Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card is a co-branded entry-level cashback card. It is useful for people who regularly recharge mobile, pay electricity or gas bills, and order food or groceries online. Especially good for Airtel SIM, broadband, and DTH users. The card was introduced in March 2022 in partnership with Axis Bank.
This card is simple and direct, and many times available even on lower salary profiles or first-time credit card users. One good point is that you still get complimentary lounge access even though the annual fee is only around ₹500, so the value becomes decent. Also, the benefit is primarily issued on the RuPay network, and it is designed for domestic use to maximise UPI.
Drawback side: If you are not using Airtel services, the benefits are reduced a lot. Cashback on normal shopping or random spending is average only, so for general purchases, other cards may perform better. Basically, best for Airtel users — otherwise the card becomes ordinary.
Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card — Cashback Explained
This credit card works on a direct cashback system, not as reward points for shopping. Any cashback you earn comes as a money adjustment in your next credit card bill (statement). So you don’t need to redeem anything — the bill amount automatically reduces. In simple words, you can show your cashback in your total credit limit.
Important: Higher cashback categories only work when payment is done through Airtel Thanks App.
1. Cashback Structure
| Category | Cashback | Monthly Cap | Practical Spend Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airtel mobile, broadband, Wi-Fi, DTH | 25% | ₹250 | Up to ₹1,000 spend |
| Utility bills (electricity, gas, water via Airtel app) | 10% | ₹250 | Up to ₹2,500 spend |
| Swiggy, Zomato, BigBasket | 10% | ₹500 | Up to ₹5,000 spend |
| All other eligible spending | 1% | No limit | Any normal purchase |
| RuPay variant | earn 1% cashback | No limit | All merchant UPI payments |
2. Important Conditions
- 25% and 10% utility cashback works only through the Airtel Thanks App.
If you pay the same bill from Amazon Pay, Paytm, or Cred → cashback will not come. - 1% cashback is general spending cashback, but not applicable to certain categories.
- Monthly caps mean you will get only Rs. 250 per month, the maximum. which is still a good number.
No cashback on: If you make payment at Fuel, Rent payment, Wallet load, Jewellery, Insurance, Government payments, and Cash withdrawal.
- Correct method = Keep this card only for recharge, electricity, and food apps, and use any other card for shopping or offline purchases. If you mix usage, the cashback value drops, and the card feels useless.
3. Where It Wins Over Normal Credit Cards
- Many credit cards don’t give rewards on utility bills at all
- Recharge payments usually give only 0–1% in other cards
- Here, cashback is high because categories are fixed and repeated every month
If you are already paying for broadband + electricity + online food/grocery, then the card automatically starts giving benefits without extra spending.
Easemoney tip: If Suresh pays electricity from another app (like Paytm/Amazon) even once, that month’s cashback drops heavily. For this card, habit matters more than spending — always pay bills from the Airtel Thanks app only to get full value.
What are the Additional Benefits After Cashback?
Even after cashback, this card still gives some side benefits which many users ignore. If used properly, these extras, ₹4,000–₹5,000 annually, also recover your annual fee.
1. Welcome Benefit (Activation Offer)
- ₹500 Amazon e-Voucher: You get this as a joining benefit after activating the card.
- Condition: You must do at least one transaction within 30 days of receiving the card. Any normal purchase works — recharge, grocery, bill payment, etc.
- How you receive it: After the first successful transaction, Axis Bank sends a redemption link and voucher code on your registered SMS or email, usually within about 30 days.
Many users forget, and the card stays unused in the drawer. Just do one small ₹50–₹100 payment after activation — otherwise welcome voucher will not come.
2. Annual Fees & Waiver Benefits
- Your Annual fee of ₹500 is waived from the second year if yearly spending crosses ₹2 lakh.
- No joining or annual fees for add-on cards.
3. Fuel Surcharge Waiver
- You can save around 1% fuel surcharge waiver at petrol pumps
- Valid on ₹400–₹4,000 transactions
- Saves a small amount monthly but is useful for regular vehicle users
4. Dining Offers
- Works mainly in proper dine-in restaurants, not roadside or small hotels
- Around 15% discount (up to ₹500) at partner restaurants through EazyDiner
- This is a typical offer that works on all Axis credit cards.
5. Payment & Technical Benefits
- EMI conversion: big purchases above ~₹2,500 can be converted into monthly instalments from the app or the Axis portal
- RuPay UPI linking: you can add a card on Google Pay / PhonePe and pay shopkeepers via UPI while still earning 1% cashback
6. Airport Lounge Access
- 4 domestic lounge visits every year (1 per quarter)
- As per TOI media, you must spend ₹50,000 in the last 3 months to activate it, which means only high spenders are eligible.
