With India embracing travel like never before—whether it’s for business, leisure, or a weekend break—travel companies and financial institutions are joining forces to reward every trip. One such example of such synergy is the co-branded travel credit card, which provides the traveler with benefits such as discounted ticket bookings, lounge visits for free, and airline miles. Let’s see some of the best co-branded travel credit cards offered in India currently that suit every type of traveler—frequent flyers to budget travelers.
What Are Co-Branded Travel Credit Cards?
A co-branded travel credit card is an alliance between a travel agency like an airline or travel portal and a bank. These cards are designed to be used for travel expenses and provide high rewards on purchases made at the partner brand. Standard perks include:
- Reward points on booking travel
- Free or reduced-cost flights
- Access to airport lounges
- Waiver of fuel surcharges
- Entry into frequent flyer programs
1. ICICI Bank MakeMyTrip Credit Cards
- Partner: MakeMyTrip
- Variants: Signature and Platinum
- Highlights:
- Welcome vouchers and MMTBLACK membership
- Up to 6x My Cash on MMT bookings
- Domestic lounge access (Signature only)
- Fuel surcharge waiver
- Annual Fee: ₹500 (Platinum) / ₹2,500 (Signature)
2. Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card
- Partner: EaseMyTrip
- Highlights:
- 10x reward points on EaseMyTrip spends
- Flat 10% off on flights and 20% on hotels
- Complimentary lounge access
- Travel insurance benefits
- Annual Fee: ₹350 (waived on ₹50,000 annual spend)
Also read: Want to Save Big While Studying Abroad? Get One of These Forex Cards!
3. Kotak Bank 6E Rewards IndiGo HDFC Credit Card
- Partner: IndiGo Airlines
- Highlights:
- 6x Rewards on IndiGo expenses and partner brands
- Welcome benefits: IndiGo voucher + Fast Forward service
- Lounge access once in every quarter
- Dining and milestone benefits
- Annual Fee: ₹1,500
- Best for: Frequent flyers
4. HDFC Bank IRCTC RuPay Credit Card
- Partner: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)
- Highlights:
- 5% cashback on train ticket bookings through IRCTC
- Railway lounge access 4 times/year
- Fuel surcharge waiver
- Annual railway spend rewards
- Annual Fee: ₹500
- Best for: Frequent IRCTC bookers.
5. Axis Bank Vistara Credit Card
- Partner: Vistara Airlines
- Variants: Axis Vistara, Vistara Signature, and Vistara Infinite
- Highlights:
- Free Vistara base fare ticket as welcome gift
- Club Vistara Points on all spends
- Milestone rewards feature free flight tickets and upgrades
- Free Club Vistara Silver/Gold status (higher variants)
- Annual Fee: ₹1,500 – ₹10,000 (variant-based)
- Best for: Frequent flyers who enjoy premium benefits and status privileges.
6. SBI Card Yatra
- Partner: Yatra.com
- Highlights:
- Welcome gift vouchers worth ₹8,250 from Yatra
- 6x reward points on travel spends
- ₹1,000 off on domestic flights (minimum transaction value applicable)
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
- Annual Fee: ₹499
- Best for: Budget travelers who make frequent bookings on Yatra.
7. IRCTC SBI Premier Card
- Partner: IRCTC
- Key Features:
- 10% value back on IRCTC bookings
- Free lounge access at railway stations
- Reward points on dining and utility spends
- Add-on railway loyalty benefits
- Annual Fee: ₹1,499
- Good for: Frequent train travelers and families who prefer to travel by rail.
Quick Comparison Snapshot
| Card | Partner | Key Benefit | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI MMT Signature | MakeMyTrip | 6x My Cash, lounge access | Frequent online bookers |
| SCB EaseMyTrip | EaseMyTrip | Instant flight/hotel discounts | Budget-savvy travelers |
| Kotak 6E IndiGo | IndiGo | Flight vouchers, 6E rewards | IndiGo loyalists |
| HDFC IRCTC | IRCTC | 5% cashback, lounge access | Train travelers |
| Axis Vistara Infinite | Vistara | Complimentary flight tickets | Premium flyers |
| SBI Yatra | Yatra.com | Discount vouchers | Low-cost flyers |
| IRCTC SBI Premier | IRCTC | 10% back + lounge | Rail travel enthusiasts |
Co-branded travel credit cards are more than just payment tools—they’re companions that make every trip smoother, cheaper, and more rewarding. Whether you’re taking off with IndiGo, planning holidays through MakeMyTrip, or riding the rails with IRCTC, there’s a perfect card waiting to level up your travel game. Prior to selection, always balance the annual fee with the benefits, verify the brand partnership that most closely aligns with your holiday habits, and opt for a card with reward flexibility. With the perfect co-branded travel credit card in your pocket, your next vacation may begin with a swipe.
Written by Pydimarri Hema Harshini
