The verdict
An exceptional travel and lifestyle package in the ₹2,500 category. Providing 20 airport lounge visits annually (16 domestic + 4 international), a low 1.99% forex markup, and generous entertainment discounts, it comfortably justifies its fee for frequent travelers.
Spending ₹50,000/month across travel, dining, and retail earns 30,000 Reward Points (₹7,500 value). Reaching ₹75,000 spend in 3 travel months adds 15,000 milestone points (₹3,750 value). Utilizing 12 domestic and 3 international lounge visits (₹22,500 value), BookMyShow savings (₹3,000), and EazyDiner savings (₹3,000) produces over ₹39,000 in net annual benefits.
If you spend under ₹6,00,000 annually and do not travel often enough to use the 20 lounge visits, the ₹2,499 renewal fee will not be waived.
✓What works
- +4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar quarter (16 visits annually).
- +1 complimentary international airport lounge access per calendar quarter (4 visits annually).
- +Reduced 1.99% foreign exchange markup fee on all overseas online and in-person transactions.
- +25% discount on BookMyShow up to ₹500 per month.
- +15% dining discount on EazyDiner up to ₹750 per month.
- +4 complimentary golf lessons per calendar year at premier golf destinations.
- +5,000 bonus reward points (₹1,250 value) on spending ₹75,000 in a calendar month.
- +5,000 welcome bonus reward points upon spending ₹10,000 within the first 30 days.
- +1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹5,000 (up to ₹400/month).
✕What doesn't
- −High ₹6,00,000 annual retail spend threshold required for fee waiver.
- −Base reward rate is 1.25% (10 RP per ₹200).
- −Golf privileges are limited to lessons rather than full rounds.
What it earns
1 Reward Point = ₹0.25 on cash statement credit, or up to ₹0.35–₹0.40 on curated flight and lifestyle catalogue redemptions.
| Category | Rate | Monthly Cap | Per ₹1L spent |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Retail, Travel Bookings & International Spends | 10 RP / ₹200 (1.25%) | Uncapped | 5,000 RP (₹1,250 value) |
| Fuel Purchases | 0% | Excluded | 0 Points |
Accelerated earn
This card does not offer merchant portal or accelerated multiplier rates.
Redemption options
Points can be redeemed against statement credit, flight bookings, or multi-brand lifestyle gift cards.
| Redemption Channel | Value Per Point | Minimum | Ceiling / Limits | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight & Hotel RedemptionsBEST VALUE | 1 RP = ₹0.35 | 1,000 RP | None | Nil |
| Statement Credit (Cashback) | 1 RP = ₹0.25 | 1,000 RP | None | Nil |
| Lifestyle Brand Gift Cards | 1 RP = ₹0.25 | 500 RP | None | Nil |
Reward Scope: Inclusions & Exclusions
✓Eligible Spends (Inclusions)
- +Domestic and international flight ticket bookings.
- +Hotel stays, resorts, and holiday packages.
- +16 domestic and 4 international airport lounge visits annually.
- +BookMyShow movie discount (25% up to ₹500/mo).
- +EazyDiner dining discount (15% up to ₹750/mo).
- +Reduced 1.99% forex markup on overseas transactions.
- +1% fuel surcharge waiver across India on ₹500–₹5,000 transactions (max ₹400/month).
✕Excluded Spends & Fee Traps
- −Fuel transactions (points excluded).
- −Cash advance withdrawals and wallet reloads.
- −Real estate rent payments and government tax remittances.
Fee Schedule & Waiver Criteria
| Fee Component | Amount / Rate |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹2,499 + GST |
| Annual Renewal Fee | ₹2,499 + GST (Waived on ₹6,00,000 annual spend) |
| Finance Charges | 3.5% per month (42.0% per annum) |
| Forex Markup Fee | 1.99% + GST (Discounted rate) |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% waiver on ₹500–₹5,000 (max ₹400 / month) |
Eligibility & Approval Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age Requirement | 21 to 65 years |
| Minimum Monthly Income | ₹60,000+ per month (Salaried) or ₹8L+ ITR (Self-Employed) |
| Credit Score (CIBIL) | 750+ recommended |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bandhan Flare Credit Card offer airport lounge access?
What are the MITC charges, annual fees, and interest rates for Bandhan Flare Credit Card?
