SBICard points 2 Etihad Credit score Playing cards in India within the identify of SBI Etihad Visitor Card & SBI Etihad Visitor Premier Credit score Card. The Premier variant is the higher one which comes with Etihad Gold Standing.
This card may be tough to grasp for a lot of. However having used it yearly for the previous three years, I’ve written this text to elucidate it in easy phrases, so you possibly can belief what you’re studying.
Overview
| Sort | Airline Credit score Card |
| Reward Fee | Varies with redemption |
| Annual Charge | 4,999+GST |
| Greatest for | Couple Travellers |
| USP | Companion Voucher |
Ideally it’s meant for worldwide travellers, as solely these could make use of the companion voucher that comes with the cardboard.
Charges
| Becoming a member of Charge | 4,999+GST |
| Welcome Profit | – 5000 Etihad Miles – Etihad Gold Standing (1st 12 months Solely) |
| Renewal Charge | 4,999+GST |
| Renewal Profit | – |
| Renewal Charge waiver | 5L INR |
- Complimentary Etihad Visitor Gold tier standing put up first card transaction
- Gold Tier just for 1st 6 months with none flights
- 2 Wifi Vouchers on 1st Etihad Reserving
The welcome profit could seem low for the price, however the Etihad Gold Standing provides vital worth.
Rewards
| SPEND TYPE | REWARD (Etihad Miles / 100 INR) |
|---|---|
| Common Spends | 2 |
| Worldwide Spends | 4 |
| Spends on Etihad.com | 6 |
- No rewards on Gasoline
- 1 Etihad Visitor Tier Mile for each 50 INR spent (helps for re-qualification)
- Most of 40,000 Etihad Visitor Tier Miles may be earned in a 12 months
The reward fee for normal spends isn’t nice, so it’s not the primary focus. Nevertheless, these miles can finally contribute to redeeming a companion voucher.
On incomes Etihad miles, there’s a brand new & noteworthy supply that has simply dropped in: Etihad Croma Supply lets one earn 1 Mile per 2 INR spend at Croma.
Milestone Profit
| SPEND REQUIREMENT | VOUCHER TYPE | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 Lakhs (Quarterly) |
1,500 Etihad Miles | ~ 750 INR |
| 8 Lakhs (Annual) |
Companion Voucher | Is dependent upon the way you redeem (Enterprise or First Class) |
The primary advantage of the SBI Etihad Visitor Premier Credit score Card is the 8L milestone companion voucher, which helps you save considerably when touring with a companion.
Though Etihad lately elevated the miles required, the voucher successfully cuts the miles wanted in half. Nevertheless, take into account that taxes nonetheless apply for each tickets.
Companion Voucher
Redeeming Companion Voucher is a straightforward course of. You simply want to move on to the hyperlink shared on e mail and submit after inputting the voucher code.
However to get an actual worth of the voucher one must make additional effort.
To start with, the redemption is smart solely on 1 leg from/to AUH and past and never from India, as taxes are excessive and pointless for a 4hr flight from India to AUH.
So to utilize this voucher one have to interrupt the journey at AUH onward/return from EU/USA for higher worth.
Factors requirement (dynamic although) are as follows:
- EU: 70K-90K Enterprise / 120K-140K First + ~30K INR Tax
- USA: ~120K Enterprise / 160K-200K First + ~60K INR Tax
Observe that in case you’re flying to USA, you get US Pre-clearance at AUH as effectively which makes life higher.
In case you’re not planning to make use of the companion voucher, then it’s higher to disregard the cardboard altogether because the miles earn fee is poor. As a substitute, one can take Axis Atlas or different playing cards to earn miles throughout completely different airways.
To not point out that, you want a Visa to enter UAE which provides further resistance for many to do this technique. Therefore, it makes issues simple just for these with legitimate US Visa, as you may get Visa on Arrival at UAE.
Redemption Expertise
I’ve personally all the time used it for onward journey, solely on First Class, because the distinction between First/Enterprise is just not a lot however the expertise is. I’ve flown under route to date:
- AUH-LHR (First Class), as soon as
- AUH-GVA (First Class), twice
I usually do a 1 day journey to AUH / Dubai and since I’m gold member I get the free chauffeur service to both locations as effectively.
Whereas departing from AUH, you additionally get entry to the Etihad First Class Lounge which is sort of huge in measurement with superb meals.
Talking about miles requirement, it’s neither low nor simple to build up and so feels costly to fly even with companion voucher. So I normally switch factors when there’s a ~30% switch bonus supply and use them.
Lounge Entry
| ACCESS TYPE | VIA | LIMIT |
|---|---|---|
| Home Lounge Entry | Visa | 2/Qtr (8/yr) |
| Worldwide Lounge Entry | Precedence Move | 2/Qtr (4/yr) |
Provided that the cardboard targets worldwide travellers, I want it had extra worldwide visits with out the quarterly restrict.
Different Advantages
- As much as 10% low cost on choose Enterprise Class and Financial system Class flights on direct Etihad Airways reserving
- 1% gasoline surcharge waiver (Txns of INR 500 – INR 4,000). most Gasoline Surcharge Waiver of Rs 250 may be availed per assertion cycle.
- Card Insurance coverage profit
The right way to Apply?
It seems like on-line utility is longer accessible for Etihad Credit score Playing cards. However I heard that it “perhaps” potential to use offline.
Backside line
The SBI Etihad Visitor Premier Credit score Card is actually helpful for individuals who are versatile with journey dates and prepared to place in additional effort to make use of the companion voucher, together with excessive spends on playing cards like Axis/Amex/HSBC to earn the required miles.
So it’s certainly advanced for many cardholders because of the varied challenges concerned. However that’s what it takes to fly Enterprise/First when one can’t afford the income fee. 😉