Which is the best co-branded Travel Credit Card in India?

Travel credit cards are becoming very popular in India, especially co-branded cards. These cards are launched in partnership with travel platforms like EaseMyTrip, Yatra, MakeMyTrip, and ixigo.

These cards are issued by banks like Standard Chartered Bank, SBI Card, ICICI Bank, and AU Small Finance Bank.

They offer discounts, cashback, and rewards on travel bookings like flights, hotels, buses, and trains. But each card is designed for different types of travellers.

In this blog, we will compare the best co-branded travel credit cards in India and help you choose the right one.

Top Co-Branded Travel Credit Cards in India

Cards Covered in This Comparison

• Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card
• Yatra SBI Credit Card
• MakeMyTrip ICICI Credit Card
• ixigo AU Credit Card

Annual Fee Comparison

Quick Insight

• Lowest fee: EaseMyTrip Card
• Best value free card: ixigo AU
• Premium option: MakeMyTrip ICICI

Travel Benefits on Flights & Hotels

Hotel Booking Benefits

• EaseMyTrip Card: 20% discount (higher cap up to ₹5,000)
• Yatra SBI Card: 20% discount (lower cap ₹2,000)
• MakeMyTrip ICICI Card: 6% myCash (no limit)
• ixigo AU Card: 10% discount (monthly cap ₹1,000)

Flight Booking Benefits

• EaseMyTrip Card: 10% discount (up to ₹5,000)
• Yatra SBI Card: ₹1,000 off domestic, ₹4,000 off international
• MakeMyTrip ICICI Card: 3% myCash (no cap)
• ixigo AU Card: 10% discount

Verdict

• Best for high-value bookings: MakeMyTrip ICICI
• Best discount card: EaseMyTrip
• Balanced option: ixigo AU

Other Travel Benefits (Train, Bus, Cab)

• MakeMyTrip ICICI: Cashback on train, bus, cab bookings
• ixigo AU: Rewards on train + discounts on bus bookings
• EaseMyTrip: Discount on bus bookings
• Yatra SBI: Limited benefits outside flights/hotels

Verdict

If you want complete travel coverage, MakeMyTrip ICICI is the best.

Airport Lounge Access & Forex Charges

Verdict

• Best for international travel: ixigo AU
• Best overall travel perks: MakeMyTrip ICICI

Rewards on General Spending

• EaseMyTrip: 0.25% (very low)
• Yatra SBI: Up to 1.5% on select categories
• MakeMyTrip ICICI: 1% flat
• ixigo AU: 1% online, 0.5% offline

Verdict

• Best rewards: Yatra SBI (category-based)
• Best simple rewards: MakeMyTrip ICICI

Domestic vs International Travel – Which Card is Better?

Best for Domestic Travel

• EaseMyTrip Credit Card
• Yatra SBI Credit Card

Reason:

• Lower fees
• Good discounts on domestic bookings
• Simple usage

Best for International Travel

• MakeMyTrip ICICI Credit Card
• ixigo AU Credit Card

Reason:

• Low or zero forex markup
• International lounge access
• Better overall travel value

Pros and Cons

Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card

Pros

• Low annual fee
• High discount caps
• Good for domestic travel

Cons

• Low reward rate
• High forex markup

Yatra SBI Credit Card

Pros

• High welcome benefits
• Strong category rewards

Cons

• No lounge access
• Limited international benefits

MakeMyTrip ICICI Credit Card

Pros

• Unlimited cashback
• Strong all-round travel benefits
• Low forex markup

Cons

• Higher annual fee

ixigo AU Credit Card

Pros

• Lifetime free
• Zero forex markup
• Excellent lounge access

Cons

• Lower discount percentage

Get This Card If

• Choose EaseMyTrip if you want high discounts at low fee
• Choose Yatra SBI if you want better rewards on daily spends
• Choose MakeMyTrip ICICI if you want unlimited travel cashback
• Choose ixigo AU if you want zero forex + free card

Final Verdict: Which is the Best Co-Branded Travel Credit Card?

There is no single “best” card for everyone.

• For budget travellers → EaseMyTrip Card
• For reward seekers → Yatra SBI Card
• For frequent & high spend travellers → MakeMyTrip ICICI Card
• For international travellers → ixigo AU Credit Card

Overall, the ixigo AU Credit Card stands out due to its zero forex markup, free lifetime access, and strong travel benefits, making it one of the best co-branded travel credit cards in India.

Conclusion

Co-branded travel credit cards are great if you frequently use a specific travel platform. They offer direct savings on bookings and additional perks.

However, always compare:

• Your travel habits
• Spending pattern
• Annual fee vs benefits

Choosing the right card can help you save a lot on every trip.

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