Etihad Guest SBI Premier Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Etihad Guest SBI Premier Credit Card

Introduction

The Etihad Guest SBI Premier Credit Card is a premium travel credit card launched in partnership with Etihad Airways, designed for frequent travelers, particularly those flying to destinations like Dubai. This card offers a range of exclusive privileges, including accelerated Etihad Guest Miles on travel and international spends, complimentary lounge access, and significant discounts on Etihad Airways bookings. It also provides valuable welcome benefits and milestone rewards, making it a compelling option for high-net-worth individuals who travel frequently.

Welcome Benefits

• Welcome 5,000 Etihad Guest Miles. These miles will be credited within 30 days of annual fee payment (or within 15 days according to another source).
• Complimentary Etihad Guest Gold tier status post first card transaction. You will be upgraded to Gold tier status within 10 days of the request. Tier upgrade notification will be sent via SMS within 10 days of the first card transaction. You can opt for Tier Upgrade through helpline, Mobile App & Website.
• 2 Free Wi-Fi vouchers on your first Etihad Airways booking. The Wi-Fi vouchers will be sent to your registered e-mail ID within 30 days of flight booking (or within 15 days of the first Etihad Airways flight booking according to another source).

Fees

• Joining Fee (one-time): Rs. 4,999 + GST
• Renewal Fee (per annum): Rs. 4,999 + GST, from the second year onwards.
• Spend-Based Waiver: The annual membership fee is reversible (waived) from the second year onwards if you spend a minimum of Rs. 5,00,000 in the preceding year.
• Add-on Fee (per annum): Nil
• Rewards Redemption Fee: Nil
• Foreign Currency Markup: 3.5% (plus applicable taxes)
• Interest Rates: 3.5% per month (42% per annum)
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between Rs. 500 to Rs. 4,000 at any petrol pump across the country. A maximum Fuel Surcharge Waiver of Rs. 250 can be availed per statement cycle.
• Cash Advance Charges: 2.5% of the withdrawn amount (subject to a minimum charge of Rs. 500)

Rewards

• Earning Etihad Guest Miles:
  • 6 Etihad Guest Miles on every Rs. 100 spent on Etihad.com.
  • 4 Etihad Guest Miles on every Rs. 100 spent on International Spends.
  • 2 Etihad Guest Miles on every Rs. 100 spent on other spends (except fuel purchases).
  • A maximum of 40,000 Miles can be accrued in a given year.
• Milestone Benefits:
  • 1,500 Etihad Guest Miles on achieving spends of Rs. 1,50,000 in a calendar quarter. Etihad Guest Miles will be credited within 30 days of achieving spends.
  • 1 companion voucher will be sent to your registered e-mail ID within 30 days of achieving annual spends of Rs. 8,00,000.
• Travel Discounts:
  • Up to 10% discount on direct Etihad Airways bookings: 10% discount on Business Class tickets and 3% discount on Economy Class tickets booked directly on the Etihad Airways portal.
  • The discount is applicable only on one-way and return journeys (not applicable on stopovers and multi-city trips) on flights originating from Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kozhikode, Kochi, Hyderabad, and Thiruvananthapuram.
  • Up to 10% discount on travel rewards and miles redemption.
• Domestic Lounge Program:
  • 8 complimentary visits per year to domestic Visa Lounges in India (maximum 2 visits per quarter).
  • To avail the offer, use your Etihad Guest SBI Premier Card at the respective lounges.
  • This offer is brought to you by Visa and is for a limited period only.
  • For the list of lounges, visit visasignature.com.
• International Lounge Program:
  • Complimentary membership to the Priority Pass Program worth $99.
  • 4 complimentary Airport Lounge visits per year, outside India (maximum 2 visits per quarter).
  • Access over 1,000 Airport Lounges worldwide.
  • Subsequent visits are chargeable at USD 27 per visit per guest after the complimentary quota is exhausted.
• Insurance:
  • Complimentary overseas air accident coverage of Rs. 50 Lakh (applicable during international flights).
  • Complimentary Fraud liability cover of Rs. 1 Lakh.
  • Complimentary Lost baggage allowance of up to USD 1000 (during air travel).
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver:
  • 1% Fuel Surcharge Waiver at petrol pumps across the country for transactions between Rs. 500 to Rs. 4,000.
  • A maximum Fuel Surcharge Waiver of Rs. 250 can be availed per statement cycle.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• Reward points earned are in the form of Etihad Guest Miles.
• You can instantly redeem your miles to book flights, hotels, and car rentals from participating travel partners.
• Miles can also be used for purchasing products at etihadguest.com.
• There is no limit to the number of Miles you can redeem at etihadguest.com or its travel partners.
• You can also choose to pay for your purchases using these Miles.
• Etihad Guest Miles are valid for a period of 18 months for Gold members.

