In the world of high-end credit cards, 2023 brings a fresh lineup of the best Super Premium Credit Cards in India. Do you know what makes them Super Premium? Their high annual fee and the compulsory feature where you need to spend at least Rs.8 lakh per annum. Not just that, there are many other things to it.
Join us as we explore the 7 Best Super Premium Credit Cards available in India this year!
(A) What are Super Premium Credit Cards?
Super premium credit cards are like the “cream layer” of credit cards. They are made for people who really want the best while pouring out enormous amounts of money. These cards come with amazing perks, like getting into fancy airport lounges, having someone help you with tasks, and getting extra protection when you travel or shop.
They also give you cool rewards, like points or cash back, which you can use for cool stuff or to pay your card bill. While they cost a lot each year. But they’re perfect for people who love luxury, travel a lot, and want special treatment from their credit card.
You can say that it’s like a ticket to a world of amazing benefits for those who want something extraordinary.
(B) Differences: Super Premium Credit Cards vs Premium Credit Cards vs Ordinary Credit Cards
When it comes to credit cards, there are three main types: super-premium, premium, and ordinary. Each type has its own features and benefits. In this discussion, we’ll break down the differences between these three categories so you can choose the one that fits your needs and preferences.
| Aspects | Super Premium Credit Cards | Premium Credit Cards | Ordinary Credit Cards |
| Annual Fee | High | Moderate | Low |
| Exclusive Benefits | Extensive & Luxurious | Good range of perks | Basic benefits |
| Travel Privileges | Global lounge access, elite status | Airport lounge access, some travel benefits | Limited or no travel perks |
| Concierge Services | 24/7 assistance for tasks | Limited concierge services | Not typically offered |
| Travel and Purchase Protection | Comprehensive coverage | Standard Protection | Basic or none |
| Rewards Program | Generous with substantial rewards | Moderate rewards | Limited rewards |
| Eligibility Requirement | High income and credit score | Good credit score | Varies, may not be as strict |
| Target Audience | High-income group,Frequent travelers,Luxury enthusiasts | Travelers and individuals seeking added perks | General Consumers |
| Overall Sophistication | High | Above average | Basic |
However, you must note that the specifics of these cards can vary depending on the issuing bank and card offering, but this table provides a general overview of the typical differences.
(C) 7 Best Super Premium Credit Cards in India
Let’s have a brief overview of 7 Best Super Premium Credit Cards in India based on the annual fee-
| Card’s Name | Annual Fee | Min. Income (Monthly) | Best for |
| Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card | Rs.50,000 | Over Rs.1 lakh | Hotel Benefits |
| Induslnd Bank Pinnacle Credit Card | Rs.12,999 | Rs.1.5 lakh | Online Shopping |
| ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card | Rs.12,000 | Rs.3 lakh | Lifestyle Privileges |
| HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card | Rs.10,000 | Rs.1.75 lakh | All-round Benefits |
| HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card | Rs.10,000 | Communicated at the time of sourcing | Travel and Shopping |
| Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card | Rs.10,000 | Communicated at the time of sourcing | Travel and Dining |
| YES FIRST Exclusive Credit Card | Rs.9,999 | Rs.4 lakh | Reward and Travel |
(C.1) Axis Reserve Credit Card
This is one of the most desired premium credit cards in India. With a joining fee of Rs.50,000, you will get different sorts of luxurious perks.
| Features | Details |
| Joining Fee | Rs.50,000 |
| Chauffeured Airport Service | 4 chauffeured luxury airport drops and pickups per year |
| Lounge Access | Unlimited domestic lounge access Unlimited international lounge access with priority pass membership. |
| Dining Benefits | Club Marriott Asia Pacific Membership: 20% off on food and beverages. 20% off at participating Marriott hotels in India and Asia Pacific (on weekend rates). 15% savings at Postcard hotels. |
| Golf Privileges | 50 golf rounds annually at India’s top golf courses. |
| Entertainment Perks | BookMyShow offers: Buy 1, Get 1 ticket. Buy 1 ticket and get up to Rs.500 off on the second ticket (maximum 5 times per month). For 1 non-movie ticket get up to Rs.1,000 discount on the second ticket (maximum 5 times per month). Up to 25% savings with EazyDiner Prime Membership at premium restaurants. |
| Reward Points | 15 edge reward points for every Rs. 200 spent. Twice the rewards on international expenses. Airport drops & pickups (4 times), Domestic lounge access (unlimited), Rewards on International spends |
| Foreign Currency Fees | Low foreign currency mark-up fee of 1.5%. |
| Cash Withdrawal Charges | Nil |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel transactions ranging between Rs.400 to Rs.4,000. |
(C.2) Induslnd Bank Pinnacle Credit Card
IndusInd Bank offers the Pinnacle Credit Card, which falls under the super-premium category, tailored for those who love shopping and traveling. This credit card provides a range of benefits, including welcome perks.
