InterMiles ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Introduction

The InterMiles ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card, offered by ICICI Bank in collaboration with the InterMiles frequent flyer program, is positioned as a travel-centric credit card. It is available in both Visa and American Express variants, which offer slightly different benefits. While the card previously focused on Jet Airways, it now provides special privileges on Etihad Airlines flight bookings. This card primarily earns reward points as InterMiles on all spending, with accelerated earnings on bookings made through the InterMiles official website. It is important to note that this card is currently discontinued.

Welcome Benefits

• Complimentary InterMiles Silver Tier membership for the first year.
• 10,000 bonus InterMiles as a welcome gift.
• American Express Variant:
  • Flight discount voucher worth Rs. 750.
  • Hotel discount voucher worth Rs. 1,500.
• Visa Variant:
  • Flight discount voucher worth Rs. 500.
  • Hotel discount voucher worth Rs. 1,000.
  • Additional flight discount voucher of Rs. 750 and hotel discount voucher of Rs. 1,500 on spending Rs. 60,000 within the first 3 months of card setup.

Fees

• Joining Fee: Rs. 5,000 + GST
• Annual Fee: Rs. 5,000 + GST
• Spend-Based Waiver: Not applicable (N/A)
• Rewards Redemption Fee: Rs. 99 (plus applicable taxes) per redemption request.
• Foreign Currency Markup: 3.5% of the transaction amount.
• Interest Rates: 3.5% per month (42% annually).
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% fuel surcharge waived off at all fuel stations across India.
• Cash Advance Charges: 2.5% of the transacted amount, subject to a minimum amount of Rs. 300.

Rewards

Reward Rates

• American Express Variant:
  • 5 InterMiles per Rs. 100 on domestic spends.
  • 7 InterMiles per Rs. 100 on international spends.
  • 12.5 InterMiles per Rs. 100 for Etihad Airways ticket bookings on the InterMiles website.
  • 10 InterMiles per Rs. 100 for all other flight/hotel spends on the InterMiles website.
• Visa Variant:
  • 4 InterMiles per Rs. 100 on domestic spends.
  • 5 InterMiles per Rs. 100 on international spends.
  • 10 InterMiles per Rs. 100 for Etihad Airways ticket bookings on the InterMiles website.
  • 8 InterMiles per Rs. 100 for all other flight/hotel spends on the InterMiles website.
• You earn 2X InterMiles on your spends on the InterMiles website.
• No InterMiles are earned on fuel purchases.
• Only 1 InterMile per Rs. 100 is earned on insurance premiums and utility bill payments with either variant.
• A maximum of 60,000 InterMiles can be earned in a card anniversary year. To continue earning InterMiles beyond this cap, an uncapping fee of Rs. 7,500 is required.

Movie & Dining

• Buy one movie ticket and get up to Rs. 500 off on the second ticket on BookMyShow (maximum 2 times a month).
• Exclusive dining benefits through the ICICI Bank Culinary Treats Programme.

Travel

• Reward Points are earned as InterMiles, with accelerated InterMiles on booking flights/hotels from the InterMiles website.
• Complimentary Dreamfolks membership.
• 2 complimentary international airport lounge visits every year under the Dreamfolks membership.
• 2 complimentary domestic lounge visits per quarter with both Visa and AmEx variants if a minimum of Rs. 5,000 was spent in the previous calendar quarter.
• 2 complimentary domestic airport spa visits every year with Dreamfolks membership.
• A discount of 5% on Etihad Airways economy class tickets.
• A discount of 10% on Etihad Airways business class tickets.

Golf

• Up to 4 complimentary rounds of golf each month (1 complimentary round for every Rs. 50,000 spent in the previous month).

Lifestyle

• 24x7 concierge service (i-Assist) is provided for:
  • Restaurant reservation
  • Hotel reservation
  • Flight ticket booking
  • Car rental & limousine service
  • Flower & gift assistance
  • Booking & delivery of movie tickets
  • Medical concierge privileges
  • Emergency auto assistance across India

Rewards Redemption Guide

• The InterMiles earned on your InterMiles ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card can be redeemed for booking air tickets and for hotel reservations on the InterMiles portal from partner airlines and hotel chains.
• You receive 5,000 bonus InterMiles every year when the card membership is renewed.
• Upon renewal, you receive a flight discount voucher worth Rs. 500 and a hotel discount voucher worth Rs. 1,000 every anniversary year.
• An additional flight discount voucher of Rs. 500 and hotel discount voucher of Rs. 1,000 can be availed on spending Rs. 60,000 within 3 months of the card anniversary date.

Card Review

The InterMiles ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card is designed for frequent travelers, particularly those who often fly with Etihad Airways or book through the InterMiles website. It offers a decent reward rate in the form of InterMiles, with the American Express variant generally providing slightly higher earnings.

• Who should apply: Individuals who frequently travel, especially to Middle-Eastern destinations, and prefer earning air miles for flight and hotel bookings. Those who can maximize the lounge access, golf, and concierge benefits would also find value.
• Pros:
  • Strong reward earning potential for travel-related spends, especially on Etihad Airways and the InterMiles website.
  • Complimentary domestic and international lounge access, along with domestic spa visits.
  • Valuable welcome and annual renewal benefits, including bonus InterMiles and discount vouchers.
  • Additional lifestyle benefits like movie discounts, dining programs, golf privileges, and a 24x7 concierge service.
  • Fuel surcharge waiver.
• Cons:
  • The card is currently noted as "Discontinued," which may impact future availability or support.
  • A maximum cap of 60,000 InterMiles can be earned per anniversary year, with an uncapping fee of Rs. 7,500 required to earn more.
  • No InterMiles are earned on fuel purchases, and a low earning rate applies to insurance premiums and utility bill payments.
  • High interest rates and foreign currency markup.

Important Product Details

• The InterMiles ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card is a co-branded travel card with the InterMiles frequent flyer program.
• It is available in Visa and American Express variants, each with distinct reward structures.
• Cardholders earn InterMiles on all spends, with accelerated earnings on InterMiles website bookings and Etihad Airways tickets.
• Key welcome benefits include InterMiles Silver Tier membership and bonus InterMiles, along with flight and hotel discount vouchers.
• Annual renewal benefits include bonus InterMiles and additional discount vouchers.
• Complimentary Dreamfolks membership provides access to international and domestic airport lounges, as well as domestic airport spa visits.
• Enjoy "Buy One Get One" movie ticket offers on BookMyShow and dining benefits through the Culinary Treats program.
• Complimentary golf rounds are available based on monthly spending.
• A 1% fuel surcharge waiver is applicable at all fuel stations across India.
• A 24x7 concierge service (i-Assist) assists with various bookings and emergency services.
• Special discounts are offered on Etihad Airways economy and business class tickets.
• The card is currently noted as "Discontinued."

Other Details

• InterMiles Platinum Tier members are exempt from paying both the joining and renewal fees for this card.
• The InterMiles ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card is currently discontinued.