Top 10 Best Credit Cards For Luxury Spending in India

Premium credit cards provide an enhanced level of comfort and a broad range of services designed to meet varied needs. These cards aren’t just focused on cashback rewards; they are known for their premium features. Every premium card has its own unique set of benefits, and users should thoughtfully choose the card that best fits their specific needs. 

We’ve curated the top 10 best credit cards available to support a luxurious lifestyle in India. Through our comparative analysis, we will walk you through the features, fees, eligibility and tips to better understand how to reap benefits. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

What Sets Premium Credit Cards Apart

Premium credit cards in India stand out due to their high credit limits and a range of unique benefits, especially when compared to regular cards. Let’s take a look at them:

Welcome Benefits: When you get a premium credit card and pay the first-year fee, you usually receive welcome benefits that match the annual fee. Regular cards might not offer such benefits.

Rewards:

• Premium cards give you more valuable rewards than non-premium ones.
• You get more points and better rates for redeeming them with premium cards.

Milestone Benefits:

• Spend a certain amount in a year, and premium cards reward you with fee waivers and e-vouchers.
• These benefits are usually better than what you’d get with non-premium cards.

Concierge Services: Premium cards offer 24/7 concierge services globally, something not available with regular cards.

Lounge Access:

• Unlimited access to both domestic and international airport lounges with premium cards.
• Regular cards usually only give limited access to domestic lounges.

Golf Sessions:

• Premium cards often include free golf sessions at select courses, both in India and abroad.
• This perk isn’t available with regular credit cards.

Top 10 Premium Credit Cards in India 2023

Features of Premium Credit Cards in India

Now that we’ve stated all the top 10 premium credit cards, let’s take a look at the features and benefits that come along with each card:

HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card Metal Edition

Joining/Annual Fee: ₹12,500 + Taxes

Benefits:

• Free Priority Pass Membership
• Low foreign currency markup fee
• Unlimited free golf games
• Club Marriott Membership
• Reward points on spends
• Comprehensive insurance coverage
• Dining program
• Fuel surcharge waiver
• Complimentary nights & buffet at participating ITC hotels
• Metallic card with premium design
• 24×7 Global Concierge Service
• Welcome and renewal benefits of 12,500 reward points each
• 5 Reward Points for every ₹150 spent
• Unlimited airport lounge access globally

SBI Aurum Credit Card

Annual Fee: ₹9,999 (waiver on spending ₹12 lakh or more)

Benefits:

• Welcome rewards
• Milestone benefits
• Redemption options
• Free movie tickets
• Lounge access
• Spa access
• Low foreign currency markup fee
• Flight cancellation coverage
• 40,000 Reward Points and complimentary memberships of Zomato Pro and BBStar (6 months)
• Complimentary memberships like Amazon Prime, Discovery Plus, EazyDiner Prime
• Up to 25% discounts at over 250 Marriott group hotels across Asia
• 4 free movie tickets from BookMyShow every month
• Forex interchange rate of 1.99% plus taxes

Axis Reserve Credit Card

Annual Fee: ₹50,000 (waiver on ₹25 lakh spent in the previous year)

Benefits:

• Membership of hotel loyalty programs like ITC Culinaire, Accor Plus, and Club Marriott
• Membership of dining programs like Eazydiner Prime
• Up to 8 free VIP Assistance Services
• Up to 4 free chauffeured luxury airport pick-ups/drops every year
• Complimentary Airport Concierge Services including assistance with airport processes like check-in, security check, immigration process, and porter services
• Earn 15 EDGE points per Rs. 200 spent
• Up to 40X EDGE Points via Grabdeals & Giftedge portal, 2X EDGE Points on all foreign transactions​​​​​​​​.

HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card

Annual Fee: ₹10,000

Benefits: Memberships

• Club Marriott 
• Forbes
• Amazon Prime
• Zomato Pro
• MMT BLACK
• Times Prime memberships
• Shopping vouchers
• Reward points
• Golf games
• Insurance coverage
• Unlimited lounge access​​.

IndusInd Bank Legend Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹9,999; Annual Fee: Nil

Benefits:

• Earn and redeem points for vouchers, air miles, cashback, hotel stays, travel insurance, and more
• Welcome benefits include a choice of a Luxe gift card, complimentary stay at Oberoi Chain of Hotels, Montblanc products, Postcard hotel stays, or Vouchagram gift vouchers from popular brands
• Buy One Get One on 1 movie ticket every month up to ₹200
• Complimentary stay at Oberoi Hotel, fuel surcharge waiver, golf program, movie tickets, travel insurance
• Gift vouchers from premium brands like Oberoi hotels, Hush Puppies, Luxe Gift Card, Louis Phillipe, Charles & Keith on enrolling for the card​​​​​​​​.

Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card

Annual Fee: ₹10,000

Benefits:

• Choose one voucher worth INR 12,500 from Luxe gift card, The Postcard Hotels gift voucher, or Yatra gift voucher as a welcome benefit
• 8 complimentary end-to-end meet & assist services at the airport
• Unlimited domestic and international airport lounge access
• Movie benefits of up to ₹2,500 per month
• Up to 40% discount at select restaurants
• Renewal Fee of ₹12,500 plus GST
• Reward points on movies, travel, dining, and shopping
• Option to choose a welcome benefit voucher from one-way domestic flight ticket or Luxe Gift Card or PostCard Hotels gift voucher worth up to ₹12,500​​​​​​​​.

