10+ Best Travel Credit Cards

Travel credit cards are designed for frequent travelers. These credit cards offer benefits such as complimentary access to airport lounges, 24×7 concierge service, and insurance benefits. They not only make the cardholder’s travel experience smoother and more comfortable but also, in most cases, offer a higher reward rate on travel-related expenses like flight bookings and hotel/stay reservations. Many travel credit cards earn rewards in the form of Air Miles, which you can redeem for air ticket bookings, award flights (free flights), or class upgrades with partner airlines.

Travel credit cards are typically offered in collaboration with an airline, an online travel portal, or a hotel/resort chain. These co-branded credit cards often provide higher rewards for spending with partner airlines or travel portals. You can also enjoy exclusive benefits such as complimentary membership in the partner airline’s frequent flyer program or bonus AirMiles upon reaching specific spend-based milestones with these co-branded travel credit cards.

While most travel rewards credit cards are offered in collaboration with an airline or travel portal, some travel cards are more generic and suit travelers in general without offering additional benefits for spending with a particular airline or travel portal. Two significant examples of such generic travel credit cards are the American Express Platinum Travel and the Axis Horizon Credit Card.

List of Best Travel Credit Cards

If you fully understand the benefits of travel credit cards and need one, you can choose from our list. Depending on your requirements and expectations, here are some of the best travel credit cards currently available in India.

HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card

4.5/ 5 Compare

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Joining Fee

₹2,500 + GST

Annual Fee

₹2,500 + GST

Best Suited For

Travel | Shopping

Rewards Type

Reward Points

Rewards rate and welcome benefits

Rewards Rate5 Reward Points/₹200 on All Eligible Retail Spends, Including Utilities, Insurance, and Education. 25 Reward Points/₹200 for Myntra, Marks and Spencer, Nykaa, and Reliance Digital Spends

Welcome BenefitsVoucher Worth ₹2,500

Scapia Axis Bank Credit Card

4.7/ 5 Compare

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Joining Fee

Lifetime Free

Annual Fee

Lifetime Free

Best Suited For

Travel | International Spends

Rewards Type

Reward Points

Rewards rate and welcome benefits

Rewards Rate1% Value Back on Eligible Spends of ₹500+ on RuPay, 2% Value Back on Eligible Spends of ₹20+ on Mastercard, and 4% Value Back on Flights, Hotels & Bus Bookings via Scapia App

Welcome BenefitsN/A

Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card

4.7/ 5 Compare

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Joining Fee

₹3,000 + GST (Nil for Burgundy Savings Account)

Annual Fee

₹3,000 + GST (Nil for Burgundy Savings Account)

Best Suited For

Travel

Rewards Type

Reward Points

Rewards rate and welcome benefits

Rewards Rate5 EDGE Miles on Axis Travel Edge and Airline Spends. 2 EDGE Reward Points on all Other Eligible Spends

Welcome Benefits5000 EDGE Miles on Spends of ₹1,000 Within the First 30 Days of Card Issuance

IDFC First Bank Mayura Credit Card

4.4/ 5 Compare

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Joining Fee

₹5,999 + GST

Annual Fee

₹5,999 + GST

Best Suited For

Movies | Travel | Shopping

Rewards Type

Reward Points

Rewards rate and welcome benefits

Rewards Rate10X Reward Points/₹150 on Incremental Spends Above ₹20,000 Per Statement Cycle. 5X Reward Points/₹150 on Spends Upto ₹20,000. 3X RPs Are Also Awarded for Rent, Wallet Load, Education, and Government Transactions

Welcome BenefitsUp to 12,000 Reward Points

Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card

4.6/ 5 Compare

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Joining Fee

₹3,000 + GST (~₹3,540)

Annual Fee

₹3,000 + GST (~₹3,540)

Best Suited For

Travel | Shopping | Stays

Rewards Type

Reward Points

Rewards rate and welcome benefits

Rewards Rate8 Marriott Bonvoy Points/₹150 for Spends at Marriott Hotels, 4 Marriott Bonvoy Points/₹150 for Travel, Dining, and Entertainment, and 2 Marriott Bonvoy Points/₹150 for Other Spends

Welcome BenefitsSilver Elite Status in the Marriott Bonvoy Program and One Free Night Award Worth 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points

IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card

4.5/ 5 Compare

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Joining Fee

Nil

Annual Fee

Nil

Best Suited For

Movies | Travel

Rewards Type

Reward Points

Rewards rate and welcome benefits

Rewards RateUpto 6 Accelerated Reward Points on Every ₹100 Spent on Eligible Transactions

