The SBI Air India Signature Credit Card is the premium offering in the Air India co-branded lineup from SBI Card. It delivers strong rewards, especially on Air India spends, and its main attraction is the milestone benefits that boost overall value for regular high spenders.
Historically, uptake was limited due to the airline’s earlier service issues, but as Air India’s product and operations improve, this card is expected to appeal to a wider group of travellers and frequent flyers.
Below is a concise, updated guide to the SBI Air India Signature Credit Card, covering fees, rewards, redemptions and who should consider applying.
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Fees
- Design
- Rewards
- Milestone Rewards
- Redemptions
- Airport Lounge Access
- Other Benefits
- Should you apply?
- Bottomline
Overview
| Type | Airline Credit Card |
| Reward Rate | ~4.5% |
| Best for | Redemptions on Air India |
| USP | Milestone benefits |
The standout feature of this card is the spend-linked milestone benefit, which awards a sizeable number of Air India Flying Returns points when you hit specific annual spend thresholds. That structure makes the card particularly attractive for those with predictable or high annual spending.
*** Best Air India Credit Card ***
To apply, open the link on desktop, click “start apply journey”, then “change card” and choose “Air India SBI Signature Card”.
Fees
| Joining Fee | 4,999 INR + GST |
| Welcome Benefit | 20,000 Reward points (~10,000 INR value) |
| Renewal Fee / Annual Fee | 4,999 INR + GST |
| Renewal Benefit | 5,000 Reward points |
| Renewal Fee waiver | Nil |
The welcome bonus offsets a portion of the joining fee, but the renewal benefit is modest compared with the annual fee, which may affect retention for some cardholders.
Design
The card’s visual design remains clean and premium, consistent with its Signature positioning. It retains a professional look that suits frequent travellers.
Rewards
| SPEND TYPE | Reward POINTS | REWARD RATE |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Spends | 4 RP / 100 INR | 2% |
| Air India Spends (Self) | 30 RP / 100 INR | 15% |
| Air India Spends (Others) | 10 RP / 100 INR | 5% |
- 1 Air India Flying Returns point ≈ 0.50 INR (approximate)
- Category exclusions apply as with most SBI cards
Earnings on Air India purchases are very strong, while regular spends deliver a modest return. Note there have been occasional reports of delays or issues in crediting Air India spend points, so monitor your account and raise queries promptly if points are missing.
Milestone Rewards
| SPEND | MILESTONE BENEFIT | SAVINGS (CUMULATIVE) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Lakhs | 20,000 Points | ~2% |
| 10 Lakhs | 30,000 Points | ~2.5% |
| 20 Lakhs | 50,000 Points | ~2.5% |
Milestone rewards significantly enhance the card’s effective return for high spenders. Depending on total annual spend, these bonus points can push overall rewards to around ~4.5% when combined with base earnings. In exceptional cases and with targeted redemptions, realized value can be even higher.
Redemptions
- Points transfer ratio to Air India: 1:1
- Minimum flights to redeem for self: 1
- Minimum flights to redeem for others: 5
Points collected on the card can be transferred to Air India Flying Returns at parity. Redeeming on Air India often offers the best value, especially for direct routes from India. Award availability on Air India’s own program can be more generous than via partner redemptions in some cases.
Sample domestic redemptions:
- Bengaluru to Mumbai (economy): 4,000 points + ~1,200 INR taxes
- Bengaluru to Mumbai (business): 21,000 points + ~3,500 INR taxes
Sample international redemptions on Air India / Star Alliance partners (illustrative):
- Mumbai to London (Air India business): ~125,000 points + ~17,000 INR taxes
- Mumbai to London (Air India economy): ~38,000 points + ~4,000 INR taxes
- Bengaluru to Singapore (Air India / Singapore Airlines business): ~50,000 points + ~9,000 INR taxes
- Bengaluru to Singapore (Air India economy): ~13,000 points + ~3,500 INR taxes
Frequent flyers who have used the Air India program often praise its availability for multiple seats on the same flight, which can be a practical advantage over some Star Alliance partner redemptions.
Airport Lounge Access
| ACCESS TYPE | VIA | LIMIT |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Lounge Access | Visa Infinite | 2 per quarter |
The card includes a limited number of domestic lounge visits per quarter via the Visa Infinite programme. It does not include complimentary international lounge access, which is consistent with its focus on maximizing rewards rather than premium travel perks.
Other Benefits
- Forex markup fee: 3.5% + applicable taxes
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000
Should you apply?
If you spend 20 lakhs on this card in a year, estimated point earnings can be:
20,000 (welcome) + 30,000 + 50,000 (milestones) + ~80,000 (regular earn) = ~1,80,000 Reward points
That level of points on 20 lakh spend translates to roughly a ~4.5% effective reward rate when redeemed sensibly, making the card attractive for heavy spenders who value Air India redemptions. Additionally, cardholders who frequently fly Air India—especially on routes with good award availability—will find the program practical and rewarding.
To apply, open the link on desktop, click “start apply journey”, then “change card” and choose “Air India SBI Signature Card”.
Bottomline
- Cardexpert Rating: 4.2/5
The SBI Air India Signature Credit Card remains a solid choice for a focused group of travellers, especially those who value Air India redemptions and can meet milestone spends. While it may not match the breadth of benefits offered by some competitor airline cards, its milestone structure and strong Air India earn rates make it compelling for repeat flyers.
If you primarily seek premium lounge access or broader lifestyle privileges, other cards might suit you better. But for regular Air India customers and high spenders aiming for award travel, this card offers clear, quantifiable value.
SBI Air India Signature Credit Card still holds up well years after its launch. Share your experience or thoughts if you’ve used this card.