sbi international travel credit card

Navigation Hindi

• Subsidiaries
• Corporate Governance
• Investor Relations
• SBI In the News
• Grahak Setu

Language Selector

• Customer Care
• Net Banking

State Bank Foreign Travel Card - Personal Banking

State bank foreign travel card.

• Eligibility

Required Document

How to apply, download section.

State Bank Foreign Travel Card, is a prepaid Foreign Currency card that makes your foreign trip trouble-free and convenient. It is a Chip based EMV compliant Card which stores encrypted and confidential information. It offers you a convenient and secure way to carry cash anywhere in the world (valid worldwide except in India, Nepal and Bhutan).

SBFTC is available in nine Foreign Currencies viz. US Dollars (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Japanese Yen (YEN), Saudi Riyal (SAR), Singapore Dollar (SGD) and United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED).

• ISIC (International Student Identify Card) Membership (Valid upto Sep’2024)
• International SIM card with 28 days validity period and upto 5 GB of data (Valid upto 30.11.2024)
• Issued in association with VISA International and MasterCard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd.
• Accepted all over the world except in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
• Available for retail (students, tourists, pilgrims, medical needs, etc) and corporate customers (Companies, Government Departments, Public Sector Undertakings, etc.).
• Minimum amount of load/Re-load: USD 200/ GBP 120/ Euros 150/ CAD 200/ AUD 200 / YEN 15,800 / SAR 750 / SGD 250 / AED 750.
• Competitive exchange rates.
• Maximum amount of issue: As prescribed by Reserve Bank India (RBI) / Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) / Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 (FEMA) depending on the purpose of overseas visit. Presently, equivalent to USD 2,50,000.00 or equivalent per financial year for Education/ Employment/Medical/ Business Trip/Tourism/Pilgrimage.
• Reloadable any number of times, within the RBI / LRS / FEMA regulations cited above. Card can be reloaded at any authorised Branch.
• Operable by 4 digit PIN at ATMs and by PIN/Signature at Merchant Establishments.
• Free balance enquiry at State Bank Group ATMs in India and VISA /MasterCard ATMs overseas (at a charge).
• Free balance enquiry and view/download details of transactions through  https://prepaid.sbi  (VISA) or  https://www.sbitravelcard.com  (MasterCard).
• Add-on cards, not exceeding two (2) for VISA and one (1) for MasterCard, can be given for use of the card holder in case of loss / misplacement / defacement of the card.
• A 24 x 7 call centre to provide information and hot-listing (block) the card in case of loss / misplacement. Additionally, VISA SBFTC holder may block (temporary / permanent) online at https://prepaid.sbi
• Card can be used for online transaction (e-commerce) POS payment, ATM Cash withdrawal beside balance enquiry at ATM. Validation through VBV and use of CVV2 has been made mandatory in our system for performing e-commerce transaction for ensuring safety of the money of the cardholder. Ecommerce sites allowing transaction without validating VBV and CCV2 will be rejected by the bank.
• SMS/e-mails alerts for each transaction*.
• *Disclaimer: The service is dependent on the infrastructure, connectivity and services provided by the service provider. State Bank of India will not be liable for any delay, inability or loss of information in the transmission of alerts.

Variants :

A. On VISA platform , SBFTC is available as both Multicurrency and Single Currency Card.

Multicurrency Card

• Multi-Currency SBFTC is available in 9 foreign currencies, viz. US Dollar (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Saudi Riyal (SAR), Singapore Dollar (SGD) and UAE Dirham (AED).
• Cardholder has option to load all available currencies on a single card.

Single Currency Card

• Single currency card in eight foreign currencies viz. US Dollar (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Japanese Yen (JPY), Saudi Riyal (SAR) and Singapore Dollar (SGD).

For more details, please refer to user guide, FAQ, Schedule of charges etc at website– https://prepaid.sbi

B. On MasterCard platform, SBFTC is available as Multi Currency card in seven foreign currencies viz. US Dollar (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Singapore Dollar (SGD) and UAE Dirham (AED).

For more details, please refer to user guide, FAQ, Schedule of charges etc at website – https://www.sbitravelcard.com

• Any resident individual {as per definition of FEMA, 1999 Section 2 (V)}, who plans to travel abroad except Nepal and Bhutan.
• Corporates for their employees whom they plan to send abroad for official purpose subject to completion of KYC norms.
• Parents/sponsors of the students going abroad for higher studies, in student’s name and can be subsequently reloaded up to the statutory ceiling, prescribed from time to time under FEMA guidelines 1999 and subsequent amendments.
• Foreign Nationals residing in India, subject to completion of KYC/FEMA norms.
• Signed application-cum-agreement form.
• Copy of valid Passport.
• Copy of valid PAN card.
• Document confirming intended foreign travel like VISA, Ticket, Proof of admission to a foreign university / institute or any other document.
• Proof of residence in case the address is different from that appearing on passport.

All eligible customers have two options to apply for SBFTC:

Option1: Online Application: You can apply for SBFTC Application through RINB ( https://www.onlinesbi.sbi/ ). Path to apply is ‘e-Services >> e-Cards >> Apply State Bank Foreign Travel Card’. A reference number is generated. Please take a printout of online application, and along with required KYC documents and papers visit any Authorised Branch for further processing for issuance of SBFTC.

Option2: Apply at Branch: Please visit any Authorised Branch, fill the application form and submit along with the required KYC documents and papers.

• List of Branches Selling FTC
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• SBFTC Application Form

Last Updated On : Monday, 12-02-2024

• Interest Rates

8.50%* p.a. onwards

w.e.f. 05.04.2024

*T&C Apply.

11.15% p.a.*

less than Rs.10 Cr. w.e.f 15.10.22

Rs.10 Cr. and above w.e.f 15.10.22

Starts From 8.75%*

SBI Realty Gold Loan

SBI Gold Loan

*T & C Apply

Starts From 7.90%

SBI Personal Gold Loan

Loan amount up to Rs. 3 lakhs

> Rs. 3 lakhs & up to Rs. 5 lakhs

Balance below Rs. 10 crs

Balance Rs. 10 crores and above

8.15% p.a.*

(On Applying through YONO)

2 years to less than 3 year

5 years and up to 10 years

Quick Links

• Doorstep Banking Services
• Tools & Calculators
• Unauthorized Digital Transaction Reporting

Prepaid Card

Gifting Convenince

More Informartion

Periodic payments made easy

More Information

Convenient & Safe foreign travel

Instant Gratification

SBI NMRC City1 Card

Nagpur Metro Maha Card

SBI MMRDA Mumbai1 Card

SINGARA CHENNAI CARD

SBI GOSMART KANPUR METRO CARD

NCMC Prepaid Card

• Terms and Conditions

SIA is Typing...

character(s) remaining

Was this helpful ?

