Best Travel Credit Cards in India: Miles & Lounge Value

How to read this ranking

Cards on this list must offer at least 8 lounge visits a year (or unlimited access) or a travel or international earn rate of at least 2% that is not limited to named merchants, and a published minimum income no higher than ₹2 lakh a month. That test removes cards such as HSBC Live+ and the Swiggy cards, which lead our generic lists but have no travel benefit, and AU Zenith+ (stated minimum income about ₹2.5 lakh a month). Lounge visits are counted at ₹750 each, domestic only, and only where the spend condition is met. Standard Chartered Ultimate leads at ₹42,808: ₹35,808 of rewards (5 points per ₹150 on most spends, 3 per ₹150 on groceries and utilities, nothing on fuel) plus 4 domestic visits a quarter (₹12,000), less its ₹5,000 fee, which has no waiver.

HDFC Regalia Gold (₹32,600, partly verified) is made up of ₹15,600 of rewards, ₹8,000 of milestone vouchers counted at half of face value and 12 domestic visits (₹9,000); its ₹2,500 fee is waived at ₹4 lakh, and the visits need ₹60,000 of spend in the previous quarter from 1 July 2026. Scapia (₹30,120) counts its 'unlimited' lounge access as 12 visits (₹9,000), though that access needs ₹20,000 of spend in the preceding month, and its coins can be redeemed only on travel in the Scapia app. SBI Elite (₹28,580) gets ₹12,500 from its spend milestones. Portal rates, such as HDFC SmartBuy 5X on flights and Scapia's 20% on in-app bookings, are not counted, so cards built around booking through an issuer portal would do better if you book that way.

Figures come from the issuers' own terms as recorded on each card page (sources and check dates are listed there). Estimates, not offers.