Indigo Kotak XL and Indigo SBI Elite Credit Card, both the co-branded credit cards, are a good choice for frequent travellers. Both cards offer Indigo BluChips, which can help the user get a good amount of discount if they often fly from Indigo Airlines. Both cards come with different joining fees: the Indigo Kotak XL comes at a joining fee of ₹3,000 + GST, and the Indigo SBI Elite Credit Card comes at a joining fee of ₹4,999 + GST.
Many new users get confused about which credit card can give them better value. There can be different parameters to conclude which credit card is better than the other. In this article, we are going to compare both credit cards on the basis of their joining fee, joining benefits, milestone benefits, and much more.
Welcome Benefits
With the Indigo SBI Elite Credit Card, users will receive 5,000 IndiGo BluChips. Additionally, a 6E Eats voucher will be credited to the cardholder’s IndiGo BluChip account after the annual fee is paid and the first transaction is completed within 60 days of opening the account. While there is no welcome benefit offered by Indigo Kotak XL.
BluChips Earning
When it comes to earning BluChips for flight bookings, the IndiGo Kotak XL Credit Card stands out because it offers up to 21 BluChips for every ₹100 spent. However, this high reward rate only applies when you book through the IndiGo app or website and are in a higher BluChip tier.
In comparison, the IndiGo SBI Elite Credit Card is simpler. It gives a flat 7 BluChips for every ₹100 spent on IndiGo bookings.
For non-flight purchases, both cards earn you 2 BluChips for every ₹100 spent. However, Kotak XL has a slight advantage, giving 3 BluChips for dining and entertainment. Meanwhile, SBI Elite offers 3 BluChips for hotel and travel expenses.
If you want to earn more rewards, then choose the Kotak XL if you want to earn more rewards on Indigo flights. Opt for the SBI Elite if you prefer a straightforward approach for travel spending.
Milestone Benefits
Both the IndiGo Kotak XL and IndiGo SBI Elite credit cards offer rewards based on how much you spend. The Kotak XL card gives you 4,000 BluChips when you reach spending levels that start at ₹1.5 lakh and go up to ₹12 lakh, so you earn rewards more often as you spend more.
In contrast, the SBI Elite card gives you higher rewards of 6,000 BluChips at each level but requires you to spend more, starting at ₹3 lakh.
The SBI card offers more BluChips 24,000 compared to 16,000, but the Kotak card is better for getting rewards at lower spending levels. If you spend moderately, the Kotak XL is easier to benefit from, while the SBI Elite offers better value if you spend heavily.
Airport Lounge Access
The Kotak XL card offers only two complimentary domestic lounge visits at select airports and does not include international lounge access, making it suitable for occasional domestic travelers. On the other hand, the IndiGo SBI ELITE Credit Card is more travel-friendly, offering both domestic and international lounge access. It allows up to 8 domestic visits per year with a spending requirement of ₹1 lakh in the previous quarter and 6 international visits annually without any spending condition. The SBI ELITE card is a better option for frequent travelers, especially those who travel internationally, while the Kotak XL card offers more limited benefits.
Insurance Benefits
The IndiGo SBI ELITE Credit Card comes with useful insurance benefits, while the IndiGo Kotak XL card does not offer these covers. With the SBI ELITE card, you get protection like up to four flight cancellation claims in a year, ₹3,000 per claim, lost card liability cover up to ₹1 lakh, and lost baggage cover up to ₹75,000, making it more secure and travel-friendly compared to the Kotak XL option.
Bottom Line
Both cards are good, but they suit different types of users. If you fly with IndiGo very often and want to earn maximum BluChips on bookings, then Kotak XL can give you better rewards, especially if you spend regularly but not very heavily. It also starts giving milestone benefits at a lower spending level, which is helpful for most users.
On the other hand, SBI Elite is better for people who travel more frequently, especially internationally. It offers lounge access, insurance cover, and simple reward earning without too many conditions. Even though the fee is higher, the overall travel benefits make up for it if you use the card well.
In short, choose Kotak XL for higher reward earning on IndiGo and lower spending needs, and go for SBI Elite if you want premium travel benefits and extra security features.