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State Bank of India SBI Air India Signature Credit Card Review

Travel card with lounge access

The State Bank of India SBI Air India Signature has a ₹4,999 annual fee + GST. It earns 2% back on regular spends and up to 5% on Air India website / mobile app / booking offices / call centres, with 8 domestic airport lounge visits a year. Best for: frequent, high-spending air india flyers collecting miles — our verdict: recommended.

Vyaya Team · Oct 2026
5 min read
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Value Score
8.0 / 10
Annual Fee
₹4,999
Best For
Air India loyalist, High-spend traveller
Network
Visa
Expert Verdict

The SBI Air India Signature is a co-branded airline card with a healthy 2% base earn, 10X on Air India fares converting 1:1 to miles, and stacking milestones up to 1,00,000 points at Rs. 20 lakh spend. The Rs. 4,999 fee with no waiver and a 3.5% forex markup mean it pays off mainly for committed, high-spending Air India flyers.

STATE BANK OF INDIAVisa
SBI Air India Signature
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REWARD SUMMARY
2% Base Rewards
Travel card with lounge access
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The Bottom Line

The SBI Air India Signature is built for air india loyalist and high-spend traveller. With a ₹4,999 annual fee, it offers 5% rewards on air india website / mobile app / booking offices / call centres (travel) and 20,000 bonus points. It makes the most sense if your spending matches air india loyalist and high-spend traveller.

It earns a base reward rate of 2% and stacks best when your spending lines up with Air India loyalist, High-spend traveller.

What we like
+Strong air-travel earning: 10 Reward Points per Rs. 100 on Air India bookings (2.5X the base), with points converting 1:1 to Air India miles.
+Solid 4-points-per-Rs.-100 base rate (about 2% back at Re. 0.50 per point), high for an everyday earn.
+Large stacking milestones: 20,000 points at Rs. 5 lakh, 50,000 cumulative at Rs. 10 lakh, and up to 1,00,000 points at Rs. 20 lakh annual spend.
+8 domestic lounge visits a year plus complimentary Air India frequent flyer (Maharaja Club) membership.
What we don't
–High Rs. 4,999 joining and annual fee with no spend-based fee-waiver mechanism offered.
–No complimentary international lounge visits; the Priority Pass membership charges up to USD 27 per visit.
–High 3.5% forex markup, unhelpful for a travel-oriented card used abroad.
–Fuel and cash advances earn no points, and the fuel surcharge waiver is capped at Rs. 250 per cycle.

Who Should Get This Card

Use this as a quick filter before comparing rewards or fees in detail.

Best fit for

Ideal
+
Air India loyalist

A frequent Air India flyer who books fares on Air India channels for 10 points per Rs. 100 and converts Reward Points 1:1 into Maharaja Club miles.

+
High-spend traveller

Someone spending Rs. 5-20 lakh a year who unlocks the large stacking milestones worth up to 1,00,000 points.

Probably not for

Skip
–
Non-Air India flyer

Travellers loyal to other airlines miss the core benefit and pay the Rs. 4,999 fee that has no waiver path.

–
Overseas spender

With a 3.5% forex markup and no free international lounge visits, it is weak for international use.

Is It Worth It For You?

Slide to your typical monthly card spend. We'll do the rest.

Calculate Your Value

Adjust your typical monthly spend by category.

Dining
0₹5,000Max ₹50k
Est. Returns
Travel
0₹10,000Max ₹1L
Est. Returns
Online & Shopping
0₹8,000Max ₹80k
Est. Returns
Groceries
0₹6,000Max ₹40k
Est. Returns
Annual rewards₹0
Annual fee-₹4,999
Net Value (Year 1)₹-4,999
Net Value (Year 2+)₹-4,999

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Reward Rates

SBI Air India Signature offers 2% basic reward rate.

Quick Calculator

Estimate earnings for a specific purchase

₹
Air India website / mobile app / booking offices / call centres (Travel)
5%

Welcome Offer

20,000 Reward Points

20,000 Reward Points credited within 15 days of Joining Fee payment posting, plus complimentary Air India Maharaja Club / Flying Returns membership.

Milestone Benefits

Spend ₹5,00,000

20,000 bonus Reward Points on reaching INR 5,00,000 annual spend.

Spend ₹10,00,000

Additional 30,000 bonus Reward Points on reaching INR 10,00,000 annual spend (50,000 cumulative).

Spend ₹20,00,000

Additional 50,000 bonus Reward Points on reaching INR 20,00,000 annual spend (1,00,000 cumulative - the maximum annual bonus).

Spend ₹0

Anniversary gift of 5,000 Reward Points every year (card-anniversary benefit, not spend-gated).

Fees & Charges

Joining fee₹4,999
Annual fee₹4,999
Fee waiverN/A

Eligibility

  • Age 21+; good credit history; 1 reward point = 1 Air India Air Mile; note: new applications for Air India SBI co-branded cards are no longer accepted.

Exclusions & Terms

Forex markup

  • Foreign currency markup

Cash Withdrawals / Cash Advances

  • Does not earn Reward Points.

Balance Transfers

  • Does not earn Reward Points (per official combined T&C).

Flexipay / Merchant EMI conversions

  • Does not earn Reward Points (per official combined T&C).

Fees, charges, interest, financial charges and disputed transactions

  • Does not earn Reward Points.

E-wallet loading (MCC 6540 & 6541)

  • E-wallet loading (MCC 6540 & 6541)

Rent payments (MCC 6513)

  • Rent payments (MCC 6513)

Government transactions (MCC 9399 and 9311)

  • Government transactions (MCC 9399 and 9311)

Frequently Asked Questions

6 data-backed answers from our card database

What is the annual fee of the State Bank of India SBI Air India Signature credit card?+

The State Bank of India SBI Air India Signature has a ₹4,999 annual fee + GST.

What rewards does the State Bank of India SBI Air India Signature credit card give?+

It earns 4 Reward Points per ₹100 spent (about 2% back), and up to 5% on Air India website / mobile app / booking offices / call centres.

Does the State Bank of India SBI Air India Signature credit card offer airport lounge access?+

Yes — 8 domestic airport lounge visits a year. Check the card's terms for any spend condition before your trip.

What is the forex markup on the State Bank of India SBI Air India Signature?+

3.5% + GST on international transactions.

What is the welcome benefit on the State Bank of India SBI Air India Signature?+

20,000 Reward Points credited within 15 days of Joining Fee payment posting, plus complimentary Air India Maharaja Club / Flying Returns membership.

Is the State Bank of India SBI Air India Signature credit card worth it?+

The State Bank of India SBI Air India Signature has a ₹4,999 annual fee + GST. It earns 2% back on regular spends and up to 5% on Air India website / mobile app / booking offices / call centres, with 8 domestic airport lounge visits a year. Best for: frequent, high-spending air india flyers collecting miles — our verdict: recommended.

Ready to apply?

₹4,999 annual fee. Apply on the State Bank of India website.

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