| Features | Details |
| Joining Fee | Rs.12,999 + Applicable Taxes |
| Renewal Fee | Nil |
| Spend-based Waiver | Nil |
| Complimentary Benefits | Complimentary night stay at Oberoi Hotel, Luxe Gift Card, Gift vouchers from brands like Vero Moda, ALDO, etc. |
| Rewards | |
| Online Spending | 2.5 reward points for every Rs.100 spent |
| Online Travel and Flight Bookings | 1.5 reward points for every Rs.100 spent |
| Other Categories | 1 reward point for every Rs.100 spent |
| Lounge Access | |
| Domestic Lounge Access | 1 Complimentary access every quarter |
| International Lounge Access (Priority Pass) | 2 Complimentary accesses |
| Entertainment | |
| BookMyShow | Buy 1 Get 1 offer on movie ticket bookings |
| Golf Benefits | |
| Golf Lessons | 4 Complimentary lessons per month |
| Golf Games | 2 Complimentary games per month |
| Other Waivers | |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% fuel surcharge waiver on all fuel transactions |
| Insurance Cover | Air accident cover worth Rs.25 lakhs and additional insurance coverage |
(C.3) ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card
The ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card is a top-tier lifestyle card designed for High Net Worth Individuals seeking luxurious perks. It offers a range of high-end benefits, including unlimited complimentary access to airport lounges, golf lessons and rounds at prestigious golf courses, and exclusive hotel memberships.
With its extensive array of advantages, it ranks among the most distinguished super-premium credit cards available in India.
| Features | Details |
| Joining Fees | Rs.12,000 (annual plan) Rs.1,000 (monthly plan) |
| Earning Rewards | 4 Payback points on every Rs.100 spent on all retail transactions except fuel. |
| BookMyShow Offer | Buy one ticket and get up to Rs.750 off on the second ticket, up to 4 times every month |
| International Lounge Access | Unlimited complimentary access to international airport lounges under the Dreamfolks Membership Programme |
| Domestic Lounge Access | Unlimited complimentary access to select lounges at Indian airports with your ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card |
| Golf Benefit | Complimentary round/lesson of golf on spending Rs.50,000 or more in the previous calendar month, up to a maximum of 4 rounds/lessons every month. |
| Domestic Airport Spa Access | Unlimited complimentary access to domestic airport spas through the Dreamfolks Membership |
| Benefits of International Travel | Low 1.5% mark-up fee on international transactions, reduced 1.99% APR on ATM cash withdrawals, no over-limit fee, no cash withdrawal fee, no late payment charges, no cancellation charges on travel and hotel bookings. |
| Concierge Service | 24×7 concierge service for various needs, from finding gifts to travel and hotel reservations |
(C.4) HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card
Look into the details of it in the following table-
| Features | Details |
| Joining Fee | Rs.10,000 |
| Welcome Benefits | Numerous Memberships |
| Complimentary Memberships | Annually for Forbes, Club Marriott, MMT Black, Times Prime, Amazon Prime, and Swiggy One membership is available for three months every year. Automatically provided after realizing the annual membership fee from the second year onwards. |
| Compulsory Spending | INR 1.5 lakh within 90 days of the card’s activation in the first year. |
| Reward Points | 5X reward points on spending Rs.150.Up to 10X reward points on any purchase from SmartBuy. |
| Dining | 2X reward points on weekend dining |
| Golf | Six golf games across the world per quarter. |
| Travel Discounts | Discounts on flight and hotel booking via SmartBuy. |
| Wellness | Wellness benefits include discounts in spas, gymnasiums, salons, and wellness retreats. |
| Interest-Free Period | 50 days |
| Lounge Access | Unlimited lounge access in India and internationally for both primary and secondary cardholders. |
| Insurance Coverage | Air accident insurance cover of Rs.2 crore Emergency overseas hospitalization of Rs.50 lakh. Travel insurance cover of Rs.55,000 Credit liability cover of up to Rs.9 lakh |
| Pros | Reward points on all types of payments. |
| Cons | Dineout Passport membership was discontinued this year. |
(C.5) HDFC Infinia Credit Card
Here, you will get cashback on all retail spending. Such as insurance, utilities, education, and rentals. Also, you will get different kinds of insurance coverage. Do you know what the best part of HDFC Infinia Credit Card is? It’s golf games! Look at the following table to find more details-
| Features | Description |
| Joining Fee | Rs.12,500 |
| Initial Reward Points | 12,500 reward points on card activation |
