Among the highest-priced cards currently available is the Axis Primus Credit Card, which carries an annual fee of ₹3 lakh and a joining fee of ₹5 lakh. Other premium offerings include HDFC Infinia, ICICI Emeralde Private Metal, Axis Burgundy Private, Axis Reserve, Kotak Solitaire and HSBC Premier Mastercard.
According to Paisabazaar, an Indian digital loan and credit card platform, super-premium credit cards are typically designed for high-income individuals and, in many cases, are offered to customers maintaining premium banking relationships.
“Super-premium credit cards are mostly invite-only and offered exclusively to those who maintain premium banking relationship with the banks. Beyond accelerated rewards and higher value-back, these cards offer luxury travel and lifestyle perks, such as airport transfers, premium hotel memberships, golf privileges, priority concierge services and more,” said Santosh Aggarwal, CEO of Paisabazaar.
The cards differ not only in annual fees but also in the benefits they prioritise, ranging from travel rewards and airport privileges to hotel memberships and concierge services.
Hotel and travel benefits take centre stage
Several super-premium cards offer memberships and benefits across hotel groups such as Marriott, Accor, Taj and ITC Hotels, alongside complimentary airport lounge access and golf privileges.
A recent Marriott Bonvoy report found that 77% of Indian travellers participate in hotel loyalty programmes, compared with the Asia-Pacific average of 66%.
“Co-branded credit card partnerships are a powerful lever in enhancing guest loyalty and encouraging repeat stays. These collaborations extend the reach of loyalty programme beyond the hotel stay, allowing members to earn points on everyday purchases,” said KB Kachru, Chairman, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, an international hotel group, in an earlier conversation with CNBC-TV18.
Arjun Baljee, Founder of Iconiqa and President of Royal Orchid Hotels, a hospitality brand shaping India’s travel landscape, said such partnerships help hotels remain “top of wallet” by enabling customers to earn rewards through everyday spending.
A look at super-premium credit cardsAxis Primus Credit Card (₹3 lakh annual fee; ₹5 lakh joining fee)
The card focuses on luxury travel benefits, including unlimited domestic and international lounge access, airport transfers in India and abroad, companion airfare benefits on partner airlines, privileges across more than 900 luxury hotels worldwide, golf benefits and 24×7 concierge services.
Axis Burgundy Private Credit Card (₹50,000 annual fee; waived for Burgundy Private customers)
The card offers accelerated rewards, including on rent and insurance payments, unlimited lounge access, memberships across Marriott, Accor and Taj hotel programmes, airport transfer discounts, golf benefits and concierge services.
Axis Reserve Credit Card (₹50,000 annual fee)
The card includes unlimited lounge access, hotel memberships, accelerated rewards on domestic and international spending, golf privileges, concierge services and global travel and medical assistance benefits.
Axis Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card (₹30,000 annual fee)
The card offers unlimited international lounge access, airport meet-and-greet services, accelerated rewards on bookings made through the bank’s travel platform and a choice of travel and hospitality vouchers as welcome benefits.
IDFC FIRST Private Credit Card (₹50,000 annual fee)
The invite-only card includes unlimited lounge and spa access, hotel memberships, trip cancellation cover, concierge services and bonus reward points on payment of the annual fee.
Kotak Solitaire Credit Card (₹25,000 annual fee; waived for Solitaire customers)
The card offers air miles on travel and other spending, unlimited lounge access, guest visits and hotel privileges through Visa’s partner programmes.
HSBC Premier Mastercard Credit Card (₹20,000 annual fee)
The card provides unlimited lounge access, travel rewards, a lower foreign exchange mark-up fee of 0.99% and hospitality and travel benefits through Mastercard’s global network.
HDFC Infinia Credit Card (₹12,500 annual fee)
The invite-only card offers accelerated rewards on travel and shopping through the bank’s platform, unlimited lounge access, Club Marriott membership, golf benefits and concierge services.
ICICI Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card (₹12,499 annual fee)
The card combines unlimited lounge access, Taj Epicure membership, travel cancellation cover, accelerated rewards on travel bookings, golf privileges and concierge services.
Which card may suit whom?
Given the wide variation in annual fees and benefits, the value of a super-premium card ultimately depends on how frequently a cardholder uses features such as airport lounges, hotel memberships, golf privileges, travel rewards and concierge services.
Consumers may therefore find it useful to compare cards based on their spending patterns and the benefits they are most likely to use.
