Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Axis Horizon Credit Card

Introduction

The Axis Horizon Credit Card is a travel-centric credit card designed to offer generous rewards and travel benefits, serving as an affordable option for frequent travelers. It provides accelerated reward points on travel-related expenses, along with complimentary access to both domestic and international airport lounges. The card carries a joining and annual fee of ₹3,000 plus GST, with no spend-based waiver for the annual fee. It is available in Mastercard World and Visa Signature variants, which offer slightly different numbers of domestic airport lounge visits.

Welcome Benefits

• 5,000 EDGE Miles are credited on the first transaction of ₹1,000 or more within 30 days of the card issuance date.
• These 5,000 EDGE Miles can be valued at ₹5,000 if converted to partner hotels or airline points.
• There are no MCC (Merchant Category Code) restrictions for these welcome benefit purchases.

Fees

• Joining Fee:
  • INR 3000 + GST for the Primary cardholder.
  • No fee for Add-on cards.
• Annual Fee:
  • INR 3000 + GST for the Primary cardholder.
  • No fee for Add-on cards.
  • There is no spend-based annual fee waiver; the fee must be paid annually as long as the card is active.
• Cash Advance Fee: 2.5% of the transaction amount, with a minimum of INR 500.
• Late Payment Charges:
  • Nil if the outstanding amount is less than INR 500.
  • INR 500 if the outstanding amount is between INR 501 and INR 5000.
  • INR 750 if the outstanding amount is between INR 5001 and INR 10000.
  • INR 1200 if the outstanding amount is greater than INR 10000.
  • An additional INR 100 will be charged for missing payment of Minimum Amount Due (MAD) by the due date for two consecutive cycles; this charge continues for every payment cycle until MAD is cleared.
• Over Limit Charge: 2.5% of the overlimit amount, with a minimum of INR 500.
• Returned Payment Charge (Cheque / ECS / ACH / SI bounce charge): 2% of the payment amount, subject to a minimum of Rs.500.
• Railway Ticket Booking Surcharge: As prescribed by IRCTC / Indian Railways.
• Fuel Surcharge: 1% fuel surcharge waiver for fuel transactions between INR 400 - INR 5000, with a maximum capping of INR 400 per statement month. GST charged on fuel surcharge is non-refundable.
• Statement Request (beyond 3 months): NIL.
• Reissue of Lost, Stolen or Damaged Card: NIL.
• Foreign Currency Transactions Markup: 3.50% of the transaction value on International Non DCC Transactions.
• Cash Deposit at Branches: INR 175 per deposit.
• Finance Charges - Interest: 3.75% per month (equivalent to 55.55% annually).
• Rent Surcharge: 1% will be applicable on each rental transaction done on Axis Bank Credit Cards. GST will be applicable as notified by the Government of India.
• DCC Markup: 1.5% plus taxes will be applicable on each international transaction performed in Indian currency at an international location or transactions performed in Indian currency with merchants located in India but registered in a foreign nation.
• Wallet Load Transaction Fee: 1% fee on cumulative spends of Rs.10,000 or more on wallet loads per statement cycle.
• Fuel Transaction Fee: 1% fee on cumulative spends of Rs.50,000 or more on fuel transactions per statement cycle.
• Education Transaction Fee: 1% fee on education payments made via third-party apps.
• Utility Transaction Fee: 1% fee on cumulative spends of Rs. 25,000 or more on utilities per statement cycle.
• Online Skill-based Gaming Transaction Fee: 1% fee on cumulative spends of Rs. 10,000 or more on online skill-based gaming platforms in a statement cycle.

