Every Airline Credit Card in India (2026): Benefits, Milestones and Status
Updated as of 1 Oct 2026. We’ll update this guide whenever a card launches, changes or shuts. Always check the bank’s latest Key Fact Statement before applying.
India’s airline credit card market has been completely reshuffled in the last two years. Vistara cards are gone, Air India has no co-brand card right now, IndiGo switched every card to BluChips, and Etihad moved from SBI to Bank of Baroda. Here’s every airline co-branded card you can still get, what it earns, its milestones, which spends it ignores, and the one question nobody answers clearly: does it give you airline status?
TL;DR
- ✈️ 16 active airline co-brand cards across IndiGo, Etihad, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, SpiceJet and Qatar/British Airways (Avios).
- ❌ No Air India card is open to new applicants. New Maharaja Club cards have been trailed but haven’t launched.
- 🏅 Cards that give elite status: BOBCARD Etihad (Silver, and Gold on the Premium), KrisFlyer SBI (Elite Silver/Gold on spend), Emirates ICICI (Silver, Gold on spend) and SpiceJet Axis (SpiceClub Silver/Gold). No IndiGo card gives a BluChip tier.
- 💳 For most people, a transferable-points card (Axis, HDFC) still beats an airline card. Get a co-brand only if you’re loyal to that one airline.
At a glance: every active airline card
| Card | Annual fee (+GST) | Welcome | Status? |
|---|---|---|---|
| IndiGo SBI Card | ₹1,499 | 2,500 BluChips | No |
| IndiGo SBI Card ELITE | ₹4,999 | 5,000 BluChips + 6E Eats voucher | No |
| IndiGo Kotak | ₹1,500 | 2,500 BluChips | No |
| IndiGo Kotak Premium | ₹3,000 | 4,000 BluChips + 6E Eats voucher | No |
| IndiGo Axis Bank | ₹799 | 1,200 BluChips | No |
| IndiGo Axis Bank Premium | ₹5,000 | 5,000 BluChips + 6E Eats voucher | No |
| IndiGo IDFC FIRST | ₹4,999 | 5,000 BluChips + meal voucher; +3,000 on ₹1L spend in 90 days | No |
| BOBCARD Etihad Guest | ₹2,500 (waived on ₹3L) | 2,500 miles (promos higher) | ✅ Etihad Guest Silver |
| BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium | ₹5,000 (waived on ₹5L) | 5,000 miles (promos higher) | ✅ Silver, Gold after an Etihad.com purchase (₹10,000+) within 6 months |
| KrisFlyer SBI Card | ₹2,999 | 3,000 KrisFlyer miles | ✅ KrisFlyer Elite Silver on ₹2.5L SIA Group spend a year |
| KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex | ₹9,999 | 10,000 KrisFlyer miles | ✅ KrisFlyer Elite Gold on ₹7.5L SIA Group spend a year |
| Emirates Skywards ICICI Emeralde | ₹10,000 | 10,000 Skywards miles (also on renewal) | ✅ Skywards Silver; Gold on ₹15L spend incl. ₹50,000 on Emirates |
| Emirates Skywards ICICI Sapphiro | ₹5,000 | 5,000 Skywards miles | ✅ Skywards Silver (renewed on ₹5L spend) |
| SpiceJet Axis Bank Voyage | ₹750 | ₹1,500 SpiceJet voucher | ✅ SpiceClub Silver |
| SpiceJet Axis Bank Voyage Black | ₹2,000 | ₹4,000 SpiceJet voucher | ✅ SpiceClub Gold |
| IndusInd Avios Visa Infinite | ₹10,000 joining, ₹5,000 renewal | 20,000 Avios (Qatar or BA) | No |
IndiGo (BluChips) cards
Every IndiGo card now earns BluChips. The banks advertise “up to 19–23 BluChips per ₹100” on IndiGo, but that headline stacks the card’s own earn with what you already earn as a BluChip member for flying. The card’s own part is smaller.