What is the reward rate and point redemption value on Bandhan Flare Credit Card?
Which transactions are excluded from earning rewards on Bandhan Flare Credit Card?
Who is Bandhan Flare Credit Card best suited for in 2026?
Editorial Deep-Dive Analysis
Comprehensive Overview: Bandhan Flare Credit Card
The Bandhan Flare Credit Card is Bandhan Bank’s flagship premium travel and lifestyle credit card, engineered on the Mastercard platform for frequent domestic travelers, international executives, and lifestyle spenders. Positioned at an accessible annual renewal fee of ₹2,499 + GST—which is 100% waived upon achieving ₹6,00,000 in annual retail spending—the card competes aggressively against premium travel cards from legacy commercial banks by packaging industry-leading airport lounge accessibility and low cross-border forex fees.
Cardholders enjoy an impressive 20 complimentary airport lounge visits annually, divided into 4 domestic airport lounge visits per calendar quarter (16 visits/year) and 1 international airport lounge visit per quarter (4 visits/year). International shopping and overseas travel expenses are optimized via a discounted 1.99% + GST foreign currency markup fee (well below the 3.50% industry standard). With a base reward rate of 10 Reward Points per ₹200 spent (1.25% return, with 1 RP = ₹0.25 on statement credit or up to ₹0.35 on flights/hotels), a generous monthly milestone bonus of 5,000 bonus points (₹1,250 value) on spending ₹75,000 in a calendar month, 25% off BookMyShow movie tickets, 15% off EazyDiner restaurant dining, and 4 complimentary golf lessons annually, the Bandhan Flare delivers high-yield luxury utility for modern travelers.
Key Privileges and Practical Everyday Benefits
- 20 Complimentary Airport Lounge Visits: Enjoy 4 domestic airport lounge visits per calendar quarter (16 visits/year) and 1 international airport lounge visit per quarter (4 visits/year).
- Discounted 1.99% Foreign Currency Markup: Pay only 1.99% + GST forex markup on overseas transactions and international websites, saving 1.5% compared to typical bank fees.
- Monthly Spending Milestone Bonus: Earn 5,000 bonus reward points (₹1,250 value) upon settling ₹75,000 in cumulative retail purchases in any calendar month.
- Entertainment & Fine Dining Savings: Receive 25% discount on BookMyShow movie tickets (up to ₹500/month) and 15% discount on EazyDiner restaurant dining bills (up to ₹750/month).
- Golf Lessons & Welcome Bonus: Enjoy 4 complimentary golf lessons per calendar year at premier golf clubs across India, plus 5,000 welcome bonus points on ₹10,000 spend within 30 days.
Important Terms and Spend Conditions to Keep in Mind
- Annual Fee Waiver Spend Condition: 100% waiver of the ₹2,499 annual renewal fee requires settling ₹6,00,000 in eligible retail spending within the card anniversary year.
- Lounge Distribution Structure: Domestic and international lounge quotas are structured per calendar quarter and cannot be rolled over or pooled into subsequent quarters.
- Reward Point Valuation & Redemption Routes: 1 Bandhan Reward Point equals ₹0.25 when redeemed as direct statement credit, or up to ₹0.35 on flight and hotel reservations via the rewards portal.
- Excluded Spend Categories: Fuel transactions, ATM cash withdrawals, real estate rent payments, and wallet reloads are excluded from reward point accrual (fuel transactions between ₹500 and ₹5,000 qualify for a 1% surcharge waiver up to ₹400/month).
- Golf Privilege Terms: Complimentary golf privileges are restricted to training lessons rather than full 18-hole championship rounds.
Who Benefits Most
- Frequent Domestic & Overseas Travelers: Executives and holidaymakers who can fully utilize 20 airport lounge visits per year and want reduced 1.99% forex markup on international card swipes.
- Consistent Monthly Spenders: Consumers spending ₹75,000+ monthly across family travel and lifestyle who can unlock the ₹1,250 monthly milestone bonus (₹15,000 annual bonus value).
- Weekend Diners & Cinema Enthusiasts: Cardholders who regularly book movie tickets on BookMyShow and dine out through EazyDiner to save up to ₹15,000 annually in combined discounts.
- Bandhan Bank — Credit Card Schedule of Charges and MITC (September 2026)
- Bandhan Bank — Flare Credit Card Product Features & Benefits Schedule
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).