ixigo AU Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Introduction

The ixigo AU Credit Card is AU Small Finance Bank's first co-branded travel credit card, launched in partnership with the online travel booking platform ixigo. Available as Lifetime Free for a limited period, this card is designed for frequent travelers, especially those who often book through ixigo. It offers extensive travel benefits, including zero foreign currency markup, complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access, and railway lounge access. Initially available on the Visa network, it has since expanded to include a RuPay variant, enabling UPI payments. This card is highly beneficial for individuals looking to explore India and seeking a rewarding travel experience with a strong focus on discounts and lounge access.

Welcome Benefits

• Receive 1000 Reward Points and ₹1,000 ixigo money vouchers upon making your first successful transaction within 30 days of credit card issuance.
• ixigo money vouchers are added within 15 days from the card activation date and are valid for 90 days from issuance.
• Reward points are posted within 15 days after the first transaction.

Fees

• Joining Fee: Nil
• Renewal Fee: Nil
• Rewards Redemption Fee: ₹99 + applicable taxes
• Foreign Currency Markup: Zero mark-up fee on international purchases
• Interest Rates: 3.75% per month (45% annually)
• Fuel Surcharge: 1% surcharge waiver on fuel transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000, up to ₹250 per statement cycle, at all fuel stations in India.
• Cash Advance Charges: 2.5% of the transaction amount or ₹500, whichever is higher.

Rewards

Reward Point Earning Structure

• Earn 10 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent on online purchases.
• Earn 5 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent offline.
• For the RuPay variant:
  • Earn 10 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent on online UPI transactions.
  • Earn 5 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent on offline UPI transactions.
• Reward points are capped at 10,000 per statement cycle.
• Reward Points are valid for a period of 2 years.
• Exclusions: No Reward Points will be earned on fuel, rent transactions, jewellery, wallet reloads, education, government transactions, BBPS, and international transactions.

Travel Benefits

• Flight Bookings: Enjoy a 10% discount on flight bookings up to ₹1,000 (Promo Code: IXIGOCCFLY). Valid once per month.
• Bus Bookings: Enjoy a 10% discount on bus bookings up to ₹300 (Promo Code: IXIGOCCBUS). Valid once per month.
• Hotel Bookings: Receive a 10% instant discount on hotel bookings up to ₹1,000 (Promo Code: IXIGOCCSTAY). Valid once per month.
• Train Bookings: Post-Gateway (PG) charges are waived on train bookings twice per month.
• All travel discounts are exclusively available when booking via ixigo platforms.

Lounge Access

• International Lounge Access:
  • 1 complimentary international lounge access every year.
  • Priority Pass will be issued upon request.
  • Usage of Priority Pass within India is chargeable.
  • After exhausting complimentary visits, cardholders will be charged $27 + taxes for lounge visits within and outside India via Priority Pass.
• Domestic Airport Lounge Access:
  • 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge access visits per year.
  • Access is based on a minimum spend of ₹20,000 in the preceding calendar quarter (maximum two visits per quarter).
• Railway Lounge Access:
  • 8 complimentary railway lounge access visits per year.
  • Add-on cardholders can also avail these benefits.
  • A valid AU Bank Credit Card and train ticket are required for access.
  • Eligible Railway Lounges:
    • IRCTC Executive Lounge, Agra Cantt Railway Station (Platform 1), Agra
    • IRCTC Executive Lounge, Ahmedabad Kalupur Railway Station (Platform 1), Ahmedabad
    • Premium Lounge, Asansol Railway Station (Platform 2), Asansol
    • Beverage Lounge, Asansol Railway Station (Platform 5), Asansol
    • Premium Lounge, Durgapur Railway Station (Platform 1), Durgapur
    • IRCTC Executive Lounge, Jaipur Railway Station (Platform 1), Jaipur
    • IRCTC Executive Lounge, Kolkata (Sealdah) Railway Station (Platform 8), Kolkata
    • IRCTC Executive Lounge, Madurai Railway Junction (Platform 1), Madurai
    • IRCTC Executive Lounge, New Delhi Railway Station (Platform 16), New Delhi
    • IRCTC Executive Lounge, New Delhi Railway Station (Platform 1), New Delhi
    • IRCTC Executive Lounge, Varanasi Cantt Railway Station (Platform 1), Varanasi

Insurance & Liability Benefits

• Liability Cover: Zero liability on fraudulent transactions after reporting the loss of the ixigo AU Credit Card to the bank.
• Protection against Card Counterfeit/Skimming and Online frauds.
• Credit Shield: Up to ₹1.5 Lakhs.

