Credit Cards for Travellers in 2024

What is a Travel Credit Card?

Specially designed for frequent travellers, these travel credit cards are quickly gaining popularity because of their many benefits and accelerated rewards. Packed with perks like lounge access, discounted hotel stays, air mile earnings and travel insurance plans, you can make your international or domestic trips far more enjoyable and affordable by picking the right credit cards for your travel needs.

Why Credit Cards for Travellers?

Travel credit cards are designed to benefit those who spend considerably on travelling. This includes hotels, flights, trains, buses and a lot more. Many credit cards also offer the benefits of a travel insurance plan and other advantages.

This way, if you want to buy a travel insurance plan online, then buying such a card would benefit you. Many cards offer unique co-partnered benefits with a specific airline or travel partner and let you collect travel points that can be redeemed later at your convenience!

These cards' extensive benefits and charges have been discussed in detail later in the article.

Types of Travel Credit Cards

Many types of credit cards are available in India to make all kinds of journeys affordable. Take a look at some of the most popularly available types of credit cards in India:

• Travel Reward Credit Card: These all-rounder cards offer cash back and reward points, including shopping, travel and lifestyle. Depending on the card, they can also offer travel benefits such as lounge access, priority pass, flight upgrades, etc.
• Co-branded Travel Credit Card: These cards are offered exclusively by two brands so loyal customers can avail of extra benefits. Airlines, hotels or popular banks usually offer these cards.
• Air-miles Card: These are exclusive cards offered by any popular airline and are especially useful for travellers who use that particular airline. The miles can be redeemed as per the user’s requirements. These may also offer lounge access.

Other than these, some other cards cater to domestic travellers who use railways and cars to travel across India. Those journeying by road can buy a fuel-surcharge waiver credit card, while frequent railway users can buy different IRCTC cards to save big on every journey.

Travel Credit Cards in India

While there are a variety of credit cards available in India, this article will focus on different travel credit cards that are affordable and offer several benefits. Take a look at some of the most popular credit cards for travellers in 2023:

1. SBI Card ELITE

   An all-rounder, SBI Card Elite is among the good credit cards in India, offering many benefits while you shop, travel, or go to the movies. However, it is an excellent card for travellers who want to save on travel expenses.

   The card also has a welcome gift that can be selected from different e-voucher options and redeemed at available stores. Besides, it offers six complimentary airport lounge visits outside India across 1,000 airport lounges worldwide. The card also offers two complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per quarter.

   Joining Fee: Rs. 4,999 (One-time)

   Key Benefits: Free movie tickets every year worth Rs. 6,000, Club Vistara Membership, Trident Privilege Membership, Lowest Forex mark-up charge of 1.99%, exclusive concierge service, Fuel Surcharge Waiver, complimentary membership for the Priority Pass Program worth USD 99, Fraud Liability Cover up to Rs. 1 lakh, Flexipay advantage, and more.

2. Axis Bank Ace Credit Card

   This card is perfect for those looking for cashback on spending. With cashback ranging between 2 and 5% on various spends, Axis Bank ACE Credit Card offers 5% cashback on bill payments and 4% on Swiggy, Ola and Zomato with no upper limit on cashback.

   Travellers can avail of four complimentary lounge visits per calendar year at select domestic airports. The card also offers a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on all fuel stations throughout India.

   Joining Fee: Rs. 499 (Reversed if you spend Rs. 10,000 within 45 days of card issuance)

   Key Benefits: Unlimited cashback on each spend, complimentary domestic lounge access, fuel surcharge waiver on transactions above Rs. 400, Up to 20% discount on more than 4,000 partner restaurants across India, EMI conversion facility on transactions above Rs. 2,500

3. HDFC Regalia Credit Card

   HDFC Regalia Credit Card has become famous for reward points, and several travel benefits, including benefits of travel insurance plans such as accidental air death cover, lost card liability cover and emergency overseas hospitalisation.

   The card also offers 12 complimentary domestic airport lounge access, six outside India, Revolving Credit at a nominal interest rate and complimentary dining benefits. The card also offers reward points that can be redeemed for flight bookings, hotel bookings, air miles conversions and several other products and vouchers.

   Joining Fee: Rs. 2500 + taxes

   Key Benefits: Zero lost card liability, Bonus of 10,000 reward points on a spend of Rs. 5 lakhs, exclusive concierge services, priority pass, 1% fuel surcharge waiver, complimentary Dine Out Passport Membership. It also offers a contactless payment facility, accidental air death coverage worth Rs. 1 Crore, emergency overseas hospitalisation up to Rs. 15 lakhs, and lost card liability covered up to Rs. 9 lakhs.

4. Citi PremierMiles Credit Card

   Curated especially for travellers and frequent fliers, Citi PremierMiles Card has several benefits, including air miles, complimentary air travel, welcome air miles worth Rs. 4500, and other benefits worth Rs. 10,000 in the first year.

   The card also offers a complimentary air accident insurance cover of Rs. 1 crore and lost card liability cover worth Rs. 10 lakhs. Users also get additional miles on annual card renewals. The miles earned through this card never expire so you can redeem them at your convenience. You will also get several dining benefits with up to 20% savings across participating restaurants.

   Joining Fee: Rs. 3,000 + Taxes

   Key Benefits: Complimentary air accident insurance, 10,000 miles on spending Rs. 1,000 within 60 days, additional miles on specific spends, no expiry date of miles earned through Citi PremierMiles Card, complimentary airport lounge access, hotel deals across 90 countries, instant reward points redemption at Citibank partner brands, EMI benefits and instant loan facility.

Benefits of a Travel Credit Card

One of the most significant advantages of buying a travel credit card is that these benefits are not restricted to only long-term customers of an airline or hotel. The points you get for using these cards can be used for things other than airline tickets and hotel bookings. Some of these are briefly mentioned below:

• Many cards offer benefits like extra baggage allowance, priority passes, and even discounts on base fare.
• Some travel credit cards also offer some benefits of a travel insurance plan with benefits like accidental air death etc.
• Travellers can avail of benefits like complimentary international and domestic lounge access; redeem miles to purchase flight tickets, priority check-in and even free flight tickets.
• Several cards offer discounts on flight bookings, hotel bookings and great deals on dining across partner restaurants.

Depending on your needs, you can the right credit cards in India. Not only does it let you earn redeemable points or miles, but nowadays, these cards also offer benefits that you may otherwise get only if you buy an international travel insurance plan separately. These cards are also helpful for people who wish to build their credit score and improve their purchasing power. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and start collecting those miles!

How to Compare Travel Credit Cards?

With so many options, selecting the right travel credit cards in India for your purpose can be confusing. Here are a few tips that will help you shortlist:

1. Check Annual Fee

   This should be your first step to help you shortlist the cards per your budget. Opting for a card with decent benefits at a low annual fee is usually suggested.

2. Check the Joining Fee

   If it's in your budget or not. Many cards offer welcome bonuses, but you may need to pay attention to their joining/annual renewal fee, which may defeat the purpose of the rewards.

3. Know What You Need

   If you're looking to save money to travel, go for a co-branded card or the one that gives you good cashback for flight and hotel bookings. You can also go for an air miles card. Similarly, there’s no point in going for lounge access credit card if you don’t travel by flight frequently.

4. Compare Forex Charges

   If you plan to travel frequently, you must buy a card with the lowest forex charges. These can add up a lot and cost you much more than you can imagine. Going for cards with zero foreign transaction charges is also a great idea.