Air India SBI Signature Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Introduction

The Air India SBI Signature Credit Card, issued by SBI Card, is positioned as a premium variant within SBI Card's Air India co-branded offerings and is considered a mid-level travel credit card. It is designed for frequent flyers, particularly those loyal to Air India, offering accelerated reward points on Air India spends, complimentary Priority Pass membership, and complimentary domestic airport lounge access. A key point to note is that this credit card has been discontinued by SBI Card, and new applications are no longer being entertained.

Welcome Benefits

• Receive 20,000 bonus Maharaja Points upon payment of the joining fee. These points will be credited within 15 days of the membership fee payment.
• Enjoy complimentary membership of the Air India Frequent Flyer program – Flying Returns, also referred to as the Air India Maharaja Club.

Fees

• Joining Fee: ₹4,999 + GST/taxes.
• Annual Fee: ₹4,999 + GST/taxes.
• Renewal Fee: ₹4,999 + GST/taxes, applicable from the second year onwards.
• Add-on Fee: Nil.
• Rewards Redemption Fee: No redemption fee is charged for converting reward points into Air India Air Miles.
• Foreign Currency Markup: 3.5% of the transacted amount.
• Interest Rates: 3.75% per month (equivalent to 45% annually).
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: A 1% fuel surcharge waiver is applicable on fuel transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000. The maximum waiver is capped at ₹250 per statement cycle, per credit card account.
• Cash Advance Charges: 2.5% of the cash advance amount or ₹500, whichever is higher.
• Spend-Based Waiver: Not applicable.

Rewards

• General Spends: Earn 4 Maharaja Points for every ₹100 spent on retail purchases and other eligible spends.
• Air India Spends: Earn an accelerated 10 Maharaja Points for every ₹100 spent on Air India ticket bookings. This includes bookings made via the Air India website, app, booking offices, or call centres, and applies to Super Saver tickets for both self and others.
• Milestone Benefits:
  • Receive an anniversary gift of 5,000 bonus Maharaja Points every year.
  • Earn up to 1,00,000 bonus Maharaja Points annually by achieving stipulated spending milestones:
    • 20,000 bonus Maharaja Points on annual spends of ₹5 lakhs.
    • 30,000 bonus Maharaja Points on annual spends of ₹10 lakhs.
    • 50,000 bonus Maharaja Points on annual spends of ₹20 lakhs.
  • Milestone calculations are based on annual spends from the account creation date.
• Travel Benefits:
  • Receive complimentary membership to the Priority Pass Program, valued at $99.
  • Enjoy 8 complimentary domestic lounge access visits per year (maximum 2 per quarter) through the Visa lounge access program at major domestic airports in India.
• Insurance Benefits:
  • Benefit from a complimentary insurance cover worth ₹1 lakh against lost card liability. This cover is applicable from 48 hours prior to reporting the loss until 7 days post the reporting of the loss to the bank.
• Other Benefits:
  • Complimentary membership of the Air India Frequent Flyer program – Flying Returns (Air India Maharaja Club).

Rewards Redemption Guide

• Reward points earned on the card are converted into Air India Air Miles, also known as Maharaja Points.
• The conversion rate is 1 Reward point = 1 Air India Maharaja point.
• Redemption is allowed for a minimum of 5,000 points, and in multiples of 5,000 thereafter.
• Reward Points are converted to Air India Maharaja Points within 7 working days of the request receipt.
• Once converted to Maharaja Points, the points cannot be reversed.
• To redeem Maharaja points for self, at least 1 flight accrual activity must be registered after enrolling as a Maharaja club member.
• To redeem Maharaja points for family or friends, at least 5 flight accrual activities must be registered after enrolment.

Card Review

The Air India SBI Signature Credit Card was positioned as a mid-level travel credit card by SBI Card and Air India. It was particularly well-suited for frequent domestic flyers, especially those who regularly travel with Air India, due to its accelerated reward points on Air India spends and a generous allowance of 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year.

• Pros:
  • High reward rate of 10 Maharaja Points per ₹100 on Air India ticket bookings.
  • Valuable milestone benefits offering up to 1,00,000 bonus Maharaja Points annually for high spenders.
  • Includes 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge accesses per year.
  • Complimentary Priority Pass membership.
  • Lost card liability insurance cover of ₹1 lakh.
• Cons:
  • The card has been discontinued by SBI Card, and new applications are no longer being accepted.
  • It carries a high joining and annual fee of ₹4,999 + GST.
  • While Priority Pass membership is complimentary, lounge visits under the program are chargeable at up to $27 per visit.
  • There is no complimentary international lounge access.
  • High foreign currency markup of 3.5% and a high interest rate of 3.75% per month.

Important Product Details

• Positive Highlights:
  • Welcome benefit of 20,000 Reward Points upon fee payment.
  • Accelerated reward earnings: 10 Reward Points per ₹100 on Air India tickets and 4 Reward Points per ₹100 on other retail purchases.
  • Annual milestone bonuses offering up to 1,00,000 Reward Points and an anniversary gift of 5,000 Reward Points.
  • Complimentary Priority Pass membership and 8 domestic lounge visits per year.
  • ₹1 lakh lost card liability cover.
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000 (maximum ₹250 per statement cycle).
  • Globally accepted at over 2 million Visa outlets and for cash withdrawals from over 1 million Visa ATMs worldwide.
  • Features like Flexipay EMI for eligible purchases (₹2,500 or more), Balance Transfer on EMI, Easy Bill Pay facility for utilities, and Add-on Cards for family members above 18 years of age.
  • Chip and PIN enabled for enhanced security against counterfeiting and skimming.
• Negative Highlights:
  • The card has been discontinued by SBI Card, and no new applications are being entertained.
  • High annual fee of ₹4,999 + GST.
  • Priority Pass member lounge visits incur a usage fee of up to $27.
  • A foreign currency markup of 3.5% is applied to international transactions.
  • High interest rate of 3.75% per month (45% annually).
  • Cash advance charges of 2.5% or ₹500 (whichever is higher) apply.

Other Details

• The card is best suited for travel, with its reward type being Air Miles.
• Reward Points are typically credited within 60 days from the date of transactions.
• For payment, cheques payable outside clearing zones are not accepted; only local cheques or drafts payable in Delhi are accepted.
• All applicable taxes would be charged on all fees, interest, and other charges.
• The value proposition of this co-branded product may be jointly funded by SBI Card and Air India, with potential fee and revenue sharing between the two parties.
• Continued use of the card will be deemed as acceptance of any amendments in the Terms and Conditions.
• For assistance, cardholders can call the SBI Card Helpline at 1860 180 1290 or 39 02 02 02 (prefix local STD code).
• Any disputes arising out of offers between the Cardholder and SBICPSL shall be subject to arbitration by a sole arbitrator appointed by SBICPSL in New Delhi, with proceedings conducted in English.
• SBICPSL may engage agents and/or third parties for marketing, sales, or other related services.
• The card is accepted at over 2,85,000 Visa outlets and allows cash withdrawals from over 18,000 Visa ATMs in India.
• Information on how to apply for an SBI Credit Card is available through the SBI Card website, Chatbot ILA, SBI Card Helpline, or by visiting the nearest SBI branch.
• Detailed legal documents, including "Most Important Terms & Conditions" and "Terms & Conditions," are available for reference.