Thank you for sharing your feedback!

Your feedback matters.

(Please enter your 10 digit Indian mobile Number)

• OTP has been introduced for making e-com transactions through INR Prepaid Cards. The OTP will be received on customer registered mobile number.
• The daily transaction limit on SBFTC are displayed on the first page after the Customer Login into the Prepaid portal
• Gift Card Issuance Charges waived till 31.03.2018
• EZ-PAY/IMPREST/SMART PAYOUT/XPRESS MONEY CARDS are enabled for cash withdrawls from NON SBI ATMs Charges Rs.20/- for each cash withdrawls and
• Rs 9/- for Balance enquiry
• *Gift Card issuance charges are waived since beginning of launching the product, currently waived till 31-03-2016, waiver is proposed to be continued till 31.12.2017.
• & **Nil load/reload charges are applicable through CINB/INB.

State Bank Foreign Travel Card

The Smartest way of Carrying Money Abroad.

State Bank Foreign Travel Card is a card in foreign currency that makes your foreign trip secure and convenient. It is a Chip based EMV compliant Card which stores encrypted and confidential information. It offers you a convenient and secure way to carry cash anywhere in the world (valid worldwide except in India, Nepal and Bhutan).. With State Bank Foreign Travel Card (SBFTC), you can shop, dine or visit places abroad without any worries of carrying or losing cash. It relieves you of the Annual fees, joining fees, credit limits, etc., usually associated with International Debit / Credit Cards. All you have to do is produce your 'State Bank Foreign Travel Card' and you will find making payments overseas easy. SBFTC is available as both Single Currency and Multicurrency Card. Single Currency Card Single Currency Card is available in eight foreign currencies viz. US Dollar (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Japanese Yen (JPY), Saudi Riyal (SAR) and Singapore Dollar (SGD). Multicurrency Card Multicurrency SBFTC is available in 9 foreign currencies, viz. US Dollar (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Saudi Riyal (SAR), Singapore Dollar (SGD) and UAE Dirham (AED).

• Cardholder has option to load all available currencies on a single card.
• Documentation
• FTC Selling Branch Address

Competitive exchange rates.

Reloadable any number of times..

Operatable by 4 digit PIN at ATMs and by PIN/Signature at Merchant Establishments.

SMS / E-Mail

Balance information after each transaction through SMS/e-mail.

Maximum amount of issue

As prescribed by the RBI/FEMA from time to time for the purpose of the visit abroad.

Balance Enquiry

Free balance enquiry at State Bank Group ATMs and VISA ATMs(at a charge).

Free balance enquiry and view / download details of transactions through https://prepaid.sbi/

Add-on-Cards

Add-on-cards not exceeding two in number to be used by the card holder in case of loss/misplacement/defacement of the card.

SMS/e-mail alerts for each transaction

*Disclaimer:The service is dependent on the infrastructure,connectivity and services provided by the service provider. State Bank of India will not be liable for any delay,inability or loss of information in the transmission of alerts.

A 24 x 7 call centre ( +91 18001234) to provide information and hot-list (block) the card in case of loss / misplacement.

• English English
• தமிழ் தமிழ்
• বাংলা বাংলা
• മലയാളം മലയാളം
• ગુજરાતી ગુજરાતી
• हिंदी हिंदी
• मराठी मराठी
• Business Business
• बिज़नेस बिज़नेस
• Insurance Insurance

The Financial Express

• IPL 2024 SRH vs RR Live Score
• Q4 Results Live
• Stock Market LIVE
• Mutual Funds
• Stock Market Stats
• Gold Rate Today
• Top Indices Performance
• Loksabha Election
• Budget 2024
• Stock Market Quotes
• Mutual Fund
• Stock Stats
• Top Gainers
• CaFE Invest
• Investing Abroad
• Gold Rate in India
• Silver Rate in India
• Petrol Rate in India
• Diesel Rate in India
• Express Mobility
• Banking & Finance
• Travel & Tourism
• Brand Wagon
• Entertainment
• Web Stories
• Auto Web Stories
• Infographics
• Today’s Paper
• International
• Edits & Columns
• Personal Finance Print
• PRIVACY POLICY
• TERMS AND CONDITIONS

SBI Foreign Travel Card: Full list of fees, charges, variants and currency reload limit in 2023

State bank foreign travel card variants, fees and transaction charges in 2023: state bank of india is offering prepaid multi-currency foreign travel cards that you can use to make your foreign trips trouble-free and convenient..

State Bank Foreign Travel Card variants and transaction charges in 2023: State Bank of India is offering a prepaid foreign travel card that you can use to make your foreign trips trouble-free and convenient.

The State Bank Foreign Travel Card offers a convenient way of carrying cash across the world, except in India , Nepal and Bhutan. Read below for details about eligibility, supported foreign currencies, reload limit, and different variants of this card.

State Bank Foreign Travel Card (SBFTC) variants

State Bank Foreign Travel Card is available in two variants.

• On the Visa platform, this card is available as a single currency card in eight international currencies. The supported currencies are US Dollars(USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Japanese Yen (JPY), Saudi Riyal (SAR) and Singapore Dollar (SGD).
• On the MasterCard platform, SBFTC is available as a multi-currency card in seven foreign currencies – US Dollars(USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Singapore Dollar (SGD) and UAE Dirham (AED).

State Bank Foreign Travel Card: Eligibility

Any resident individual in India who wants to travel abroad, except Nepal and Bhutan, can apply for State Bank Foreign Travel Card, according to the SBI website.

State Bank Foreign Travel Card: How to apply

You can apply for SBI Foreign Travel Card online by visiting https://prepaid.sbi website. You can also apply for this card offline by visiting an authorised SBI branch.