Card Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility Rules:
  • Salaried Employees: Age should be between 18 years to 65 years.
  • Self-Employed Individuals: Age should be between 21 years and 60 years.
  • Applicants should have a stable source of income.
  • Applicants should have a good credit score.
• Documents Required:
  • Identity Proof: PAN Card, Ration Card, Aadhaar Card, Voter’s ID.
  • Address Proof: Passport, Driving License, Utility Bills, Aadhaar Card, Ration Card.
  • Income Proof: Latest bank statements or salary slips, Latest ITR.

Card Review

The Etihad Guest SBI Premier Credit Card stands out as a premium offering in the travel credit card segment, particularly catering to individuals with significant international travel, especially to Middle Eastern destinations like Dubai. Its strong points include a high reward rate on Etihad and international transactions, substantial welcome benefits like Gold tier status and bonus miles, and valuable milestone rewards such as a companion voucher and quarterly bonus miles. The card also offers comprehensive travel perks including complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access and exclusive discounts on Etihad Airways bookings. While the annual fee of Rs. 4,999 + GST is on the higher side, it can be easily offset by meeting the annual spend-based waiver of Rs. 5,00,000, making it a value-for-money proposition for high spenders. However, the cap of 40,000 miles per year and the Rs. 250 cap on fuel surcharge waiver might be minor drawbacks for some users. Overall, it's a solid choice for frequent international flyers looking to maximize their travel benefits with Etihad.

Important Product Details

• Welcome 5,000 Etihad Guest Miles.
• Complimentary Etihad Guest Gold Tier Status.
• 2 Complimentary Wi-Fi vouchers on the first Etihad Airways booking.
• Earn 6 Etihad Guest Miles per Rs. 100 spent on Etihad.
• Earn 4 Etihad Guest Miles per Rs. 100 on international spends.
• Earn 2 Etihad Guest Miles per Rs. 100 on all other expenditures (except fuel).
• Maximum of 40,000 Miles can be accrued in a given year.
• Up to 10% discount on direct Etihad Airways bookings (10% on business class, 3% on economy class tickets).
• Up to 10% discount on travel rewards and miles redemption.
• 1,500 Etihad Guest Miles on spends of Rs. 1,50,000 in a calendar quarter.
• 1 Etihad Companion Voucher on an annual expenditure of Rs. 8,00,000.
• Annual fee waiver for spending Rs. 5,00,000 in the last year.
• 8 complimentary domestic lounge access each year (maximum 2 per quarter) via the Visa Lounge Program.
• Complimentary Priority Pass membership (worth USD 99) with 4 complimentary international lounge access outside India (maximum 2 per quarter).
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations across India for transactions between Rs. 500 and Rs. 4,000 (capped at Rs. 250 per statement cycle).
• Overseas air accident cover worth Rs. 50 Lakh.
• Fraud liability cover worth Rs. 1 Lakh.
• Allowance of USD 1,000 in case of loss of baggage.
• Joining Fee: Rs. 4,999 + GST.
• Renewal Fee: Rs. 4,999 + GST.
• Foreign Currency Markup: 3.5%.
• Interest Rates: 3.5% per month (42% per annum).
• Cash Advance Charges: 2.5% of the withdrawn amount (minimum Rs. 500).