Other Lifestyle Benefits

• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Get a 1% surcharge waiver up to ₹250 on fuel transactions (between ₹400 and ₹5,000) at all fuel stations in India.
• XpressEMI: Convert transactions of ₹500 and above, with a minimum total value of ₹2,000, into EMIs. You can club up to 20 billed or unbilled transactions together for conversion.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• Reward Points can be redeemed through the AU Rewardz platform or the ixigo app.
• A minimum of 200 Reward Points is required for redemption.
• A redemption fee of ₹99 plus applicable taxes will be charged per redemption.
• Reward Point Value:
  • 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25 for all categories except vouchers.
  • 1 Reward Point = ₹0.20 for vouchers.
  • 1 Reward Point = ₹0.50 for ixigo Money.
• AU Rewardz offers a plethora of options including e-vouchers of top brands, merchandise, mobile/DTH recharges, flight/hotel bookings, and more.

Card Eligibility Criteria

• Primary Cardholder Age:
  • Self-Employed: 25 years to 65 years
  • Salaried: 21 years to 60 years
• Add-on Cardholder Age: Must be over 18 years.
• Residency: Must be a Resident Indian.
• Registration: Must be a user registered on ixigo Platforms.

Card Review

The ixigo AU Credit Card is an excellent choice for individuals who frequently travel domestically and primarily use the ixigo platform for their bookings. As the first co-branded credit card from AU Bank, it delivers significant value through its lifetime free status, robust reward structure, and a comprehensive suite of travel benefits. Cardholders can earn accelerated Reward Points on ixigo transactions, which are redeemable for various options including merchandise, vouchers, recharges, and travel bookings. The extensive complimentary lounge access, covering international airports, domestic airports (with a spend condition), and railway stations, makes travel more comfortable. The zero foreign currency markup is an added advantage for international travelers.

Pros:

• Lifetime Free credit card with no joining or renewal fees.
• Offers comprehensive lounge access including international airport, domestic airport, and railway lounges.
• Zero foreign currency markup fee.
• Attractive discounts and waivers on ixigo platforms for flights, buses, hotels, and train PG charges.
• Generous welcome benefits of Reward Points and ixigo money vouchers.
• Provides fraud liability cover and credit shield.

Cons:

• The primary benefits are heavily skewed towards travel, particularly through ixigo, with no specific benefits for dining or golf.
• Domestic airport lounge access requires a minimum spend in the preceding quarter.

Who Should Apply: This card is ideally suited for frequent travelers who value travel-specific benefits, appreciate complimentary lounge access, and regularly use the ixigo platform for booking their trips. It's also a great option for those looking for a lifetime free card with zero foreign transaction fees.

Important Product Details

• Lifetime Free credit card.
• Zero foreign currency markup on international purchases.
• 10% discount on flight and bus bookings (up to ₹1,000 and ₹300 respectively) on ixigo.
• 10% instant discount on hotel bookings (up to ₹1,000) on ixigo.
• 1 complimentary international lounge access and 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge access per year (domestic access based on spend).
• 8 complimentary railway lounge access visits per year.
• Earn 10 Reward Points per ₹200 on online spends and 5 Reward Points per ₹200 on offline spends.
• Fuel surcharge waiver of 1% (up to ₹250) on transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000.
• Credit Shield cover of up to ₹1.5 Lakhs.

Other Details

• The card is available on both Visa and RuPay networks, with the RuPay variant enabling UPI payments.
• Existing AU Credit Cardholders are not eligible to apply for the ixigo AU Credit Card or any other AU Credit Card.
• You can get up to 3 lifetime free add-on credit cards. Add-on cardholders also enjoy many of the primary card's benefits, including railway lounge access.
• Contactless payment facility available for transactions up to ₹5,000 without a PIN.
• XpressEMI Conversion Channels:
  • AU 0101 App (2-step EMI conversion)
  • Net-Banking
  • Auro Chat-bot
  • WhatsApp Banking (by messaging "Hi" to 8383838399)
  • On Call (1800 1200 1500)
  • IVR (Interactive Voice Response)
• Bill Payment Options: Bills can be paid via the ixigo app or the AU 0101 app for AU Bank account holders.