SBI Air India Platinum Credit Card Review

By | August 23, 2017
34 Comments
SBI Air India Platinum Credit Card Review

SBI Air India Platinum Credit Card Review

SBI issues 2 co-branded Credit Cards in partnership with Air India, one for the beginners under Platinum variant and the other for the high spenders under Signature variant. Air India Signature Card is a far better credit card than its platinum variant and it still remains one of the best travel credit card in India despite devaluation of reward points and benefits in recent times.

SBI Air India Platinum Credit Card Miles Earn Rate:

  •  2 Reward points for every ₹ 100 spent
  • 10 Reward points for every ₹ 100 spent on Air India tickets

Bonus Milestone Rewards:

  • 5,000 Reward Points on spending 2 Lakhs in a Year
  • 10,000 Reward Points on spending 3 Lakhs in a Year
  • Welcome Bonus: 5,000 Reward Points
  • Renewal Bonus: 2,000 Reward Points

If you spend 3 Lakhs on this card, this is what you get:
= 5,000+10,000+6,000(Regular earn rate)+5,000(Welcome Bonus)
= 26,000 Reward points (Not so great!)

Air India Miles Redemption:

So you get 26k Air India Miles on spending 3 Lakhs on Air India SBI Platinum Credit Card. That’s ~8.5% value back if you can redeeming the miles at value of Rs.1/mile or more.

But you can redeem it only on domestic flights which in-turn reduces the point value of the mile by 50% or so. So effective value back is ~4% which is way too low for an Airline Credit card. Instead of redeeming miles on local flights, you can always go for cheap revenue tickets.

Better Redemption Possibilities:

For one way India (Chennai) -> Maldives (Male) Economy ticket, you need 11,000 Points whereas Air India revenue ticket also costs around Rs.11k. This way, you can maximize the Point value of the mile 🙂

Features of SBI Air India Platinum Credit Card:

  • CardExpert Rating: 3.5/5 [yasr_overall_rating]
  • Reward rate: ~8.5% as AirIndia Miles
  • Complementary Airport lounge access: No
  • Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Enjoy 0% surcharge (Minimum transaction of INR 500. Maximum waiver of INR 250 per statement cycle)
  • Foreign Exchange Markup fee: 3.5% + Service Tax
  • Special Features: Milestone Bonus

While this is not a great Airline card from my perspective, its good enough for someone who spends around 3 Lakhs. If you’re looking for free local flights, get the American Express platinum travel card which gives free Indigo cash vouchers which is highly useful for domestic travels.

What’s your opinion on SBI Air India Platinum Credit Card? Do share your views below.

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34 thoughts on “SBI Air India Platinum Credit Card Review”

  1. Abhijit Kumar

    Dear Siddharth
    I was a SBI gold card holder so far. I applied for SBI platinum Air India card and was refused. At the same time, SBI issued a signature card to me. Why could it be so?

    Reply ↓
    1. Siddharth Post author

      Abhijit,
      SBI allows one unsecured card at a time and that could be the reason.

      Reply ↓
    2. Srinivasan

      Exactly same issue I too faced..
      I realised the SBI guys had no idea. They promote same product to the same person who already is a subscriber of the same card..
      Incompetent and quite unprofessional..

      Reply ↓
  2. Utkarsh

    Hi Siddharth,

    What would your opinion be on choosing a card between SBI Air India Platinum card and HDFC All Miles Credit Card?

    Reply ↓
    1. Siddharth Post author

      They’re completely different. One is rewards card, other is Airmiles card.

      Reply ↓
  3. Blossom

    I need a sbi credit card for international shopping. Can u please guide me select one. Thanks

    Reply ↓
    1. Siddharth Post author

      SBI Signature/Elite cards gives extra points for international usages. Have a look.

      Reply ↓
  4. Blossom

    I need to know even if i take a normal credit card can i shop internationally or do i need to check for a card which specifies international shopping

    Reply ↓
    1. Siddharth Post author

      These days all cards are enabled for international usage by default.

      Reply ↓
  5. DR

    please clarify here on ,SBI agents were saying SBI air india platinum card eligible for 1 rewards point = 1 air mile…that case i will get 20000 rewards point while taking new card it self.

    in that case Melbourne around below 6000 air mile in this way can travel 3 times ,is it true ?

    Reply ↓
    1. Siddharth Post author

      You need about 70k points for Melbourne from India. May i know where you came across 6k?

