Etihad Guest SBI Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Introduction

The Etihad Guest SBI Card, launched in 2019 in partnership with Etihad Airways, is a travel-centric credit card designed for frequent flyers. It offers an attractive reward rate on Etihad Airways bookings and decent points on other expenditures. With a joining and annual fee of Rs. 1,499 + GST, this card provides a range of travel-related privileges, making it a valuable option for individuals who regularly travel, particularly to Middle Eastern destinations.

Welcome Benefits

• Welcome bonus of 2,500 Etihad Guest Miles, credited within 15-30 days of annual fee payment or card setup.
• Complimentary Etihad Guest Silver tier status, upgraded within 10 days of your first card transaction or upon request. You can opt for Tier Upgrade through the helpline, Mobile App, and Website.
• 1 free Wi-Fi voucher on your first Etihad Airways booking, sent to your registered email ID within 15-30 days of the flight booking.

Fees

• Joining Fee: Rs. 1,499 + GST (one-time).
• Renewal Fee: Rs. 1,499 + GST (per annum, from the second year onwards).
• Spend-Based Waiver: The annual membership fee is waived off from the 2nd year onwards if annual spends of Rs. 3,00,000 or more are achieved in the previous year.
• Add-on Card Fee: Nil.
• Rewards Redemption Fee: Nil.
• Foreign Currency Markup: 3.5% (plus applicable taxes).
• Interest Rates: 3.5% per month (equivalent to 42% annually).
• Fuel Surcharge: 1% fuel surcharge waiver applicable at all fuel stations across India for transactions between Rs. 500 and Rs. 4,000.
• Maximum Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Capped at Rs. 250 per statement cycle.
• Cash Advance Charges: 2.5% of the withdrawn amount, subject to a minimum charge of Rs. 500.

Rewards

Reward Earnings

• 3 Etihad Guest Miles for every Rs. 100 spent on Etihad.com or Etihad Airways bookings.
• 2 Etihad Guest Miles for every Rs. 100 spent on international transactions.
• 1 Etihad Guest Mile for every Rs. 100 spent on other categories, except fuel transactions.

Travel Benefits

• 10% discount on Business Class ticket bookings made directly on Etihad Airways.
• 3% discount on Economy Class ticket bookings made directly on Etihad Airways.
• Up to 5% discount on reward miles redemption.
• Complimentary Etihad Guest Silver tier status.
• Savings of up to 10% on Hertz car rental.
• Savings of up to 35% on Avis Car Rentals.
• Exclusive benefits across 900 luxury hotels worldwide (via Visa Privileges).
• Earn up to 10,000 miles per night on hotel stays plus 25% extra miles on Kaligo.com.

Lounge Access

• Complimentary membership to the Priority Pass Program, valued at $99.
• 8 complimentary visits per year to domestic Visa Card Lounges in India, with a maximum of 2 visits per quarter.

Milestone Benefits

• 1 companion voucher will be sent to your registered email ID within 30 days of achieving annual spends of Rs. 10,00,000.
• 5,000 Etihad Guest Miles are awarded on achieving annual spends of Rs. 5,00,000.

Insurance

• Complimentary overseas air accident coverage of Rs. 25 Lakh.
• Complimentary fraud liability cover of Rs. 50,000. This cover is applicable from 48 hours prior to reporting the loss of the card until 7 days post-reporting.
• Complimentary lost baggage allowance of up to USD 1,000.

Fuel

• 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between Rs. 500 and Rs. 4,000 at any petrol pump across the country.
• A maximum fuel surcharge waiver of Rs. 250 can be availed per statement cycle.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• Reward points earned with the Etihad Guest SBI Card are accumulated as Etihad Guest Miles.
• These miles can be instantly redeemed to book flights, hotels, and car rentals from participating travel partners.
• You can also use your Etihad Guest Miles for purchasing amazing products available at etihadguest.com or its travel partner services.
• The card allows you to choose to pay for your purchases using these miles.
• There is no limit to the number of Miles you can redeem at etihadguest.com or through its travel partners.
• Etihad Guest Miles are valid for 18 months for Silver tier members (which you receive with this card).
• To earn the accelerated rate of 3 Etihad Guest Miles per Rs. 100 on Etihad Airways bookings, tickets must be booked directly on Etihad.com. Bookings made through third-party merchants will earn miles at the standard rate of 1 Etihad Guest Mile per Rs. 100 spent.