State Bank Foreign Travel Card: Fees and charges

Who should apply for SBI Foreign Travel Card?

The State Bank Foreign Travel Card may be useful for anyone travelling abroad as it reduces the need to carry cash or go through the hassles of going around money changers for encashing traveller’s cheques. With the help of this card, travellers will be able to save the money lost in exchanging currencies. Travellers can use this card for making payments during shopping, dining or visiting places without worrying about carrying or losing cash.

Also Read: SBI Credit Card fees and charges 2023

SBI website says that this card reduces the need to pay annual fees, joining fees, credit limit etc. usually linked with international credit/debit cards.

(Disclaimer: The above content is for information purposes only. Fees and charges are subject to change. Therefore, please verify the details with the bank before applying).

Get live Share Market updates, Stock Market Quotes , and the latest India News and business news on Financial Express. Download the Financial Express App for the latest finance news.

Related News

Indian equity indices BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 are expected to have a positive opening on Friday, with GIFT Nifty trading up by 0.49%. Auto companies have reported positive volume numbers, while the FED’s decision to maintain interest rates has boosted global trends. Bajaj Finance, Coal India, Coforge, Ajanta Pharma, Ceat, KEI Industries, Adani Energy, & Mazagon Dock are the key stocks to watch

Photo Gallery

10 Moto G64 5G in for review: Unboxing new Motorola budget phone with starting price of less than Rs 15,000

4 Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita quits govt: What we know so far

6 Top 6 World’s most expensive cars cost over Rs 300 crores combined: Cars for the planet’s richest

Latest News

Freshworks announces CEO transition

New British Immigration Rules: Is the UK still an attractive place to live and work?

Amul to be the primary sponsor for USA team in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

IMD Weather Update: Northeast braces for rainfall as heatwave grips East, South India – Check full forecast here

The diversity test

Trending topics.

• IPO’s Open and Upcoming 8
• Stock Analysis
• Financial Literacy
• NSE Top Gainers 0
• NSE Top Losers 0
• BSE Top Gainers 0
• BSE Top Losers 0
• NSE 52-Week High 0
• NSE 52-Week Low 0
• BSE 52-Week High 0
• BSE 52-Week Low 0
• NSE Price Shocker
• NSE Volume Shocker
• BSE Price Shocker
• BSE Volume Shocker
• NSE Sellers
• BSE Sellers
• Silver Rate Today
• Petrol Rate Today
• Diesel Rate Today

Enter the first 6 and last 4 digits of the number found on the front of your card.

Please Wait...

Can't remember your password?

• Click ' Forgot Password '
• Confirm your account details
• An email with a link to reset your password will be sent to you

Please check your email

Need an account?  Register your card

State Bank Multi-currency Foreign Travel Card is issued by State Bank of India, pursuant to license by Mastercard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd. Mastercard is a registered trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

• Personal Finance
• Today's Paper
• Partner Content
• Entertainment
• Social Viral
• Pro Kabaddi League

Now, a travel-focused core credit card from SBI: Here are all the benefits

Sbi card miles comes in three variants - elite, prime, and miles - each with different benefits and fees to suit your travel needs..

You can save on petrol spends with fuel credit cards: Which are the best?

Analysts slash sbi card's earnings estimates post q2 result; shares tank 7%, love shopping online, ordering in how to save with the right credit cards, card devaluation: how to pick between axis bank magnus and hdfc regalia gold, axis magnus to sbi aurum: top premium lifestyle cards for high earners, eu eases schengen visa rules for indians: costs, processing time explained, amid varied risk levels, review portfolio before choosing credit risk fund, what are debt funds who should invest in them here's all you need to know, 69% indians prefer us for higher education over uk, canada, shows survey, new rules for getting driving licence, training: here is what has changed.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Apr 24 2024 | 10:43 AM IST

Explore News

• Suzlon Energy Share Price Adani Enterprises Share Price Adani Power Share Price IRFC Share Price Tata Motors Share Price Tata Steel Share Price Yes Bank Share Price Infosys Share Price SBI Share Price Tata Power Share Price HDFC Bank Share Price
• Latest News Company News Market News India News Politics News Cricket News Personal Finance Technology News World News Industry News Education News Opinion Shows Economy News Lifestyle News Health News
• Today's Paper About Us T&C Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Disclaimer Investor Communication GST registration number List Compliance Contact Us Advertise with Us Sitemap Subscribe Careers BS Apps
• Budget 2024 Lok Sabha Election 2024 IPL 2024 Pro Kabaddi League IPL Points Table 2024

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

Best Credit Cards for International Travel of May 2024

ALSO CONSIDER: Best credit cards of 2024 || Best rewards credit cards || Best airline credit cards || Best hotel credit cards

Traveling outside the United States? Make sure the credit card you bring is a worthy companion. The best credit cards for international travel are accepted worldwide, provide solid rewards for travel-related expenses and don't charge an extra fee for purchases outside the U.S. Many of them also come with travel protections, such as trip delay and trip cancellation insurance and coverage for lost or delayed luggage.

Some of our selections for the best credit cards for international travel can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.

250+ credit cards reviewed and rated by our team of experts

80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance

100+ categories of best credit card selections ( See our top picks )

Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics ( Methodology )

NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity .

Show summary

NerdWallet's Best Credit Cards for International Travel of May 2024

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for Flexibility and value

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for Simplicity

The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for VIP travel

Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Best for Flexibility and high-end perks

Citi Premier® Card : Best for Rewards on everyday spending

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card : Best for Bonus rewards + no annual fee

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card : Best for Flat-rate rewards + no annual fee

Best Credit Cards for International Travel From Our Partners

Find the right credit card for you..

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Flexibility and value

Flexibility and high-end perks, rewards on everyday spending, bonus rewards + no annual fee, flat-rate rewards + no annual fee, full list of editorial picks: best credit cards for international travel.

Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Our pick for: Flexibility and value

For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review. 

