Key Highlights
- Two variants: BOBCARD Etihad Guest (standard, ₹2,500 fee) and BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium (metal, ₹5,000 fee). India's only active Etihad co-branded cards - SBI Etihad partnership ended 1 December 2025, cards closed 31 March 2026.
- Premium earn rates: 6 miles per ₹100 on Etihad Airways (Premium) / 3 miles per ₹100 (Standard). 2 miles per ₹100 (Premium) / 1 mile per ₹100 (Standard) on all other spends.
- 0% forex markup on Premium; 1% on Standard. The only card combination in India that earns Etihad miles with zero or near-zero forex cost.
- Welcome miles: 15,000 (Premium) / 7,500 (Standard). Conditions: joining fee + ₹25,000 spend in 60 days for tranche 1; ₹50,000 cumulative for tranche 2.
- Lounge: Premium: 12 domestic + 8 international/year. Standard: 8 domestic + 4 international/year. No spend condition for lounge.
- Status: Silver tier on first transaction (both variants). Gold tier on first etihad.com purchase (Premium).
- Metal card with name engraving (Premium). GPay supported on Android. Smart EMI on ₹2,500+ purchases.
The BOBCARD Etihad Guest cards, launched in January 2026, are a significant arrival in the Indian co-branded card market. Etihad Airways had previously partnered with SBI Cards - but that partnership ended on 1 December 2025, with cards formally closed on 31 March 2026. BOBCARD is now the sole credit card issuer for Etihad Guest Miles in India. If you want to accumulate Etihad miles through credit card spend, BOBCARD is the only option.
The two cards target different profiles. The standard variant (₹2,500 annual fee) is for occasional Etihad flyers who want to enter the miles ecosystem at lower commitment. The Premium variant (₹5,000 annual fee, metal card) is for frequent international travellers who will benefit from 0% forex markup and higher milestone bonuses. This review covers both.
The Two Cards: Side-by-Side
| Feature | BOBCARD Etihad Guest (Standard) | BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹2,500 + GST | ₹5,000 + GST |
| Annual fee waiver | ₹3,00,000 annual spend | ₹5,00,000 annual spend |
| Earn on Etihad flights | 3 miles per ₹100 | 6 miles per ₹100 |
| Earn on all other spends | 1 mile per ₹100 | 2 miles per ₹100 |
| Welcome miles | 7,500 total | 15,000 total |
| Domestic lounge visits | 8/year (2 per quarter) | 12/year (3 per quarter) |
| International lounge visits | 4/year (1 per quarter) | 8/year (2 per quarter) |
| Forex markup | 1% | 0% |
| Card material | Plastic | Metal, name engraved |
| Monthly bonus miles | 250 miles at ₹25,000/month | 500 miles at ₹50,000/month |
| Quarterly bonus miles | 2,000 miles at ₹2,00,000 | 4,000 miles at ₹3,00,000 |
| Annual bonus miles | 12,000 miles at ₹7,50,000 | 24,000 miles at ₹12,00,000 |
| Etihad tier on first transaction | Silver | Silver + Gold on first etihad.com purchase |
Source: bobcard.co.in and etihad.com partner page. BOBCARD MITC Ver 19. Last verified: 9 May 2026.
Earn Rate: What You Actually Accumulate
The headline rate - 6 miles per ₹100 on Etihad flights for Premium cardholders - only applies to Etihad Airways bookings. All other spends, including domestic dining, online shopping, travel bookings on third-party portals, and utility bills, earn the base rate of 2 miles per ₹100 (Premium) or 1 mile per ₹100 (Standard).
Important MCC exclusions: No miles are earned on fuel, supermarkets, education, hospital, insurance, government spends, wallet loads, fast food (MCC 5814), and telecom transactions. This exclusion list is longer than most premium cards at this fee level. Plan which categories to route through this card and which to use other cards for.
