The Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card is a premium travel card designed for frequent travelers, offering flexible rewards through EDGE Miles. It features a tiered rewards system that enhances benefits as you reach specific spending milestones. With perks like complimentary lounge access and dining discounts, the card provides a comprehensive suite of benefits to enrich your travel experiences. Whether for international adventures or everyday spending, the Atlas Credit Card offers a compelling mix of rewards and privileges.
Card Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
|
Type of Card |
Premium Travel Credit Card |
|
Annual Fee |
₹5,000 + GST |
|
Reward Rate |
~5% to ~10% |
|
USP |
Flexible rewards, tiered benefits, comprehensive travel perks |
|
Best Use For |
Spends of around ₹15 lakh annually, mostly on travel-related expenses |
Joining & Renewal Fees
The Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card is a premium paid card with fees that offer valuable benefits in return.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
|
Joining Fee |
₹5,000 + GST |
|
Joining Benefit |
2,500 EDGE Miles |
|
Welcome Benefit Criteria |
Make a transaction within 37 days of card setup to receive EDGE Miles.
|
|
Renewal Fee |
₹5,000 + GST |
|
Renewal Waiver |
Not Available |
|
Renewal Benefit |
Silver Tier – No renewal EDGE Miles Gold Tier: 2,500 EDGE Miles Platinum Tier: 5,000 EDGE Miles |
The 2,500 EDGE Miles can be converted to 5,000 Accor ALL points, worth approximately €100 (around ₹8,750), offering significant value against the joining fee.
If you want to travel, it will easily take you from Mumbai to Delhi one way in Economy class of Air India by paying the joining fees alone.
eDGE Miles Earning Potential
The Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card provides a structured way to earn EDGE Miles, rewarding your spending in different categories
| Spend Type | EDGE Miles Earned | Reward Rate |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular Spends (e.g., eCommerce website, offline) |
2 EDGE Miles per ₹100 spent |
~2% to ~5% |
|
Travel Spends (e.g., Indigo, Travel EDGE Portal) |
5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 spent |
~5% to ~10% |
If you redeem EDGE Miles on the EDGE Rewards Portal, you might get a value equivalent to 2% for regular spends. However, if you transfer these miles to a partner airline or hotel program, the value could increase to approximately 4%. Similarly, travel spends might yield a 5% return on the portal but could reach up to 10% when transferred to partners.
This earning potential makes the card particularly appealing for frequent travelers, maximizing rewards on travel-related expenses while being mindful of excluded categories
Certain transactions do not earn EDGE Miles. These include:
- Gold/Jewelry Purchases: MCC 5094, 5944
- Rent Payments: MCC 6513
- Insurance Payments: MCC 6300, 6381, 5960, 6012, 6051
- Government Institutions: MCC 9222, 9311, 9399, 9402
- Utilities: MCC 4814, 4816, 4899, 4900
- Fuel Purchases: MCC 5541, 5542, 5983
- Wallet Loads: MCC 6540
Tier and Milestone Benefits
The Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card features a tiered benefits system based on annual spending, offering additional EDGE Miles as you reach specific milestones:
| Tier | Spending Requirement | Milestone Rewards (EDGE Miles) | Total Rewards (Regular - Travel) | Additional Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Silver |
₹3 Lakh |
2,500 |
8,500 – 17,500 |
None |
|
Gold |
₹7.5 Lakh |
5,000 = 2,500 + 2500 (Silver) |
20,000 – 42,500 |
None |
|
Platinum |
₹15 Lakh |
10,000 = 5,000 + 5,000 (Gold) |
40,000 – 85,000 |
2 Airport Pickups |
Reaching the Platinum Tier with ₹15 lakh in spending yields a total of 40,000 EDGE Miles for regular spends and 85,000 EDGE Miles for travel spends. This translates to significant rewards, especially for travel-related expenses, enhancing the overall value of the card.
Additional benefits at the Platinum Tier include 2 Airport Pickups, adding convenience to your travel experience. These services provide seamless airport transitions, making the Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card a valuable companion for frequent travelers.
Rewards Redemption
Transfer Miles
Transfer your EDGE Miles to a wide range of airline and hotel loyalty programs under Axis Bank’s Miles transfer program, where 1 EDGE Mile = 2 partner mile. Customers can transfer up to EDGE EDGE Miles to Group A partners and up to 1,20,000 EDGE Miles to Group B partners per customer ID annually. Having such a huge transfer list in itself makes this card a best travel credit card who can take benefit of the miles with sometimes ₹4 per mile.