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Simplicity

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is probably the best-known general-purpose travel credit card, thanks to its ubiquitous advertising. You earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus and other worthwhile perks ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Our pick for: VIP travel

The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a hefty annual fee, but travelers who like to go in style (and aren't afraid to pay for comfort) can more than get their money's worth. Enjoy extensive airport lounge access, hundreds of dollars a year in travel and shopping credits, hotel benefits and more. That's not even getting into the high rewards rate on eligible travel purchases and the rich welcome offer for new cardholders. Read our review.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Our pick for: Flexibility and high-end perks

The high annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives many potential applicants pause, but frequent travelers should be able to wring enough value out of this card to more than make up for the cost. Cardholders get bonus rewards (up to 10X) on dining and travel, a fat bonus offer, annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and a 50% boost in point value when redeeming points for travel booked through Chase. Points can also be transferred to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Read our review. 

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Our pick for: Flat-rate rewards + no annual fee

One of the best no-annual-fee travel cards available, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card gives you a solid rewards rate on every purchase, with points that can be redeemed for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Bank of America® has an expansive definition of "travel," too, giving you additional flexibility in how you use your rewards. Read our review.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Our pick for: Bonus rewards + no annual fee

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers so much value, it's hard to believe there's no annual fee. Start with a great bonus offer, then earn extra rewards in a host of common spending categories — restaurants, gas stations, transit, travel, streaming and more. Read our review.

Citi Premier® Card

Our pick for: Triple points in multiple categories

The Citi Premier® Card earns bonus points on airfare, hotels, supermarkets, dining and gas stations. There's a solid sign-up bonus as well.  Read our review.

HOW TO COMPARE CREDIT CARDS FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

The factors that go into choosing a credit card specifically for international travel aren't that different from choosing a travel card in general. You'll want to look at such things as annual fees, rewards rates, cardholder perks and sign-up bonuses. But a few items take on outsize importance when picking a card to use outside the United States:

Foreign transaction fees. Many cards slap a surcharge on purchases made outside the U.S. The typical foreign transaction fee is 3% of the purchase amount. Any credit card you plan to use abroad should not have this fee — period.

International acceptance. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted internationally. If a place takes credit cards, it's probably going to take Visa and Mastercard. American Express is less widely accepted. Tourist-focused destinations will be friendlier to AmEx, but even then, take along a Visa or Mastercard as a backup. Discover lags way behind in international acceptance, although it does have partnerships with some foreign payment networks.

Travel protections. When you're far from home, a credit card becomes even more valuable if it offers coverage for things like trip delays or interruptions, luggage problems and rental car damage.

Understand that no travel rewards credit card — no credit card of any kind — is going to have everything you want. You're going to be disappointed if you expect to find high rewards rates, a generous sign-up bonus, top-notch perks and no annual fee. Each card delivers value through a different combination of features; it's up to you to compare cards based and choose the best credit card for international travel for your specific needs and preferences.

Our roundup of the best travel credit cards offers comprehensive guidance on choosing travel cards. Below, we'll hit the high points specifically as they apply to choosing a card for international travel.

Most of the best cards for international travel charge an annual fee. Fees around $100 are standard; for that, you can expect solid rewards and some useful benefits. Premium cards with extensive perks like airport lounge access and travel protections can have fees of $500 or more. Paying an annual fee isn't required, though. There are good cards on our list without annual fees (and we've rounded up more here ). Just be aware that if you go with a no-fee travel card, you'll earn rewards at a lower rate, your sign-up bonus will be smaller, and you won't get as many (if any) perks.

When looking at credit card rewards, there are two parts to the value equation: How much you earn when you make purchases with your card, and what you can do with those rewards.

Earning: The cards on this page all earn points of one kind or another. Some cards pay the same rate — for example, 2 points per dollar — on all purchases. Some pay bonus rewards in specific categories, such as travel, restaurants or gas stations. Don't just focus on the numbers, though. Pay attention to the details of the categories. For example, earning 5 points per dollar on airfare seems terrific. But there's a difference between earning 5X on airfare booked directly airlines (where you can hunt for the best deal) and earning 5X only on airfare booked through the issuer portal (where selection may be limited and prices inflated).

Redemption: Points are only as good as your ability to redeem them. Some cards give you a lot of options for using your rewards. Others, not so much. Can you use your points to book travel? Use them for statement credit to offset travel purchases? Redeem them for cash back? And what kind of value do you get per point when you redeem? The industry standard is 1 cent per point, but some cards give you more value for certain redemptions (and some cards give you less value for certain redemptions). Another consideration: Can you transfer points to partner airline or hotel loyalty programs to potentially get more value? If so, are those partner programs realistic options for you?

Sign-up bonus

Travel cards tend to have the biggest sign-up bonuses — tens of thousands of points that you earn by hitting a certain amount of spending. But there's more to consider when comparing sign-up bonuses than just how many points or miles you earn. You must also take into account how much you have to spend to claim the bonus. Never spend money you don't have just to earn a sign-up bonus. Carrying $3,000 in debt for a year in order to earn a bonus worth $500 doesn't make economic sense. The interest you'll pay could easily wipe out the value of the bonus.

Foreign transaction fees

Simply put, if a card charges a foreign transaction fee, it's not a good credit card for international travel. These fees are surcharges on purchases made outside the U.S. The industry standard is about 3%, which is enough to wipe out most if not all of the rewards you earn on a purchase. If you never travel outside the U.S., these fees aren't a concern, but anyone who travels abroad should bring a no-foreign-transaction-fee card with them. Some issuers don't charge foreign transaction fees on any of their cards. Others charge them on some cards but not all.

International acceptance

Not all travel credit cards are great companions for international travel. While Visa and Mastercard are good pretty much worldwide, you may encounter limited acceptance for American Express and, especially, Discover, depending on the destination. This doesn't mean world travelers should dismiss AmEx and Discover. Just know that if you take one of these cards with you overseas, you'd be smart to bring along a backup in case you run into acceptance problems. (Having a backup card is good advice within the U.S., too, really.)

Travel protections

Consider which travel protections — car rental insurance , trip cancellation coverage , lost baggage protection — are important to you.

"Rewards" are what you get for using a credit card — the points earned with each transaction and the bonuses you unlock with your spending. "Perks" are goodies that you get just for carrying the card. There's a very close correlation between the annual fee on a card and the perks you get for carrying it. Cards with no annual fee are all about rewards and go very light on perks. Premium cards with annual fees of $500 or more are laden with perks (although sometimes their rewards aren't too special). Midtier cards (in the $100 range) tend to have solid rewards and a handful of high-value perks. Assuming you take advantage of them, the perks can often easily make up for the annual fee on a card.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page .

