Airport Lounge Access
Enjoy complimentary access to domestic and international airport lounges, turning long layovers into a comfortable break with food, seating and Wi-Fi included.
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Why Choose a Travel Credit Card?
Accelerated Miles & Reward Points
Earn air miles or reward points at a faster rate on flight and hotel bookings, and transfer them to airline or hotel loyalty programs for better redemption value.
Lower Forex Mark-up
Many travel cards charge a reduced foreign currency mark-up fee compared to regular cards, so international spending costs less on every swipe.
Travel Cover & Trip Protection
Get built-in benefits like travel insurance, missed-flight or delayed-baggage cover, and purchase protection that a standard card typically won't offer.
Best Travel Credit Cards
Compare the cards that offer the most useful lounge access, miles and travel benefits.
HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card
Benefits
- Unlimited domestic & international lounge access for both the primary & add-on cardholder
- Base reward rate of 3.3%, rising to 10X on SmartBuy flight and hotel bookings
- Invite- only card, & fee waived on ₹10 lakh annual spend
- India's benchmark super-premium travel card
BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card
Benefits
- 0% forex mark-up on every international spend
- Earn 6 Miles per ₹100 spent on Etihad Airways bookings
- Fast-tracked to Etihad Gold tier from your very first transaction
- 12 domestic + 8 international lounge visits a year
BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card
Benefits
- Earn Etihad Guest Miles on every card spend, not just flights
- 8 domestic + 4 international lounge visits a year
- Silver tier fast-track from your first card use
- An accessible entry point into the Etihad miles ecosystem
HSBC TravelOne Credit Card
Benefits
- 1:1 points transfer to 20 airline and hotel partners
- 4X rewards on online travel agent (OTA) bookings
- 10 lounge visits a year plus 4 chauffeur-driven airport transfers
- One of the most flexible transfer-partner cards available in India
HDFC Bank Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card
Benefits
- Free Night Award on joining and on every renewal
- Earn 8 Marriott Bonvoy points per ₹150 spent at Marriott properties
- Silver Elite Status plus 10 Elite Night Credits toward the next tier
- 24 lounge visits a year
Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card
Benefits
- 0% forex mark-up on every international spend, with no annual fee at all
- 20% travel rewards when bookings are made through the Scapia app
- Unlimited domestic lounge access once you cross ₹20,000 in monthly spend
- Available as a dual Visa + RuPay card
IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card
Benefits
- Zero forex mark-up on international spends, with no joining fee
- 4X rewards across online, offline and international spends
- FD-backed, so no income proof is required
- A practical pick for building credit history alongside travel benefits
RBL World Safari Credit Card
Benefits
- 0% forex mark-up on international spends
- 5X accelerated rewards on travel bookings
- Airport lounge access included
- Built specifically around overseas spending rather than domestic-only use
Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card
Benefits
- 20,000 welcome Avios points on card activation
- Earn 6 Avios per ₹200 spent
- 16 lounge visits a year plus a dedicated meet-and-greet airport service
- Dual redemption across British Airways and Qatar Airways programs
IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Card
Benefits
- Earn 3 BluChips per ₹100 spent on IndiGo bookings
- 2 BluChips per ₹100 on dining and groceries
- Quarterly complimentary lounge access
- The most budget-friendly pick for frequent IndiGo domestic flyers
Compare the Top Travel Credit Cards
See how three popular travel cards stack up on fees, rewards, lounge access and forex.
| Feature | HDFC Bank Infinia | Scapia Federal Bank | BOBCARD Etihad Guest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Infinia: unlimited lounge, top spenders | Scapia: zero-fee occasional flyers | Etihad Guest: first-time Etihad mile earners |
| Annual / renewal fee | Infinia: ₹12,500+GST, invite-only | Scapia: lifetime free | Etihad Guest: ₹2,500 flat yearly |
| Fee Wavier | Waived at ₹10L spend | Nothing to waive | No waiver, Silver tier instantly |
| Reward rate | In Infinia, 1:1 point transfer via SmartBuy where 3.3% base &10X SmartBuy | Used in-app, no point transfer & 20% back via app | Etihad Guest credits direct to account: 6 Miles per ₹100 |
| Key limitation | invite-only access | Spend-conditional lounge access | Best for Etihad flyers only |
Explore Reviews of Top Travel Cards
Read the full story behind each card - reward math, lounge fine print, and where it can fall short.
HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹2,500–₹4,999
- Unlimited domestic & international lounge access for both the primary & add-on cardholder
- Base reward rate of 3.3%, rising to 10X on SmartBuy flight and hotel bookings
- Invite- only card, & fee waived on ₹10 lakh annual spend
- India's benchmark super-premium travel card
BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹2,500–₹4,999
- 0% forex mark-up on every international spend
- Earn 6 Miles per ₹100 spent on Etihad Airways bookings
- Fast-tracked to Etihad Gold tier from your very first transaction
- 12 domestic + 8 international lounge visits a year
BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹1,000–₹2,499
- Earn Etihad Guest Miles on every card spend, not just flights
- 8 domestic + 4 international lounge visits a year
- Silver tier fast-track from your first card use
- An accessible entry point into the Etihad miles ecosystem
HSBC TravelOne Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹2,500–₹4,999
- 1:1 points transfer to 20 airline and hotel partners
- 4X rewards on online travel agent (OTA) bookings
- 10 lounge visits a year plus 4 chauffeur-driven airport transfers
- One of the most flexible transfer-partner cards available in India
HDFC Bank Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹2,500–₹4,999
- Free Night Award on joining and on every renewal
- Earn 8 Marriott Bonvoy points per ₹150 spent at Marriott properties
- Silver Elite Status plus 10 Elite Night Credits toward the next tier
- 24 lounge visits a year
Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card
Joining fee: Lifetime free
- 0% forex mark-up on every international spend, with no annual fee at all
- 20% travel rewards when bookings are made through the Scapia app
- Unlimited domestic lounge access once you cross ₹20,000 in monthly spend
- Available as a dual Visa + RuPay card
IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card
Joining fee: Lifetime free
- Zero forex mark-up on international spends, with no joining fee
- 4X rewards across online, offline and international spends
- FD-backed, so no income proof is required
- A practical pick for building credit history alongside travel benefits
RBL World Safari Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹2,500–₹4,999
- 0% forex mark-up on international spends
- 5X accelerated rewards on travel bookings
- Airport lounge access included
- Built specifically around overseas spending rather than domestic-only use
Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹2,500–₹4,999
- 20,000 welcome Avios points on card activation
- Earn 6 Avios per ₹200 spent
- 16 lounge visits a year plus a dedicated meet-and-greet airport service
- Dual redemption across British Airways and Qatar Airways programs
IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹500–₹999
- Earn 3 BluChips per ₹100 spent on IndiGo bookings
- 2 BluChips per ₹100 on dining and groceries
- Quarterly complimentary lounge access
- The most budget-friendly pick for frequent IndiGo domestic flyers
How We Evaluate Credit Cards to Find the Best Options for You
Reward Potential
We compare rewards, cashback, bonus rates and redemption value to understand how much you can earn from everyday spending.
Fees & Overall Value
We assess joining fees, annual charges, renewal costs and fee waivers to determine whether the benefits justify the overall cost.
Everyday Usability
We evaluate how well each card rewards everyday spending across shopping, dining, travel, fuel and other common categories.
Independent Assessment
We evaluate cards using features, fees, rewards, terms and exclusions to help you make a clear and informed comparison.
Choose the Right Travel Credit Card
Match Card To Flight Frequency
Occasional flyers do better with a lifetime-free card like Scapia; frequent flyers get more value from a fee-bearing card.
Check Lounge Access Conditions
Confirm whether visits are per quarter or year, and whether a minimum spend unlocks them, before counting on it.
Compare Real Transfer Value
A card with strong transfer partners can beat a flashier headline rate - check where your points can actually go.
Weigh The Forex Mark-up
For frequent international spenders, a 0% forex card like Scapia or BOBCARD Etihad Guest can outweigh a higher annual fee.
Tip: The best travel card matches your actual travel pattern - domestic vs. international, occasional vs. frequent - not the card with the longest benefits list.
Understanding Travel Credit Cards
Travel credit cards are built for people who fly or travel internationally on a regular basis, turning everyday card spending into airport lounge access, air miles, hotel benefits and reduced foreign currency charges. Popular travel credit cards in India include the HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card, HSBC TravelOne, Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card, and BOBCARD's Etihad Guest range - each built around a different travel style, from budget domestic flyers to premium international travellers.
Most people use a travel card by routing flight and hotel bookings through it to earn accelerated rewards, then redeeming those rewards for future trips, upgrades or lounge visits. The real value of a travel credit card comes down to three things: how many lounge visits you'll actually use, how well your points convert into real travel, and how much you save on forex if you spend abroad - not the annual fee or welcome offer alone.