- For new card users, the first few months are usually allowed without the spend condition
- Small authentication fee charged (₹2 Visa/RuPay, ₹25 Mastercard)
- New card users usually get temporary relaxation for the first few months
Eligible Airport Lounges (Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card – Set A)
You can enter these domestic lounges by swiping your card at the reception (small validation charge ₹2–₹25 only).
| City | Lounge Name | Terminal / Area |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | Encalm Lounge | Domestic T1, T2, T3 |
| Mumbai | Travel Club Lounge | Domestic T1C |
| Mumbai | Adani Lounge | Domestic T2 |
| Bangalore | BLR Domestic Lounge | Terminal 1 |
| Bangalore | 080 Domestic Lounge | Terminal 2 |
| Chennai | Travel Club Lounge A & B | Domestic T1 |
| Chennai | Travel Club Lounge | Domestic T4 |
| Hyderabad | Encalm Lounge | Domestic T1 |
| Kolkata | Travel Club Lounge | Domestic T1 |
For updated or additional airports (sometimes Jaipur/Goa added), you can check the official list here: https://www.axis.bank.in/axis-bank-airport-lounge-access-program.pdf
Practical note: Airport lounge is useful only if you travel occasionally by flight. Otherwise, don’t take the card only for the lounge — the main value of this card still remains cashback.
Annual Fee, Charges & Hidden Costs (Airtel Credit Card – Simple View)
This card gives good cashback, but if used wrongly, charges can quietly eat your benefit. So, below is what actually applies in real life.
1. Basic Fees
| Charge Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Joining / Annual Fee | ₹500 + GST |
| Fee Waiver | Next year free if yearly spend crosses ₹2 lakh |
| Add-on Card | No extra fee |
2. Transaction & Service Charges (Often Ignored)
| Usage | Charge |
|---|---|
| International spend (Forex markup) | ~3.5% + GST |
| Rent payment | 1% (max ₹1,500) |
| Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) | ~1% + tax |
| Paying bill in cash at branch | ₹100 per payment |
| Card replacement | ₹100 |
(DCC means when a foreign website/shop charges you in INR instead of foreign currency — many users don’t notice this.)
3. Interest & Penalties (Most Expensive Part)
| Situation | Charge |
|---|---|
| Interest on unpaid bill | ~3.6% per month (~52% yearly) |
| Late fee (₹501–₹5,000) | ₹500 |
| Late fee (₹5,001–₹10,000) | ₹750 |
| Late fee (Above ₹10,000) | ₹1,200 |
| Cash withdrawal | 2.5% or ₹500 (higher one) |
| Overlimit usage | 2.5% (min ₹500) |
- Important: If you withdraw cash from a credit card, interest starts immediately — no 45-day free period. Cashback works only when you pay full bill on time. If you pay minimum due only, bank interest becomes very high, and one or two months’ interest can cancel entire year cashback.
- Expert tip: Never use your credit card for ATM cash withdrawal, and never convert small purchases into EMI unnecessarily. Both are the most common reasons people lose money on cashback cards.
Eligibility & CIBIL Score Needed (*Credit limit)
Approval is not only about one factor. Bank checks credit history + income stability + existing loans together, then decides both approval and limit.
Basic Eligibility
| Criteria | Requirement (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 to 70 years |
| CIBIL Score | 750+ best, 700–750 possible but slower approval |
| Salaried Income | ~₹15,000–₹25,000 monthly |
| Self-employed | ~₹3.6 lakh annual ITR |
| Bank/Address proof | Aadhaar, PAN and active mobile |
Credit Limit You May Get
| Profile | Expected Initial Limit |
|---|---|
| New credit user | ₹15k–₹25k |
| Salary ~₹25k/month | ₹20k–₹50k |
| Good income & strong history | ₹1 lakh+ |
| High profile users | Up to ~₹5 lakh possible |
Banks normally keep a limit of around 1x–3x monthly income.
Why Limit Sometimes Comes Low
Even with a 740–760 score, many users get around ₹15k–₹20k limit, almost the same as their salary. Reasons:
- First credit card (bank testing repayment behaviour)
- Existing loans/EMIs are already running
- Multiple recent credit enquiries
- Company/job stability is not strong in the bank records
Bank calculates your repayment capacity, not only your score. If obligations are high, the limit becomes conservative.
How You Can Increase Your Limit Later
Usually, after 6–12 months of proper usage, bank itself offers increase or you can request.
- Spend regularly but not full limit
- Pay total bill before due date
- Update salary slip/ITR after salary hike
30% usage rule: If your limit is ₹20,000, try to keep monthly usage below ~₹6,000–₹7,000. Banks treat this as a low-risk customer and limit upgrade chances improve.
Practical Understanding = Low limit is not rejection, it is actually a trial phase. Bank first checks behaviour for a few months. If payments are clean, the limit automatically increases, and future loan approval also becomes easier.