Last updated on May 2 , 2024

Methodology

NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards for international travel based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of travelers. Factors in our evaluation include each card's annual fee, foreign transaction fees, rewards earnings rates, ease of use, redemption options, domestic and international acceptance, promotional APR period, bonus offers, and cardholder perks such as automatic statement credits, airport lounge access and travel protections. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

About the author

Sara Rathner

The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

Sbi card miles credit cards with three variants launched: 7 must-know features like annual fees, airport lounge access, rewards, miles.

SBI Card MILES credit cards: SBI Card has launched three variants of its first travel-focused core credit card, ‘SBI Card MILES’ with curated travel benefits. The three variants, SBI Card MILES ELITE, SBI Card MILES PRIME, and SBI Card MILES.

• Cardholders can earn up to 6 Travel Credits on every INR 200 travel spend
• Up to 2 Travel Credits on spending Rs 200 on other categories.
• One can convert these Travel Credits into Air Miles/Hotel Points of respective partners or directly use them to book air tickets and hotel accommodations by visiting SBI Card mobile app or website https://www.sbicard.com/.
• Alternatively, one can redeem them on SBI Card’s Rewards Catalogue as well.

Key highlights of SBI Card MILES Cards:

Read more news on.

(Your legal guide on estate planning, inheritance, will and more.)

Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.

Decades late, these set of basic rules for Indian pharma can save lives

This deal was unlikely to go down well in Dalal Street

The soaring success of UPI is exacting an unseen cost on India’s banks

Five problems that are back on Bhavish Aggarwal’s plate after Ola Cabs’ CEO exit

Behind the snazzy Dutch road-tech that could solve India’s infamous pothole problem

India is betting big on nuclear energy. Here’s why.

Find this comment offensive?

Choose your reason below and click on the Report button. This will alert our moderators to take action

Reason for reporting:

Your Reason has been Reported to the admin.

To post this comment you must

Log In/Connect with:

Fill in your details:

Will be displayed

Will not be displayed

Share this Comment:

Uh-oh this is an exclusive story available for selected readers only..

Worry not. You’re just a step away.

Prime Account Detected!

It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with

Login using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits

Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.

To read full story, subscribe to ET Prime

₹34 per week

Billed annually at ₹2499 ₹1749

Super Saver Sale - Flat 30% Off

On ET Prime Membership

Unlock this story and enjoy all members-only benefits.

Offer Exclusively For You

Save up to Rs. 700/-

ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Get Flat 40% Off

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month

Stay Ahead in the New Financial Year

Get flat 20% off on ETPrime

90 Days Prime access worth Rs999 unlocked for you

Exclusive Economic Times Stories, Editorials & Expert opinion across 20+ sectors

Stock analysis. Market Research. Industry Trends on 4000+ Stocks

​Get 1 Year Complimentary Subscription of TOI+ worth Rs.799/-​

Stories you might be interested in

• Get In Touch

Manage your account on the go with the SBI Card Mobile App

• New User? Register Now

Track Application

• Investor Relations
• Analyst Investor Meeting
• Annual Report
• Business Presentations
• Financial Results
• General Meeting Information
• Investor Contact Points
• Other Disclosures
• Policies and Codes
• Corporate Announcements
• '+citiesDetail[i].name+'
• Annual Fee (one-time): Rs. 1499 + Taxes
• Renewal Fee (per annum) : Rs. 1499

SBI Card MILES

Privileges on sbi card miles.

Get exclusive benefits on your SBI Card MILES

Welcome Gift

• Get 1,500 Travel Credits as Welcome Gift
• 1,500 Travel Credits will be credited on spends of ₹ 30,000 within 60 days of card issuance

Miles Rewards

• Earn 2 Travel Credits for every ₹ 200 that you spend on travel
• Earn 1 Travel Credits for every ₹ 200 on all other spends
• Convert your Travel Credits into Air Miles / Hotel Points, Travel Bookings or choose from a wide array of Catalogue Products
• Click Here to view the list of Travel Partners and T&Cs
• 1 Travel Credit = ₹1 for Air Mile / Hotel Point
• 1 Travel Credit = ₹0.50 for Travel Bookings
• 1 Travel Credit = ₹0.25 for Shop & Smile Product Catalogue

Milestone Benefits

• Get additional Domestic Lounge visit with every spend of ₹ 1 Lakh
• Earn 5,000 Bonus Travel Credits on annual spends of ₹5 Lakh
• Enjoy Annual Fee reversal on spends of ₹6 Lakh in a membership year
• To redeem additional lounge voucher, pls visit the link and follow steps:  https://sbicmiles.lkp.loungekey.com
• For every spend of ₹ 1 Lakh, Cardholder gets 1 complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge visit over & above the complimentary visits
• Domestic Airport Lounge visit is applicable to both the Primary Cardholder and a Guest. Additional lounge visits, based on spend milestones, are capped at 8 visits in a membership year

International Travel Privileges

• Get a complimentary Priority Pass Membership worth $99 and enjoy access to 1000+ International Airport Lounges worldwide
• Only Primary Cardholders are eligible for the Priority Pass Program
• Priority Pass Program is complimentary for the first 2 years
• All visits beyond the complimentary limit are chargeable at a usage fee of $27 + applicable taxes
• Call our helpline numbers: 18605001290 or 39020202 (prefix Local STD code) to receive your Priority Pass
• For the complete list of applicable lounges, click here

Domestic Travel Privileges

• Get 4 complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge visits every year (max. 2 visits per quarter)
• To view the list of applicable lounges, Visit MasterCard , Rupay

Other Travel Benefits

• Enjoy the privilege of low Foreign Currency Mark-up Charge of 3.00% on International usage
• 1% Fuel Surcharge Waiver across all petrol pumps. (Govt. Service Tax extra as applicable)
• Maximum Surcharge Waiver of Rs. 250 per month, per statement cycle

Know everything about SBI Card MILES

Your SBI Card MILES now comes with a range of features

Fees and Charges

Terms and conditions.

For detailed Terms and Conditions and Usage Directions, Click here .