Explore Cards for Every Spending Need
Not every spend happens on a flight - these categories cover the rest of your wallet.
BOBCARD Cashback Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹499 / year
- Benefits: 5% cashback on online spends
- Auto-credited monthly, no redemption steps
- No complicated point system
- BOBCARD's own cashback pick
SBI Card Pulse
Joining fee: ₹1,499 / year
- Noise ColorFit watch worth ₹7,999 on joining
- FITPASS PRO membership included
- Netmeds discounts
- 8 lounge visits a year
Axis Bank ACE Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹499 / year
- 5% cashback on Google Pay utility bills (Android)
- 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato and Ola
- 4 domestic lounge visits
- Uncapped 1.5% on other spends
ICICI HPCL Coral Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹199 / year, waived at ₹50K spend
- 3.5% value-back on HPCL fuel spends
- 2 reward points per ₹100 on other spends
- 25% off on BookMyShow
- Low ₹199 annual fee
Kotak 811 Dream Different Credit Card
Joining fee: Lifetime Free
- Backed by a ₹10,000 FD, no income proof required
- 4X rewards on online spends
- Reward points never expire
- 48-day interest-free cash withdrawal
HDFC Swiggy Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹500 / year
- 10% cashback on every Swiggy order
- 5% cashback on online shopping
- Complimentary 3-month Swiggy One membership
- Low ₹500 annual fee
Travel Card Guides & Reviews
SBI Pulse vs SBI Prime 2026: Which Card Fits You?
SBI Card Pulse's wellness focus vs SBI Prime's lifestyle rewards and lounge access - a real comparison to help you pick the right SBI card.
Read Guide
BPCL Octane vs SBI Cashback 2026: Which Fits You?
BPCL SBI Card Octane's 7.25% fuel value-back vs SBI Cashback's flat 5% online rate - which card actually fits your fuel and everyday spending pattern.
Read Guide
SBI Cashback vs Flipkart SBI 2026: Which Wins?
SBI Cashback's flat 5% on any merchant vs Flipkart SBI's tiered rates on specific partners - which online shopping card actually pays more.
Read Guide
Flipkart SBI vs Titan SBI 2026: Which Co-Brand Wins?
Flipkart SBI's flexible online cashback vs Titan SBI's jewellery-focused rewards - a real comparison to help you pick the co-brand card that matches your spending.
Read GuideFrequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you apply for the right credit card.
Got question.
We've got answers.
Here are the most common questions people ask about cashback credit cards.
Which credit cards offer unlimited airport lounge access?
HDFC Infinia is the standout - it gives unlimited domestic and international lounge access via Priority Pass, for both the primary and add-on cardholder, with no visit cap.
What is the best credit card for airport lounge access on a budget?
BOBCARD Etihad Guest and Scapia both include lounge access without a premium annual fee - Etihad Guest for ₹2,500 a year, Scapia for free.
What's the best credit card to book flight tickets?
Co-branded cards like IndiGo Axis Bank earn accelerated rewards specifically on flight ticket bookings with that airline, while general travel cards like HSBC TravelOne reward flight bookings across any airline via OTA partners.
Which credit cards give air miles or frequent flyer miles?
Cards like HSBC TravelOne, BOBCARD Etihad Guest and IndiGo Axis all earn air miles - as frequent flyer miles, Etihad Guest Miles, or airline-specific BluChips - redeemable on future travel.
What's the best credit card for international travel?
Look for 0% forex mark-up first - Scapia and BOBCARD Etihad Guest both qualify - then weigh lounge access and reward rate against your typical trip pattern.
Which travel card is best for hotel bookings?
HDFC Marriott Bonvoy is built specifically around hotel stays, earning Bonvoy points and Elite Night Credits at Marriott properties on every booking.
Do travel credit cards reduce forex charges on international spends?
Most do. Premium cards typically bring the mark-up down to around 2%, while cards like Scapia and BOBCARD Etihad Guest offer 0% forex mark-up.
What Cardholders Say
Switched to the BOBCARD Etihad Guest card mainly for the zero forex charge, and it's paid off on every trip abroad since. The Etihad miles piling up on regular spending is a nice bonus I wasn't expecting.
The unlimited lounge access on Infinia has genuinely changed how I feel about layovers - I actually look forward to them now.
I fly maybe four times a year, so a lifetime-free card with zero forex made more sense than paying for a premium card I wouldn't fully use.