all-rounder credit card.

6. IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 10,000
Annual Fee: Rs. 5,000

Key Features & Benefits:

6 Avios for every Rs. 200 spent at select preferred international destinations for PoS transactions
5 Avios for every Rs. 200 spent on Qatar Airways & British Airways website and app
3 Avios per Rs. 200 spent on all other categories, except utilities, insurance, govt. services and education
1 Avios per Rs. 200 on spends across utilities, insurance, govt. services and education
10% off on flight booked through Qatar Airways, on choosing Qatar Airways Privilege Club as the preferred airline
10% additional discount for Privilege Club members on all flights originating from India, if booked via Qatar Airways platform
Low forex markup fee of 1.5% (at preferred destinations) and up to 36,000 Avios as milestone benefit
2 complimentary meet-and-greet services per year at leading international airports
2 international, with complimentary Priority Pass membership, and 2 domestic lounge visits every quarter

IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card is a premium credit card tailored for those who travel frequently. What sets this card apart is its unique partnership with two airlines, Qatar Airways and British Airways, offering flexibility compared to other co-branded airline cards. Cardholders can get up to 3% value-back on travel spends through accelerated rewards along with exclusive benefits based on their choice of airline and travel destinations. In addition to airline-specific perks, the card offers a generous number of complimentary lounge visits each year and a low forex mark-up fee. Overall, it is a well-rounded option for frequent flyers who prefer flexibility across these two airlines along with premium travel benefits.

7. Kotak IndiGo Ka-ching 6E Rewards XL Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 2,500
Annual Fee: Rs. 2,500

Key Features and Benefits:

Complimentary IndiGo air ticket worth Rs. 3,000 as a welcome benefit
Complimentary 6E Prime add-on worth Rs. 1,099, including priority check-in, choice of seat, complimentary meal and quicker baggage assistance, on joining
6 points on every Rs. 100 spent on IndiGo airlines
3 points on every Rs. 100 spent on partner merchants (Dining, Grocery, Entertainment, etc.)
2 points on every Rs. 100 spent on other categories
8 complimentary domestic lounge access every year

Kotak IndiGo Ka-ching 6E Rewards XL Credit Card majorly offers value back through the rewards program. The card offers benefits similar to HDFC IndiGo XL, including accelerated reward points on IndiGo spends, domestic lounge access, and a discounted convenience fee on IndiGo tickets. However, at a slightly higher annual fee, this card marginally surpasses HDFC IndiGo XL with a reward rate of 6% on IndiGo spends, offering better value back. When it comes to international travel, the card fails to offer basic benefits like international lounge visits, especially at an annual fee of Rs. 2,500, users would expect at least one or two international lounge visits.

8. Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 10,000
Annual Fee: Rs. 10,000

Key Features & Benefits:

2.5 Skywards Miles on every Rs. 100 spent
1 Skywards Mile on every Rs. 100 spent on insurance & utility
Unlimited complimentary domestic lounge visits
Unlimited complimentary international lounge and spa visits at select airports in India via Dreamfolks Pass
Buy one ticket and get up to Rs. 750 off on the second ticket, 4 times every month via BookMyShow

Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Credit Card is designed specifically for frequent Emirates flyers, offering a range of travel-related benefits. Cardholders can earn up to 2.5 Skywards Miles on every spend and later redeem them for flight bookings or upgrades through Emirates. The card also offers unlimited complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access, along with free spa sessions—making it a good option for frequent international travellers who prefer flying with Emirates.

9. Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 3,000
Annual Fee: Rs. 3,000

Key Features & Benefits:

1 Free Night Award, Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status and 10 Elite Night Credits as welcome benefits
8 Marriott Bonvoy Points per Rs. 150 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
4 Marriott Bonvoy Points per Rs. 150 spent on travel, dining & entertainment
2 Marriott Bonvoy Points per Rs. 150 spent on all other applicable purchases
12 complimentary lounge access each year outside India
12 complimentary lounge access within India at both domestic and international terminals every year
Up to 3 Free Night Awards every year as milestone benefits

Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Card is designed for travellers who prefer staying at Marriott-owned properties. From rewards on activation to milestone benefits, this card offers multiple ways to earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy Points. These points can be used for travel services or to book stays at luxury hotels like St. Regis, JW Marriott, Le Méridien, Sheraton, and many more participating properties. In addition to the perks at Marriott hotels, the card also offers a generous number of complimentary international and domestic lounge visits, making it a valuable option for frequent travellers.

10. MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card

Note: The card is offered as a dual proposition with Mastercard and RuPay.

Joining Fee: Rs. 999
Annual Fee: Rs. 999

Key Features and Benefits:

MMT voucher worth Rs. 1,000 and MMTBLACK Gold Membership for the first year
MMT voucher worth Rs. 1,000 on the payment of annual fee
Unlimited 6% MyCash (12 myCash per Rs. 200) on hotel bookings via MakeMyTrip
Unlimited 3% MyCash (6 myCash per Rs. 200) on flights, holiday packages, cabs & bus bookings via MakeMyTrip
1% myCash (2 myCash per Rs. 200) on all other spends*, including domestic & international spends outside MakeMyTrip
8 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every year
1 complimentary international airport lounge visit in a year
Low forex markup fee of 0.99%
Buy 1 ticket and get 25% off (Max. Rs. 150) on the second ticket on BookMyShow, once a month each on Mastercard & RuPay variant

The card is a replacement of two other ICICI Bank co-branded cards with MakeMyTrip: MMT ICICI Platinum and MMT ICICI Signature. MMT ICICI Bank Credit Card offers exclusive benefits on MakeMyTrip with up to 6% value back on travel bookings, a welcome voucher, and an impressive reward structure. All rewards earned are transferred to the MMT account as My Cash that are redeemable for travel bookings on MakeMyTrip at a value of 1 My Cash = Rs. 1. In comparison to the previous variants, the card offers a higher reward rate and privileges like a low forex mark-up fee that make it suitable for not just domestic but also international travellers. However, the benefits on the card can be maximized only by restricting the travel bookings to MakeMyTrip.

11. Yatra SBI Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 499
Annual Fee: Rs. 499

Key Features and Benefits:

Welcome vouchers of Yatra.com worth Rs. 8,250
Rs. 1,000 off on domestic flight bookings on a minimum transaction of Rs. 5,000
Rs. 4,000 off on international flight bookings on a minimum transaction of Rs. 40,000
20% off (Max. Rs. 2,000) on domestic hotel bookings on a minimum transaction value of Rs. 3,000
6 reward points on every Rs. 100 spent on departmental stores, grocery, dining, movies, and entertainment
6 reward points on every Rs. 100 spent internationally
1 reward point for every Rs. 100 spent on other categories

Available at an annual fee of Rs. 499, Yatra SBI Credit Card offers welcome benefits worth up to Rs. 8,250 in the form of Yatra Vouchers. Users will also get a direct discount on their flight and hotel bookings on Yatra. Also, being a travel credit card, the reward earning rate of 6% on day-to-day spends like groceries, dining, etc. is a decent benefit. Users can redeem the accumulated reward points against Yatra.com discount vouchers. However, one thing that reduces the overall value of this card is the low redemption ratio of 4:1. This is a suitable option for travellers who prefer Yatra for their travel bookings are also looking to earn rewards on regular everyday spending.

12. Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 350
Annual Fee: Rs. 350

Key Features and Benefits:

20% discount (Max. Rs. 5,000) on domestic hotel bookings at EaseMyTrip
20% discount (Max. Rs. 10,000) on international hotel bookings at EaseMyTrip
10% discount (Max. Rs. 1,000) on domestic flight bookings at EaseMyTrip
10% discount (Max. Rs. 5,000) on international hotel bookings at EaseMyTrip
10 reward points on every Rs. 100 spent at standalone airline/hotel websites, mobile apps or outlets, except any travel aggregators
2 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on other categories
2 complimentary domestic lounge visit per year

Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card offers the highest benefits on your bookings via EaseMyTrip. With this card, you can get a direct discount on your flight and hotel bookings without any minimum transaction limit. The card offers benefits similar to Yatra SBI Card by offering discount along with reward points. However, Yatra SBI Card comes with a minimum transaction limit. While co-branded cards like MMT ICICI Platinum restrict their benefits to the MMT portal only, this card offers accelerated rewards on travel spends other than the EaseMyTrip portal as well. This is an ideal option if you want to earn basic travel benefits and don’t want to pay a high annual fee.