• 1,500 Travel Credits as Welcome Gift
• Travel Credits will be credited on spends of ₹ 30,000 within 60 days of card issuance

Travel Credits

• Tarvel Credits can be converted as per below rates into Air Miles, Hotel Points and Product Catalogue:
• Travel Credit = ₹0.50 for Travel Bookings
• Travel Credit = ₹0.25 for Shop & Smile Product Catalogue
• Travel Credits Accrual exclusion on Fuel, EMI, Wallet Upload, Property Rental, Utilities and Insurance categories

Spend Based Reversal

• Spend Based Reversal on Annual Spends of ₹6 Lac
• Fee reversal is preconditioned on fee levied during the renewal cycle

Milestone Benefit

• 5,000 Bonus Travel Credits on reaching annual spends of ₹5 Lakh
• Get additional access to Domestic Airport Lounge with every spend of ₹1 Lakh
• Additional Domestic Airport Lounge visit is applicable to both the Primary Cardholder and a Guest. Additional lounge visits, based on spend milestones, are capped at 4 visits in a membership year

Lounge Program

• 4 complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge visits every year (max. 2 visits per quarter)
• 8 additional Domestic Airport Lounge visits, basis spends of every ₹1 Lakh
• This offer is brought to you by Mastercard and Rupay and is for limited period only. For Terms and Conditions, visit MasterCard and Rupay
• MasterCard/RuPay reserves the right at any time, without prior notice to add, alter, modify or change list of lounges under this program applicable for SBI Card MILES

Priority Pass Membership

• Complimentary Priority Pass Membership. 
• There are no complimentary visits for SBI Card MILES
• Priority Pass Membership fees is complimentary for first two cardholder membership years
• The standard membership of the Priority Pass Program is provided only to the primary cardholder of SBI Card MILES

Fuel Surcharge waiver

• 1% Fuel Surcharge waiver for each transaction between ₹500 and ₹4,000. Maximum Surcharge waiver of Rs.250 per statement cycle, per credit card account.

Contactless Advantage

• Daily purchases now made easy with SBI Card MILES. Simply tap your card at a secure reader to transact
• Fast & convenient: No need to hand over your card or look for cash / coins for everyday small ticket purchases
• Security: The card never leaves your hand during a Contactless transaction, significantly reducing the risk of card loss and fraud due to skimming (counterfeit). Even if the card is tapped multiple times at the reader, the unique security key feature of MasterCard will ensure that only one transaction goes through, thus making it more secure
• Please Click here to download the FAQ’s.
• Please Click here to download the list of Merchants enabled for transactions.

Worldwide Acceptance

• You can use your SBI Card MILES in over 24 million outlets across the globe, including 3,25,000 outlets in India
• Use your card to make payments at any outlet that accepts MasterCard/RuPay

Add-on Cards

• With SBI Card MILES, you can empower your family with add-on cards for your parents, spouse, children or siblings above the age of 18

Cash Access Across the World

• Withdraw cash from over 1 million ATMs across the globe
• With Flexipay, convert your transactions in in easy monthly installments. Just transact for Rs. 2,500 or more and log on to sbicard.com within 30 days of purchase to convert it into Flexipay
• Click  here to know more

Easy Bill Pay Facility

• Pay your electricity, telephone, mobile and other utility bills using the Easy Bill Pay facility on your SBI Card Elite
• Click here to know more

Safe and Secure

• Get enhanced security against counterfeiting and skimming with the chip and pin enabled SBI Card MILES

Balance Transfer on EMI

• Save money while paying your credit card dues
• Transfer the outstanding balance of other banks’ credit cards to your SBI Card ELITE, to avail a lower rate of interest and pay back in EMIs
• Log on to sbicard.com with your user ID and password to take benefit of this service
• Click here to know more about Balance Transfer on EMI
• Annual Fee (one-time): Rs.  1499 + GST
• Renewal Fee (per annum): Rs.  1499 + GST
• Add-on Fee (per annum): Nil
• For information regarding fees and other applicable charges, please refer to the Most Important Terms & Conditions

Order of Payment Settlement

All payments made for a cardholder account will be settled in the order as mentioned in below link

Things to know

• Cheques payable outside clearing the zones are not accepted. We accept payment through local cheques or drafts payable in Delhi only.
• All taxes would be charged as applicable on all the above Fees, Interest & Charges.
• The value proposition of the co-brand product may be funded jointly by SBI Card and the co-brand partner basis the financial arrangement between both the parties. Accordingly, there may be fee and revenue sharing between the two parties.

Your continued use of the card will be deemed acceptance of these amendments.

For assistance, please call SBI Card helpline at:

From BSNL/MTNL numbers    1800 180 1295

From all other numbers     39 02 12 12 Prefix your STD code if you use your mobile phone.

All information in this communication is correct as per September 2019 and is subject to change at the discretion of SBICPSL. SBI Card most important terms and conditions are also available at sbicard.com

Allow us to help you

SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited Unit 401 & 402, 04th Floor, Aggarwal Millennium Tower, E-1,2,3 Netaji Subhash Place, Wazirpur , New Delhi 110034 CIN:U65999DL1998PTC093849

ATM/Drop box Locator

Locate a Drop box, ATM or Pay Cash outlet nearest to you.

Have applied for an SBI Card? Track your application status here.

Get instant information. Send an SMS to 5676791 from your registered mobile number.

You are being re-directed to a third party site. Please acknowledge the disclaimer before proceeding further.

You are about to access a site, the accuracy or completeness of the materials or the reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information displayed or distributed through it, is not warranted by SBICPSL and shall be solely be construed to be set forth by the third party.

You will access this site solely for the payment of your bills and you acknowledge that any reliance on any opinion, advice, statement, memorandum, or information available on the site shall be at your sole risk and consequences.

SBICPSL and its affiliates, subsidiaries, employees, officers, directors and agents, expressly disclaim any liability for any deficiency in the services of the service provider whose site you are about to access. Neither SBICPSL nor any of its affiliates nor their directors, officers and employees will be liable to or have any responsibility of any kind for any loss that you incur in the event of any deficiency in the services of the service provider, failure or disruption of the site of the service provider, or resulting from the act or omission of any other party involved in making this site or the data contained therein available to you, or from any other cause relating to your access to, inability to access, or use of the site or these materials in accordance thereto SBICSPL and all its related parties described hereinabove stand indemnified from all proceedings or matters arising thereto.