      Reply ↓
      1. DR

        i told in distance 6346 miles ……..not reward points

        But as per agent saying it should be 1 point =1 mile ……,i not able to believe

        Reply ↓
        1. Siddharth Post author

          It doesn’t work that way. Airlines has a certain X miles required to redeem for award flight and is NOT equal to the actual distance between the places.

          Reply ↓
  6. ronak

    Can u suggest me which credit is better for me?. i spend 1 to 2 lac annum including petrol, online shopping and travelling

    Reply ↓
  7. Ankit Nagpal

    Hi, I tried a lot but could not find where I can see the miles required between two airports for SBI Air India Signature Card. I can spend Rs. 3 lakh on this card. So, will I get 5k reward points for 2 lakh and another 10k reward points for total 3 lakhs? Or will it be total 10K points for total 3 lakh spending? My most expensive will be through PayTM, PayUmoney, mobikwik etc. Becuase I get discounts upto 5% on bill payments, online shopping etc. using card added in wallets, instead of directly paying through card. And plus will I get reward points on card when spending through these wallets. Will this work? Becuase I wil usually get 5% wallet + 2-3% retun on card points.
    Let me know.
    And where I can see the miles required between two airports for SBI Air India Signature Card?

    Reply ↓
    1. Siddharth Post author

      Paytm maybe be sometimes marked as “utility” category, if so, you maynot get points.
      Its there in Air India Flying returns redemption page. Or simply call them.

      Reply ↓
  8. CR

    Heyy siddharth
    I need a best credit card for domestic travelling.. Plss refer me a good one..

    Reply ↓
      1. Gosingh

        Hi see you have responded to multiple query can you explain about air miles and benfits and credit limit as per SBI is 105000K is it correct.

        Reply ↓
  9. Anand Patel

    I have a SBI air India platinum card, on the website they have written that ,”Enjoy the complimentary Visa Lounge Access Program at major domestic airports.” but our agent told us that it will be on international travel too.
    and the rewards I am getting right now, can I convert those into air miles for international flights too? Please clearify.

    Reply ↓
      1. Anand Patel

        where can I get detailed information about that. I checked air india site. it was written to refer sbi site. sbi site says to refer air india site.

        Reply ↓
    3. Srinivasan

      You are sadly mistaken.. not even in metro & Delhi lounges the platinum card gives free lounge access..

      Reply ↓
  10. Navraj

    Hi Sidharth,
    Two queries.

    Which credit card would you recommend for foreign travel which gives airmiles for all spending done on it without any caveat.

    Second which credit card does not charge any bank transaction charges on withdrawals on ATMs abroad as also on points of sale.

    Thanks
    PS – read somewhere regarding HSBC ‘s some particular credit card which does not.

    Reply ↓
  11. Deep Saha

    the points of air india platinum cards can be redeemed on shops like bigbazar etc.. ? Agent told me I can use reward points to get voucher to shop on those sites.. even welcome and yearly bonus are eligible for shopping ?

    Reply ↓
  12. Mohit Saxena

    Hi Siddharth,
    I want to pay internationally in US$ from India, do I requires a credit card?
    I have classic debit card and when I do transaction It got declined by a message that your card is not authorized to do international transaction. So, I upgraded my classic debit card to global visa card, but card not yet received, so I want to ask do I need any credit card? or debit card can be use to pay US$.
    If credit card required then which is the best, I am planning to apply for SBI platinum card(it has low interest and first 50 days zero% interest), is there any best option please reply, its urgent. because I am confused between SBI and HDFC cards.

    Reply ↓
    1. Siddharth Post author

      You might need to request through SBI portal and probably keep escalating it.

      Reply ↓
  15. Manoj kumar

    Air India platinum card welcome bonuses 5000 points value rupees?

    Reply ↓
  16. Gaurav Paliwal

    Hi sid,
    1. I travel mostly by air india due office rules. You suggest sbi air india, amex plat travel?

    2. I hv sbi platinum wch gvs me free lou ge access per qtr free of charge. Will sbi air india platinum and signature give the same benefit.

    3. Lastly you mentioned that though sbi air india platinum gives 8 % miles but due to restrained use only in domestic flights there value reduce by 50% thus giving benefit of only 4. Dint really understand how the value of miles went down.

    Thanks & Regards,

    Reply ↓
  17. Kiran

    Hi,
    What is the reward points to miles conversion ratio?
    I mean, if I want 100 AI miles, how many reward points would I need?
    Thanks in advance,
    Kiran.

    Reply ↓

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