Standard Chartered Priority Visa Infinite Credit Card

Joining/Annual Fee: Nil

Benefits:

• Earn 5x reward points for every INR 150 spent overseas or on retail fashion
• Earn 2x reward points for all other spends
• Four complimentary domestic airport lounge access every quarter
• Priority Pass membership for international airport lounges at a nominal charge
• Insurance benefits
• Good reward rate on retail spending at 5X reward points per ₹100 and 2X reward points on other spends
• 1.5% reward rate on international and retail spends, and 0.6% on other spending​​​​​​​​.

IndusInd Celesta Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹50,000; Annual Fee: ₹5,000

Benefits:

• Complimentary lounge access, BookMyShow offers, air accident assurance
• Reward Rate: 1% Domestic / 3% International
• Unlimited Complimentary lounge Access
• Complimentary Shangri-La Golden Circle Jade Membership / Taj inner circle Gold
• 2 complimentary Première Class movie tickets and Buy 1 Get 1 via BookMyShow
• Dining Benefits: Dineout Plus, ₹2,500 Discount, Amex Dining Benefits
• Milestone benefits: Annual fee reversal on spending ₹10 lakh or more in one year
• 3 reward points for every ₹100 spent internationally​​​​​​​​.

ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

Annual Fee: ₹12,000

Benefits: 

• Birthday benefit: Voucher of Tata CLiQ on the cardholder’s birthday
• 24×7 concierge service for hotel/restaurant reservations, flight bookings, car rentals
• Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access to both domestic and international terminals
• Personal air accident insurance cover of ₹3 crore
• Unlimited complimentary spa access at airports in India
• No over limit fee, cash withdrawal fee, or late payment fee
• Discounts and benefits on movies, golf, and health and wellness
• Complimentary gift vouchers and yearly discounts
• Complimentary insurance coverage for air accidents, lost baggage, in-transit delays, lost card liability, etc​​​​​​​​.

SBI Card ELITE

Annual Fee: ₹4,999
Benefits:

• Welcome e-Gift Voucher worth ₹5,000
• Free movie tickets worth ₹6,000 annually
• Earn up to 50,000 bonus Reward Points yearly
• 5X Reward Points on Dining, Departmental stores, Grocery; 2 Points per ₹100 on other spends
• 1% Fuel Surcharge Waiver
• Complimentary Priority Pass Program membership
• 6 international airport lounge visits per year; 2 domestic lounge visits per quarter
• Club Vistara Silver membership with upgrade voucher and reward points
• Trident Privilege Red Tier membership with bonus points and hotel credit
• Lowest Forex Markup of 1.99% on international usage
• Exclusive Concierge Service for various assistance

Eligibility for Premium Credit Cards in India

Eligibility for premium credit cards in India typically involves specific criteria set by the issuing banks. Let’s take a look at the general overview of the eligibility criteria before we dive into some of the specifics for the cards in our list:

• Age Requirements: Applicants for premium credit cards should generally be 18 to 65 years old. This age range is a standard set by banks, and it’s advisable to verify the specific age criteria for the card you’re interested in.

• Occupational Stability: A consistent and stable income is crucial for eligibility, whether salaried or self-employed. Lenders critically assess this factor when reviewing applications for high-end credit cards.

• Residential Eligibility: Your residential location plays a role in your eligibility. Applicants must reside in cities or towns that are serviced by the bank. Each bank has a list of eligible locations, which can be found on their official websites.

• Additional Considerations: Several other aspects also influence your eligibility. These include your credit utilisation ratio, the income threshold specific to the credit card, and your credit score. A healthy credit history and a high credit score are often pivotal in securing a premium credit card.

Here is a list of the eligibility criteria for the cards that are publicly stated: 

Documents Required For Premium Credit Cards

Apart from the general address and identity proofs, income proof is also a standard requirement here due to the eligibility criteria set forth by the banks. Here’s the complete set of documents required for obtaining Premium Credit Cards: 

Proof of Income

• For Salaried Individuals: Recent salary slips, an employment letter, or a salary certificate.
• For Self-Employed Individuals: Balance sheet and profit & loss statement, certified financial statements, and the most recent Income Tax Return (ITR) with income computation.

Address Verification

Acceptable documents include Aadhaar, Passport, Driving License, Rental Agreement, or Ration Card.

Identification Documentation:

• Valid options include PAN, Aadhaar, Voter’s ID, Passport, Driving License, or Ration Card.
• A Recent Passport-Size Photograph.

Tips for Maximising Premium Credit Card Benefits 

Choosing the Right Card

• Research and Understand: Delve into the card’s features and benefits. Regularly visit the issuer’s site for updates on rewards and offers.
• Lifestyle Alignment: Select a card that complements your lifestyle and spending habits. Avoid cards offering benefits you’re unlikely to use.
• Cost Awareness: Be mindful of fees like annual charges and late fees.

Smart Usage for Maximum Rewards

• Strategic Spending: Use your card for categories that offer the most rewards, like online shopping or fuel purchases.
• Credit Limit Management: Request a limit increase or make frequent payments to ensure continuous usage.
• Seasonal and Promotional Offers: Capitalize on special offers during festive seasons for extra benefits.

Aligning Card with Spending Patterns

• Spending Analysis: Choose a card that offers maximum rewards for your frequent spending categories, like shopping or groceries.
• Regular Monitoring: Keep track of your rewards and points, ensuring timely redemption before expiry.

Regular Card Usage

Consistent Use: Regularly use your card for both online and offline transactions to accumulate and maximise rewards efficiently.

Final Word

Credit cards have changed the way people look at personal finance. It is no more a piece of plastic that can only be used for making transactions. It has instead become a part of lifestyle for many. One of the cards mentioned above can be your access to that feeling of luxury you have been meaning to experience.
However, these cards come with strict terms and conditions attached to them that you must be aware of in advance. It will be wise to first analyse if they align with your personal finances or not before making any decision.

Frequently Asked Questions