Top 5 credit cards for airport lounge access in India – Know key features, benefits and annual fees

C redit cards offer several benefits like cashback, miles, vouchers, discounts, free priority pass membership, etc, to attract customers. One of their prominent offerings is free airport lounge access at select airports in the country and abroad. The facility of airport lounge access is available not only on travel credit cards but also on some other premium cards issued by banks.

Industry experts said the average cost for banks on per customer lounge visit at airports used to be Rs 600 in 2022, and it has now surpassed Rs 1,000 in 2024, making cards with the free lounge access feature more lucrative for travellers.

The best perk such cards bring with them is a free lounge access benefit, allowing travellers to spend time in a relaxing environment at bustling airports. At select airports, they are also served complimentary snacks and drinks in these lounges.

Also Read: CIBIL score 700 good or bad? How to get personal loan with low credit score in India

Take a look at top 5 credit cards providing lounge access at select airports in India and abroad, as per paisabazaar.com.

Source: Paisabazaar.com

1. HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card

HDFC Diners Club Privilege Credit Card offers a free lounge access facility to its customers. If you’re looking to earn high rewards and multiple benefits at a reasonable annual fee, you can go for this card. There are several other benefits like shopping, travel, rewards and more on this card.

HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card Fees

The joining fee for HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card is Rs 2,500. Its annual fee is also the same, Rs 2,500, but the bank waives this charge if your spending on the card is more than Rs 3 lakh in the previous year.

HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card Key Benefits

You can enjoy access to over 1,000 airport lounges globally using this HDFC Bank card and receive 12 complimentary airport lounge visits annually, for both domestic and international travel. Complimentary lounge access is also provided to add-on card members.

2. SBI Elite Credit Card

SBI Elite Credit Card is considered as one of the best credit cards with free airport lounge access facility. The card also offers several other benefits across multiple categories. This card gives you a high reward rate and a low foreign exchange mark-up fee of 1.99%

SBI Elite Credit Card Fees

SBI Elite Credit Card’s joinig fee is Rs 4,999 and the annual fee is also the same.

SBI Elite Credit Card key benefits

You get a complimentary Priority Pass Membership valued at $99 and also six complimentary visits to international lounges, with a maximum of two visits per quarter. You also receive two complimentary domestic lounge visits per quarter.

3. Axis Bank Select Credit Card

Axis Bank Select Credit Card is a lifestyle card but offers a free access to aurport lounges. This card stands out among its competitors as it comes at a low fee. The card also offers benefits to movie goers, shoppers, diners and more. Users get reward points on each purchase and also bonus points on reaching spending milestones

Axis Bank Select Credit Card Fees

Axis Bank has kept Rs 3,000 as joining fee and the same amount as annual fee for customers.

Axis Bank Select Credit Card key benefits

This card gives a complimentary Priority Pass Membership and allows 6 complimentary international lounge visits annually, apart from two complimentary domestic lounge visits per quarter.

4. SBI Prime Credit Card

SBI Prime Credit Card is considered as one of the best airport lounge access credit cards in India, The card offers international as well as domestic lounge access.

SBI Prime Credit Card Fees

SBI Prime Credit Card charges Rs 2,999 as joining fee and the same ammount as annual fee. The annual charge is waived if spending crosses 3 lakh in the previous year.

SBI Prime Credit Card Benefits

Wit this card, you get four complimentary visits to international priority pass lounges outside India (maximum 2 per quarter), and 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits in a year (2 visits per quarter).

5. HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card

HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card offers a lounge access facility for both primary as well as add-on cardholders. The card also comes with other benefits on travel, shopping and dining. You can also use reward points against the exclusive Gold Catalogue, for travel bookings and even convert them to Air Miles.

HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card Fees

HDFC Bank has fixed the joining fee for this card at Rs 2,500 and the annual fee as same. Cutomers are charged annually Rs 2,500, which gets waived on spending Rs 4 lakh in a year.

HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card Benefits

You can enjoy six complimentary airport lounge visits per year outside India via Priority Pass for both primary and add-on card members on completing minimum four card transactions. The card also offers 12 complimentary airport lounge visits per year within India.

Download Manorama Online App

• Change Password
• Lok Sabha Election 2024
• Latest News
• Weather Updates

Today's Epaper

MANORAMA APP

Register free and read all exclusive premium stories.

webExclusive Report --> യാത്രക്കാർക്ക് ആനുകൂല്യങ്ങളുമായി എസ്ബിഐ കാർഡ് മൈൽസ്

മനോരമ ലേഖകൻ

Published: May 03 , 2024 10:34 AM IST

1 minute Read

Link Copied

Mail This Article

മുംബൈ∙ എസ്ബിഐ കാർഡ്, എല്ലാ തരത്തിലുള്ള  യാത്രക്കാരെയും ലക്ഷ്യമിട്ടുള്ള ആദ്യ കോർ ക്രെഡിറ്റ് കാർഡായ ‘എസ്ബിഐ കാർഡ് മൈൽസിന്റെ ’ 3 വേരിയന്റുകൾ പുറത്തിറക്കി. ട്രാവൽ ക്രെഡിറ്റുകൾ എയർ മൈലുകളായും ഹോട്ടൽ പോയിന്റുകളായും പരിവർത്തനം ചെയ്യൽ, എല്ലാ യാത്രാ ബുക്കിങ്ങിലും കൂടുതൽ റിവാർഡുകൾ, എയർപോർട്ട് ലോഞ്ച് ആക്സസ് തുടങ്ങിയവ വാഗ്ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നു. 

എയർ വിസ്താര, എയർ ഇന്ത്യ, സ്പൈസ് ജെറ്റ്, എയർ ഫ്രാൻസ്-കെഎൽഎം, ഇത്തിഹാദ് എയർവേയ്സ്, എയർ കാനഡ, തായ് എയർവേയ്സ്, ക്വാന്റസ് എയർവേയ്സ്, ഐടിസി ഹോട്ടൽസ്, ഐഎച്ച്ജി ഹോട്ടൽസ് ആൻഡ്  റിസോർട്സ്, ആക്കോർ തുടങ്ങിയ 20 എയർലൈൻ-ഹോട്ടൽ ബ്രാൻഡുകളുമായി പങ്കാളിത്തത്തിൽ ഏർപ്പെട്ടിട്ടുണ്ടെന്ന് സ്റ്റേറ്റ് ബാങ്ക് ഓഫ് ഇന്ത്യ ചെയർമാൻ ദിനേശ് കുമാർ ഖേര പറഞ്ഞു.   