| Card | Everyday earn | Milestones | Lounge |
|---|---|---|---|
| IndiGo SBI | 3/₹100 on IndiGo; lower on other spends | 2,500 BluChips at ₹2L, ₹4L and ₹6L | 4 domestic a year (₹50,000 spend in the previous quarter) |
| IndiGo SBI ELITE | Up to 7/₹100 on IndiGo; lower on other spends | Up to 29,000 bonus BluChips a year (6,000 at ₹1L, ₹3L, ₹6L, ₹9L, ₹12L) | 8 domestic (₹1L previous-quarter spend) + 6 international |
| IndiGo Kotak | 2/₹100 dining & entertainment; 1/₹100 others | 2,500 BluChips at ₹1.25L, ₹3L and ₹6L | None |
| IndiGo Kotak Premium | 3/₹100 dining & entertainment; 2/₹100 others | 4,000 BluChips at ₹1.5L, ₹4L, ₹7.5L and ₹12L | 8 domestic |
| IndiGo Axis | 2/₹100 grocery & dining; 1/₹100 others | 1,200 BluChips at ₹1.5L and ₹3L | 4 domestic |
| IndiGo Axis Premium | 3/₹100 grocery & dining; 2/₹100 others | 5,000 BluChips at ₹2L, ₹5L, ₹8L and ₹12L | 8 domestic + 2 international |
| IndiGo IDFC FIRST | 3/₹100 on most spends; 0.5/₹100 on fuel, insurance, utilities, rent, wallet, FASTag, education, railway, govt and UPI | 5,000 BluChips at ₹2L, ₹5L, ₹8L, ₹10L and ₹12L (25,000 total) | Check KFS |
Excluded spends (typical across IndiGo cards): rent, wallet loads, fuel, government and tax payments, utilities, insurance, online gaming, education and cash. Kotak also excludes B2B spends and group, corporate or agent IndiGo bookings. IDFC FIRST pays a reduced 0.5/₹100 on many of these instead of zero, and caps earn at your credit limit each cycle.
DealUni take: If you fly IndiGo a lot, the Kotak Premium and Axis Premium have the best milestone ladders for the fee. The IDFC card earns on more categories, so it suits people with lots of utility, rent or UPI spends. None of these give BluChip status.
Etihad Guest (BOBCARD)
| BOBCARD Etihad Guest | BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Earn | Up to 1 mile/₹100 domestic, 2 international, 3 on Etihad.com | 2 miles/₹100 retail, 6 on Etihad.com |
| Monthly milestone | 250 miles (₹25,000 in 4+ transactions) | 500 miles (₹50,000 in 4+ transactions) |
| Annual milestone | 12,000 miles at ₹7.5L | 24,000 miles at ₹12L |
| Status | Etihad Guest Silver | Silver; Gold after a ₹10,000+ Etihad.com purchase within 6 months |
| Lounge | 8 domestic + 4 international | 12 domestic + 8 international, no spend condition |
| Forex | 1% | 0% |
Excluded spends (Premium): education, medical, telecom, rent, government, insurance, wallet loads and charity. DealUni take: The Premium is the best airline card in India right now: 0% forex, Etihad Guest Gold, and generous lounges for ₹5,000, waived on ₹5L spend.
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (SBI Card)
- KrisFlyer SBI (₹2,999): 3,000 miles welcome. Earns more on Singapore Airlines Group and international spends than on domestic spends. KrisFlyer Elite Silver on ₹2.5L SIA Group spend a year.
- KrisFlyer SBI Apex (₹9,999): 10,000 miles welcome. Higher earn on SIA, international and other spends. KrisFlyer Elite Gold (Star Alliance Gold, so lounge access when flying Star Alliance) on ₹7.5L SIA Group spend.
- Excluded: fuel, rent, utilities, wallet loads, government payments, EMI and cash. Forex: 3.5%.
DealUni take: Only worth it if you spend lakhs a year on Singapore Airlines flights; that’s how you unlock the status. HDFC Infinia transfers to KrisFlyer 1:1 and earns faster for most people.