13. Ixigo AU Credit Card

Joining Fee: Nil
Annual Fee: Nil

Key Features and Benefits:

Zero forex markup fee
10% off on hotel bookings, up to Rs. 1,000 once per month via Ixigo
10% off on bus bookings, up to Rs. 300 once per month via Ixigo
10% discount on flight bookings, up to Rs. 1,000 per month via Ixigo
16 complimentary domestic railway lounge access every year
1 complimentary international lounge access every year
16 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every year
20 reward points for every Rs. 200 spent on train bookings via Ixigo
10 reward points for every Rs. 200 spent online
5 reward points for every Rs. 200 spent offline
Bonus 1,000 reward points and Ixigo money vouchers worth Rs. 1,000 as welcome benefits

Ixigo AU Credit Card targets people who frequently travel by bus and train. With direct discount on Ixigo spends and accelerated reward points on online spends, cardholders can save on their travel bookings other than Ixigo as well. Also, the discount on Ixigo spends can be availed every month, making it a suitable option for frequent travellers. If you are a beginner or an Ixigo loyalist, this credit card can be a great way to save on travel spends, especially if you do not have any other credit card. However, apart from a zero forex markup fee, this card does not offer any benefits on international travel, which might be a drawback for some consumers.

14. IRCTC SBI Card Premier

Joining Fee: Rs. 1,499
Annual Fee: Rs. 1,499

Key Features and Benefits:

10% value-back as reward points on AC1, AC2, AC3, ECC and CC tickets booked via IRCTC website or app
5% value-back on air ticket & e-catering purchases on IRCTC
1% transaction charge waiver on railway ticket bookings through www.irctc.co.in
1.8% transaction charge waiver on airline ticket bookings through www.air.irctc.co.in
3 reward points for every Rs. 125 spent on dining and standing instructions on utility payments
1 reward point for every Rs. 125 spent on other purchases
8 complimentary railway lounge access in a year to participating lounges in India
Up to 7,500 reward points as milestone benefits every year

IRCTC SBI Card Premier is an advanced version of IRCTC SBI Platinum Credit Card. At an annual fee of Rs. 1,499, the card offers decent benefits for people who travel domestically via train. With a slightly higher annual fee, this is the best credit card among other IRCTC co-branded cards like IRCTC HDFC or IRCTC BoB by offering a value-back of 10% along with 1 reward point per Rs. 125 on IRCTC bookings. Also, the card compensates for its joining fee by offering 1,500 reward points worth Rs. 1,500 against your travel bookings at IRCTC.

Top Travel Credit Cards: Airmiles/Hotel Loyalty Points Conversion

To help you find the right travel credit card that best suits your needs, here is a table containing the reward points to airmiles or hotel loyalty points conversion ratio of some of the top credit cards for travel. You can browse through the list of cards and the corresponding points transfer ratios to get a better idea about the how to best utilise the rewards conversion options and the final value-back that you can earn through the given cards.

Common Benefits of a Travel Credit Card

How to Find the Right Travel Credit Card?

How to Compare Travel Credit Cards?

Travel Credit Cards: Do's and Don'ts

How do I choose the best travel credit card?

How can I maximize my travel credit card rewards?

Do travel credit cards offer free airport lounge access?

Can I use a travel credit card for daily expenses?

Are travel credit cards only for international travelers?

Common Benefits of a Travel Credit Card

There are a number of travel-centric benefits that issuers offer on their credit cards. Some common benefits are:

Airport Lounge Access: Travel credit cards come with domestic and international lounge access. Priority Pass is a common lounge access program, the membership to which costs US $99. However, travel credit cards may offer complimentary membership to this program, along with a limited number of free visits to the partner lounges.

Accelerated Reward Points on Travel: Based on the type of card, the card offers accelerated reward points on a particular category. On travel credit cards, you can earn extra reward points when you book air tickets or make a holiday booking. These points may later be used for gifts, merchandise or for more travel benefits.

Air Mile Earnings: Instead of reward points, travel-centric credit cards may offer Air Miles. These miles can be used to book air tickets on the dedicated travel website of the bank. Some cards allow you to transfer their Air Miles to select frequent flyer programs while others may also let you convert your reward points into Air Miles of the given airline partner.

