Vyaya
Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card vs Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

Detailed comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and value to help you choose the right credit card for your spending pattern.

SBI Card

SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card

6.8/10
Annual Fee₹1,499
Base Rewards0.4050000000000001%
NetworkVisa
View Full Details

Axis Bank

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

8.8/10
Annual Fee₹5,000
Base Rewards2%
NetworkVisa
View Full Details

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureSBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum CardAxis Bank Atlas Credit Card
Annual Fee₹1,499₹5,000
Joining Fee₹1,499₹5,000
Fee Waiver SpendN/AN/A
Base Reward Rate0.4050000000000001%2%
Reward CurrencyMaharaja PointsEDGE Miles
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating6.8/108.8/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card

  • 0% on Air India Bookings

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

  • 5% on Direct Airlines — 10000 pts/month
  • 5% on Direct Hotels — 10000 pts/month
  • 5% on Travel EDGE Portal — 10000 pts/month

Pros & Cons

SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card

Pros

  • 5,000 Maharaja Points as a welcome bonus upon joining fee payment.
  • Accelerated 5 Reward Points per Rs. 100 spent on Air India tickets (self-booking).
  • Up to 15,000 bonus Maharaja Points annually through milestone spends.
  • 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year (capped at 2 per quarter).

Cons

  • Low base reward rate of 2 points per Rs. 100 on non-airline spends.
  • No annual fee waiver regardless of annual spending.
  • International lounge visits are paid even with the provided Priority Pass.

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

Pros

  • High reward rate of 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on direct airline and hotel spends.
  • Flexible 1:2 transfer ratio to major airline and hotel partners like Accor, ITC, and United.
  • Unique tier-based system (Silver, Gold, Platinum) that rewards higher annual spending with more miles and lounge access.
  • Lounge access is sharable with guests, a rare feature in the Indian market.

Cons

  • High foreign currency markup of 3.5% despite being a travel-focused card.
  • Accelerated rewards on travel are capped at ₹2 Lakhs spend per month.
  • Excludes common categories like fuel, rent, insurance, and utilities from reward earning.

Our Verdict

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.

Choose SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card if

Best value for those who frequently book Air India flights and want to earn miles directly.

Choose Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card if

Excellent for those who book directly with airlines and hotels and value flexible point transfers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card or Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card?
Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.
What is the annual fee difference between SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card and Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card?
SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card has an annual fee of ₹1,499, while Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹5,000.
Which card has better rewards: SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card or Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card?
SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card offers a base reward rate of 0.4050000000000001% with accelerated rewards on Air India Bookings. Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card offers 2% base rewards with bonuses on Direct Airlines and Direct Hotels. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card and Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card and Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card or Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card?
For beginners, SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card may be more approachable with a lower annual fee of ₹1,499. However, evaluate based on your expected spending pattern rather than fee alone.

Related Comparisons

SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card vs Axis Bank Magnus Credit CardAxis Bank Atlas Credit Card vs Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card

Explore More

SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card Full ReviewAxis Bank Atlas Credit Card Full ReviewAll SBI Card CardsAll Axis Bank CardsBrowse All Credit CardsCredit Card Guides & Tips