Card Review

• Overall Verdict: The Etihad Guest SBI Card is a highly attractive option for individuals who frequently travel, particularly with Etihad Airways or to Middle Eastern destinations. Its robust reward program on Etihad bookings, coupled with valuable travel perks, offers significant benefits for its annual fee.
• Who Should Apply:
  • Frequent flyers, especially those who prefer traveling with Etihad Airways.
  • Individuals who travel regularly to destinations like Dubai and can maximize the accelerated AirMiles benefit on Etihad Airways bookings.
• Pros:
  • High reward rate on Etihad Airways bookings.
  • Generous welcome benefits including Etihad Guest Miles and Silver tier status.
  • Comprehensive travel benefits such as lounge access (domestic and Priority Pass), car rental discounts, and hotel benefits.
  • Useful insurance covers for travel (air accident, lost baggage, fraud liability).
  • Annual fee reversal on achieving a reasonable spend milestone.
  • Add-on cards available at zero fee.
• Cons:
  • Reward rates are lower for general spends compared to Etihad-specific or international transactions.
  • The fuel surcharge waiver is capped per statement cycle.
  • A foreign currency markup of 3.5% plus taxes applies to international transactions.
  • High interest rate on outstanding balances.

Important Product Details

Positive Highlights

• Welcome benefits include 2,500 Etihad Guest Miles, complimentary Etihad Guest Silver tier status, and a free Wi-Fi voucher on the first Etihad Airways booking.
• Accelerated reward earnings: 3 Etihad Guest Miles on Etihad.com spends and 2 Etihad Guest Miles on international spends for every Rs. 100.
• Milestone benefits: Receive a companion voucher on annual spends of Rs. 10,00,000 and 5,000 Etihad Guest Miles on annual spends of Rs. 5,00,000.
• Travel perks: Complimentary Priority Pass membership (worth $99) and 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year (max 2 per quarter).
• Exclusive discounts on Etihad Airways: 10% on Business Class and 3% on Economy Class tickets for direct bookings.
• Additional travel benefits include savings on Hertz (up to 10%) and Avis (up to 35%) car rentals, and hotel benefits via Visa Privileges, including earning up to 10,000 miles per night on Kaligo.com.
• Comprehensive insurance covers: Rs. 25 Lakh overseas air accident coverage, USD 1,000 lost baggage cover, and Rs. 50,000 fraud liability cover.
• Annual fee waiver on spending Rs. 3,00,000 or more in the preceding year.
• Add-on cards are available at zero annual fee for family members aged 18 and above.

Negative Highlights

• A foreign currency markup of 3.5% plus applicable taxes is charged on international transactions.
• High interest rate of 3.5% per month (42% annually) on unpaid balances.
• Cash advance charges apply at 2.5% of the withdrawn amount, with a minimum of Rs. 500.
• The 1% fuel surcharge waiver is capped at a maximum of Rs. 250 per statement cycle.
• Reward earnings for general spends and Etihad Airways bookings made through third-party merchants are at a lower rate (1 mile per Rs. 100).

Other Details

• Global Acceptance: The Etihad Guest SBI Card is accepted at over 24 million outlets across the globe, including 3,25,000 outlets in India.
• Contactless Payments: Enjoy fast, easy, and convenient daily purchases by simply waving your card at secure readers. The card's unique security key feature ensures only one transaction goes through, enhancing security.
• Security: The card is chip and PIN enabled, providing enhanced security against counterfeiting and skimming.
• Emergency Card Replacement: You can get your Etihad Guest SBI Card replaced anywhere in the world. A 24x7 helpline is available for emergency card replacement even while travelling abroad.
• Cash Access: Withdraw cash from over 1 million Visa or MasterCard ATMs worldwide.
• Easy Bill Pay Facility: Utilize the Easy Bill Pay facility to pay your electricity, telephone, mobile, and other utility bills conveniently.
• Flexipay: Convert transactions of Rs. 2,500 or more into easy monthly installments (EMI). This can be done by logging into sbicard.com within 30 days of purchase.
• Balance Transfer on EMI: Save money on credit card dues by transferring outstanding balances from other banks’ credit cards to your Etihad Guest SBI Card, to avail a lower rate of interest and pay back in EMIs. This service can be accessed via sbicard.com.
• Add-on Cards: You can empower your family members (parents, spouse, children, or siblings above the age of 18) with add-on cards at zero annual fee. The credit limit will be shared amongst the primary and all add-on cards.
• How to Apply: You can apply for the Etihad Guest SBI Card online through the SBI Card official website, by calling the SBI Card helpline (39 02 02 02 by prefixing local STD code, or 1860 180 1290), or by visiting your nearest SBI branch.
• Customer Care: SBI Card offers 24x7 customer care support. For assistance, you can dial 39 02 02 02 (prefix your local STD code) or 1860 180 1290.
• Lost Card Reporting: To report a lost card, call the SBI Card helpline or send an SMS "BLOCK <last 4 digits of the card>" to 5676791.
• Important Notes:
  • All applicable taxes will be charged on all fees, interest, and other charges.
  • The value proposition of the co-brand product may be jointly funded by SBI Card and the co-brand partner based on their financial arrangement, and there may be fee and revenue sharing between the two parties.
  • Cheques payable outside clearing zones are not accepted; only local cheques or drafts payable in Delhi are accepted for payment.
  • Continued use of the card will be deemed acceptance of any amendments to its terms and conditions.