List of airline and hotel loyalty partners with Axis Bank:
| GROUP A | GROUP B |
|---|---|
| Accor Hotels (Accor Live Limitless) | Air France-KLM (Flying Blue) |
| Air Canada (Aeroplan) | Air India (Flying Returns) |
| Ethiopian Airlines | Air Asia |
| Etihad (Etihad Guest) | ITC |
| Japan Airlines (JAL Mileage Bank) |
IHG® Hotels & Resort (IHG One Rewards) |
| Marriott International (Marriott Bonvoy) | Qantas Airways (Qantas Frequent Flyer) |
| Qatar Airways | SpiceJet |
| Singapore Airlines (Krisflyer) |
Vistara (TATA SIA Airlines Ltd) |
| Turkish Airlines | |
| Thai Airways (Royal Orchid Plus) | |
| United Airlines (MileagePlus) | |
| Wyndham Hotels (Wyndham Rewards) |
Travel Edge Portal
Redeem EDGE Miles at a 1:1 ratio for flights and hotel bookings. This option provides a straightforward redemption process but may not offer the highest value.
Design and Appearance
I have to say, the Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card is quite the eye-catcher. Made from high-quality plastic, it feels solid and sleek in your hand. The dark color scheme and matte finish give it a sophisticated vibe, but what really stands out is the world icon in the background. It’s a cool touch that reminds you of all the travel perks this card offers. This card definitely makes you feel like you’re ready to take on the world!
Airport Lounge Access
The Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card is your ticket to comfort at airports, offering complimentary lounge access through Dreamfolks. Whether you’re jetting off domestically or internationally, this card has you covered with a tiered access system.
| Tier | Domestic Lounge Visits | International Lounge Visits |
|---|---|---|
|
Silver |
8 |
4 |
|
Gold |
12 |
6 |
|
Platinum |
18 |
12 |
Guest Policy: You can bring guests along, and their visits will count against your annual quota. For instance, if you invite three guests, it will use up four of your allotted visits.
With the Axis Bank app, you can generate a QR code to gain access. Just show the code at the lounge entrance, and you’re in!
Foreign Currency Transaction Fee (Forex)
The Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card charges a 3.5% fee on foreign currency transactions. Despite this fee, the card’s rewards structure can make international spending beneficial:
- Returns Calculation: For example, if you spend ₹10,000 on an international airline booking, you earn 500 EDGE Miles. With a 3.5% forex fee, you pay ₹350. However, if these 500 EDGE Miles are redeemed at ₹1 per mile, you receive ₹500 in value. This results in a net gain of ₹150, effectively offsetting the forex fee and providing a positive return.
This structure allows you to offset the forex fees with valuable rewards, making the card a good choice for international transactions, especially on travel-related expenses.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver
The Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card offers a fuel surcharge waiver that can help cardholders save on fuel expenses:
- Fuel Surcharge Rate: A 1% surcharge is applied to fuel transactions.
- Waiver Details: This surcharge is refunded for fuel transactions between ₹400 and ₹4,000. The maximum benefit is capped at ₹400 per statement cycle
Golf Benefits
The Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card does not include any golf benefits. While some Axis Bank credit cards, such as the Axis Bank Burgundy Private Credit Card and the Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card, offer complimentary rounds of golf, the Atlas Credit Card is primarily focused on travel-related benefits and rewards, such as EDGE Miles for travel and everyday spending
Eligibility and Application
- Age: 18 to 70 years
- Income:
- Salaried: Minimum annual income of ₹9 lakh
- Self-employed: Minimum annual income of ₹12 lakh
- Citizenship: Indian citizen
While these criteria serve as a guideline, Axis Bank may consider applications from individuals who do not fully meet these requirements, especially if they have an existing relationship with the bank. It’s often beneficial to apply and discuss your specific situation with a bank representative, as exceptions can be made based on individual circumstances
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Conclusion
The Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card stands out as a versatile and rewarding option for frequent travelers. With its tiered rewards system, flexible redemption options, and comprehensive travel perks, it caters to those who spend significantly on travel-related expenses. One should definitely have this card in the wallet.