എസ്ബിഐ കാർഡ് മൈൽസ് എലൈറ്റ് , എസ്ബിഐ കാർഡ് മൈൽസ് പ്രൈം, എസ്ബിഐ കാർഡ് മൈൽസ് എന്നീ 3 വേരിയന്റുകൾ ഉണ്ട്.

SBI Card Miles with benefits for passengers

• SBI SBItest -->
• Credit Card Credit Cardtest -->
• Business Businesstest -->

Does SBI Card’s new credit card go the extra mile for travellers?

• Spends on a travel-focused card earn the cardholder rewards that can be converted into loyalty points of partner airlines or hotels, or can be used to book flights or hotels through the travel aggregator platform of the bank or card issuing company.

Last week, SBI Card launched a travel-focused credit card. The timing seemed to be just right. It is peak summer, with many people finalizing last minute getaway plans to cooler destinations. Yet, what does SBI Card MILES offer to its users and how does it compare with other such cards? Mint explores.

Spends on a travel-focused card earn the cardholder rewards that can be converted into loyalty points of partner airlines or hotels, or can be used to book flights or hotels through the travel aggregator platform of the bank or card issuing company. One of the key features of a travel focused card is that it earns accelerated rewards on booking flight tickets or hotels. So, for instance, if the base reward rate of a travel card is 1% on all spending categories, it will earn more than 1% on hotel and flight ticket bookings. SBI Card MILES offers just that. The top variant of this card, SBI Card MILES Elite, earns 3% on travel spends, while all other spends earn 1% reward rate.

However, SBI Card MILES falls short on the quantum of rewards on travel spends when compared to other similar cards in the same fee range. In fact, the reward rate is less than other credit cards offered by SBI Card. “SBI Cashback credit card offers 5% cashback on online spends, though there’s an upper limit to how much one can earn. Still, you will earn more on this card when booking flights or hotels than the newly launched SBI Card MILES," said Tejas Ghongadi, co-founder of The Points Code, a platform that advises credit card users on how to optimise reward points.

Read more: Tax filing is open, but why delaying until 15 June might be wiser

SBI Card MILES has three variants—SBI Card MILES ELITE, SBI Card MILES PRIME and SBI Card MILES—with annual fee of Rs4999, Rs2999 and Rs1499, respectively (the fees does not include 18% goods and services tax, or GST). The top variant MILES ELITE earns six travel credits (TCs) for every Rs200 spent on travel categories and 2 TCs on all other spending categories. The value of 1 TC is Re1 when converted into airmiles or hotel points, which translates into a reward rate of 3% and 1% for travel and non-travel spends, respectively.

SBI Card has partnered with 16 airlines and six hotel groups, including some of the major groups such as Vistara, Etihad, United Airlines, Qatar Airways, Accor and ITC Hotels, among others. The reward rate on MILES PRIME and MILES cards for conversion to miles is 2% and 1%, respectively, on travel spends, whereas it is 1% and 0.5%, respectively, on all other spends.

Cardholders can also use the points earned to book flights or hotels directly on the travel aggregator platform of SBI Card but the value of 1 TC reduces to Re0.5 for this option. This reduces the reward rate on all its cards by half.

Credit card experts say there are better rewarding travel credit cards in the same fee range of SBI Card MILES. The two high rewarding cards that cardholders can consider are Axis Atlas and Amex Platinum Travel Credit, as per Gongadi. “Axis Atlas’s 4% rate on non-travel categories is higher than what SBI MILES is offering on travel spends."

Read more: Why a chemical engineer’s simple money mantra attracts thousands of followers

Sumanta Mandal, founder, Technofino, a digital platform that reviews credit cards and other banking products, concurred and said “Both these cards are in the non-premium category as well so the 3% accelerated reward rate on travel spends on SBI MILES really pales in comparison. Axis Atlas offers a 10% reward rate on travel spends and 4% on other categories. Amex Platinum Travel Credit Card can give up to 12% rewards on ₹ 4 lakh spend."

The joining fee for Amex Platinum Travel is Rs3,500 and renewal fee, from the second year onwards, is Rs5,000. As for Axis Atlas, the joining and annual fees are Rs5,000. All these fees are exclusive of 18% GST.

Do note that in the case of Amex Platinum Travel card, the cardholder can bag a high reward rate only on reaching Rs4 lakh spending threshold through 25,000 bonus points and a Taj Voucher worth ₹ 10,000. Mandal said since Amex is not as widely accepted as other card networks on offline spends, cardholders should first put most of their spends up to ₹ 4 lakh on this card. “That’s the only challenge with Amex Platinum Travel card. Below ₹ 4 lakh spends, the reward rate works out quite average. The other downside is reward rate after Rs4 lakh reduces significantly as there are no milestone benefits," he said.

To maximize travel benefits from credit cards, high spenders should use a mix of 2-3 cards, said Ghongadi. “You may not get the desired hotel or airline partner with one card or the preferred hotel partner might give a better conversion rate in a card different than your primary card. Similarly, milestone benefits vary across cards and reward rate on some cards, like Amex Platinum Travel, drop drastically after a certain spending threshold. So, it is advised to use a combination of 2-3 cards to get a decent reward rate. But, in my opinion, SBI MILES doesn’t make the cut in this mix," he said.

Read more: How a wealth manager can help you reach financial independence

Atlas also offers an almost equal number of complimentary lounge visits–another key offering of travel cards–compared to MILES ELITE. While the latter offers eight domestic visits, restricted to two visits per quarter and six international visits per year, Atlas gives eight domestic and four international visits to the base Silver tier. The number of lounge visits increase as cardholders move up the tiers.

• #personal finance
• #personal loan
• #personal fund

MINT SPECIALS

Wait for it….

Log in to our website to save your bookmarks. It'll just take a moment.

You are just one step away from creating your watchlist!

Oops! Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. Remove some to bookmark this image.

Your session has expired, please login again.

Congratulations!

You are now subscribed to our newsletters. In case you can’t find any email from our side, please check the spam folder.

Subscribe to continue

This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp