Key takeaways

  • Axis Atlas earns 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on travel and transfers at 1:2 to partners like KrisFlyer and Air India Maharaja Club, within annual caps.
  • HDFC Infinia and Diners Club Black return about 3.3% on regular spends, and points are worth about ₹1 each on SmartBuy flights.
  • Scapia is lifetime free and zero-forex, with coins you can use only for travel booked in its app.
  • Club Vistara no longer exists. Its successor is Air India Maharaja Club.

If you fly a few times a year, the right card can pay for some of those flights. Indian flight-reward cards work in three different ways, and the best one for you depends on how you like to redeem.

Three ways cards earn you flights

  1. Airline miles via transfers: you earn bank points or miles, then convert them into an airline programme. This has the highest upside and needs the most planning.
  2. Bank travel portals: you pay for flights with points at a fixed value on the bank's portal, such as HDFC SmartBuy. It's simple and predictable.
  3. Travel credits: rewards you can spend only on travel inside a specific app, such as Scapia coins.

The top picks

Axis Bank Atlas

₹5,000 + GST · No spend-based waiver · Forex 3.5%

  • 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on travel
  • 2 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on other spends
  • Milestone bonus miles up to 10,000 a year

Watch out: ₹5,000 fee with no spend-based waiver

Axis Bank Atlas earns 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on travel (airlines, hotels and travel bookings, up to ₹2 lakh a month) and 2 per ₹100 elsewhere. EDGE Miles transfer at 1:2 to core airline partners including Singapore KrisFlyer, Flying Blue and Air India Maharaja Club, which replaced both Flying Returns and Club Vistara. Transfers are capped per customer each year, and Axis made several cuts in 2026. See our transfer partners guide.

HDFC Bank Infinia Metal

₹12,500 + GST · Waived on ₹10,00,000 yearly spend · Forex 2%

  • 3.33% value back on regular spends
  • Up to 10X points through HDFC SmartBuy
  • Unlimited lounge access worldwide

Watch out: Largely invite-only, with a very high income requirement

HDFC Bank Infinia Metal and its sibling HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Metal earn about 3.3% in value on regular spends, with points worth about ₹1 each on flights and hotels through HDFC SmartBuy. Both can also transfer to airline partners via SmartBuy. They have high fees and income requirements, and Infinia added redemption caps in 2026.

Scapia Federal Bank

Lifetime free · No fee to waive · Forex 0%

  • Zero forex markup on international spends
  • 10% back in Scapia Coins on all eligible spends
  • 20% back on travel booked through the Scapia app

Watch out: Rewards redeemable only for travel on Scapia

Scapia Federal Bank is lifetime free, charges zero forex markup, and earns Scapia coins (5 coins = ₹1) on eligible spends, with a higher rate on travel booked in its app. Coins can only be used for travel booked through Scapia, and domestic lounge access needs ₹20,000 of monthly spend since February 2026.

Estimated yearly value for a frequent flyer

For someone spending about ₹20,000 a month on flights and hotels plus everyday spending (₹50,000 a month in total), after fees:

Spending patternAxis AtlasHDFC InfiniaScapia FederalHDFC Regalia Gold
Frequent domestic flyer
₹50,000/month
₹14,600₹4,431₹15,600 ★₹12,200

Values use our card database: Atlas miles at ₹1 each, Infinia points at ₹1 on SmartBuy, Regalia Gold points at ₹0.50, and Scapia coins at face value for travel. Actual value depends on how you redeem.

How to choose

  • You plan trips and love premium cabins: Axis Atlas, with miles transferred to airline partners. Check availability before transferring.
  • You're a very high spender who wants simplicity: HDFC Infinia or Diners Club Black via SmartBuy, if you meet the eligibility.
  • You want no fee and travel abroad: Scapia, or an IDFC FIRST card (zero-forex since September 2026).
  • You're mid-range and want lounge access too: HDFC Bank Regalia Gold, noting its 2026 earn-rate cut and ₹60,000 quarterly spend condition for domestic lounges.

Watch out for

  • Transfer caps and group changes. In September 2026, Axis moved Air India, Flying Blue and Qantas into its capped Group A.
  • Redemption caps on bank portals. Check how much of a booking you can pay with points.
  • Fees vs value. A ₹5,000–₹12,500 annual fee needs high spending to pay off. Test with our finder.
  • Devaluations. Don't stockpile miles. Follow our changes log.

Next, learn how to redeem well in our guide to booking flights with points.

FAQs

What is the best credit card for Air India flights?

Cards that transfer to Air India Maharaja Club, such as Axis Atlas (1:2 to core partners) or HDFC's premium cards via SmartBuy. Check current caps and ratios before transferring.

Can I use points for any airline?

On a bank portal like HDFC SmartBuy, or in the Scapia app, you can book most airlines. Transferred miles can only be used with that airline programme and its partners.

Is Club Vistara still a transfer partner?

No. Club Vistara was merged into Air India's programme, now called Maharaja Club, with points moved 1:1.

Which flight reward card has no annual fee?

Scapia Federal Bank is lifetime free and zero-forex, but its coins work only for travel booked in the Scapia app.

Sources

About the author

Deepak

Founder & Editor, CardPicker

Deepak founded CardPicker and writes and fact-checks its credit card guides, comparisons and news.

✓ Fact-checked 26 September 2026Prices, dates and card terms in this article were checked against issuer websites, official pages and news reports listed under Sources. Card figures come from our database, which is re-verified regularly. Offers change often, so confirm on the issuer's site before you buy or apply. Spotted an error? Tell us.