In a world where travel and finance meet, it can be confusing to choose the right credit card. Our comparison starts with two travel cards: the ixigo AU Credit Card and the Axis Horizon Credit Card. Each card is designed to enhance your travel experiences with a variety of benefits created for the modern traveler. When considering the best travel credit card for your needs, it’s important to take into account a variety of features. The temptation of lounge access, a rewarding points system, exciting welcome offers, and other perks are all essential factors to consider. We’ve carefully compared the main features of these cards to help you choose the right one for your journey.
ixigo AU Credit Card
The ixigo AU Credit Card, a collaboration between AU Small Finance Bank and ixigo, is a complete travel partner designed to make journeys more memorable and rewarding. It stands out with its ‘Lifetime Free’ offer. The card comes with travel-related benefits, including complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access and leave-out railway lounge access.
Launched for travel enthusiasts, the card offers 5 Reward Points/₹200 spent. A welcome bonus is also offered with this card, giving new users 1,000 reward points with a ₹1000 ixigo money voucher if the first transaction is made within 30 days of card issuance. Cardholders also enjoy discounts on flight, bus, and hotel bookings, along with credit shield insurance of up to ₹1 lakh. One special perk of this card is that it offers zero foreign exchange markup charges, making international transactions free.
Axis Horizon Credit Card
For a perfect travel experience, the Axis Horizon Credit Card is the best choice for frequent travelers. With a joining fee and annual renewal fee of ₹3,000 with taxes, this card is designed to offer benefits and perks on every transaction. One of the most exciting features of this card is the offering of 5,000 EDGE Miles as a welcome benefit when you spend ₹1,000 within the first 30 days of card issuance. Cardholders earn 5 EDGE Miles for every 100 spent on travel edge and airline spending, and 2 EDGE miles for every ₹100 on other spending.
These miles earned are rewarding since they can be converted to partner hotels or airline points. Whether you choose the Mastercard World or Visa Signature variant, you’ll enjoy complimentary domestic airport lounge access, with the Visa offering eight visits every quarter, whereas Mastercard offers 6 number of visits. Eight international lounges are also available annually. While some may see the lack of a spend-based annual fee waiver as a drawback, there are other perks like discounts on EazyDiner, fuel surcharge waiver, and complimentary points during the anniversary year that make this card stand out compared to other cards.
Quick Comparison Between ixigo AU and Axis Horizon Credit Card
| Features | ixigo AU | Axis Horizon |
| Joining/Annual Fee | Nil | ₹3,000 + GST |
| Reward Rate |
|
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| Reward Redemption | RP can be redeemed at the ixigo app or AU Rewardz | RP can be redeemed at Travel Edge or transferred to partner airlines and hotels |
| Welcome Benefit | ₹1,000 ixigo money voucher + 1,000 reward points | 5,000 EDGE Miles on spending ₹1,000 |
| Travel Benefit | Visits to 8 domestic and one international airport lounge in a year | Visits to 8 domestic and 2 international airport lounges every quarter |
| Forex Markup Charges | Zero | 3.5% |
Conclusion
Traveling has become an important factor in our lives, whether on vacation or on a work trip. One of the best reasons to opt for a credit card is the discounts, coupons, and vouchers it offers when on a trip. Both the ixigo AU Credit Card and the Axis Horizon Credit Card offer irresistible benefits for travelers. The ixigo AU card offers a lifetime-free membership with travel benefits like airport and railway lounge access, and a welcome bonus, including reward points and an ixigo money voucher.
On the other hand, the Axis Horizon card attracts attention with its welcome offer, wide-ranging travel perks, including lounge access, and its EDGE Miles reward system on spending. When choosing a credit card, it’s important to consider your travel habits and preferences.
The ixigo AU Credit Card is a great option for budget-conscious travelers, as it offers exceptional travel rewards without any joining or annual fees. At the same time, those who understand the points and miles games and often fly should most definitely opt for the Axis Horizon as they can save big on their direct airline spends.
Even for those looking for free airport lounge access without any spending criteria, Axis Horizon is unmatched.