KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex

Introduction

The KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex is a super-premium credit card launched by SBI Card in association with Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program. Designed for frequent flyers of Singapore Airlines Group, it offers high reward rates and exclusive travel privileges. While the card comes with a significant joining and annual fee, it aims to provide substantial benefits for those who frequently make international spends and travel with Singapore Airlines, Scoot, SilkAir, Kris+, and KrisShop. It is available in both American Express and Mastercard variants.

Welcome Benefits

• Get 10,000 KrisFlyer miles upon payment of the annual fees and making the first transaction within 60 days of card issuance.

Fees

• Joining Fee: Rs. 9999 + applicable taxes (GST)
• Renewal Fee (per annum): Rs. 9999 + applicable taxes (GST), from the second year onwards
• Add-on Fee (per annum): Nil
• Rewards Redemption Fee: ₹99 + GST
• Foreign Currency Markup: 3.5%
• Interest Rates: 3.75% Per Month (45% Per Annum)
• Fuel Surcharge:
  • 1% Fuel Surcharge Waiver across all Petrol Pumps in India.
  • Applicable on fuel transaction amounts ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 4,000.
  • Maximum fuel surcharge waiver of Rs. 250 per statement cycle per credit card account.
  • Note: One source indicates 1% waiver on transactions up to ₹3,000.
• Cash Advance Charges: 2.5% of the transaction amount or ₹500, whichever is higher.
• Lounge Usage Fee: Usage fee up to $27 + applicable taxes will be charged for visits to Priority Pass member lounges after the complimentary visits are exhausted.

Rewards

Earning Rewards

• Earn 10 KrisFlyer miles per Rs 200 spent on Singapore Airlines Group (includes Singapore Airlines, Scoot, SilkAir, Pelago, Kris+, and KrisShop websites).
• Earn 8 KrisFlyer miles per Rs 200 on international spends.
• Earn 6 KrisFlyer miles per Rs 200 on all other eligible spends.
• Exclusions from the reward program include Property Rental, Fuel, Utility, Government, and Wallet Upload payments.

Milestone Benefits

• Annual Spends of Rs. 5 Lacs: Get an additional 10,000 KrisFlyer miles as Milestone Rewards.
• Annual Spends of Rs. 7.5 Lacs on Singapore Airlines: Receive a Tier upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Gold membership.
  • This includes benefits such as additional baggage allowance, priority check-in and boarding on Singapore Airlines and Scoot flights, complimentary access to over 1,000 lounges worldwide, and STAR ALLIANCE Gold status with alliance partners.
  • The KrisFlyer Elite Gold Tier status is valid for one year from the date of upgrade.
• Cumulative Spends of Rs. 10 Lacs: Get 3,000 additional bonus KrisFlyer miles.

Lounge Benefits

• Enjoy 2 complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge visits every quarter (up to 8 annually) across India.
• Receive 8 complimentary International Airport Lounge visits per year (maximum 2 visits per quarter) across the globe.
• Complimentary membership to the Priority Pass Program worth $99.
  • Only Primary Cardholders are eligible for Priority Pass.
  • Complimentary Priority Pass membership will be valid for 2 years only.

Insurance

• Air Accident Cover:
  • Get complimentary Air Accident Liability Cover of Rs. 50 lakhs.
  • Complimentary Air Accident insurance coverage of Rs. 3.5 Cr currently offered on your card will be discontinued with effect from 26th July 2025.
• Baggage Loss/Delay Cover: Rs. 1 lac.
• Fraud Loss Cover: Rs. 10 lac.
  • This cover is valid for a period of 48 hours prior to reporting of loss, to 7 days post reporting of loss.

