Best Credit Card for International Travel
These cards offer cash back rewards in addition to airline miles that can be claimed on future trips. Following is a list of some of the best international travel credit cards:
Citibank PremierMiles Credit Card
The PremierMiles Credit Card from Citibank offers complimentary air travel while giving customers the choice of over 100 airlines. Frequent flyers have plenty of benefits in store by availing this credit card as airline miles can be earned on all spends, and can be redeemed with relative ease for flights, car rentals and hotel stays.
Features and Benefits of Citibank PremierMiles Credit Card
- Miles earned through the card can be redeemed across more than 100 international as well as domestic airlines.
- Miles earned through the card can be transferred to any of Citibank’s airline and hotel partners.
- Get 10,000 bonus miles by spending Rs.1000 or more on the card within 60 days from the date on which the card was issued.
- Get 3000 airline miles on renewing your card.
- Win accelerated 10 airline miles for every Rs.100 spent when booking flight tickets, car rentals and hotel stays through www.premiermiles.co.in.
- Win 10 miles for every Rs.100 spent on airline bookings with any airline on the globe.
- Win 10 miles for every Rs.100 spent with Citibank’s online partner merchants.
- Win four miles per Rs.100 spent on all other transactions using the card.
- The miles earned through the Citibank PremierMiles Credit Card have no expiry date, so customers can rest assured that their miles can be redeemed at any time, with no blackout dates.
- Customers who are FFP (Frequent Flyer Program) members of any airline around the world can book tickets using their PremierMiles card and win 10 miles for every Rs.100 spent on the card. Moreover, additional FFP miles can be accumulated for flying with that particular airline.
- One Frequent Flyer Air Mile can be earned for every two miles transferred on British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Malaysian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Thai Airways, Delta Airlines, Etihad Airways, Air India, Eva Air, and Singapore Airlines.
- Complimentary access to airport lounges across India.
Fees and Charges
Annual Fee: Rs.3000
Interest Rate: Variable interest rate ranging from 37.20% and 42% per annum.
American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card
The Platinum Travel Credit Card from American Express offers membership reward points in addition to airline miles that can be redeemed across a number of airlines. Following are some of the features and benefits offered by the card:
Features and Benefits of the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card
- Earn four complimentary visits to over 30 airport lounges in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi amongst ten other cities per year.
- Get 3% cash back at top fuel stations across the country.
- Earn one Membership Rewards Point per Rs.50 spent except for spends on insurance, utilities, fuel, and cash transactions.
Fees and Charges
Joining Fees: Rs.3500
Annual Fees: Rs.5000
Interest: 40.2% per annum
HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card
If you’re looking for a card that offers benefits when you dine out, travel, or spend on entertainment, the HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card is a great solution. Following are some of the features and benefits of the Regalia Credit Card from HDFC Bank:
Features and Benefits of HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card
- Earn complimentary Taj Epicure Plus membership and make the most of exquisite benefits at Taj Hotels and Resorts.
- Win Epicure Points on food and beverage spends at participating outlets in a number of cities across the country.
- Win complimentary Club Vistara Silver Membership to avail exclusive benefits on Vistara, including six Club Vistara points per Rs.100 spent on all Vistara flights.
- Get extra five kilograms baggage allowance as well as priority airport check-in and boarding.
- Get four Reward Points per Rs.150 spent on the card, except for expenses on fuel.
- Get 2x Reward Points per Rs.150 spent on bookings through www.hdfcbankregalia.com, bookings through airvistara.com, and spends on dining at stand-alone restaurants.
- Convert Reward Points into air miles of some of the best international as well as domestic airlines.
- Get 2% foreign currency markup on all spends using foreign currency.
- Get 0% surcharge on all fuel expenses by spending a minimum of Rs.400.
Fees and Charges
- Annual Fees: Rs.9999
- Interest: 23.88% per annum
Axis Bank Miles & More World Credit Card
The Miles & More World Credit Card from Axis Bank offers unlimited miles on eligible spends, making it an ideal option for frequent travellers. Cardholders can avail several different privileges, which include the following:
Features and Benefits of the Axis Bank Miles & More World Credit Card
- Get 3000 Welcome Miles on availing the card.
- Win 2000 Bonus Miles by activating the card and spending Rs.50,000 within the first 60 days following card issuance.
- Win 5000 miles as a welcome bonus on the first transaction with your card.
- Earn 3000 miles every year as Annual Bonus Miles.
- Win four miles for every Rs.200 spent on the card.
- Win 20 miles for every Rs.200 spent on movie bookings through the card.
- Get 3000 miles on every annual renewal.
- Earn 24,000 miles by spending Rs.1 lakh in a month.
- Get complimentary access to MasterCard lounges across the countries.
- Get 2.5% surcharge refund by spending Rs.400 to Rs.5000 on fuel at all petrol pumps across India.
Fees and Charges
- Joining Fee: Rs.3500
- Annual Fee: Rs.3500
- Interest: 2.95% per month (41.75% per annum)
Jet Privilege HDFC Bank World Credit Card
The Jet Privilege HDFC Bank World Credit Card offers exclusive travel privileges with the best airline co-brand on the planet. Here are some of the attractive features and benefits offered by the Jet Privilege HDFC Bank World Credit Card:
Features and Benefits of the Jet Privilege HDFC Bank World Credit Card
- Get a welcome bonus of up to 10,000 JP Miles in addition to a one way Jet Airways ticket (5000 Bonus JP Miles for swiping the card within 90 days of setup, and 5000 Bonus JP Miles on spending a minimum of Rs.75,000 within 90 days of setting up the card).
