Luxury credit cards, often referred to as super-premium credit cards, cater specifically to high-income individuals who have established strong relationships with their banks. These relationships are evaluated through a metric known as the total relationship value (TRV), which encompasses all account balances held with the bank, including savings, current, credit card accounts, loans, and insurance policies.
These super-premium credit cards come with an array of exclusive benefits, including access to premium hotel loyalty programs, unlimited lounge access, VIP airport services, and complimentary golf games. However, they also have stringent eligibility criteria, necessitating a high monthly income and an excellent credit score, along with a robust TRV with the card issuer.
Despite the substantial fees associated with these cards, the benefits typically outweigh the costs. Here’s a curated list of some of the best premium credit cards in India for September 2024, organised by their unique offers.
Top Premium Credit Cards in India for September 2024
- Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card
- Joining Fee: ₹50,000
- Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹50,000
- Airport Lounge Access: Unlimited domestic and international visits via Priority Pass
- Forex Markup Fee: Low at 1.5% with 2X reward points on international spends
- Reward Points: Up to 30 EDGE reward points for every ₹200 spent
- BookMyShow Offer: Buy 1 ticket, get 1 free, with up to 5 offer tickets per month
- Memberships: Includes ITC Culinaire, Accor Plus, Club Marriott, and EazyDiner Prime, along with offers on Postcard and Oberoi hotels.
- Axis Magnus Credit Card
- Joining Fee: ₹12,500
- Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹12,500
- Airport Lounge Access: Unlimited international and domestic visits, plus 4 additional guest visits
- Reward Points: Up to 60 EDGE reward points for every ₹200 spent
- Forex Markup Fee: Low at 2%
- Rewards Conversion: Convert rewards into Air Miles or Hotel Loyalty points at a ratio of 5:2
- Welcome Offer: Luxe gift card, The Postcard Hotels, or Yatra voucher worth ₹12,500 on the first transaction within 30 days of card issuance.
- HDFC Infinia Credit Card Metal Edition
- Joining Fee: ₹12,500
- Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹12,500
- Airport Lounge Access: Unlimited for primary and add-on members
- Reward Points:
- 10x points on travel and shopping spends via Smartbuy
- 5 points for every ₹150 spent (includes insurance, utilities, and education)
- HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card
- Joining Fee: ₹10,000
- Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹10,000
- Airport Lounge Access: Unlimited for primary and add-on members
- Base Rewards Rate: 3.33% with 5 reward points for every ₹150 spent
- Bonus Reward Points:
- Up to 10X on SmartBuy
- 2X on weekend dining with up to 1:1 redemption ratio
- Forex Markup Fee: Low at 2%
- Annual Spend Benefit: Renewal of complimentary memberships on spending ₹8 lakh annually
- ICICI Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card
- Joining Fee: ₹12,499
- Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹12,499
- Memberships: Taj Epicure & EazyDiner Prime
- Airport Lounge Access: Unlimited visits
- EaseMyTrip Vouchers: ₹3,000 voucher upon reaching annual spending milestones of ₹4 lakh and ₹8 lakh
- Golf Benefits: Unlimited golf lessons or rounds every month with a Golftripz account
- EazyDiner Benefits: Up to 50% off on dining in India & Dubai, 2,000 EazyPoints on joining
- Axis Bank Olympus Credit Card
- Joining Fee: ₹20,000
- Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹20,000
- Airport Lounge Access: Unlimited domestic and international access
- Reward Points: Up to 2 EDGE Miles for every ₹100 spent (1 EDGE Mile = 4 Partner Points)
- Welcome/Renewal Benefits:
- Taj Epicure membership
- ₹10,000 Taj/ITC Hotels voucher
- 2,500 EDGE Miles
- Stay Benefit: 3rd night free when booking a minimum of 3 nights via Hotels.com
- Complimentary Services: Airport concierge services, including meet-and-greet and transfers
- Golf Benefits: 8 complimentary rounds at domestic golf clubs with 1 guest visit per round
- YES Bank Marquee Credit Card
- Joining Fee: ₹9,999
- Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹4,999
- Reward Points:
- 36 YES Rewardz Points for every ₹200 spent online
- 18 YES Rewardz Points for every ₹200 spent offline
- Airport Lounge Access: Up to 24 domestic and unlimited international visits per year
- Forex Markup Fee: 1%
- Golf Benefits: Up to 12 complimentary golf lessons and 4 green fee waivers at select golf courses in India
- Welcome & Renewal Points: 60,000 YES Rewardz Points on joining, 20,000 YES Rewardz Points on renewal fee payments
- BookMyShow Offer: Buy 1 ticket, get up to ₹800 off on the 2nd ticket, with a maximum of 3 free tickets per month
Conclusion
Luxury credit cards provide an array of exclusive benefits and rewards for high-net-worth individuals. The unique features of these cards can significantly enhance your travel and lifestyle experiences, making them worth considering for those who qualify. However, it is essential to evaluate the associated fees against the benefits offered to ensure that they align with your financial goals.
