Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Welcome Benefits

• Bonus Miles: 10,000 Emirates Skywards Miles credited as a welcome benefit upon payment of the joining fee.
• Elite Membership: Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership for the first year, which remains active as long as the credit card is active.

Fees

• Joining Fee: ₹10,000 + Goods and Services Tax (GST).
• Annual Fee: ₹10,000 + Goods and Services Tax (GST).
• Spend-Based Waiver: Not available; the card does not provide an annual fee waiver.
• Interest Rates: 3.75% per month (45% per annum) on the outstanding balance.
• Cash Advance Charges: 2.5% of the withdrawn amount, subject to a minimum of ₹500.
• Foreign Currency Markup: 3.50% on all international transactions.
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% surcharge waiver on all fuel transactions of up to ₹4,000 at any fuel outlet.
• Late Payment Fee: Ranging from ₹100 to ₹1,300 depending on the total amount due.
• Rewards Redemption Fee: Nil.
• ATM Withdrawal Interest: 3.75% per month.

Rewards

Reward Rates

• International Spends: Earn 2.5 Skywards Miles for every ₹100 spent.
• Domestic Spends: Earn 2.5 Skywards Miles for every ₹100 spent.
• iShop: Earn up to 4% cashback on iShop transactions.

Milestone Benefits

• Renewal Bonus: 10,000 Skywards Miles awarded annually upon payment of the renewal fee.
• Gold Tier Upgrade: Achieve Emirates Skywards Gold Tier Membership by spending ₹15 lakhs or more in an anniversary year, provided at least ₹50,000 of that spend is on Emirates bookings.

Travel and Lounge Access

• International Lounge Access: Unlimited complimentary access to international airport lounges for the primary cardholder.
• Domestic Lounge Access: Unlimited complimentary access to domestic airport lounges for the primary cardholder.
• Priority Pass: For applications processed on or after November 15, 2024, cardholders receive a complimentary Priority Pass membership (accessing 1,400+ lounges in 145+ countries).
• DreamFolks: For applications processed before November 15, 2024, cardholders receive a DreamFolks Membership (accessing 650+ lounges in 100+ countries).

Movie and Entertainment

• BookMyShow Offer: Buy one ticket and get up to ₹750 off on the second ticket.
• Frequency: This offer can be utilized four times every month.

Dining and Golf

• Dining: Exclusive dining deals and discounts through the ICICI Bank Culinary Treats Programme.
• Golf: Not available on this specific variant.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• Credit Process: Skywards Miles are automatically credited to the cardholder's Emirates Skywards account within 48 hours of the credit card statement generation date.
• Redemption Channels: Miles can be redeemed via the Emirates Skywards website.
• Redemption Options: Miles can be used for flight bookings, hotel stays, and other travel-related options available on the Emirates partner network.
• Validity: Skywards Miles are valid for three years from the date of the transaction that earned them. Unused miles expire after this period.
• Authorized Users: Redemption can be performed by the primary cardholder or an authorized travel coordinator. For minors, a parent or guardian may redeem on their behalf.

Card Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Rules

• Citizenship: Must be an Indian citizen.
• Minimum Age: Primary cardholder must be over 21 years of age; supplementary cardholders must be over 18 years of age.
• Salaried Employees: Minimum monthly income of ₹2,50,000.
• Self-Employed Individuals: Minimum annual income of ₹45,00,000.
• Credit Profile: Applicant should have a stable source of income, a good credit score, and high net worth.

Documents Required

• Identity Proof: Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, or Driving License.
• Address Proof: Aadhaar Card, Passport, Utility bills, or Driving License.
• Income Proof: Latest bank statements, salary slips, or the latest Income Tax Return (ITR).

Card Review

• Verdict: This is an elite travel card best suited for loyal Emirates flyers. The high annual fee is largely offset by the 10,000 annual miles and the Silver Tier membership perks, such as priority check-in and boarding.
• Pros:
  • Unlimited access to both domestic and international lounges.
  • Automatic elite tier status (Silver) in the Emirates Skywards program.
  • High value for movie enthusiasts with up to ₹3,000 in monthly savings on tickets.
  • Milestone pathway to Gold Tier status, which usually requires significant flight activity.
• Cons:
  • High joining and renewal fees with no spend-linked waiver.
  • High foreign currency markup for a premium travel card.
  • Extensive list of reward exclusions (Insurance, Utilities, Government, etc.).

Important Product Details

• Positive Highlights:
  • Unlimited complimentary international lounge access via Priority Pass or DreamFolks.
  • 10,000 Skywards Miles provided every year on renewal.
  • Generous BookMyShow discount capped at ₹750 per transaction.
  • Access to exclusive dining deals via the Culinary Treats Program.
• Negative Highlights:
  • No Skyward Miles are earned on fuel, insurance, utilities, government payments, or education fees.
  • Milestone calculation excludes cash advances, interest/service charges, late fees, joining/annual fees, EMI payments, and balance transfers.
  • High annual interest rate of 45%.
  • The upgrade to Gold Tier only occurs after the completion of 12 months and payment of the next annual fee, even if spending targets are met early.

Other Details

• Automatic Enrollment: If an applicant is not an Emirates Skywards member, ICICI Bank will share details with Emirates to securely enroll them in the program.
• Supplementary Spending: Miles earned on supplementary card spending are credited to the primary cardholder’s account.
• Milestone Calculations: Only retail purchases are considered for milestone benefits; reversals are deducted from the total spending.
• Plus Card: Cardholders have the option to apply for an ICICI Bank Plus Card to extend benefits to family members.
• Account Standing: To receive miles, the credit card account must remain active and not be in a delinquent state.