- Win six JP Miles per Rs.150 spent as well as 18 JP Miles per flight ticket booked on www.jetairways.com.
- Receive one JP Tier Point for every Rs.2 lakhs spent on the card.
- Get lounge access at a number of airports across India as well as overseas.
- Spend Rs.3 lakhs over the 12 months before renewing your card and get your renewal fee waived.
- Get a discount voucher worth Rs.750 by booking a domestic return ticket on Jet Airways.
- Get a 5% discount on all domestic flight ticket bookings made through www.jetairways.com (Promo Code: JTHDFC).
Fees and Charges
- Joining Fee: Rs.2500 plus GST as applicable
- Annual Fee: Rs.2500 plus GST as applicable
HSBC MakeMyTrip Signature Credit Card
The MakeMyTrip Signature Credit Card from HSBC Bank is a great option for those who wish to enjoy maximum benefits while shopping and travelling. Not only does the card offer reward points and discount vouchers, but also gives customers the chance to win free flight tickets from time to time. Following are some of the main features and benefits of the HSBC MakeMyTrip Signature Credit Card:
Features and Benefits of HSBC MakeMyTrip Signature Credit Card
- Receive 10 points for every Rs.100 spent on www.makemytrip.com.
- Receive four points for every Rs.100 spent on other merchant sites.
- Receive 15 Turbo Reward Points for every Rs.100 spent on www.makemytrip.com if the total expenditure exceeds Rs.50,000 in a year.
- Earn exclusive membership anniversary present if the total expenditure in the first year of availing the card exceeds Rs.4 lakhs. Also receive 10,000 reward points and two extra domestic airline ticket vouchers worth Rs.500 each.
- Get fuel surcharge of 2.5% or up to Rs.250 per month if transactions range between Rs.400 and Rs.4000.
- Get discounts of up to 20% on dining in major cities.
Fees and Charges
- Annual Fee: Rs.500
Air India SBI Platinum Card
The Air India SBI Platinum Card has been exclusively designed for travellers and offers attractive rewards and bonuses. Not only does the card facilitate cheaper and comfortable travel, but also offers fuel surcharge waiver, thereby helping save a significant amount of money. Following are some of the features and benefits of the Air India SBI Platinum Card:
Features and Benefits of Air India SBI Platinum Card
- Receive a welcome gift of 5000 Reward Points on paying the joining fee.
- Receive complimentary membership to the Air India FFP (Frequent Flyer Program).
- Win two Reward Points per Rs.100 spent on your card.
- Get an anniversary present of 2000 Reward Points per year upon payment of renewal fees.
- Get 5000 and 15,000 bonus reward points by spending Rs.2 lakhs or Rs.3 lakhs per year.
- Win 10 Reward Points per Rs.100 spent on Air India tickets.
- Get 2.5% fuel surcharge waived across all petrol pumps in India.
- Get complimentary visa lounge access at major Indian airports.
Fees and Charges
- Joining Fee: Rs.1499
- Annual Fee: Rs.1499
Axis Bank Titanium Smart Traveler Credit Card
The Titanium Smart Traveler Card from Axis Bank offers travel benefits in an effort to make your trips rewarding. In addition to loyalty rewards and other bonuses, the card also provides fuel surcharge waiver and helps in saving a good amount of money on travel. Here are some of the features and benefits of the Axis Bank Titanium Smart Traveler Credit Card:
Features and Benefits of the Axis Bank Titanium Smart Traveler Credit Card
- Get 8 eDGE Loyalty Reward Points in addition to more than 500 offers and rewards on transactions using the card.
- Get eight points per Rs.200 spent on the card while travelling overseas.
- Get four points per Rs.200 spent on airline, bus and train bookings, holiday packages and hotel stays in India.
- Get two points per Rs.200 spent on the credit card within the country.
- Get 2.5% fuel surcharge waiver at all petrol pumps across India.
Fees and Charges
- Joining Fee: Rs.250
- Annual Fee: Rs.100 (waived if spends in the preceding year exceed Rs.50,000)
- Interest: 3.25% per month (46.78% per annum)
Yatra SBI Credit Card
The Yatra SBI Credit Card offers some truly attractive deals for travels. Benefits are not limited to travel as the card also offers reward points for shopping in addition to other privileges which are listed below.
Features and Benefits of the Yatra SBI Credit Card
- Receive vouchers worth Rs.8250 from Yatra.com by simply paying the joining fee when availing the card.
- Receive two vouchers worth Rs.500 each for domestic travel.
- Receive two vouchers worth Rs.1000 each for overseas travel.
- Receive one voucher worth Rs.750 for booking hotel stays with the card.
- Receive 6x reward points by using the card on Yatra.com, grocery and departmental stores.
- Receive extra 6x bonus points on purchased made on Yatra.com.
- Earn one point per Rs.100 spent at retail outlets that don’t include grocery and departmental stores.
- Win a discount voucher from Yatra.com per Rs.3000 spent on the site.
- Get 2.5% fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps in India if transactions are between Rs.500 and Rs.3000.
- Get exclusive access to premium MasterCard airport lounges across the country.
Fees and Charges
- Joining Fee: Rs.499 plus taxes as applicable
- Annual Fee: Rs.499 plus taxes as applicable
Each of the aforementioned cards have their own perks and benefits, and doing a comprehensive comparison with the other options will help you find that perfect credit card that will help in availing some truly fantastic rewards whilst saving some money as well.
