Axis Bank EDGE Rewards/Miles Major Changes: Accor Returns, ITC Removed

While earning rewards through a credit card is a major factor to consider, points redemption is equally important. A while ago, Axis Bank was a favorite among credit card users for EDGE Reward Points/EDGE Miles redemption, as cardholders could transfer their rewards to popular partners such as Accor, ITC and Air India. However, change is the norm, especially in the credit card industry, and the Axis EDGE Rewards program has also seen several changes. The bank had earlier made changes to the program, including the removal of Accor, and on September 22, 2026, further changes were made to the program.

While Accor is now back, it has returned with revised transfer ratios. Sadly, ITC, which offered great value for EDGE Miles and EDGE Reward Points, has been removed entirely. Apart from this, Axis Bank has made further changes to the grouping of transfer partners, along with adding new partners such as Cathay Pacific.

Accor is Back!

Accor is one of the most popular when it comes to transferring credit card reward points, and that is partly because of the great value it offers. The value of an Accor point is linked to the Euro, and furthermore, the entire Accor+ Explorer ecosystem comes with its own set of benefits, which can be further enhanced when you earn Accor points through your credit card spends.

Not many credit card issuers offer the option to transfer their reward points to Accor, and even fewer offer a good transfer ratio. Axis Bank was one of the few issuers that did, until Accor was removed from its transfer partners. Ever since then, it was expected that Accor would eventually make a comeback, but at a different transfer ratio.

Accor is now back, but the transfer ratios are quite different from what they were earlier. For example, cardholders with the Axis Horizon Credit Card could earlier transfer EDGE Miles to Accor at a 1:1 ratio. This has now been revised to 2:1.

Here is a complete look at the new transfer ratios offered by Axis Bank for transferring EDGE Miles/EDGE Reward Points to Accor:

Partner	Burgundy Pvt The One Metal	Magnus for Burgundy	Reserve, Magnus Credit Cards	Select, Privilege, Rewards Credit Cards	All Eligible Debit/Other Credit Cards	Olympus	Atlas	Horizon	IndianOil Axis Bank Premium
ALL Accor	5:4	5:2	5:1	10:1	10:1	1:2	2:1	2:1	2:1

ITC Removed

ITC Hotels is a popular hotel chain with a strong presence in India and abroad, and the brand continues to expand. ITC was an important transfer partner for Axis Bank cardholders, as 1 ITC Point offered a value of ₹1, and in some cases, the value could be even higher as reward redemptions were sometimes cheaper than revenue bookings.

ITC has now been removed entirely as a transfer partner for EDGE Reward Points and EDGE Miles. This will especially affect cardholders who were planning to use their rewards for an ITC redemption anytime soon.

New Partners Added

Apart from the comeback of Accor and the removal of ITC, Axis Bank has also added three new transfer partners to its program. Two of these are airlines, Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles) and Lufthansa (Miles & More), while the third is a hotel partner, Hilton.

Hilton was already on the radar of credit card users after American Express also revised its transfer ratio with the hotel loyalty program. Now, Hilton has been added as a new transfer partner for Axis Bank cardholders as well.

While the addition of new transfer partners is certainly a good thing, these partners are still relatively niche and require proper planning and knowledge to get good value from the rewards. ITC, on the other hand, was a much simpler redemption option for most cardholders, especially for those looking to use their points for hotel stays in India.

Here’s a look at the transfer ratios applicable to the newly added partners:

Partner	Burgundy Pvt The One Metal	Magnus for Burgundy	Reserve, Magnus Credit Cards	Select, Privilege, Rewards Credit Cards	All Eligible Debit/Other Credit Cards	Olympus	Atlas	Horizon	IndianOil Axis Bank Premium
Hilton Honors	5:4	5:4	5:2	10:1	20:1	1:4	1:2	1:1	2:1
Cathay	5:4	5:2	5:1	10:1	10:1	1:2	2:1	2:1	2:1
Miles & More	5:4	5:4	5:2	10:1	20:1	1:4	1:1	1:1	2:1

There is an additional limit applicable to Miles & More transfers. A maximum of 2,00,000 Miles & More miles can be transferred in a calendar year (January to December).

Flying Blue, Qantas & Air India Moved to Group A

Three transfer partners have now moved from Group B to Group A under the revised Axis EDGE Rewards program:

• Flying Blue
• Qantas
• Air India

This is a major change, particularly for several high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth cardholders who transfer large amounts of EDGE Reward Points or EDGE Miles. For those not familiar with the structure, Group B has a higher transfer limit compared to Group A, which means cardholders could previously transfer larger amounts to partners in Group B.

With valuable partners such as Air India now moving from Group B to Group A, the applicable transfer limit will be lower. This makes the change particularly important for cardholders who regularly transfer large amounts of rewards and raises an obvious question: where should you transfer your points now?

Bottom Line

Well, it is safe to say that those with ultra-premium Axis Bank credit cards who used to transfer large amounts of EDGE Reward Points or EDGE Miles to several partners are now more restricted. The caps applicable to different groups and partners are a major limitation, particularly for those who regularly transfer large amounts of rewards. Even those with the famed Atlas Credit Card will now face restrictions because of the applicable transfer limits.

When it comes to Group B, it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify the value, even with Lufthansa Miles & More, which comes with its own set of taxes and redemption considerations.

It also increasingly feels like the value proposition of Axis Bank’s rewards program has shifted towards airline partners, with fewer hotel partners offering compelling redemption opportunities. With ITC removed and Accor returning at revised ratios, the hotel redemption options are certainly not what they used to be.

In comparison, HSBC currently appears to have a stronger proposition for cardholders who are looking for hotel and travel reward options.

These changes are also happening for the second time this year. Earlier, Marriott Bonvoy, Accor, and other partners were removed, while transfer ratios were revised. Accor has now made a comeback, but at a different transfer ratio. Given that Accor’s rewards value is linked to the Euro, the revised ratio is understandable from a value perspective. However, cardholders who were waiting for Accor to return may still find the new ratio less attractive than the one available earlier.

What do you think about these latest changes to the rewards program for Axis Bank credit cards? Share your thoughts or queries in the comments below.