Other Details

• Visa Privileges:
  • 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.
  • Earn up to 10,000 miles per night on hotel stay plus 25% extra miles on Kaligo.com.
  • These offers were valid until 31 December 2018.
• Contactless Advantage:
  • Daily purchases are made easy by simply waving your card at a secure reader, offering a fast, easy, and convenient experience.
  • Enhanced Security: The card never leaves your hand, significantly reducing the risk of card loss and fraud due to counterfeiting (skimming). The unique security key feature of Visa payWave ensures only one transaction goes through, even if the card is waved multiple times.
• Global Acceptance:
  • The Etihad Guest SBI Premier Card is accepted in over 24 million outlets across the globe, including 3,25,000 outlets in India.
• Emergency Card Replacement:
  • Get your Etihad Guest SBI Premier Card replaced anywhere in the world.
  • A 24x7 helpline is available for emergency card replacement even while traveling abroad.
  • To report card loss in India, dial 39 02 02 02 (prefix local STD code) or 1860 180 1290.
• Add-on Cards:
  • You can empower your family with add-on cards for your parents, spouse, children, or siblings above the age of 18, at no extra cost. The credit limit will be shared among the primary and add-on cardholders.
• Cash Access Across the World:
  • Withdraw cash from over 1 million Visa or MasterCard ATMs across the globe.
• Safe and Secure:
  • The card is chip and PIN enabled, providing enhanced security against counterfeiting and skimming.
• Easy Bill Pay Facility:
  • Pay your electricity, telephone, mobile, and other utility bills using the Easy Bill Pay facility.
• Flexipay:
  • Convert transactions of Rs. 2,500 or more into easy monthly installments (EMIs). Log in to sbicard.com with your username and password within 30 days of purchase to convert it into Flexipay.
• Balance Transfer on EMI:
  • Transfer the outstanding balance of other banks’ credit cards to your Etihad Guest SBI Premier Card to avail a lower rate of interest and pay back in EMIs. Log on to sbicard.com to benefit from this service.
• How to Apply:
  • Online Application: Click on the Apply Now button, select the Etihad Guest Premier card, fill in the required details, and submit.
  • Offline Application: Dial SBI’s helpline at 39020202 (prefix STD code) or 18601801290, or visit your nearest SBI branch to submit your application.
• Application Status:
  • Check online by visiting the SBI Card’s official website, navigating to 'Credit Cards', then 'Track Application', and entering your application number and other required details.
  • Alternatively, contact customer care or visit the nearest SBI branch.
• Card Activation & PIN Generation:
  • SBI ATM: Visit your nearest SBI ATM and select the ‘credit card PIN generation’ option from the main menu.
  • Online: Log in to your internet banking account or via the SBI Card mobile app and look for an option for credit card PIN generation.
  • Customer Care: Contact SBI Card customer care and request assistance to generate your credit card PIN.
• Credit Limit:
  • The credit limit is not fixed and depends on your credit history and past payment behavior. People with an excellent credit score generally receive a higher credit limit.
  • You have the option to request a higher credit limit by contacting customer care or visiting your nearest SBI branch.
• Bill Payment Methods:
  • Online: Internet banking, SBI Card mobile app, SBI YONO app, NEFT payment, Pay via UPI & QR, Bharat Bill Payment System, Paynet.
  • Offline: Over the Counter payment, Cheque (manual drop box), SBI ATM.
• Internet Banking Registration:
  • Visit the official website of SBI Card, click on ‘New User? Register Now’ under the Login button, enter your card details, and complete verification with an OTP received on your registered mobile number.
• Customer Care:
  • SBI offers 24x7 dedicated customer care support.
  • Helpline numbers: 1800 180 1290 (toll-free) or 1860 180 1290.
  • Alternatively, dial 39020202 (prefix local STD code).
  • To block your SBI credit card, send an SMS – BLOCK <last 4 digits of your card number> to 5676791.
• Things to Know:
  • 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 & charges.
  • The value proposition of this co-brand product may be funded jointly by SBI Card and Etihad Airways, based on their financial arrangement, which may involve fee and revenue sharing.
  • Information is subject to change at the discretion of SBICPSL.