Axis Bank World Traveller Forex Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Axis Bank World Traveller Forex Card

Introduction

The Axis Bank World Traveller Forex Card is a co-branded prepaid MasterCard offered in collaboration with Germany-based Lufthansa airlines, making it an ideal travel companion for Indian globetrotters. This card allows users to earn valuable miles under Lufthansa airline’s Miles & More frequent flyer program for both loading and spending. It accepts 16 of the most widely used currencies, eliminating the hassle of carrying different currencies for various countries, and can be used across 30 million retail outlets and 1,00,000 e-commerce sites, internationally and in India. A key advantage is the absence of a foreign currency mark-up fee on transactions made in the currency loaded on the card, though a cross-currency usage fee applies otherwise.

Welcome Benefits

• Complimentary enrollment into the prestigious Miles & More frequent flyer membership program.
• 1,000 Miles credited to the Miles & More account upon loading the card for the first time.
• 2,000 Bonus Miles on loading more than USD 4,000 to the card.

Fees

• Joining Fee: ₹500 + GST
• Renewal Fee: N/A (No annual fee)
• Spend-Based Waiver: N/A
• Rewards Redemption Fee: N/A
• Foreign Currency Markup:
  • 0% on transactions made in the currency loaded on the card.
  • 3.50% of the transaction amount on cross-currency usage (transactions made in a currency other than the one loaded on the card).
• Interest Rates: N/A
• Fuel Surcharge: N/A
• Cash Advance Charges:
  • 0.5% of the transaction amount (subject to a maximum charge of USD 75).
  • USD 2.25 (or equivalent) on ATM withdrawals.
• Reload Fee: ₹100 applicable every time the card is reloaded.

Rewards

• Earn award miles for loading the card and every time you spend.
• There is no limit to collecting award miles.
• Earn 5 Miles for every USD 5 spent with the card.
• Cashback of up to Rs. 1,000 on VI international roaming packs every time the card is loaded or reloaded.
• The card offers acceptance across 16 widely used currencies, making payments convenient internationally.
• Enjoy 24x7 emergency assistance during international travel by TripAssist in case of loss of card, wallet, or baggage.
• The card is suitable for all your travel, dining, shopping, lodging, and entertainment needs.
• No specific benefits for Movies, Dining, Domestic Lounge Access, International Lounge Access, Golf, or general Insurance benefits are provided with this card.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• The Miles earned are transferred to your Miles & More account, which is registered with Axis Bank.
• You can redeem your miles online and offline for a wide range of products and experiences with Miles & More and its partners.
• Redemption Options:
  • Flight bookings and upgrades on all Star Alliance member carriers, including Lufthansa Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Singapore Airlines, Australian Airlines, and Air India.
  • Hotel reservations.
  • Car rentals.
  • Shopping at Miles & More partners (e.g., Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, Surat Diamond Jewellery, Indiatimes Shopping, PVR Cinemas, Bengaluru Duty Free Paradise, Avis).
  • Online Gift Cards starting from only 4,500 award miles.
  • Donations for a good cause.
• Tracking Miles:
  • Track your mileage balance by logging into your Miles & More account at https://www.miles-and-more.com using your unique login details (shared via email after program registration).
  • Sign up for the Miles & More monthly newsletter to receive updates on your current miles balance and attractive offers.
  • Download the Miles & More app from the Apple store for on-the-go information.
  • For any queries regarding Miles & More, you may call their customer care number: 1800-102-5838.

Card Eligibility Criteria

• As a prepaid card, there are no strict income-based eligibility criteria for the Axis Bank World Traveller Forex Card.
• Documents Required:
  • A copy of your passport.
  • Visa of the applicant.
  • Address proof (if your present address differs from the address mentioned on your passport).
  • Application form for the Axis Multicurrency Forex Card.
  • Copy of your air ticket.

