New Kotak IndiGo Co-Branded Credit Cards Launched

Kotak Mahindra Bank has once again partnered up with the country’s largest airline, IndiGo, to launch its new co-branded credit cards.

The new IndiGo Kotak and IndiGo Kotak XL Credit Cards offer accelerated rewards on flight bookings made with IndiGo, in the form of BluChips – IndiGo’s own frequent flyer loyalty program. This marks a notable shift from the earlier 6E co-branded credit cards previously offered by IndiGo and Kotak.

Under the new program, cardholders will earn accelerated BluChips not just on IndiGo flight bookings, but also on all other eligible spends like dining and entertainment. Additionally, both cards are issued on the RuPay network, enabling users to earn rewards even on UPI transactions. It is also worth mentioning that since both of these are airline co-branded credit cards, many users might expect domestic and international airport lounge access. However, only the IndiGo Kotak XL Credit Card offers two domestic airport lounge visits per quarter, with no international lounge benefits. The standard Kotak IndiGo Credit Card does not offer any airport lounge access.

Ready to see what these co-branded cards can do for you?

Joining Fee, Welcome Benefit, and More

Both the Kotak IndiGo and Kotak IndiGo XL Credit Cards remain reasonably priced. The standard Kotak IndiGo Credit Card is available at ₹1,500 + GST, while the more premium and better-rewarding Kotak IndiGo XL Credit Card is priced at ₹3,000 + GST.

Reward Rate Offered

Kotak IndiGo and Kotak IndiGo XL Credit Cards will reward users in the form of BluChips, which serve as the reward currency of the IndiGo loyalty program. Earlier, HDFC and Kotak IndiGo Co-Branded Credit Cards used to offer rewards under the 6E program, which has now been abandoned under these new cards. It is speculated that the previous 6E program shall be merged with the new BluChip program itself.

Here are the reward earnings with the new Kotak IndiGo Co-Branded Credit Cards.

IndiGo BluChips can be redeemed on flights that are either marketed and operated by IndiGo or marketed by IndiGo and operated by codeshare partners. Those looking to redeem BluChips can do so via the IndiGo website or mobile application.

1 BluChip = Dynamic Value (Ranging from ₹0.40 to ₹0.60)

Complete Breakdown on BluChip Earnings for Kotak Indigo Credit Card (Up to 19 BluChips)

• 8 IndiGo BluChips/₹100 spent for All IndiGo BluChip Members
• 3 IndiGo BluChips/₹100 spent on Using the IndiGo Kotak Credit Card
• 4 IndiGo BluChips/₹100 spent on Booking Through the IndiGo Website and Mobile App
• Up to 4 Bonus IndiGo BluChips/₹100 spent Based on Your IndiGo BluChip Tier Status

Complete Breakdown on BluChip Earnings for Kotak Indigo XL Credit Card (Up to 21 BluChips)

• 8 IndiGo BluChips/₹100 spent for All IndiGo BluChip Members
• 5 IndiGo BluChips/₹100 spent on Using the IndiGo Kotak Credit Card
• 4 IndiGo BluChips/₹100 spent on Booking Through the IndiGo Website and Mobile App
• Up to 4 Bonus IndiGo BluChips/₹100 spent Based on Your IndiGo BluChip Tier Status

If you’re looking to maximise rewards on IndiGo spends, the Kotak IndiGo XL Credit Card is the better choice, due to its higher reward rate. Meanwhile, the standard Kotak IndiGo Credit Card still offers solid value and is ideal for moderate flyers seeking benefits at a lower annual fee.

Rent, wallets, education, government spending, utilities, insurance, online skill-based gaming, and B2B are excluded categories not eligible for earning BluChips.

Milestone Benefits

With the Kotak IndiGo Credit Card, one can earn vouchers worth 7,500 BluChips on spending ₹6 lakh in a card anniversary year. At the same time, the IndiGo Kotak XL Credit Card offers vouchers worth 16,000 BluChips on spending ₹12 lakh in a card anniversary year.

Bottom Line

The world of airline co-branded credit cards has undergone significant changes, from the discontinuation of Vistara Credit Cards to the launch of the new KrisFlyer SBI Credit Cards, the revaluation of the IndusInd Avios Credit Card, and now the introduction of the new Kotak IndiGo Credit Cards. While there had been speculation that Kotak and IndiGo would soon launch new co-branded cards, nothing was confirmed, similar to the long-rumoured new Air India co-branded credit cards.

The Kotak IndiGo and Kotak IndiGo XL Credit Cards both appear to be reasonably priced offerings, with benefits that justify their respective fees. We will soon publish a detailed review of both cards. In the meantime, here are some key takeaways that make these cards worth considering. For example, both cards offer renewal benefits, making them appealing for users who are thinking long-term. Additionally, these cards will be UPI-enabled and will offer the core reward rate on UPI spends as well. It is also worth noting that out of the two, only Kotak IndiGo XL provides airport lounge access.

BluChips, IndiGo’s loyalty points, come with lifetime validity, so there’s no harm in accumulating them over time and redeeming them for flight tickets and more. The new Kotak IndiGo Credit Cards are a must-have for frequent flyers, especially those who prefer IndiGo over other airlines like Air India.

With new co-branded credit cards from Singapore Airlines and now IndiGo, all eyes are on Air India. It remains to be seen which issuer it will partner with and when the new cards will be launched.