The verdict
An absolute essential travel card for anyone holidaying abroad or traveling frequently by train and domestic flights. The 0% forex markup saves ₹3,500 on every ₹1 Lakh spent overseas, and the 16 airport + 16 railway lounge visits provide massive tangible value on a ₹999 fee (waived at ₹1L).
Spending ₹2 Lakh overseas saves ₹7,000 in forex markup fees compared to standard 3.5% cards. Adding 8 airport lounge visits (~₹8,000 value) yields over ₹15,000 in net travel benefits against a waived annual fee.
For spenders who do not travel abroad or use ixigo, general domestic cashback cards like SBI Cashback offer higher liquid returns on everyday commerce.
✓What works
- +True 0% Foreign Exchange Markup fee on all overseas POS and online transactions.
- +16 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year (4 per calendar quarter).
- +16 complimentary Indian railway lounge visits per year (4 per quarter).
- +Annual fee of ₹999 + GST waives easily on reaching ₹1 Lakh annual spend.
✕What doesn't
- −Non-ixigo domestic rewards are modest (1.25% offline, 2.5% online).
- −10% travel discounts require booking tickets specifically via the ixigo portal.
- −Zero reward points earned on rent, fuel, and wallet transactions.
What it earns
1 Reward Point = ₹0.25 on ixigo booking portal or brand vouchers.
| Category | Rate | Monthly Cap | Per ₹1L spent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train Bookings on ixigo | 5.0% (20 RP / ₹100) | Uncapped | 20,000 RP (₹5,000 value) |
| Online Shopping & Retail | 2.5% (10 RP / ₹100) | Uncapped | 10,000 RP (₹2,500 value) |
| Offline Retail Transactions | 1.25% (5 RP / ₹100) | Uncapped | 5,000 RP (₹1,250 value) |
| Fuel & Rent | 0% | Excluded | 0 RP |
Zero forex markup applies automatically to all international currency authorizations.
Accelerated earn
0% Forex + 10% Discount on ixigo Flights, Trains & Buses
Exclusive discounts and accelerated reward accruals when booking through ixigo.
| Category / Channel | Multiplier Rate | Monthly Cap | Cap / Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| ixigo Flight BookingsInstant discount coupon code applied at checkout. | Discount · 10% Instant Off | ₹1,000 off / booking | — |
| ixigo Train Bookings20 Reward Points per ₹100. | 5× · 5.0% | Uncapped | — |
| International Spends (Zero Forex)Saves ₹3,500 per ₹1 Lakh spent abroad. | 0% Markup · 3.5% Savings | Uncapped | — |
Redemption options
Redeem points directly on ixigo travel checkout or for shopping vouchers.
| Redemption Channel | Value Per Point | Minimum | Ceiling / Limits | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ixigo Flights, Hotels, and Train TicketsBEST VALUE | ₹0.25 / pt | 500 pts | None | Nil |
| Brand Vouchers & Gift Cards | ₹0.20 / pt | 1,000 pts | None | ₹99 |
| Statement Credit (Cashback) | ₹0.15 / pt | 2,000 pts | None | ₹99 |
Reward Scope: Inclusions & Exclusions
✓Eligible Spends (Inclusions)
- +Zero forex markup on all overseas physical and online foreign currency payments.
- +16 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits (4 per quarter).
- +16 complimentary executive railway lounge visits across major Indian stations.
- +1 complimentary international airport lounge visit per year via Priority Pass.
✕Excluded Spends & Fee Traps
- −Rent payments via third-party apps.
- −Fuel purchases (1% surcharge waiver on ₹400–₹5,000).
- −Wallet load transactions and government taxes.
Fee Schedule & Waiver Criteria
| Fee Component | Amount / Rate |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹999 + GST (Often LTF on select offers) |
| Annual Renewal Fee | ₹999 + GST (Waived at ₹1 Lakh spend) |
| Forex Markup | 0% (Zero Forex) |
| Finance Charges | 3.5% / month (42% / year) |
Eligibility & Approval Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | 21–65 years |
| Salaried Income | ₹25,000+ net monthly salary |
| Self-Employed Income | ITR above ₹3.6 Lakhs per annum |
Policy Changes & Devaluation History
0 RecordsFrequently Asked Questions
Does AU Ixigo Credit Card offer airport lounge access?
