KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Introduction

The KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex, issued by SBI Card, is positioned as a super-premium credit card designed for individuals with high annual incomes and frequent travel needs, particularly those who often fly with Singapore Airlines Group. This card offers a compelling reward rate of 10 KrisFlyer Miles per ₹200 spent on Singapore Airlines Group, a valuable tier upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Gold Membership upon achieving specific spend milestones, and extensive complimentary access to both domestic and international airport lounges. The card is available in American Express and Mastercard variants.

Welcome Benefits

• Receive 10,000 KrisFlyer Miles upon realization of joining fees and making the first transaction within the first 60 days of card issuance.
• Miles are automatically credited to your KrisFlyer Account on the statement date.

Fees

• Joining Fee: ₹9,999 + GST/taxes
• Renewal Fee: ₹9,999 + GST/taxes (per annum, from the second year onwards)
• Add-on Fee: Nil
• Spend-Based Waiver: Not applicable
• Rewards Redemption Fee: ₹99 + GST
• Foreign Currency Markup: 3.5%
• Interest Rates: 3.75% Per Month (45% Per Annum)
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Enjoy a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on every transaction between ₹500 and ₹4,000 at all petrol pumps across India. The maximum waiver is ₹250 per statement cycle, per credit card account.
• Cash Advance Charges: 2.5% of the advanced amount or ₹500, whichever is higher.

Rewards

• Reward Rate:
  • Earn 10 KrisFlyer Miles per ₹200 spent on Singapore Airlines Group (Singapore Airlines, Scoot, SilkAir, Kris+, KrisShop websites, and Pelago).
  • Earn 8 KrisFlyer Miles per ₹200 on international spends.
  • Earn 6 KrisFlyer Miles per ₹200 on all other eligible spends.
  • No KrisFlyer Miles are awarded for fuel, rental, utility, government, and wallet payments.
  • Reward Points are not applicable on some spend categories; refer to Terms & Conditions for more details.
• Milestone Benefits:
  • Achieve ₹5 Lakh annual spends to receive 10,000 KrisFlyer Miles.
  • Achieve ₹7.5 Lakh annual spends to receive a Tier upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Gold Membership. This upgrade is specifically for bookings made via Singapore Airlines App and Website.
  • Achieve ₹10 Lakh cumulative spends to receive 3,000 additional KrisFlyer Miles.
• KrisFlyer Elite Gold Membership Benefits:
  • The KrisFlyer Elite Gold tier status is provided for the first year when a cardholder spends ₹750,000 on the card.
  • Benefits include additional baggage allowance, priority check-in and boarding on Singapore Airlines and Scoot flights, complimentary access to more than 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.
• Travel Benefits:
  • Domestic Lounge Access: Receive 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits each quarter (8 annually) across India.
  • International Lounge Access: Receive 8 complimentary international airport lounge visits per year (maximum 2 visits per quarter) across the globe.
  • Priority Pass: Complimentary membership to the Priority Pass Program is offered for the first two years of card membership (worth $99). Only primary cardholders are eligible for Priority Pass.
  • After complimentary international airport lounge visits are exhausted, a usage fee of up to $27 + applicable taxes will be charged for visits to Priority Pass Member Lounges.
• Insurance Benefits:
  • Baggage Loss/Delay Cover: ₹1 Lakh.
  • Fraud Loss Cover: ₹10 Lakh.
• Movie & Dining: Not applicable.
• Golf: Not applicable.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• Rewards are earned as KrisFlyer Miles and are automatically credited to your KrisFlyer Account on the statement date.
• 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 and may take up to 15 business days to reflect.
• 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 SBI Card KrisFlyer 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

• Overall Verdict: The SBI KrisFlyer Apex Credit Card is a super-premium offering with a high annual fee of ₹9,999. It is primarily suited for individuals who frequently travel with Singapore Airlines or make significant spends within the Singapore Airlines Group.
• Pros:
  • Cardholders receive a generous number of domestic and international lounge visits, along with complimentary Priority Pass membership for primary cardholders.
  • The milestone benefits are attractive, offering additional KrisFlyer Miles (up to 13,000 Miles) and a valuable tier upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Gold membership upon spending ₹7.5 Lakh.
• Cons:
  • The card comes with a high annual fee of ₹9,999, which may not be justified for all users.
  • It lacks holistic rewards such as dining and entertainment benefits, focusing almost exclusively on travel with Singapore Airlines.
  • The foreign currency markup of 3.5% is considered standard but could be lower for a card positioned as super-premium.
  • A significant drawback is the absence of renewal benefits from the second year onwards, which may diminish the card's value after the first year for some cardholders.

Important Product Details

• The card has a joining and annual fee of ₹9,999 + GST.
• It is most suited for those who often fly with Singapore Airlines Group.
• A 3.5% Forex markup is charged on all international spends.
• Complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access is provided.
• Primary cardholders are offered Priority Pass membership for the first two years.
• The card is available in American Express and Mastercard variants.
• It is accepted at over 24 million outlets globally, including 3,25,000 in India.
• Cash can be withdrawn from over 1 million MasterCard or Visa ATMs worldwide, including 18,000 ATMs in India and over 10,000 SBI ATMs across 100+ cities in India.

Other Details

• Contactless Advantage:
  • Allows for effortless "Tap & Pay" transactions on secure readers.
  • Offers fast and convenient payments for small, everyday purchases.
  • Ensures secure transactions as the card remains in hand, reducing fraud risk.
  • Mastercard PayWave’s or Visa PayWave’s unique security key processes only one transaction even if the card is tapped multiple times.
• Flexipay EMI:
  • Eligible purchases of ₹2,500 or more can be converted into easy monthly EMIs.
• Add-on Cards:
  • Available for family members including parents, spouse, children, or siblings above the age of 18.
• Easy Bill Pay Facility:
  • Allows payment of electricity, telephone, mobile, and other utility bills.
• Balance Transfer on EMI:
  • Transfer outstanding balances from other banks’ credit cards to your KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex at a lower interest rate and repay in easy EMIs.
• General Terms & Conditions:
  • Cheques payable outside clearing zones are not accepted; only local cheques or drafts payable in Delhi are accepted.
  • All applicable taxes will be charged on fees, interest, and other charges.
  • The value proposition of this co-brand product may involve joint funding and revenue sharing between SBI Card and Singapore Airlines.
  • Continued use of the card implies acceptance of any amendments to the Terms and Conditions.
  • For assistance, contact the SBI Card Helpline at 1860 180 1290 or 39 02 02 02 (prefix local STD code).
  • Any disputes between the Cardholder and SBICPSL will be subject to arbitration by a sole arbitrator appointed by SBICPSL, with proceedings conducted in New Delhi in English.
  • SBICPSL may utilize agents or third parties for marketing, sales, or related services.