If you’re flying abroad even once a year, especially to long-haul destinations, the right co-branded airline card can save you more than you think. Choosing the best airline credit card in India means matching your travel habits, airline loyalty, and spending power; not just chasing the biggest welcome bonus.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- How airline co-branded cards work
- How to pick the right card for your type of travel
- A shortlist of the top airline credit cards in India for 2026 (active ones)
- How to maximise benefits and avoid common pitfalls
Which Is the Best Airline Credit Card in India for You?
Here’s a quick cheat-sheet to help you decide:
- Best overall for frequent international flyers: Emirates Skywards ICICI Emerald Credit Card — ideal if you fly long-haul regularly and want lounge access + upgrades.
- Best for mid-tier international flyers (Emirates loyalty but moderate fee): Emirates Skywards ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card — lower fee, decent benefits for travellers who don’t max out.
- Best for loyal flyers of another partner carrier (e.g., Air India): Air India SBI Signature Credit Card — good if you personally fly Air India often and want to accumulate their miles.
- Best for budget-conscious travellers with one primary airline focus: For example, the older variant of the IndiGo co-branded card (though note some are discontinued) — pick this only if you fly mostly with that carrier and keep costs low.
You’ll pick the best airline credit card in India when you match the card to your airline and travel style. Let’s dig into how these work and how you pick.
What Is a Co-Branded Airline Credit Card and How Does It Work?
Co-Branded Credit Cards in Simple Terms
When a bank and an airline join forces, they issue a credit card that is branded with the airline (for example, Emirates, Air India, IndiGo). You hold the card, use it for everyday spending, and earn airline-specific miles or points when you spend. This is different from generic reward cards because your miles tie directly into the airline’s loyalty programme.
How You Earn and Redeem Miles
- You use the card for your regular spending (groceries, fuel, shopping, bills) + airline ticket purchases.
- For each ₹100 or ₹X you spend, you earn Y airline miles or points.
- You redeem those miles for flights (free or discounted), upgrades, seat selection, baggage benefits, etc.
- For example, with the Emirates credit card, you can earn up to ~2.5 Skywards Miles per ₹100 spent.
Why International Travelers Should Care
- Free or heavily discounted tickets on international travel routes.
- Priority services (check-in, boarding) and baggage benefits with the airline.
- Airport lounge access (domestic and international), is a big comfort upgrade for long-haul trips.
- Potential status upgrades in the airline’s loyalty programme, which unlock even more perks.
If you travel internationally with any frequency, a co-branded airline card can give you more value than a generic travel card—if you stick to that airline and use the perks.
Key Benefits You Get With the Best Airline Credit Card in India
Here are the main benefit buckets to evaluate.
Free and Discounted Flight Tickets
When you join the card, you often get a large bonus of miles or a flight voucher. Then, by achieving milestone spends during the year, you may get additional free tickets or big miles chunks. These are the core travel value drivers.
Airport Lounge Access and Travel Comfort
Lounge access matters: on long flights, layovers, or when travelling with family, access to a quiet lounge with food, WiFi, showers — that’s a game changer. High-end airline cards often include international lounge access.
Extra Baggage, Priority Check-in, and Boarding
These are notable comfort features. For frequent flyers, priority baggage and boarding save time and stress. They may not show in rupee numbers, but add big value.
Fee Waivers and Partner Offers
Some cards waive annual fees when you hit certain spends. Others partner with hotels, cab services, and lifestyle brands to give you extra perks. While these are “nice to haves”, they’re secondary to the miles + flight value.
How to Choose the Best Airline Credit Card in India for Your Travel Style
Follow these five steps to pick what fits you.
Step 1 – Which Airline Do You Fly Most Often?
Check your last few trips. If you fly one airline more than 50-60% of the time (including international or long-haul routes), that’s a strong signal.
Step 2 – How Many International Trips Do You Take Per Year?
- If you travel abroad 1-2 times/year → you don’t need ultra-premium cards.
- If you travel internationally 4+ times/year, often long-haul, then high‐benefit cards make sense.
Step 3 – Economy vs Premium Economy vs Business Class
If you frequently fly economy, you might prioritise good earn rate + welcome benefits. If you often fly premium/business, then lounge access and upgrades become more important.
Step 4 – Your Monthly & Annual Card Spend
High-end airline cards often require high annual spends to unlock their best benefits. If your total annual spend is low (say under ₹2-3 lakh), many benefits may go unused.
Step 5 – Annual Fee vs Realistic Benefits
Calculate: Annual fee + GST vs what you realistically expect to get. If you expect at least 2× return (in miles, lounge visits, ticket costs saved), it’s likely worth it. If you’re unsure, you’ll use the perks — maybe pick a simpler card.