Card Review

The Axis Bank World Traveller Forex Card is highly recommended for frequent international travelers due to its convenience and comprehensive reward program. Its primary value proposition lies in its co-branding with Lufthansa airlines and the ability to earn Miles & More miles, which are highly flexible. These miles can be redeemed not only for flights and upgrades across the extensive Star Alliance network (including major airlines like Lufthansa, Air India, Air Canada, and Singapore Airlines) but also for hotel stays, car rentals, shopping, and gift cards, offering diverse redemption avenues. The card's ability to hold 16 different currencies and its 0% foreign currency markup for transactions in the loaded currency are significant advantages, leading to potential savings of up to 4% compared to other forex options. While it has an initial issuance fee and a per-reload charge, the absence of an annual fee is a plus. Users should be mindful of the 3.5% cross-currency usage fee and cash advance charges. Overall, it provides excellent value for individuals who travel abroad frequently and wish to maximize their travel rewards.

Important Product Details

• Positive Highlights:
  • Co-branded with Lufthansa airlines, enrolling users into the Miles & More frequent flyer program.
  • Prepaid MasterCard accepted at over 30 million retail outlets and 1,00,000 e-commerce sites globally and in India.
  • Supports loading in 16 widely used currencies, offering significant convenience.
  • Features 0% foreign currency markup on transactions made in the loaded currency.
  • Allows earning award miles for both card loading and spending.
  • Provides complimentary Miles & More membership.
  • Offers 1,000 welcome award miles on the first card load.
  • Grants 2,000 bonus award miles on loading more than USD 4,000.
  • Rewards at a rate of 5 Miles for every USD 5 spent.
  • Includes cashback of up to Rs. 1,000 on VI international roaming packs upon loading/reloading.
  • Offers 24x7 emergency assistance via TripAssist for card, wallet, or baggage loss during international travel.
  • Competitive exchange rates help save up to 4% compared to other forex options.
  • Equipped with MasterCard's contactless technology for faster and safer transactions.
  • Easy reloading through Axis Internet Banking, Axis Mobile App, or any Axis Bank branch.
  • No annual fee.
• Negative Highlights / Charges:
  • A Joining Fee of ₹500 + GST is applicable.
  • A Reload Fee of ₹100 applies to every reload transaction.
  • A cross-currency usage fee of 3.50% of the transaction amount is charged if transactions are made in a currency other than the one loaded.
  • Cash Advance Charges include 0.5% of the transaction amount (up to a maximum of USD 75) or USD 2.25 on ATM withdrawals.
  • Does not offer dedicated Domestic or International Lounge Access.
  • No specific benefits for Movies, Dining, Golf, or standalone Insurance benefits (beyond emergency assistance for lost items).

Other Details

• Supported Currencies:
  • U.S. Dollar (USD)
  • EURO (EUR)
  • British Pound (GBP)
  • Australian Dollar (AUD)
  • Canadian Dollar (CAD)
  • Singapore Dollar (SGD)
  • Swiss Franc (CHF)
  • Swedish Krona (SEK)
  • Japanese Yen (JPY)
  • Thai Baht (THB)
  • United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)
  • Saudi Riyal (SAR)
  • New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
  • Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
  • South African Rand (ZAR)
  • Danish Krone (DKK)
• How to Load/Reload the Card:
  • Online: Axis Bank savings account holders can conveniently reload their Forex card using Internet Banking or the Axis Mobile App. The path for this is usually: Login -> Cards -> Multi Currency.
  • Offline: Customers without an Axis Bank account can visit their nearest Axis Bank branch for reloading the card. You can also authorize your family members to load your card while you are on a foreign trip by providing them with a duly signed authorization letter.
• How to Track Your Card Balance:
  • For Axis Bank savings account holders: Balance can be tracked via Internet Banking, Axis Mobile App, or by sending an SMS "MCCBAL <last 4 digits of card>" to 56161600 or +91 8691000002.
  • For customers not having an Axis Bank account: Balance can be tracked via www.axisbank.com (Login -> Cards -> Multi Currency), by sending an SMS "MCCBAL <last 4 digits of card>" to 56161600 or +91 8691000002, or through the Axis Mobile App.
• Application Process:
  • Online: Visit the Forex Cards application page on the Axis Bank’s website and submit your application. You will need to upload a scanned copy of your passport (with visa). The card can be delivered to your correspondence address or collected from your nearest Axis Bank branch.
  • Offline: You can obtain the card over the counter from any Axis Bank branch by submitting a copy of your passport (with visa) and air tickets.
• The card incorporates MasterCard's contactless technology for faster and more secure transactions.
• The card offers competitive exchange rates and helps avoid extra fees per transaction, allowing users to save up to 4% compared to other forex options.