Welcome BenefitsN/A

BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card

4.7/ 5 Compare

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Joining Fee

₹5,000 + GST

Annual Fee

₹5,000 + GST

Best Suited For

Travel | International Spends

Rewards Type

Air Miles

Rewards rate and welcome benefits

Rewards Rate6 Miles/₹100 on Etihad Airways and 2 Miles/₹100 on All Other Domestic and Cross-Border Spends

Welcome Benefits10,000 + 5,000 (LIMITED TIME OFFER) Etihad Guest Bonus Miles on Spending ₹100,000 Within 65 Days, Silver Tier Status on First Transaction, and Upgrade to Gold Tier After an Etihad Transaction Within 6 Months

IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card

4.6/ 5 Compare

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Joining Fee

₹10,000 + GST

Annual Fee

₹5,000 + GST

Best Suited For

Travel

Rewards Type

Air Miles

Rewards rate and welcome benefits

Rewards Rate6X Avios/₹200 at Preferred Destinations (POS Only), 5X Avios/₹200 for Spends on Qatar/British Airways Website, 3X Avios/₹200 for Online Spends at Preferred Destinations and 1X Avios/₹200 for Spends on Utilities, Insurance and Government Services

Welcome Benefits20,000 Bonus Avios

Equitas Bank PowerMiles Credit Card

4.5/ 5 Compare

Apply Now

Joining Fee

₹5,000 + GST

Annual Fee

₹5,000 + GST

Best Suited For

Travel | Shopping

Rewards Type

Reward Points

Rewards rate and welcome benefits

Rewards Rate3 Reward Points for ₹100 Spent; 3X Reward Points for International POS and Online Purchases

Welcome BenefitsComplimentary Club Marriott and EazyDiner Memberships

KrisFlyer SBI Credit Card

4.5/ 5 Compare

Apply Now

Joining Fee

₹2,999 + GST

Annual Fee

₹2,999 + GST

Best Suited For

Travel

Rewards Type

KrisFlyer Miles

Rewards rate and welcome benefits

Rewards Rate5 KrisFlyer Miles/₹200 Spent on Singapore Airlines Group and 5 KrisFlyer/₹200 Spend Abroad

Welcome Benefits3,000 KrisFlyer Miles

Features and Benefits of Travel Credit Cards

Travel credit cards can be either generic or co-branded (launched in partnership with an airline like IndiGo, or in some cases, IRCTC or even travel portals like MakeMyTrip, AdaniOne, etc.). Co-branded travel cards, as you can guess, offer special benefits on spends with the partner airline and/or earn rewards as the partner airline’s AirMiles, credited to the airline’s frequent flyer program.

Generic travel credit cards, on the other hand, either earn Reward Points at an accelerated rate on travel-related spends or offer travel-related value-added privileges like complimentary hotel loyalty program membership or a complimentary night stay at partner hotels, etc.

Both co-branded and generic travel credit cards usually offer complimentary airport/IRCTC lounge access and a comprehensive insurance plan, along with multiple travel insurance covers. Some of the features and benefits that one expects from a travel credit card are-

Complimentary Lounge Access: Almost all travel credit cards offer complimentary airport or IRCTC railway lounge access. Entry-level and mid-level travel credit cards offer only domestic airport lounge access and IRCTC lounge access. At the same time, premium travel cards usually also offer complimentary international airport lounge access or at least a complimentary membership to the Priority Pass lounge program.

Air Miles: This applies only to co-branded travel credit cards. Co-branded travel credit cards launched in collaboration with an airline often earn Reward Points as the partner airline’s Air Miles. For example, those with the IndiGo co-branded credit cards shall earn Reward Points as IndiGo BluChips.

Hotel Loyalty Program Membership/Stay Vouchers: Some premium travel credit cards also offer complimentary membership in certain hotel loyalty programs or complimentary stay vouchers at partner hotels. For example, the HDFC Marriott Bonvoy offers complimentary Silver Elite status.

Welcome/Milestone Benefits: Many travel credit cards offer travel vouchers (like hotel stay vouchers or gift cards) as a welcome benefit upon card membership or as a milestone benefit upon achieving the stipulated spend milestone. Some travel cards also offer complimentary flight ticket(s) as a welcome benefit or as a milestone benefit.