What are the MITC charges, annual fees, and interest rates for AU Ixigo Credit Card?
What is the reward rate and point redemption value on AU Ixigo Credit Card?
Which transactions are excluded from earning rewards on AU Ixigo Credit Card?
Who is AU Ixigo Credit Card best suited for in 2026?
Editorial Deep-Dive Analysis
Comprehensive Overview: AU Ixigo Credit Card
The AU Ixigo Credit Card is a co-branded travel credit card launched in strategic partnership between AU Small Finance Bank and the online travel tech platform ixigo. Issued across both Visa and RuPay networks, the card carries a standard annual membership fee of ₹999 + GST (often offered under Lifetime Free promotional terms directly via ixigo platforms), with renewal fees waived on achieving ₹1,00,000 in annual retail spending.
Its headline value proposition is true 0% foreign currency markup, making it one of the most accessible cards in India to eliminate the standard 3.5% + GST cross-currency conversion fee on international online transactions and overseas in-store swipes. Bolstered by an extensive lounge portfolio—including 16 domestic airport lounges, 16 railway executive lounges, and 1 international airport lounge annually—alongside direct booking discounts on flights and hotels via ixigo, it stands out as an exceptional value driver for modern travelers.
Key Privileges and Practical Everyday Benefits
- True 0% Foreign Exchange Markup: Complete elimination of foreign currency transaction markup charges on international e-commerce platforms and overseas point-of-sale swipes, delivering direct 3.5% + GST savings on all cross-border transactions.
- Comprehensive Multi-Modal Lounge Portfolio:
- Domestic Airport Lounges: 4 complimentary visits per calendar quarter (up to 16 visits annually) across domestic airport terminals.
- Railway Executive Lounges: 4 complimentary visits per calendar quarter (up to 16 visits annually) across participating Indian Railways junctions.
- International Airport Lounges: 1 complimentary international airport lounge visit per card anniversary year.
- Instant ixigo Booking Discounts: Up to 10% instant discount on flight bookings (up to ₹3,000 per booking) and hotel reservations (up to ₹3,000 per booking) through ixigo, alongside zero payment gateway fees on Indian train bookings.
- Welcome Travel Voucher Package: Receive 1,000 bonus reward points and 1,000 ixigo money credited upon completing your first retail transaction within 30 days of card setup.
- Quarterly Milestone Multiplier: Earn 5,000 bonus reward points upon reaching ₹75,000 or more in retail spending within a calendar quarter (up to 20,000 bonus points annually, valid for 2 years).
Important Terms and Spend Conditions to Keep in Mind
- Promotional Promo Codes for Booking Discounts: Instant travel discounts require applying designated coupon codes on the ixigo app or website during checkout; bookings outside the platform do not receive direct discounts.
- Single International Lounge Allocation: Complimentary international lounge access is limited to 1 visit per anniversary year; subsequent international visits incur standard guest charges.
- Annual Renewal Spend Target: For accounts where the ₹999 + GST fee applies, waiving the renewal fee requires ₹1,00,000 in eligible retail spending in the previous anniversary year.
- Transaction Exclusions: Fuel purchases, wallet loads, and cash advances are excluded from reward points and quarterly spend milestone calculations.
- Finance Charges & Grace Period: Interest rates of 3.49% per month (41.88% per annum) apply on unpaid statement balances beyond the interest-free due date.
Who Benefits Most
- International Travelers & Online Shoppers: Overseas travelers, international students, and buyers purchasing foreign software or goods who want to eliminate 3.5% forex fees.
- Heavy Train & Air Commuters: Travelers who take full advantage of 16 domestic airport lounges and 16 railway executive lounges throughout the year.
- ixigo Ecosystem Users: Frequent fliers and hotel guests who book through ixigo and can routinely pocket ₹3,000 discounts on bookings.
- Consistent Quarterly Spenders: Individuals spending ₹25,000+ monthly who comfortably clear the ₹75,000 quarterly threshold to collect 20,000 bonus milestone points.
Independent Editorial & Statutory Disclaimers
Institutional Transparency & Nominative Fair Use Statement
CredSutra operates as an independent credit card discovery and consumer intelligence engine. CredSutra is NOT a bank, Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), Direct Selling Agent (DSA), or Lending Service Provider (LSP).