Top Co-Branded Airline Credit Cards in India (2026)
Here are the active and strong picks for new applicants (as of late 2025).
(Note: Some older cards or airline partnerships have changed or been discontinued—always verify current availability.)
1. Emirates Skywards ICICI Emeralde Credit Card – Best for Heavy International Flyers
Snapshot
- Annual fee: ~₹10,000 + taxes.
- Best for: Frequent flyers of Emirates doing long-haul travel.
Why this card stands out
- Up to 2.5 Skywards Miles per ₹100 spent.
- Bonus 10,000 Skywards Miles on joining.
- Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver tier as long as the card is active.
- Unlimited lounge access worldwide via Dreamfolks Pass for cardholders.
Key benefits at a glance
- High earn rate on all kinds of spends.
- Excellent lounge + spa benefits.
- Strong value if you fly Emirates often.
Limitations
- Very high fee. You need to be sure you’ll use the lounge/spa/travel benefits.
- Only truly worth it if you fly Emirates or partner airlines often.
Who should get it
- You fly Emirates for many international trips every year (the US, Europe, Middle East).
- You will use lounge/spa access often and want elite status.
- Your annual spend is high enough to unlock maximum value.
2. Emirates Skywards ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card – Best for Mid-Tier Emirates Flyers
Snapshot
- Annual fee: ~₹5,000 + taxes.
- Best for: Flyers who prefer Emirates but don’t want to commit to the highest fee tier.
Why this card stands out
- Earn up to ~2 Skywards Miles per ₹100 on spends.
- Bonus ~5,000 Skywards Miles as a welcome benefit.
- Lounge + spa access, though fewer visits compared to Emeralde.
Key benefits
- Balanced cost-benefit for Emirates loyalists who travel somewhat frequently.
- Good earn rate and decent lounge access.
Limitations
- Not unlimited lounge access; fewer premium benefits than Emeralde.
- If you fly only occasionally, you still need to check whether fee gets justified.
Who should get it
- You fly Emirates occasionally to often, but not ultra-frequent.
- You want lounge access, a good earn rate, but want to keep the fee moderate.
3. Air India SBI Signature Credit Card – Best for Air India Loyalists & Mileage Collectors
Snapshot
- Annual fee: ₹4,999 + taxes.
- Best for: Travellers who fly Air India frequently and want to build miles in that ecosystem.
Why this card stands out
- Welcome gift: 20,000 reward points.
- Good earn rates for Air India ticket spends and decent rewards for other spends.
- Access to domestic airport lounges: e.g., 8 complimentary domestic Visa lounge visits per year (max 2 per quarter) with this variant.
Key benefits at a glance
- Strong value if you travel with Air India often.
- Reasonable annual fee relative to benefits (for its segment).
- Miles can be converted to Maharaja Points (Air India’s FF programme) – there are bonus conversion offers.
Limitations
- If you don’t fly Air India often, the card loses its edge.
- Some benefits (milestone bonuses, redemptions) may have restrictions or heavy fine print.
Who should get it
- You fly Air India on international/domestic routes regularly.
- You are building a long-term loyalty to Air India’s programme.
- You can use the lounge visits and make the most of the miles reward structure.
4. IndiGo Co-Branded Variant (Kotak or HDFC) – Best for Budget Flyers/One-Airline Focus
(Note: Some older variants are showing as “Discontinued” – check availability carefully.)
Snapshot
- Example: Kotak IndiGo Ka‑ch!ng 6E Rewards XL shows joining fee ~₹1,500–3,000 + taxes.
- Best for: Flyers who mostly use IndiGo and want value rather than luxury.
Why it stands out
- Earn up to ~6% 6E Rewards on IndiGo bookings.
- Welcome ticket or voucher included (eg. welcome ticket worth ₹3,000).
- Domestic lounge access included in many variants (eg. ~8 visits/year) for select offers.
Key benefits at a glance
- Great value if you fly primarily on IndiGo (domestic + maybe nearby international).
- Lower fee means lower risk.
Limitations
- No significant international lounge access.
- If your airline usage is varied, you may not fully benefit.
- Some variants list the card as “Discontinued”. Always check the latest availability.
Who should get it
- You fly mostly or exclusively with IndiGo.
- You’re value-oriented, not seeking premium business-class upgrades or top-tier lounges.
- You fly 2–4 times/year and want a card that supports one airline well.
