The verdict
A powerful travel co-branded card for Star Alliance and European flyers. Direct accrual into Lufthansa Miles & More combined with 4 domestic airport lounges and generous welcome miles delivers tremendous travel value.
5,000 welcome miles (₹4,000 value at ₹0.80/mile) + 4 domestic airport lounge visits (₹5,600 value) + ₹15,000/mo spend (3,600 miles/yr = ₹2,880 value) clears the ₹2L spend to waive the ₹1,500 fee, providing over ₹12,480 in gross annual travel utility (8.32× ROI).
Miles & More award miles expire after 36 months if no frequent flyer tier status is held.
✓What works
- +5,000 bonus welcome award miles credited to your Lufthansa Miles & More account upon joining.
- +4 Miles & More award miles per ₹100 spent directly on Lufthansa and Swiss air ticket bookings.
- +2 Miles & More award miles per ₹100 spent on all other eligible domestic retail transactions.
- +4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year across India (1 visit per calendar quarter).
- +Annual renewal fee of ₹1,500 waived on spending ₹2,00,000 in the anniversary year.
- +1% fuel surcharge waiver on all petrol pumps across India on transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000.
✕What doesn't
- −Award miles subject to Lufthansa Miles & More program expiration rules.
- −Standard 3.5% + GST forex markup on international transactions.
- −No complimentary international airport lounge access included.
What it earns
1 Miles & More Award Mile = ~₹0.80 to ₹1.20 when redeemed for Star Alliance award flights.
| Category | Rate | Monthly Cap | Per ₹1L spent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lufthansa & Swiss Air Bookings | 4 Miles / ₹100 | Uncapped | 4,000 Miles (~₹3,200 value) |
| All Other Domestic Retail Spends | 2 Miles / ₹100 | Uncapped | 2,000 Miles (~₹1,600 value) |
| Fuel & Rent | 0% | Excluded | 0 Miles |
Accelerated earn
5,000 Welcome Miles + 4 Domestic Lounges
Accumulate Star Alliance flight miles on flights and retail spending.
| Category / Channel | Multiplier Rate | Monthly Cap | Cap / Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lufthansa FlightsOn partner flights. | 2× · 4 Miles / ₹100 | Uncapped | — |
| Airport LoungesAcross Indian airports. | 4 / year · 1 / quarter | 1 / qtr | — |
| Fee WaiverWaived at ₹2,00,000 spend. | 100% · ₹1,500 Waived | 1 / year | — |
Redemption options
Redeem Award Miles on miles-and-more.com for Star Alliance flight tickets and seat upgrades.
| Redemption Channel | Value Per Point | Minimum | Ceiling / Limits | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Alliance Award FlightsBEST VALUE | ₹0.80–₹1.20 / Award Mile | 7,500 Miles | None | Taxes & carrier fees |
| Cabin Class Upgrades | ₹0.90–₹1.30 / Award Mile | 10,000 Miles | None | Taxes & carrier fees |
Reward Scope: Inclusions & Exclusions
✓Eligible Spends (Inclusions)
- +Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Star Alliance bookings, retail spending.
- +4 domestic airport lounge visits.
- +1% fuel surcharge waiver.
✕Excluded Spends & Fee Traps
- −Rent payments.
- −Fuel purchases (outside surcharge waiver).
- −Wallet load transactions.
Fee Schedule & Waiver Criteria
| Fee Component | Amount / Rate |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹1,500 + GST |
| Annual Renewal Fee | ₹1,500 + GST (Waived at ₹2 Lakhs spend) |
| Forex Markup | 3.5% + GST |
| Finance Charges | 3.5% / month (42% / year) |
Eligibility & Approval Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | 21–65 years |
| Salaried Income | ₹35,000+ monthly net salary |
| Self-Employed Income | ITR above ₹4.5 Lakhs per annum |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Miles & More SBI Credit Card offer airport lounge access?
What are the MITC charges, annual fees, and interest rates for Miles & More SBI Credit Card?
What is the reward rate and point redemption value on Miles & More SBI Credit Card?
Which transactions are excluded from earning rewards on Miles & More SBI Credit Card?
Who is Miles & More SBI Credit Card best suited for in 2026?
Editorial Deep-Dive Analysis
Comprehensive Overview: Miles & More SBI Credit Card
The Miles & More SBI Credit Card is a co-branded international aviation credit card developed by SBI Card in partnership with Lufthansa’s frequent flyer loyalty program, Miles & More, on the Visa platform. Geared towards international travelers, corporate executives, and European frequent flyers, it features an annual membership fee of ₹1,500 + GST, which is 100% reversed upon achieving ₹2,00,000 in qualifying retail spending in the previous card anniversary year.
The card acts as a direct international airline loyalty channel in India: cardholders receive up to 5,000 welcome Miles & More award miles upon joining fee realization, earn 4 award miles per ₹100 spent on airline ticket bookings across all commercial airlines, 2 award miles per ₹100 on general retail spending, enjoy 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits annually, and can redeem miles directly across Lufthansa Group airlines (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings) and the worldwide Star Alliance airline network.
Key Privileges and Practical Everyday Benefits
- 5,000 Welcome Award Miles: Receive 5,000 Miles & More award miles credited directly to your frequent flyer account upon payment of the joining fee within 30 days of issuance.
- Accelerated Flight Booking Rewards: Earn 4 Miles & More award miles per ₹100 spent on airline ticket purchases across all commercial airlines worldwide.
- 2 Miles / ₹100 Base Retail Rate: Earn 2 award miles per ₹100 spent on all everyday domestic and international retail shopping.
- Domestic Airport Lounge Access (4 Visits): Enjoy 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge visit per calendar quarter (up to 4 visits annually) across Indian terminals.
- Direct Star Alliance Award Ticket Access: Accumulated miles can be redeemed for international flight award seats and cabin class upgrades across Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and 25+ Star Alliance partner carriers.
- 1% Fuel Surcharge Waiver & Annual Spend Waiver: 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹3,000; ₹1,500 renewal fee waived at ₹2,00,000 annual retail spend.
Important Terms and Spend Conditions to Keep in Mind
- Attainable Spend Waiver Benchmark: Reversing the ₹1,500 annual renewal fee requires spending ₹2,00,000 or more in eligible retail transactions during the preceding anniversary year.
- Award Ticket Carrier Surcharges: Star Alliance award flight tickets booked through Miles & More require statutory airline fuel surcharges and airport taxes to be settled in cash.
- Miles & More Expiration Policy: Miles & More award miles remain subject to standard program expiration rules unless active frequent flyer status is maintained.
- Standard Forex Markup: Overseas transactions incur a standard 3.5% + GST foreign currency markup fee.
- Excluded Spend Categories: Fuel transactions, wallet top-ups, rent payments, and government utility payments do not accrue award miles.
Who Benefits Most
- Frequent Travelers to Europe & North America: Flyers who regularly book Lufthansa, SWISS, or Austrian Airlines flights via Frankfurt, Munich, and Zurich hubs.
- Star Alliance Award Hunters: Travelers looking to accumulate miles directly into a European Star Alliance program through everyday Indian credit card spend.
- Corporate International Commuters: Professionals traveling abroad who want domestic airport lounge access and airline mile accrual under an accessible ₹1,500 annual fee.
- SBI Card — Miles & More SBI Card schedule of charges
- Lufthansa Miles & More frequent flyer partnership guidelines
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).