Other Features

• Contactless Advantage:
  • Facilitates daily purchases by simply waving the card at a secure reader.
  • Offers fast and convenient transactions, eliminating the need for cash or coins for small purchases.
  • Enhanced security as the card never leaves your hand, reducing risk of card loss and skimming.
  • The unique security key feature ensures only one transaction goes through, even if the card is waved multiple times.
• Global Acceptance: Accepted at over 24 million outlets across the globe, including 3,25,000 outlets in India.
• Add-on Cards: Empower your family members (parents, spouse, children or siblings above 18) with add-on cards.
• Cash Access Across the World: Withdraw cash from over 1 million MasterCard or Visa ATMs globally, including 18,000 ATMs in India and over 10,000 SBI ATMs across 100+ cities in India.
• Easy Bill Pay Facility: Pay electricity, telephone, mobile, and other utility bills.
• Flexipay: Convert transactions of Rs. 2,500 or more into easy monthly installments by logging onto sbicard.com within 30 days of purchase.
• Balance Transfer on EMI: Transfer outstanding balances from other banks’ credit cards to your KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex to avail a lower interest rate and pay back in EMIs. This service can be availed by logging onto sbicard.com.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• The KrisFlyer Miles earned with this card will be automatically credited to the SBI Card account.
• Accelerated and regular KrisFlyer miles will be credited in the next statement cycle.
• KrisFlyer miles will be credited to your KrisFlyer account once a month after the statement date.
• It may take up to 15 business days for miles to be credited to the KrisFlyer account.
• KrisFlyer miles are valid for two years from the date of credit.
• If you choose to close your KrisFlyer SBI Card, you must redeem your KrisFlyer Miles within 30 days of closure; otherwise, the miles will expire automatically.
• If your SBI Card is canceled for any other reason, all accumulated KrisFlyer Miles will be forfeited.
• If you transfer your KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex to another SBI Card, all KrisFlyer Miles will be converted to Reward Points in your SBI Card account within two working days of the transfer.

Card Review

The KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex is a super-premium credit card with a high fee of ₹9,999, comparable to some of SBI's top-tier cards. It is primarily suited for individuals who frequently travel with Singapore Airlines or make significant spends with the Singapore Airlines Group.

Pros

• Offers a generous number of complimentary domestic and international airport lounge visits, along with a free Priority Pass membership for primary cardholders for the first two years.
• The milestone benefits are highly attractive, allowing cardholders to earn additional KrisFlyer Miles (up to 13,000 miles) and providing a valuable Tier upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Gold membership on spending ₹7.5 lakh.

Cons

• The card comes with a high annual fee of ₹9,999 + GST, which might not be justifiable for all users, especially if they don't frequently utilize the airline-specific benefits.
• It lacks holistic rewards such as dining and entertainment benefits, making its value proposition narrow for non-travel related expenses.
• The foreign exchange markup of 3.5% is an industry standard, but for a super-premium card, a lower rate would be expected to enhance its appeal for international travelers.
• A major drawback is the absence of renewal benefits offered from the second year, which can diminish the card's long-term value, potentially making it worth it only for the first year.

Important Product Details

• This card comes with a joining and annual fee of ₹9,999 + GST.
• It is specifically tailored for individuals who often fly with Singapore Airlines and make purchases with the Singapore Airlines Group.
• A 3.5% Foreign Currency Markup is charged on all international spends.
• Cardholders receive complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access.
• Primary cardholders are granted a Priority Pass membership for the first two years.
• Reward earnings are in KrisFlyer Miles, with accelerated rates on Singapore Airlines Group and international spends.
• Significant milestone benefits include additional KrisFlyer Miles and a KrisFlyer Elite Gold membership upgrade.
• Insurance benefits include Baggage Loss/Delay Cover and Fraud Loss Cover, in addition to Air Accident Cover.

Other Details

• Order of Payment Settlement: Details regarding the order of payment settlement for a cardholder account are available via a provided link.
• Cheque Payments: Cheques payable outside clearing zones are not accepted. Payments are accepted through local cheques or drafts payable in Delhi only.
• Taxes: All applicable taxes would be charged on all fees, interest, and charges.
• Co-brand Product Funding: The value proposition of the co-brand product may be funded jointly by SBI Card and the co-brand partner based on their financial arrangement, which may involve fee and revenue sharing.
• Disclaimer: Continued use of the card will be deemed acceptance of any amendments to terms and conditions.
• Helpline: For assistance, contact the SBI Card helpline at 1860 180 1290 or 39 02 02 02 (prefix local STD code).
• Information Validity: All information in some communications was stated to be correct as per October 2014 and is subject to change at the discretion of SBICPSL.