Rewards

• Renewal Benefits: 1,500 EDGE Miles (valued at INR 1,500) are credited on completion of the anniversary year, within 30 days of the credit card anniversary.
• Accelerated Rewards: Earn 5 EDGE Miles on every INR 100 spent on Axis Bank Travel EDGE portal and direct airline websites (airline purchases made at airline-owned websites, at airline counters, and through airline helpline numbers).
• Base Rewards: Earn 2 EDGE Miles per INR 100 on all other eligible spends.
• Lounge Access:
  • International: 2 complimentary airport lounge access visits per calendar quarter, totaling 8 visits annually. A USD 1 transaction must be made for access, which will later be refunded.
  • Domestic:
    • 8 complimentary airport lounge visits per calendar quarter for the Visa Signature variant.
    • 6 complimentary airport lounge visits per calendar quarter for the Mastercard World variant.
    • An access fee of ₹2 for Visa and ₹25 for Mastercard Horizon Credit Cards will be charged for accessing airport lounges, which will later be refunded.
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% surcharge waiver for fuel transactions between INR 400 - INR 5000, with a maximum capping of INR 400 per statement month.
• Insurance Cover: Includes a Lost Card Liability cover of INR 10 Lakh.
• Dining Delights: Enjoy exceptional dining experiences at top restaurants across India with the Axis Bank Dining Delights Program, offering a 15% discount (up to ₹500).
• Wednesday Delight Offers: Beat the mid-week blues with exciting offers every Wednesday:
  • Instant savings of up to 15% on flights & hotels via MakeMyTrip.
  • 10% off on orders via Swiggy.
  • 10% off up to Rs. 1000 on Tira.
• Non-Eligible Categories for EDGE Mile Earnings: Transportation & Tolls, Utilities, Insurance, Educational Institutions, Government Institutions, Wallet, Rent, and Fuel.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• Redemption Platform: Redeem EDGE Miles at the Travel EDGE portal.
• Conversion to Partner Points: EDGE Miles can be converted to various airline and hotel loyalty program partner points.
• Redemption Rate: 1 EDGE Mile = 1 Partner Point.
• Minimum Redemption: The minimum EDGE Miles required for redemption is 500.
• Annual Transfer Limit: A maximum of 500,000 EDGE Miles can be transferred to partner points in a year.
• Partner Programs:
  • Group A (Maximum 100,000 EDGE Miles Transferable Annually):
    • Accor Hotels (Accor Live Limitless)
    • Air Canada (Aeroplan)
    • Ethiopian Airlines
    • Etihad (Etihad Guest)
    • Japan Airlines (JAL Mileage Bank)
    • Marriott International (Marriott Bonvoy)
    • Qatar Airways
    • Singapore Airlines (Krisflyer)
    • Turkish Airlines
    • Thai Airways (Royal Orchid Plus)
    • United Airlines (MileagePlus)
    • Wyndham Hotels (Wyndham Rewards)
  • Group B (Maximum 400,000 EDGE Miles Transferable Annually):
    • Air France-KLM (Flying Blue)
    • Air India (Flying Returns)
    • Air Asia
    • ITC
    • IHG® Hotels & Resorts (IHG One Rewards)
    • Qantas Airways (Qantas Frequent Flyer)
    • SpiceJet
• Process for Transfer: Log in to the Travel EDGE portal to convert EDGE Miles into partner points.

Card Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Rules

• The Primary Cardholder should be 18-70 years of age.
• The individual should be a resident of India.
• The bank reserves the ultimate right to approve or decline applications for the Axis Horizon Credit Card.

Documents Required

• Proof of Identity: PAN Card photocopy / Colour photograph.
• Proof of Income: Latest payslip / Form 16 / IT Return / Form 60.
• Residence Proof: Driving License / Electricity Bill / Landline Telephone Bill.
• The above list is indicative, and required documents may vary on a case-to-case basis.

Card Review

The Axis Horizon Credit Card is considered a great mid-range and affordable credit card, especially beneficial for frequent travelers. It offers a strong 5% reward rate, earning 5 EDGE Miles for every ₹100 spent on Axis Bank Travel EDGE portal and direct airline expenses. The card's most attractive feature is its complimentary access to both international (8 visits annually) and domestic (up to 8 visits annually for Visa, 6 for Mastercard) airport lounges, ensuring a comfortable and cost-effective travel experience. It is a must-have for individuals who travel frequently for work or vacation and are looking for a rewarding credit card option at an accessible fee. A notable drawback is the absence of a spend-based annual fee waiver, meaning the annual fee must be paid regardless of spending.

Important Product Details

• Positive Highlights:
  • Generous welcome benefit of 5,000 EDGE Miles.
  • High reward rate of 5 EDGE Miles for every ₹100 spent on travel and airline bookings.
  • Extensive complimentary lounge access, including 8 international and up to 8 domestic visits annually.
  • Offers valuable dining discounts through the Axis Bank Dining Delights Program (15% off up to ₹500).
  • Provides additional savings on flights, hotels, Swiggy, and Tira every Wednesday.
  • 1:1 conversion ratio for EDGE Miles to a wide range of airline and hotel loyalty partners.
  • Includes Lost Card Liability cover of INR 10 Lakh.
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver for transactions between ₹400-₹5000 (capped at ₹400 per month).
  • Total estimated annual benefits are more than INR 58,200 (based on an illustrative annual spend of INR 8,00,000).
• Negative Highlights:
  • Annual fee of ₹3,000 + GST with no spend-based waiver.
  • No EDGE Miles earned on specific categories like Transportation & Tolls, Utilities, Insurance, Educational Institutions, Government Institutions, Wallet, Rent, and Fuel transactions.
  • An annual limit of 500,000 EDGE Miles on transfer to partner points.

Other Details

• The Terms and Conditions of Axis Horizon Credit Card will be updated effective 20th June, 25.
• For international transactions converted to INR via Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) at ATMs, additional fees/charges may be levied by the ATM acquiring bank or service provider.
• For international transactions in US Dollars, a 3.5% mark-up is applied on the INR equivalent at conversion rates published by card networks. For other foreign currencies, the transaction is first converted to US Dollars at card network rates, then the mark-up applies.
• An access fee of ₹2 (Visa) or ₹25 (Mastercard) is charged for domestic airport lounge access, which is later refunded.
• For international airport lounges, a USD 1 transaction must be made for access, which is later refunded.
• The card is available in Mastercard World and Visa Signature variants.