Comparison Table – Best Airline Credit Cards in India (2026)
| Card | Airline Partner | Approx Annual Fee* | Lounge Access | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates Skywards ICICI Emeralde | Emirates | ~₹10,000 + taxes | Unlimited international + domestic lounges | Heavy international Emirates flyers |
| Emirates Skywards ICICI Sapphiro | Emirates | ~₹5,000 + taxes | Domestic + limited international lounge access | Mid-tier Emirates flyers |
| Air India SBI Signature | Air India | ~₹4,999 + taxes | 8 domestic lounge visits/year (select variant) | Air India loyalists & there-to-there travellers |
| IndiGo Co-branded (e.g., Kotak Ka-ch!ng 6E Rewards XL) | IndiGo | ~₹1,500–3,000 + taxes (varies) | Domestic lounge access (varies) | Budget flyers mostly on one airline |
*Fees subject to GST and change; always check latest T&Cs.
How to Get Maximum Value from Airline Co-Branded Cards
Book Directly With the Airline Whenever Possible
When you book the airline partner directly (website/app), you often get higher mile accrual and guarantee that the card’s airline benefits will apply fully. OTA bookings may not qualify for bonus miles or airline-specific benefits.
Time Your Big Purchases With Milestone Benefits
If your card offers milestone rewards (e.g., “spend ₹5 lakh and get bonus miles/free ticket”), plan big spends (insurance renewal, school fees, home improvement) on the card. This helps unlock benefits faster.
Smart Use of Lounge Visits
Use lounge access for long flights, red-eye journeys, or when you’re travelling with family and want comfort. Don’t waste it on short hops or when you’re not flying.
Combine With Airline Sales & Offers
Best “value” comes when you combine: airline sale fare + extra card discount/offer + miles earned from the card. Always check for ongoing promos from the airline and bank.
Mind the Foreign Transaction Markup
When using your card abroad (or in foreign currency), check the foreign currency markup rate. Premium cards often still charge ~3.5% on forex spends. For example, the Emirates Emeralde card lists ~3.5% forex markup.
Fees, Forex Markups and Fine Print You Should Not Ignore
Forex Markup Charges on International Transactions
A 3–3.5% + GST markup on international spends adds up quickly. When you’re travelling abroad and spending in USD, EUR, AED, beware of this extra cost.
Reward Restrictions and Blackout Dates
Many airline programmes have blackout dates or limited seats for award tickets/upgrades. Even if you accumulate miles, you might find major routes unavailable at the standard rate.
Also, many card programmes exclude certain categories from earning bonus miles (fuel, rent, wallet loads etc.). Check the fine print carefully.
Annual Fee vs Waiver Conditions
If the annual fee is high, ensure you can unlock enough of the benefits to justify it. Some cards waive fees only if you spend X amount each year. If you won’t meet that, look for a simpler card.
Interest Rates and Late Fees
Remember: These are still credit cards. If you carry a balance, interest (~30-45%+ per annum) will wipe out any travel benefit. Always pay in full.
Changes in Terms and Benefit Cuts
Airline programmes, banks and card issuers reserve the right to change terms frequently. Benefits may reduce, legends may change (e.g., lounge access, bonus miles). Stay updated.
Who Should Avoid Airline Co-Branded Credit Cards?
You may want to skip or delay applying for one of these cards if:
- You fly many different airlines and don’t stick to one or two; co-branded value drops in that case.
- Your annual card spend is very low (say under ₹2-3 lakh) and you won’t unlock milestone benefits.
- You prefer simple cashback or generic travel rewards rather than points tied to one airline.
- You travel rarely internationally (e.g., once every 2–3 years) and won’t use the lounge/upgrade benefits enough.
In these cases, a general travel card or a high-cashback card may serve you better.
Best Airline Credit Card in India vs General Travel Credit Card
When a Co-Branded Card Wins
- You fly one main airline often and are fairly loyal.
- You want airline-specific perks: free tickets with that airline, upgrades, and priority services.
- You will actively use lounge access and spend enough to unlock milestone perks.
When a General Travel Card Makes More Sense
- You fly many airlines and want flexibility (flights + hotels + experiences).
- You want to keep things simple (one points pool rather than multiple airline programmes).
- You travel but don’t accumulate enough miles in any one airline, so you prefer generic rewards.
Can You Hold Both?
Yes — and it often makes sense to do so:
- Primary card: the co-branded airline card for your main airline (where you derive most value).
- Secondary card: a good general travel or cashback card for all other spending or airlines.
This dual-card strategy gives you the best of both worlds.
FAQs About the Best Airline Credit Card in India (2026)
Final Thoughts – How to Pick Your Best Airline Credit Card in India
Here’s the simple 3-step action plan:
- Check your airline habit – Which airline do you fly most (especially internationally)?
- Shortlist 1 or 2 cards from above that match your spend level + travel frequency.
- Do a quick value check – Annual fee vs expected benefit (miles + lounge + travel perks). If you’re confident you’ll exceed the fee, go for it. Otherwise pick the safer, lower-fee card.
Don’t chase “biggest bonus” blindly. The best airline credit card in India isn’t the one with the flashiest perks—it’s the one you’ll use fully.
