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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card vs Axis Bank Magnus 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%
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Axis Bank

Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card

8/10
Annual Fee₹12,500
Base Rewards0.2%
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Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureSBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum CardAxis Bank Magnus Credit Card
Annual Fee₹1,499₹12,500
Joining Fee₹1,499₹12,500
Fee Waiver SpendN/A₹25,00,000
Base Reward Rate0.4050000000000001%0.2%
Reward CurrencyMaharaja PointsEDGE Reward Points
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating6.8/108/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card

  • 0% on Air India Bookings

Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card

No accelerated rewards listed

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 Magnus Credit Card

Pros

  • High reward rate of 17.5 EDGE points per ₹200 on spends above ₹1.5 Lakhs monthly.
  • Unlimited domestic and international lounge access for primary and add-on cardholders.
  • Low foreign currency markup fee of 2% for international transactions.
  • Welcome benefit voucher worth ₹12,500 effectively offsets the joining fee.

Cons

  • Significant devaluation in 2024 removed monthly milestone bonuses and concierge services.
  • High annual fee waiver threshold of ₹25 Lakhs is difficult for most users to reach.
  • Reward points transfer ratio to air miles reduced from 5:4 to 5:2 for non-Burgundy users.

Our Verdict

Axis Bank Magnus 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 Magnus Credit Card if

Best value is unlocked after crossing the ₹1.5 Lakh monthly spend threshold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card or Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card?
Axis Bank Magnus 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 Magnus Credit Card?
SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card has an annual fee of ₹1,499, while Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹12,500. Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card offers a fee waiver on ₹25,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card or Axis Bank Magnus 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 Magnus Credit Card offers 0.2% base rewards. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both SBI Card - Air India SBI Platinum Card and Axis Bank Magnus 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 Magnus 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 Magnus 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.

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