A specialised credit card for flight booking caters to frequent flyers, offering rewards like air miles and benefits such as lounge access, travel insurance, and priority boarding. It’s ideal for travelers seeking cost-effective and comfortable journeys, providing value from their expenses. Travel credit cards are essential for frequent travellers, offering savings on flights and hotels, along with perks like lounge access and air miles. These cards enhance travel experiences with benefits such as free or discounted flights, travel insurance, and priority services, often outweighing their annual fees. Here’s a list of the best flight booking credit cards in India for 2024, each with unique features to enhance travel.
Prime Benefits Of Credit Card For Flight Booking
Travel credit cards offer unique benefits tailored for frequent travelers and business individuals, setting them apart from standard credit cards. From earning air miles to accessing exclusive airport lounges, these cards aim to enhance travel experiences, making journeys more rewarding and comfortable.
- Air Miles Accumulation: Earn air miles for every transaction, accumulating over time for redemption towards flight tickets, especially beneficial for frequent flyers.
- Complimentary Lounge Access: Enjoy access to premium airport lounges worldwide, offering amenities like free Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, refreshments, and sometimes spa services.
- Travel Insurance: Receive complimentary travel insurance, safeguarding against flight cancellations, baggage loss, or medical emergencies, ensuring peace of mind and potential savings.
- Priority Boarding: Benefit from priority boarding, allowing you to board ahead of others, particularly advantageous during peak seasons for a hassle-free boarding process.
- Special Discounts: Access exclusive deals offering reduced fares or cashback on ticket bookings, significantly reducing travel costs, especially when booking on partner websites or platforms.
Top 5 Airline Credit Cards in India
Axis Bank Vistara Credit Card
The Axis Bank Vistara Credit Card is tailored for frequent travelers, offering luxury and convenience. For a joining fee of INR 1,500, cardholders receive a complimentary economy class ticket, Club Vistara membership, and earn 2 Club Vistara Points per INR 200 spent. With benefits like up to three additional economy tickets, 20% off dining through the Axis Bank EazyDiner Program, and complimentary lounge access, this card enhances your travel and lifestyle experiences.
Features
- Welcome Gift: Complimentary one-way economy ticket voucher upon card signup, valid for 6 months.
- Club Vistara Membership: Enjoy complimentary Club Vistara Silver membership, earn 2 CV Points per Rs. 200 spent.
- Milestone Benefits: Up to 2 economy class tickets based on annual spending milestones.
- Lifestyle Privileges: Complimentary airport lounge access, dining discounts with Axis Bank Dining Delights.
- Rewards Program: Earn 2 Club Vistara points for every INR 200 spent, get 2 complimentary lounge accesses quarterly.
Fees & Charges
| Fee/Charge | Amount |
| Joining Fee (Primary Cardholder) | Rs. 1,500 |
| Annual Fee (Primary Cardholder, from year-2 onwards) | Rs. 1,500 |
| Interest Rate (cash and retail purchases) | 2.95% per month (41.75% p.a.) |
| Late Payment Penalty | Up to Rs. 100: Nil; Rs. 101 to Rs. 300: Rs. 100; Rs. 301 to Rs. 1,000: Rs. 300; Rs. 1,001 to Rs. 5,000: Rs. 500; Rs. 5,001 to Rs. 20,000: Rs. 600; Rs. 20,001 and above: Rs. 700 |
Air India SBI Platinum Credit Card
The Air India SBI Platinum Card is a must-have for frequent flyers, offering a range of benefits tailored for those who travel often. With a joining fee of Rs.1,499 and an annual fee of Rs.1,499 from the second year onwards, this card provides a rewarding experience both in the air and on the ground. Earn 15 points per ₹100 spent on Air India tickets, translating to a generous 6.75% rewards rate, making it an excellent choice for avid travelers.
Features
- Welcome Rewards: Receive 5,000 SBI reward points as a welcome gift, credited within 15 days of joining/fee payment, along with free membership to Air India’s Flying Returns program.
