Travel cards earn their fee in two ways: lounge visits you would otherwise pay for, and lower forex markup on spending abroad. Count your flights per year before you pay for either.
CardSetu currently lists a curated set of sample cards from participating issuers while the full catalogue is onboarded. Every figure below is read live from that catalogue; it describes the cards listed on CardSetu, not the entire Indian market.
How we picked
Selection criteria
- Card is tagged Travel or Lounge and lists a lounge benefit in the catalogue.
- Ranked by annual fee, lowest first; the lounge benefit text is shown so you can compare visit counts.
- Minimum income is shown because travel cards cluster at the higher end.
Lounge-access cards on CardSetu
Sorted by annual fee, lowest first.
1. AU Small Finance Bank
AU Switch
Lifetime free
Lounge: 2 domestic lounge visits a quarter when travel feature is enabled
- Annual fee
- Lifetime free
- Joining fee
- None
- Min. income
- ₹30K/mo
2. IDFC FIRST Bank
IDFC FIRST Prestige
Lifetime free with no spend condition
Lounge: 4 domestic lounge visits per quarter (spend-linked)
- Annual fee
- Lifetime free
- Joining fee
- None
- Min. income
- ₹50K/mo
3. Axis Bank
Axis Edge Cashback
5% cashback on utility bills and mobile recharges via UPI apps
Lounge: 4 domestic lounge visits per year
- Annual fee
- ₹499
- Joining fee
- ₹499
- Min. income
- ₹25K/mo
4. HDFC Bank
HDFC Skyline Travel
8 complimentary domestic lounge visits a year
Lounge: 8 domestic + 4 international visits per year
- Annual fee
- ₹2,500
- Joining fee
- ₹2,500
- Min. income
- ₹1L/mo
5. SBI Card
SBI Horizon Travel
8 domestic and 4 international lounge visits a year
Lounge: 8 domestic + 4 international visits per year
- Annual fee
- ₹2,999
- Joining fee
- ₹2,999
- Min. income
- ₹75K/mo
6. ICICI Bank
ICICI Sapphire Signature
Unlimited domestic lounge access
Lounge: Unlimited domestic lounge visits
- Annual fee
- ₹3,500
- Joining fee
- ₹3,500
- Min. income
- ₹1.3L/mo
7. AU Small Finance Bank
AU Summit
Unlimited domestic and international lounge visits
Lounge: Unlimited domestic and international lounge access
- Annual fee
- ₹4,999
- Joining fee
- ₹4,999
- Min. income
- ₹1.5L/mo
Occasional traveller?
If you fly fewer than four times a year, a lifetime free card with a spend-linked lounge benefit often covers you without an annual fee. Compare the Lifetime Free list before paying for a travel card.
How these lists are built: each guide states its own criteria above its list, card facts are read from the CardSetu catalogue at render time, and “best” means best against those criteria among the cards listed on CardSetu. Fees and benefits are indicative and can change; verify with the issuer. Final approval is the issuer’s decision. See how CardSetu compares credit cards.