Co-branded Benefits: A number of providers have launched travel credit cards in association with airlines or a travel portal. For example, SBI has launched cards in collaboration with Air India and ICICI Bank offers cards co-branded with MakeMyTrip. Such cards are beneficial for those who are loyal to a particular brand.

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How to Find the Right Travel Credit Card?

With so many options available in the market, it can be confusing to find the right credit card. Here, we will talk about a few things that will help you choose the best travel credit card.

The first step towards finding the best credit card is to understand your spending habits. It is easier to find a card that suits your lifestyle better when you know exactly what you are looking for.

Quick Check: Best Fuel Credit cards

You need to ask yourself the following questions:

Do I need a co-branded credit card or one with general benefits?
Do I want to earn Air Miles?
On which category do I spend the most?
Would free lounge access be beneficial for me?
Do I need travel insurance along with other perks?

Based on your answer to the above questions, you can shortlist a few cards and then proceed.

Choose a card with lounge access if you are a frequent flyer

If you need to travel frequently for business, free lounge access will be very beneficial. Go for a card that offers access to international or domestic lounges as per your needs. The number of visits will, however, be limited. So, after you exhaust all the free visits, you will have to pay for the same. But if your card issuer has enrolled you on a lounge access program such as Priority Pass, the same is likely to continue.

Suggested Read: Best Lounge Access Credit Card

Choose cards with extra rewards on travel if you want the flexibility of usage

For those who wish to travel more, a card with accelerated reward points on travel will help. These cards also come with shopping, dining, and other benefits which enhances the overall card value. Even if you do not use the card for travel often, you can still capitalize on other benefits. And when you use it for travel, it will reward you better.

Choose co-branded travel cards if you are loyal to a brand

Card issuers also offer credit cards in association with airlines like Air India and British Airways or travel portals like Yatra, MakeMyTrip, etc. You should choose these cards only if you are loyal to the said brand and book tickets or holidays quite often. Benefits may come in the form of free tickets on joining or reaching a spending milestone, flat discount with the brand, complimentary travel vouchers or extra reward points.

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How to Compare Travel Credit Cards?

You should compare credit cards, once you have shortlisted two or more of them, on the following parameters to narrow down your search and choose the best travel card:

Annual Fee: The first point of comparison should be the annual fee. You may get excellent travel benefits on a card but you must know whether these benefits make up for the cost of maintaining the card.
Common benefits such as air miles and domestic lounge access for an exorbitant annual fee would not be a good bet. Choose a card that charges a reasonable fee for the services you can avail.

Rewards/Air Miles: A lot of users do not pay attention to the rewards program on their credit cards. However, they also add to the benefits of owning a travel credit card.
You must compare the rates at which you can earn reward points or Air Miles on the card. Also, read about the ways in which you can redeem the accumulated reward points. Choose the card that offers better reward points and redemption value.

Sign-up Bonus: When a card is issued to you, the provider offers a sign-up bonus, commonly known as a welcome gift.
In case of travel credit cards, this benefit may come in the form of travel vouchers, bonus Air Miles, flight tickets, etc. When you have narrowed down the searches as per annual fee and rewards, you should look for the sign-up bonus next.
See if the joining fee of the card is equally compensated by the welcome bonus. Such benefits can also be availed on reaching certain spending milestones or on card renewal.

Lounge Access: Travel credit cards usually offer access to international and domestic airport lounges. The number of visits, however, differs from one card to another.
You must compare the international/domestic lounge visits that the cards offer. As mentioned earlier, lounge visits are helpful only if you are a frequent flyer. For someone who travels only once or twice a year, such benefits would not make much of a difference.

Suggested Read: Lifetime free credit cards

Travel Credit Cards: Do's and Don'ts

While travel credit cards come with multiple benefits, you should make proper use of it in order to make the most of the rewards program. Here are a few do’s and don’ts:

Do’s

Understand the travel benefits on your card and plan your travel around it
Register for the lounge access program as soon as you get the card in order to avoid any last-minute hassle
Maximize your air mile earnings by putting the highest-earning purchases on the said card
If you plan on getting a new credit card for a big travel, look for sign-up bonus and welcome gifts that help in making the trip easier for you
Redeem the accumulated reward points for travel spends

Don’ts

Ignore the rewards/air mile program on the card
Use the card for cash withdrawal in a foreign country as it would incur finance charges from the day of withdrawal along with a forex markup fee
Keep your bills overdue as it will lead to high-interest charges which will nullify the value of the benefits that you could avail
Use the reward points for non-travel vouchers or merchandise from the card issuer’s catalogue

How do I choose the best travel credit card?

The best travel credit card for you would be the one that aligns with your travel needs. For example, if you prefer to fly with a particular airline, a card co-branded with your preferred airline could help you save a substantial amount over a period. On the other hand, if you do not want to restrict the benefits to one or more brands, getting a card that caters to all travel spends would be better. It is also important to check the additional perks like lounge access, forex mark-up fee, hotel benefits, etc. and choose a card that allows you to easily maximize the value.

How can I maximize my travel credit card rewards?

To maximize the benefits offered on your travel credit card, you should understand the features of your card and plan your trips around it. For instance, if your card offers air miles, you should try to put maximum spends on the said card to accumulate more points and redeem them later. Using the right card for the right purchase is the key to maximising value. In addition to rewards, you should also try to make the most of the perks. For example, if your card offers free memberships, make sure you register and activate the same soon after getting the card.

Do travel credit cards offer free airport lounge access?

Most travel credit cards offer free airport lounge access but the number of complimentary visits varies from card to card. Also, some card may only offer domestic lounge visits while others may offer both domestic and international lounge visits.

Can I use a travel credit card for daily expenses?

Yes. A travel credit card can be used for daily expenses beyond the travel category. In fact, putting other expenses on the card would help you accumulate more miles/rewards which can later to redeemed to get discounted/free flight tickets or hotel stays.

Are travel credit cards only for international travelers?

No. Domestic travellers can also get travel credit cards and save on their trips within the country through air miles, complimentary lounge access, hotel memberships and more.

4 Comments

MOHAMMED ZUBER KHALID QURESHI

November 5, 2023

Best Airline credit card

Team PaisaBazaar

November 6, 2023

Most travel credit cards in India are launched in collaboration with popular airlines like Vistara, Air India, or IndiGo. You can choose an airline card that offers exclusive benefits with an airline you prefer and also allows you to maximize the benefits through a decent rewards program. Here are some popular airline credit cards to begin your search with: Club Vistara IDFC First Credit Card, Axis Vistara Signature Credit Card, Air India SBI Signature Credit Card and Kotak IndiGo Ka-ching 6E Rewards XL Credit Card. However, if you do not have an airline preference, you can consider cards like Axis Atlas that allow point-to-miles conversion across multiple airlines.

MUKESH DUA

September 4, 2023

which credit card is best for travelling without paying more annual fee and joining fee ? and much more benefits also.

Team PaisaBazaar

September 20, 2023

If you are looking for a travel credit card with a low annual fee, you can consider applying for Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip or Yatra SBI Card. It’s important to note that both of these are co-branded credit cards that primarily offer higher benefits related to their respective partnered brands. Similarly, if you are loyal to a specific airline, you can consider getting an airline co-branded card. However, if you are looking for cards that offer general travel benefits without brand restrictions, you may have to pay a higher annual fee.

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Best Travel Credit Cards in India for 2025

1. Axis Atlas Credit Card

2. Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card

3. HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

4. Axis Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card

5. HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Edition Credit Card

6. IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card

7. Kotak IndiGo Ka-ching 6E Rewards XL Credit Card

8. Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

9. Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card

10. MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card

11. Yatra SBI Credit Card

12. Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card

13. Ixigo AU Credit Card

14. IRCTC SBI Card Premier

Top Travel Credit Cards: Airmiles/Hotel Loyalty Points Conversion

Common Benefits of a Travel Credit Card

Get Best Credit Card for all your Needs

How to Find the Right Travel Credit Card?

How to Compare Travel Credit Cards?

Travel Credit Cards: Do's and Don'ts

How do I choose the best travel credit card?

How can I maximize my travel credit card rewards?

Do travel credit cards offer free airport lounge access?

Can I use a travel credit card for daily expenses?

Are travel credit cards only for international travelers?

4 Comments

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