For a Premium cardholder spending ₹1,00,000 per month - routing ₹15,000 through Etihad flights and ₹85,000 through other eligible spends - the monthly mile accumulation is 900 miles (Etihad) + 1,700 miles (other) = 2,600 base miles. Add the ₹50,000 monthly threshold bonus (500 miles) and the ₹3,00,000 quarterly bonus (4,000 miles ÷ 3 = 1,333/month average) - total: approximately 4,433 miles per month = 53,200 miles per year before the annual milestone bonus.
0% Forex: The Premium Card's Most Underappreciated Benefit
Most premium Indian credit cards charge 2–3.5% forex markup on international transactions. The BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium charges zero. On ₹2,00,000 in annual international spending - two international trips with hotel stays - the saving versus a 2% forex card is ₹4,000. The saving versus a 3.5% card is ₹7,000.
At ₹5,000 annual fee, any cardholder spending ₹2,50,000+ internationally per year recovers the fee entirely through forex savings. The miles and lounge access come on top of a card that has already paid for itself.
| Annual International Spend | Saving vs 2% Forex Card | Saving vs 3.5% Forex Card | Effective Premium Fee After Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹1,00,000 | ₹2,000 | ₹3,500 | ₹3,000 |
| ₹2,00,000 | ₹4,000 | ₹7,000 | ₹1,000 |
| ₹2,50,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹8,750 | ₹0 |
| ₹5,00,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹17,500 | Fee waived anyway |
Standard card charges 1% forex - same calculation applies but at half the saving rate.
Active Offers - May 2026
MakeMyTrip - Up to 15% Instant Discount (Valid till 30 June 2026)
12% on domestic flights (code: MMTBOBEMI), 15% on domestic hotels, 10% on international flights (code: MMTBOBINTEMI), 10–15% on international hotels. Valid Tuesdays and Fridays only. EMI transactions only. Once per card per month per category. Maximum discounts: flights ₹1,600 domestic / ₹7,000 international; hotels ₹5,000 domestic / ₹15,000 international.
EazyDiner - Flat ₹400 Off (Valid till 30 June 2026)
Instant discount on dining bookings at participating restaurants. Applied at checkout. Check eligible cities at bobcard.co.in/festive.
Lenskart - 5% Off (Valid till 30 June 2026)
On eyewear, sunglasses, and contact lenses at lenskart.com and Lenskart stores.
How to Apply
Step 1 - Create your Etihad Guest account
Free at etihad.com/etihadguest. Note your membership number - you will need it in the application form. Without it, miles cannot be credited.
Step 2 - Apply at etihadguest.bobcard.in
Select Standard or Premium. Fill the form with PAN, Aadhaar, personal details, income, and Etihad Guest membership number. Complete Aadhaar OTP verification and Video KYC.
Step 3 - After card receipt
Activate immediately. Verify your Etihad Guest account shows the card as linked. Pay the joining fee in your first statement - the welcome miles require both the joining fee payment AND ₹25,000 spend within 60 days. The 60-day clock starts from card issuance, not receipt.
Note for existing BOBCARD cardholders
Multiple community reports indicate existing BOBCARD holders (Eterna, Tiara, Cashback) sometimes receive an initial automated rejection when applying for the Etihad card, followed by approval a few days later. If rejected despite meeting eligibility - wait a few days or call 1800 103 1006.
Who Should Get Which Variant
Get the Premium if:
- You spend ₹2,50,000+ internationally per year - 0% forex recovers the fee
- You fly Etihad 2+ times per year - 6 miles/₹100 on Etihad flights earns meaningfully
- You want 12 domestic + 8 international lounge visits with no spend condition
- You spend ₹1,00,000/month and can route expenses to hit milestone bonuses
Get the Standard if:
- You fly Etihad occasionally and want entry into the miles programme at lower cost
- International spend is under ₹2,50,000/year - 1% forex is acceptable
- You want 8 domestic lounge visits at a lower annual fee commitment
Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. All card features, fees, and benefits are subject to change. Data sourced from bobcard.co.in, BOBCARD MITC Ver 19 (April 2026), and third-party sources as cited. Refer to bobcard.co.in/MITC before making any financial decision. BOBCARD Limited is a 100% subsidiary of Bank of Baroda, RBI-regulated.
