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American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card VS Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card VS SBI ELITE Credit Card

A detailed, side-by-side look at 3 leading credit cards. Analyze the features that matter most to you and make an informed choice.

Features

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card
American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card
Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card
Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card
SBI ELITE Credit Card
SBI ELITE Credit Card

Fees & Charges

Joining Fee
₹5,000 + GST
₹5,000 + GST
₹4,999 + GST
Renewal Fee
₹5,000 + GST
₹5,000 + GST
₹4,999 + GST
Spend Based Waiver
No explicit waiver; retention offers possible. Spending over ₹7 Lakhs/year usually helps in waiver.
Not Applicable
Annual renewal fee waived on achieving annual spends of Rs. 10 lakh or more.
Foreign Transaction Fees
3.5% of the transaction amount + service tax.
3.50% on foreign currency transactions; 1.5% for Dynamic Currency Conversion.
1.99% of the transaction amount on international usage.
Interest Rate (APR)
3.5% per month (42% annually).
3.75% per month (55.55% per annum) on retail purchases and cash advances.
3.75% Per Month (equivalent to 45% Per Annum).

Rewards & Benefits

Welcome Bonus
10,000 Membership Rewards points on spending ₹15,000 within 90 days of cardmembership.
2,500 EDGE Miles on first transaction within 37 days of Axis Bank Atlas card issuance.
Welcome e-Gift Voucher worth Rs. 5,000, redeemable across select travel and lifestyle brands.
Rewards Rate
1 Membership Rewards Point for every ₹50 spent.
Earn 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on travel spends, 2 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on all other transactions.
5X RPs (10 RPs/Rs.100) on Dining, Dept. Stores, Groceries; 2 RPs/Rs.100 on other spends.
Reward Type
Reward Points
Reward Points
Reward Points
Reward Redemption Fee
Nil
₹99 per redemption transaction on EDGE portal; ₹199 for transfers to partner loyalty programs.
Rs. 99 + GST

Travel & Lifestyle

Domestic Lounge Access
8 complimentary visits per year to airport lounges across India (max 2 per quarter).
8-18 complimentary visits per year based on Silver, Gold, or Platinum tier membership.
2 complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge visits every quarter in India.
International Lounge Access
Complimentary Priority Pass membership (US$99 fee waived), but lounge visits are chargeable (US$32/35).
4-12 complimentary visits per year based on Silver, Gold, or Platinum tier membership.
Complimentary Priority Pass membership; 6 international lounge visits/year (max 2/quarter).
Travel Benefits
Premium travel card with complimentary domestic lounge access & Priority Pass membership.
Accelerated EDGE Miles on travel, lounge access, flight/hotel redemptions, partner miles transfers.
Complimentary lounge access, discounts on hotels (Lalit) & car rentals (Hertz, Avis), luxury hotel privileges.
Movie Benefits
Not Applicable
Free movie tickets worth Rs. 6,000 every year (max Rs. 250/ticket, 2 tickets/booking/month).
Dining Benefits
Up to 20% discount at select partner restaurants and deals on food delivery platforms.
Up to 25% off (Max ₹800) twice a month at partner restaurants via EazyDiner on ₹2,500+ spend.
5X RPs on dining. Up to 25% off at partner restaurants & 15% off at Lalit Hotels.
Golf Benefits
Not Applicable
4 complimentary green fees, up to 50% off golf games, 1 free golf lesson/month (Mastercard).
Fuel Surcharge Waiver
0% convenience fee at HPCL for transactions < ₹5,000; 1% for transactions ≥ ₹5,000.
1% fuel surcharge (refunded for ₹400-₹4,000 transactions, max ₹400/cycle).
1% waiver on fuel (Rs. 500-4000), capped at Rs. 250/month.

Security & Other

Insurance Benefits
Health insurance benefits available with ICICI Lombard.
Not Applicable
Complimentary Rs. 1 lakh fraud liability cover. Air accident cover (Rs. 1 Cr) discontinued 15 July 2025.
Cash Advance Charges
3.5% of transaction amount, min. ₹250.
2.5% of cash amount, minimum ₹500.
2.5% of transaction amount, subject to a minimum charge of Rs. 500.
Best valueHigher costHighlights apply to Joining Fee and Renewal Fee only.

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

SBI ELITE Credit Card

Who is it for?

The American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card is a premium travel card ideal for frequent domestic travelers and those who can maximize its attractive milestone benefits. It offers substantial Membership Rewards points and Taj Experiences E-Gift Cards on reaching spend thresholds. Cardholders enjoy 8 complimentary domestic lounge accesses annually and a complimentary Priority Pass membership. Despite recent devaluations, it remains a strong option for individuals seeking travel and hotel privileges.

Who is it for?

The Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card is a premium, travel-focused credit card designed for frequent travelers, rewarding users with valuable EDGE Miles. It features a unique tiered membership system (Silver, Gold, Platinum) where benefits like accelerated rewards and extensive lounge access escalate with annual spending. This card offers favorable miles transfer ratios to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs, making it an excellent choice for those with significant domestic and international travel expenses.

Who is it for?

The SBI Card ELITE is a premium credit card offering exclusive privileges across travel, lifestyle, movies, and dining. It provides valuable welcome benefits including a Rs. 5,000 gift voucher and complimentary domestic and international lounge access. Cardholders enjoy accelerated reward points on dining, departmental stores, and grocery spends, along with a low foreign currency markup, making it ideal for high-spenders.

Pros

Key benefits and features.

Attractive milestone benefits, including substantial bonus MR points and Taj vouchers.

Provides 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge accesses per year (2 per quarter).

Complimentary Priority Pass membership with annual fee waived for international travel.

Membership Rewards points do not expire as long as the card remains active.

Offers up to 20% discount at select dining establishments and food delivery deals.

Pros

Key benefits and features.

Excellent choice for individuals with significant domestic and international travel expenses.

Unique tiered benefits system rewards higher spenders with enhanced privileges effectively.

Favorable 1:2 transfer ratio for EDGE Miles to diverse airline and hotel loyalty programs.

Complimentary access to numerous domestic and international airport lounges for comfort.

Awards additional bonus miles upon reaching specified annual spending milestones.

Pros

Key benefits and features.

Provides significant welcome benefits worth Rs. 5,000, offsetting the first-year annual fee.

Generous complimentary lounge access: 2 domestic/quarter, 6 international/year via Priority Pass.

Accelerated rewards on dining, groceries, and departmental store spends.

Versatile credit card with privileges across diverse categories, ideal for luxury lifestyle & travel.

The annual fee can be waived upon achieving an annual spend milestone of Rs. 10 lakhs.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

No complimentary international airport lounge access; Priority Pass visits are chargeable.

High foreign currency markup fee of 3.5% on international transactions.

Annual fee is not automatically waived based on spending; retention offers are discretionary.

Reward point value is lower for shopping vouchers or cash credit compared to travel.

Acceptance can be an issue at smaller merchants outside premium establishments.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card does not offer any golf or insurance benefits to cardholders.

A high foreign currency transaction fee of 3.5% can accumulate for international spends.

Fees apply for both reward redemption and for transferring miles to partners.

No EDGE Miles are earned on key spend categories like fuel, rent, utilities, and insurance.

Various transaction-specific fees for rent, wallet loads, education, and online gaming.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

Base reward rate of 0.5% on general expenditures is low compared to rival premium cards.

High annual fee of Rs. 4,999 may be a disadvantage if waiver criteria aren't met or benefits underutilized.

Specific benefits like golf or dining offers are often limited to certain card variants.

Ready to Choose?

Based on your comparison, select the credit card that best matches your spending habits and financial goals.