Accelerated Reward Rate on Travel Spends: Some travel credit cards earn Reward Points/Miles at an accelerated rate on travel-related spends. For example, the Horizon Credit Card offers accelerated rewards on direct airline spends.

How to Compare Travel Credit Cards?

Travel credit cards offer special travel benefits to cardholders. These benefits may come in a number of different forms, including complimentary airport/IRCTC railway lounge access, complimentary hotel stay vouchers/hotel loyalty program memberships, Reward Points such as AirMiles, bonus Reward Points/Miles on travel spends, etc. Since different travel cards offer different travel benefits, it is often difficult to compare two credit cards objectively.

If you have to choose a travel credit card for yourself, we suggest you be very clear about your requirements; for example, decide whether most of your trips will be within India or whether you will frequently travel to foreign destinations as well. When traveling domestically, features like low Forex or airport lounge access may not be essential. However, if you’re planning an exciting international journey, these perks become incredibly valuable, enhancing your travel experience.

Listed below are some of the pointers, rather than some of the parameters, that one must keep in mind to compare travel credit cards before making a call on which travel credit card will suit you the best.

Co-Branded vs Generic Travel Credit Cards

Many credit card issuers tie up with airlines, IRCTC, or holiday booking portals (like MMT) to launch co-branded credit cards. These co-branded cards offer extra benefits on spending at partner merchants. A co-branded credit card may be a good pick for you if you prefer a particular airline over others or if you prefer railways over airways as a mode of transportation.

For example, an IndiGo or KrisFlyer co-branded credit card may be a good pick for a frequent domestic flyer, while an Etihad or Emirates co-branded card might be the best fit for someone who frequently travels to Gulf destinations like Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

On the other hand, a generic travel credit card may suit you best if you have no preference for a particular airline or travel portal. A generic travel credit card like the Axis Horizon will almost always offer complimentary access to domestic/international airport lounges and a higher reward rate on travel spends or international transactions made with the card.

Airport/Railway Lounge Access

Almost all travel credit cards offer complimentary airport or railway lounge access. While entry-level and mid-level travel cards usually offer lounge access only at domestic airports or at railway stations, premium travel credit cards also offer complimentary lounge access at international airports or at least complimentary membership of a lounge access program like Priority Pass.

If travel experience matters a lot to you, complimentary lounge access is one of the key factors to consider when choosing a travel credit card. If you travel to nearby places within India, an IRCTC co-branded travel credit card that offers complimentary railway lounge access can be a great pick for you. Also, suppose you frequently travel by air within the country. In that case, you may consider a travel credit card that offers complimentary domestic airport lounge access, while you might ignore the international lounge benefit. However, suppose you are a frequent international flyer. In that case, you must make sure that the travel credit card you choose offers a certain number of complimentary airport lounge access at international airports as well.

Another point worth keeping in mind is that if you are looking for a credit card just for the lounge access benefit, sometimes generic credit cards (which are not particularly travel-centric cards) offer more (sometimes even unlimited) lounge access at airports/railway stations. For example, if you need a credit card just for railway lounge benefits, IDFC FIRST Credit Cards offer 4 complimentary IRCTC lounge accesses every quarter at select railway stations across the country, which is more than any IRCTC co-branded credit card offers.

Similarly, HDFC Infinia and Diners Club Black Credit Cards offer unlimited international airport lounge access to both primary and add-on card members, a benefit you don’t get with most premium travel credit cards. The following table summarises the railway/airport lounge access feature that you get with the aforementioned travel credit cards-

Hotel Loyalty Program Membership/Stay Vouchers

Some premium travel credit cards offer complimentary vouchers from premium hotel chains. For example, the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card, one of the great travel cards in India in the premium segment, offers complimentary Taj Stay vouchers upon meeting spending targets. This benefit may matter if you want a premium travel experience without compromise.

Foreign Currency Mark-up

The usual foreign currency mark-up fee, as applicable for most credit cards, is about 3.5% of the conversion amount. Some travel credit cards charge a lower or sometimes even zero markup fee on international currency purchases. Suppose you are a frequent flyer to global destinations. In that case, you should consider this benefit when choosing a travel credit card unless you plan to use a prepaid forex card for all foreign currency transactions.

How to Find The Right Travel Credit Cards?