- Travel Benefits: Earn up to 15 reward points per Rs.100 spent on Air India ticket bookings and enjoy complimentary lounge access at domestic airports.
- Milestone Reward Points: Achieve up to 15,000 bonus points annually based on spending milestones, with 5,000 points for Rs.2 lakh spends and 10,000 points for spends above Rs.3 lakh.
- Renewal Benefit: Get 2,000 reward points every year upon payment of the renewal fee for the card.
- Reward Points Program: Earn 2 reward points for every Rs.100 spent on the card, and 15 reward points for self Air India ticket bookings. Redeem points for Air India Air Miles.
Fees & Charges
| Fee/Charge | Amount/Rate |
| Joining Fee | Rs.1,499 |
| Annual Fee | Rs.1,499 per annum (from 2nd year onwards) |
| Interest Rate | Up to 3.35% per month |
| Late Payment Fee | Rs.0 to Rs.500 – NIL; Rs.500 – Rs.1,000- Rs.400; Rs.1,000 and up to Rs.10,000- Rs.750; Rs.10,000 and up to Rs.25,000- Rs.950 ; Rs.25,000 and up to Rs.50,000- Rs.1,100; Amount over Rs.50,000- Rs.1,300 |
Air India SBI Signature Credit Card
The Air India SBI Signature Card offers a luxurious travel experience, ideal for frequent flyers. With its exclusive benefits like accelerated reward points, lounge access, and Priority Pass membership, this card ensures your journeys are both comfortable and rewarding.
Features
- Reward Points: Earn 4 points per Rs. 100 spent, redeemable for various benefits including an annual bonus and Air India Air miles at a 1:1 ratio.
- Welcome Benefits: Receive a starting bonus of 20,000 reward points upon payment of your joining fee, and enjoy complimentary enrollment in Air India’s Frequent Flyer program, Flying Returns.
- Lounge Access: Access over 600 international airport luxury lounges with the complimentary Priority Pass Program, and benefit from the free Visa Lounge Access Program at key domestic airports in India, including 8 complimentary visits per year to Domestic VISA Lounges in India.
- Travel Benefits: Enjoy a 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all petrol stations, complimentary access to Airport Luxury Lounges with the Priority Pass Program, and free Visa Lounge Access Program for 2 complimentary visits to domestic airport lounges per quarter.
- Milestone Benefits: Celebrate your card anniversary with a special gift of 5,000 reward points, adding to the overall value of the card.
Fees & Charges
| Fee/Charge | Amount |
| Annual Fee |
Rs. 4,999 |
| Renewal Fee | Rs. 4,999 |
| Finance Charges | Up to 3.50% per month |
| Late Payment Charges | Less than Rs. 500 : Nil Rs. 500 – Rs. 1,000 : 400 Rs. 1,000 – Rs. 10,000 : 750 Rs. 10,000 – Rs. 25,000 : 950 Rs. 25,000 – Rs. 50,000 : 1100 Amount over Rs. 50,000: Rs. 1,300 |
Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card
The Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card is a premium travel card designed for frequent flyers, offering complimentary ticket and upgrade vouchers, along with Club Vistara points. It provides benefits such as airport lounge access, trip cancellation cover, and additional points on various spending categories. With perks like Club Vistara Silver membership, complimentary premium economy class ticket vouchers, and Eazydiner membership, it stands out in the mid-range ‘Premium Economy’ segment.
Features
- Joining Bonus: Enjoy up to 6,000 CV points in the first 3 months if you spend a minimum of Rs. 30,000 per month.
- CV Points Earnings: Earn 6 CV Points for every Rs. 200 spent up to Rs. 1 Lakh in each statement cycle, and 4 CV Points for every Rs. 200 spent on purchases exceeding Rs. 1 Lakh. Get 10 CV Points for every Rs. 200 spent on dining during your birthday, and 1 CV Point for every Rs. 200 spent on fuel, insurance, utility, rent, and wallet load.
- Complimentary Airport Lounge Access: Access 2 domestic airport lounges and spas, and 1 international airport lounge per quarter, enhancing your travel experience.
- Milestone Benefits: Achieve spending milestones to earn up to 5 complimentary Premium Economy Ticket Vouchers: Rs. 1.5 Lakh (1 voucher), Rs. 3 Lakh (2 vouchers), Rs. 4.5 Lakh (3 vouchers), Rs. 9 Lakh (4 vouchers), and Rs. 12 Lakh (5 vouchers).
Fees & Charges
| Fee/Charge | Amount |
| Joining Fee | Rs. 4,999 + GST |
| Annual Fee | Rs. 4,999 + GST |
| Finance Charges | From 0.75% – 3.5% per month |
| Late Payment Charges | 15% of Total Amount Due, subject to a minimum of Rs. 100 and a maximum of Rs. 1,250 |
Kotak IndiGo Ka-ching 6E Rewards XL Credit Card
Kotak IndiGo Ka-Ching 6E Rewards XL Credit Card offers high rewards on all expenditures, redeemable for IndiGo flight tickets, on-air meals, and seat selection. Key benefits include earning points for every INR 100 spent, eight domestic airport lounge accesses per year, and welcome discounts from partner brands. Ideal for frequent travelers, this card enhances your travel experience with valuable rewards and savings.
Features
- Welcome Benefits: Receive an IndiGo Airline ticket worth Rs. 3,000 and various gift vouchers, including Rs. 1,000 Accor Dining voucher, 30% off on Accor stays, Rs. 250 Budweiser voucher, and a free 30-day trial on Lionsgate Play.
- Reward Points: Earn 6% rewards on IndiGo spends, 3% on dining, entertainment, and groceries, and 2% on all other categories (excluding wallets), redeemable for IndiGo flight tickets and other services.
- Lounge Access: Enjoy 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge accesses annually, with 2 accesses per quarter.
- Additional Travel Benefits: Benefit from 6E prime add-ons like priority check-in, seat selection, complimentary meals, and quicker baggage assistance, along with a discounted convenience fee of Rs. 150 on IndiGo bookings.
Fees & Charges
| Fee/Charge | Details |
| Joining Fee | Rs. 2,500 |
| Annual Fee | Rs. 2,500 |
| Finance Charges | 3.50% per month / 42% per annum |
| Late Payment Charges | Rs. 100 for amount ≤ Rs. 500 Rs. 500 for amount between Rs. 500.01 to Rs. 10,000 Rs. 700 for amount > Rs. 10,000 |
Key Factors for Selecting the Best Flight Credit Card
- Rewards Program: Choose a card that offers airline miles, cashback, or points for travel bookings.
- Sign-Up Bonuses: Look for cards with attractive sign-up bonuses to enhance your travel rewards.
- Comprehensive Travel Perks: Consider benefits like travel insurance, cancellation, and rescheduling options.
- Airport Lounge Privileges: Ensure the card provides complimentary lounge access with amenities such as Wi-Fi, refreshments, and comfortable seating.
- Annual Fee Evaluation: Evaluate the annual fees in relation to the benefits offered. Opt for cards with good value or no annual fees, like the ixigo AU credit card.
- Airline Partnerships and Points: Select cards that allow point transfers to your frequently used airlines.
- Additional Benefits: Look for extra benefits like priority boarding, hotel discounts, and concierge services.
These key factors will help you find the best credit card for your travel needs, ensuring maximum savings and benefits for both domestic and international flight bookings.
Read more
- Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping for 2024
- Best Lifetime Free Credit Card with Zero Annual Fee in India
Conclusion
In India, credit cards tailored for flight bookings offer a range of benefits that make them essential for frequent flyers. These cards not only provide the convenience of cashless transactions but also offer rewards like air miles, complimentary lounge access, travel insurance, and priority boarding. With special discounts, bonus rewards, and reduced charges, these cards enhance the overall travel experience and provide significant value for travelers. Therefore, for those who travel frequently, especially within India, a credit card for flight bookings is a valuable financial tool that can make their journeys more comfortable and rewarding.
