Travel whether for work, weekend breaks, or visiting family, has become a bigger part of our lives. This is when having the right credit card can make a noticeable difference. But premium cards with steep annual fees don’t always make financial sense, especially if your spending is more balanced.
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But there are mid-range travel credit cards with annual fees of ₹1,000 and ₹5,000. They offer useful perks like lounge access, decent travel rewards, and milestone benefits without the pressure of overspending to justify the fee.
At 1 Finance we have created a scoring model to evaluate credit cards based on real value and data. We consider factors like reward rates, annual fees, lounge access, insurance coverage, and eligibility to help you pick a card that suits your lifestyle and travel habits.
Here are the top 5 mid-tier travel credit cards for 2025, based on our credit card scoring and ranking model.
1. SBI Air India Signature Card
If you often fly with Air India, this card gives you unmatched value through high reward rates and milestone bonuses.
The SBI Air India Signature Card offers a flat 4% reward rate across key categories like travel, dining, and groceries, making it highly rewarding for everyday spends.
It further enhances value for frequent flyers with up to 2.5x reward points on bookings made through the Air India website or app.
New users receive a welcome bonus of 20,000 Reward Points upon payment of the joining fee. Cardholders also enjoy 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year, along with milestone rewards of up to 1 lakh
Reward points annually based on spend thresholds. The card comes with an annual fee of ₹4,999 + GST, making it ideal for those who regularly travel with Air India and spend across diverse categories.
Best For: Heavy Air India flyers looking to convert spends into free flights.
2. SBI Prime Card
A well-balanced card offering solid value across categories like shopping, dining, and domestic travel.
The SBI Prime Card offers a generous 10% reward rate on popular lifestyle categories such as groceries, fashion, dining, and entertainment, making it ideal for high-volume everyday spenders.
For travellers, it provides 9% Club Vistara Points on travel-related expenses, adding significant value for frequent flyers.
New users receive a ₹3,000 e-gift voucher from leading brands as a welcome benefit. The card includes 8 complimentary domestic and 4 international lounge visits annually, ensuring comfort during travel.
In addition, users can unlock milestone rewards, including a ₹1,000 Pizza Hut voucher every quarter and annual vouchers worth ₹7,000 on hitting spend thresholds. The annual fee is ₹2,999 + GST, offering great value for those who spend regularly across travel and lifestyle segments.
Best For: Users seeking a well-rounded lifestyle and travel card with multiple reward avenues.
3. SBI Prime Advantage
A variation of the Prime Card, this version offers better reward rates on utilities and premium milestone benefits.
The SBI Prime Advantage Card stands out with its elevated reward rate of 10% on groceries and fashion and an impressive 20% on utility bill payments, making it ideal for managing essential expenses.
Travel enthusiasts earn 9% Club Vistara Points on bookings, enhancing value for frequent flyers. Upon joining, users receive a ₹3,000 e-gift voucher from popular partner brands. The card provides 8 complimentary domestic and 4 international airport lounge visits per year, ensuring travel comfort.
It also offers attractive milestone rewards, including a ₹1,000 Pizza Hut voucher every quarter and an additional ₹7,000 e-gift voucher annually on meeting spend thresholds. With an annual fee of ₹2,999 + GST, this card delivers excellent lifestyle and utility value for mid-level spenders.
Best For: Cardholders with high utility and fashion spends who want more back on regular expenses.
4. Axis Bank Atlas Card: EDGE Miles with Global Transferability
One of the most premium mid-tier options, Atlas rewards travel spends and enables point transfers to airline and hotel partners.
The Axis Bank Atlas Card is a premium mid-tier travel credit card offering 5% EDGE Miles on travel spends and 2% on other lifestyle categories, making it ideal for frequent flyers and urban professionals.
Users can also enjoy accelerated rewards—10x on Pantaloons and 5x on platforms like Swiggy, Nykaa, Tata CLiQ, and Croma. As a welcome bonus, the card offers 2,500 EDGE Miles on the first transaction.
Travel comfort is enhanced with 18 complimentary domestic lounge and 12 international airport lounge visits annually. Cardholders can also unlock up to 10,000 EDGE Miles per year through milestone-based spending.
With an annual fee of ₹5,000 + GST, this card is best suited for high-income individuals looking for premium travel privileges and flexible reward conversions.
Best For: Seasoned travellers who want premium lounge access and loyalty point conversions.
5. SBI Air India Platinum Card: Air India Loyalty on a Budget
This is a budget-friendly Air India co-branded option with travel-centric rewards and domestic lounge access.
The SBI Air India Platinum Card is a value-packed option for loyal Air India travellers, offering a high 15% reward rate on Air India bookings and 2% on most other spending categories, including groceries, dining, and entertainment.
New users receive a welcome bonus of 5,000 reward points after paying the joining fee. The card also includes 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year, adding comfort to your travel experience.
With milestone rewards of up to 20,000 points annually on relatively moderate spending, it delivers strong returns without demanding high usage. Priced at an annual fee of ₹1,499 + GST, it’s a budget-friendly card tailored for frequent domestic flyers.
Best For: New travellers or budget-conscious users loyal to Air India.
In-Depth Comparison of All 5 Cards
| Feature | Air India Signature | SBI Prime | Prime Advantage | Axis Atlas | Air India Platinum |
| Annual Fee | ₹4,999 + GST | ₹2,999 + GST | ₹2,999 + GST | ₹5,000 + GST | ₹1,499 + GST |
| Best For | Air India flyers | Lifestyle + Travel | High utility + lifestyle spends | Travel with miles conversion | Budget Air India loyalty |
| Rewards on Travel | 4% (2.5x on Air India) | 9% (Club Vistara) | 9% (Club Vistara) | 5% | 15% (Air India only) |
| Domestic Lounge | 8 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 8 |
| International Lounge | 0 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 0 |
| Milestone Perks | Up to 1L points | ₹7,000 voucher + Pizza Hut | ₹7,000 voucher + Pizza Hut | 10,000 EDGE Miles | 20,000 points |
| Luxury Benefits | None | Golf rounds + lessons | Golf rounds + lessons | None | None |
| Conversion Rate | ₹1.00 / RP | ₹0.25 / RP | ₹0.25 / RP | 2:1 Partner Miles | ₹1.00 / RP |
Please note that the information was last updated on 31st March 2025
Which Card Should You Pick?
If you’re a frequent Air India flyer, the SBI Air India Signature and Platinum cards are tailored to your needs—choose based on your budget and travel frequency. For those seeking a more well-rounded lifestyle and travel experience, SBI Prime and Prime Advantage strike the right balance with strong reward rates, milestone perks, and lounge access. Meanwhile, high-income global travellers will find the Axis Bank Atlas card unmatched in this segment, thanks to its international lounge access and the ability to transfer miles to global airline and hotel partners.
Each card offers unique value based on your lifestyle.
If you’re still unsure which card suits you best, check out our Credit Card Evaluation Guide for a behind-the-scenes look at how we rank and score credit cards at 1 Finance.
Please note –
1 Finance Pvt. Ltd. operates independently and does not issue/provide credit cards. The information presented herein is intended solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be construed as financial advice. Before making any financial decisions, it’s essential to undertake your own thorough research and analysis. If you’re uncertain about any financial matters, we strongly recommend seeking guidance from an impartial financial advisor.