Who Should Take This Card (and Who Should Avoid)
This is a special-purpose cashback card, not a full all-rounder. For some users, it works very nicely, but for others it feels just normal.
1. Good for these users
- You already have an Airtel SIM or home Wi-Fi — then cashback comes almost every month automatically
- Families paying electricity or gas bills online every month
- Swiggy, Zomato or BigBasket regular users
- You want a first credit card to build CIBIL history
- Anyone who like simple cashback instead of a reward-point system
2. Not suitable for
- You don’t use Airtel services (then the main 25% benefit is gone)
- People whose spending is mainly on malls, shopping or electronics
- Frequent international travellers (forex charges high)
- You expect unlimited rewards — here cashback stops after monthly cap
Airtel Axis Card Rejected Even After Having Multiple Cards — Quick Reasons & Fix
Common Rejection Reasons
- Too much total limit – If your existing cards already have high combined limits compared to salary, Axis may stop new approval (bank thinks over-borrowing risk).
- Recent applications – Applied other cards/loan in last 3–6 months → system marks “credit hungry”.
- High utilisation – Using more than ~30% of total card limits regularly looks risky.
- Detail mismatch – Address, job, or mobile different in Airtel app vs CIBIL record.
- Already many Axis cards – Usually 2–3 Axis cards maximum; next card often auto-reject.
- Old overdue history – Even small past delay visible in CIBIL can block approval.
What To Do Before Re-Applying
- Wait 90–180 days before next application
- Keep card usage below 10–20% for 2 billing cycles
- Pay all dues and clear outstanding balances
- Update closed loans/cards in CIBIL report
- Apply only when pre-approved offer shows in Airtel app
- If score 780+ and income strong, request manual review through Axis Bank support
Simple tip: Axis doesn’t reject because you lack cards — they reject because you already have too much available credit. Lower usage first, then apply again.
Airtel Axis vs Other Cashback Cards (Simple Comparison)
| Feature | Airtel Axis Card | Axis ACE | SBI Cashback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telecom/Recharges | 25% (strong point) | ~5% | ~5% online |
| Utility bills | 10% (Airtel app only) | ~5% via GPay | Mostly excluded |
| Food & grocery apps | 10% (selected apps) | ~4% | ~5% online |
| Base cashback | 1% | ~1.5% | ~1% |
| Lounge access | 4 visits (spend based) | 4 visits | No |
If your spending is bills and recharges → Airtel Axis works better. If your spending is shopping and random purchases → other cashback cards may suit you more
Do and Don’t (Important)
DO
- Pay recharge and utility bills only through the Airtel Thanks app
- Use mainly for bill payments and food apps
- Try ₹50,000 spent in 3 months if you want lounge access
- Pay your full amount before the due date (very important)
DON’T
- Don’t use for fuel, rent, wallet load or ATM cash
- Don’t keep this as your only card for all shopping (1% cashback is low)
- Don’t take it only for lounge access — cashback is main benefit
- Don’t force ₹2 lakh yearly spending just for a fee waiver if another card gives better reward
How to Apply Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card (Online)
First, you can check your credit score and eligible card once on Easemoney. It gives an idea of whether approval chances are good; otherwise, direct application and rejection may affect CIBIL.
After that, open the Airtel Thanks App with your Airtel number. Go to Shop → Airtel Finance → Credit Card and tap Apply Now. Put your basic details like PAN, address, job and income. Then complete digital KYC by uploading PAN and Aadhaar OTP verification.
If your profile matches, you usually get instant approval, and a virtual card starts working. Physical card normally reaches your address in about 5–7 working days.
FAQs
Is Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card lifetime free?
No, normally not lifetime free. But sometimes Airtel app shows targeted offer for selected users. Also, if you spend above ₹2 lakh yearly, practically it feels free because renewal fee gets waived automatically.
Why am I not eligible even with good CIBIL?
Many times CIBIL 750 still rejected because recent enquiries, unstable job, or address mismatch. Bank checks repayment capacity also, not score only. If already loans running, system marks higher risk profile internally.
Can I get Airtel Axis credit card against FD?
Yes, if approval not coming, you can open fixed deposit with Axis Bank and apply secured card. Limit usually 80–90% of FD value. After 6–8 months, bank may convert to normal card.
What is Axis Bank Airtel credit card customer care number?
You can call Axis Bank credit card support at 1860-419-5555. Keep card number or registered mobile ready. They usually verify DOB and OTP before discussing limit, charges or transaction problems.
I applied but limit is only ₹15,000 — why so low?
First card users often get limit near one month salary. Bank tests payment behaviour first. Use regularly and pay full bill 3–6 months; many customers later receive automatic increase offer message.
When does cashback actually come?
Cashback is not instant. It appears in next billing statement, usually within 30–40 days of transaction. It adjusts your bill amount directly, so payable reduces — you don’t need redemption or coupon process.