Emirates Skywards (ICICI)
- Emeralde (₹10,000): 10,000 miles every year, up to 2 miles/₹100 (cut from 2.5 in Jan 2026), Skywards Silver, Gold on ₹15L spend including ₹50,000 on Emirates, unlimited international lounge access.
- Sapphiro (₹5,000): 5,000 miles welcome, up to 1.5 miles/₹100, Skywards Silver (renewed on ₹5L spend).
- Excluded (from 15 Jan 2026): insurance, utilities, government and education earn nothing, as well as fuel, rent, wallet and cash. Forex: 3.5%.
DealUni take: After the 2026 cuts, Skywards miles come with heavy fuel surcharges on Emirates flights. Hold it only if you fly Emirates regularly and value Silver/Gold.
SpiceJet (Axis Bank)
- Voyage (₹750): ₹1,500 SpiceJet voucher and SpiceClub Silver. Milestones: 2,000 points at ₹1L, 3,000 at ₹2L.
- Voyage Black (₹2,000): ₹4,000 SpiceJet voucher and SpiceClub Gold. Milestones: 4,000 points at ₹2L, 6,000 at ₹4L.
- Excluded: education, rent, wallet, government, insurance, gold and jewellery, fuel, cash and card repayments.
Avios (IndusInd)
- IndusInd Avios Visa Infinite (₹10,000 joining, ₹5,000 renewal): 20,000 Avios welcome (pick Qatar or British Airways), 5,000 on renewal.
- Earn: 3 Avios/₹200 on most spends, 5 on Qatar/BA, 6 at POS in preferred international destinations; just 1/₹200 on utilities, insurance, government and education.
- Milestones: 18,000 Avios at ₹8L and another 18,000 at ₹16L (36,000 a year max).
- Status: none. The old complimentary Qatar Privilege Club tier has been discontinued.
Closed or shutting down
| Card | What happened |
|---|---|
| Air India SBI Signature / Platinum | No new applications since 10 Oct 2024. No replacement Air India card yet |
| HDFC 6E Rewards / 6E Rewards XL (IndiGo) | Co-brand ended 31 Oct 2025; holders moved to regular HDFC cards, points converted 1:1 to BluChips |
| Kotak 6E Rewards / XL | Discontinued 25 Sep 2025, upgrade path to the new IndiGo Kotak cards |
| Etihad Guest SBI / SBI Premier | Closed by 31 Mar 2026; holders moved to SBI MILES / MILES ELITE |
| Club Vistara IDFC FIRST | Closed 30 Sep 2026; holders get a Diamond Reserve card, lifetime free |
| Axis Vistara / Signature / Infinite | Closed to new applicants; Maharaja Club status and tickets removed at renewal |
| Club Vistara SBI / SBI PRIME | Benefits cut in 2025, winding down |
Which one should you get?
| You are… | Pick |
|---|---|
| A frequent international traveller who wants status and low forex | ✅ BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium |
| Flying IndiGo 6+ times a year | ✅ IndiGo Kotak Premium or IndiGo Axis Premium |
| Spending big on Singapore Airlines | 🤔 KrisFlyer SBI Apex, for Elite Gold |
| An Air India loyalist | ⏳ Wait. Use Axis cards (Atlas 1:2, Magnus for Burgundy 5:4) to earn Maharaja Points meanwhile |
| Flying many different airlines | ❌ Skip co-brands. A transferable-points card (Axis Atlas, Magnus for Burgundy, HDFC Infinia) is more flexible |
Ek airline se pyaar hai toh co-brand lo; sabse pyaar hai toh transfer points. (Love one airline? Get its card. Love them all? Get transferable points.)
Compare earn rates and transfer partners in our Rewards Toolkit, or get a card-by-card plan for your next trip from the DealUni AI Planner.
Sources: official pages and terms from SBI Card, Kotak, Axis Bank, IDFC FIRST, BOBCARD, ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank, IndiGo (goindigo.in), Emirates and Singapore Airlines, plus bank migration notices, checked Sep–Oct 2026. Some earn rates, lounge counts and forex figures differ between bank pages; always check the latest Key Fact Statement before applying.