In order to find the right travel credit cards for yourself, you will have to understand your travel requirements first. If you travel often, consider premium travel credit cards, even with higher fees, because you can save more if you use them wisely. On the other hand, if you travel only once or twice a year, you can choose basic travel cards with lower fees and 2-4 complimentary lounge accesses yearly. Another factor to consider is whether you should choose co-branded or non-co-branded cards. If you travel frequently with a particular airline, you can choose a co-branded credit card issued by that airline.

How Do Travel Credit Card Reward Points Work?

Credit Card Points are the rewards you earn when making purchases using your credit card. Some cards offer accelerated rewards in certain categories, and travel credit cards generally come with a higher reward rate in travel categories, such as flight and hotel bookings. These points work as your savings, as they can later be redeemed against many options and even against the card’s outstanding balance. Let us understand this using a simple example.

Suppose you have a credit card that offers air miles on all your spends, and you have earned 10,000 air miles so far, with every air mile equivalent to ₹1. Now, if you want to book a flight worth ₹30,000, you can use these Air Miles and pay the rest of the amount in cash. This lets you book a ₹30,000 flight with only ₹20,000. Similarly, you can use reward points for other categories, such as shopping and dining.

Do’s and Don’ts While Using a Travel Credit Card

It is never a good idea to choose a card without knowing how to use it for maximum benefits and whether it’s worth it. Here are some important do’s and don’ts that you should keep in mind while using a travel card:

Do’s

• Make sure to understand your travel requirements before you choose a travel credit card for yourself.
• If you have complimentary lounge access with your credit card, you should register it as soon as you receive your card, or at least understand the process so that you don’t face any difficulties at the last minute.
• Redeem your reward points/Airmiles against a category that gives you the maximum conversion value.

Don’ts

• Never let your rewards/air miles expire without redeeming them for your benefit. Know the validity of your card’s reward points and redeem them before the expiry date.
• Don’t delay or miss your credit card bill payments, as the additional charges, such as interest and late payment fees, might be even more than the benefits that your card offers.
• Before making any large purchases, check if you can use your rewards to get some vouchers that will reduce your overall spending.

Why Apply for a Travel Credit Card?

Travel credit cards are very advantageous for frequent travelers, but you should also keep in mind that they generally come with a higher annual fee. So, you should not just go with a travel credit card randomly, but get it only if you are someone who has all the following requirements:

• You travel domestically as well as internationally very often. However, basic cards are always good, even if you travel only once or twice every year, but you don’t get a super-premium card with a high annual fee.
• You don’t want to compromise on your luxuries even when you are traveling. One of the biggest reasons travel cards have a high annual fee is that they offer complimentary lounge access and many more exclusive privileges, such as deals and discounts on flights and premium hotel bookings.
• You are a responsible credit card user. If you are not responsible enough to use a credit card, you won’t be able to maximize the benefits of a travel credit card, and you will just end up paying a high annual fee without any benefits.

How to Apply for Travel Credit Cards in India?

The application process for a travel credit card, just like any other credit card, is usually very simple. You can apply for travel credit cards through Card Insider.

• Visit the review page of the credit card you want to apply for on Card Insider.
• Click/tap on the “Apply Now” option.
• You will be redirected to the official credit card page on the card issuer’s website.
• You can now proceed with the application on the card issuer’s website by entering the requested details in the designated fields.
• Once you have successfully submitted your credit card application, the card issuer will evaluate it to determine your eligibility for the card you applied for.
• If you are eligible, the card issuer will mail it to your address, usually within 15 days of your application submission.

Best Credit Cards with Zero or Low Foreign Currency Markup Fee

Almost all credit cards charge a markup fee on foreign currency transactions. The usual markup fee is 3.5% of the conversion amount. However, some premium and mid-range travel credit cards have a foreign currency markup fee that is either zero or very low. Some such travel credit cards are the RBL Bank World Safari Plus and the BOBCARD Etihad Premium Credit Card.

Some other premium credit cards, in addition to these travel-specific cards, also offer a lower foreign currency markup. For example, the foreign currency markup fee charged on HDFC Infinia and Diners Club Black Metal Credit Cards is also less than 2%.

Bottom Line

As you can see, several credit card sub-categories fall under the travel segment, each targeting specific customer niches. Those who frequently fly with IndiGo would benefit from opting for an IndiGo Co-Branded Credit Card, while those who book with multiple airlines can consider the Axis Horizon Credit Card, which offers up to 5X rewards on direct airline spends.

From airlines to hotels, there are plenty of rewarding options available; it simply depends on your personal needs and spending behavior. It’s important to choose the right travel credit card based on your travel habits and preferences.