| Club Marriott Membership | Complimentary 1-year membership offering up to 20% discounts on dining and stay across Asia-Pacific. |
| Annual Reward Points | 12,500 reward points annually upon realization of the previous year’s annual fee. |
| Fee Redemption | INR 10 lakh spending offers fee redemption, but forfeits 12,500 reward points. |
| Retail Spend Rewards | 5 reward points on every INR 150 spent, including insurance, utilities, education, and rent. |
| Travel and Shopping Rewards | 10 times reward points on travel and shopping spends through SmartBuy. |
| Golf Benefits | Unlimited complimentary golf coaching and games at select courses in India and worldwide. |
| Customer Support | 24/7 phone support available for customer queries |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions over INR 400 and INR 100,000 at all fuel stations in India. |
| Airport Lounge Access | Unlimited access to domestic and select international airport lounges using Priority Pass for primary and add-on cardholders. |
| ITC Hotel Benefits | Complimentary nights and weekend buffet at participating ITC hotels. |
| Insurance Coverage | Accidental air death cover of INR 3 crore.Emergency overseas hospitalization of INR 50 lakh. |
| Pros | Unlimited golf coaching and games.Unlimited airport lounge access.Flexible reward points value |
| Cons | The value of reward points varies with usage |
(C.6) Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card
The exclusive features of Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card are described in the following table-
| Features | Details |
| Joining Fees | Rs.10,000 |
| Annual Benefit Choice | Subscribers can choose between one complimentary domestic flight ticket. And a Tata CLiQ voucher of INR 10,000 as an annual benefit. |
| Lounge Access | Unlimited domestic and international airport lounge visits. |
| Cash Withdrawal | No cash withdrawal fee |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% fuel surcharge waiver for transactions between INR 400 to INR 4,000. |
| EDGE Rewards Points | 25,000 EDGE reward points worth INR 5,000 on monthly spends of INR 1 lakh. 5X EDGE reward on travel spends via TRAVEL EDGE. 12 EDGE reward points for every INR 200 spent. 2X EDGE reward points on purchases at MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Goibibo, and more. |
| Concierge Services | Services of a dedicated concierge are available on the phone. |
| Hotel Discounts | A flat 15% off and a complimentary room upgrade at all Oberoi properties in India. |
| Movie Discounts | Buy one movie or non-movie ticket and get up to INR 500 off on the second. |
| Dining Discounts | Up to 20% discount at over 4,000 restaurants across India. |
| Insurance and Healthcare | Air accident cover, purchase protection, lost card liability programs, and more. Expert medical opinion from a panel of world-class specialists available for users. Healthcare packages from SRL Diagnostics, Dr.Lal PathLab, and Metropolis. |
| Pros | Unlimited Golf GamesUnlimited domestic and international airport lounge visits. |
| Cons | Redemption of EDGE reward points can be challenging. |
Note: Do you know various changes occurred in Axis Bank credit cards? We have thoroughly covered these changes in “What Changed For Axis Bank Credit Cards? Uncovering The Details.” You can check it out for more details.
(C.7) YES FIRST Exclusive Credit Card
The YES FIRST Exclusive Credit Card is a high-tier credit card designed to provide users with both rewards and lifestyle advantages. In addition to these perks, cardholders can enjoy complimentary access to both domestic and international airport lounges. This card is an excellent choice for individuals seeking a blend of travel and lifestyle benefits alongside reward points.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of this credit card-
| Benefits | Details |
| Joining Fee | Rs.999 (Waived off on spending Rs.75,000 within 90 days of card activation) |
| Reward Points | Up to 12 reward points per transaction 6 reward points per Rs.200 spent on selected categories 12 reward points per Rs.200 spent on other categories 5X reward points on the first 3 transactions with registered billers Redeem points for Airmiles, flight/hotel bookings, or merchandise |
| Lounge Access | 3 domestic lounge accesses per quarter for primary and add-on cardholders Unlimited international lounge access with Priority Pass Membership |
| Golf Privileges | 4 complimentary rounds of green fees per year at selected Indian golf courses1 complimentary golf lesson per month at selected golf courses |
| Other Benefits | Milestone Benefit: 25,000 bonus reward points on spending Rs.20 lakh in a year 25% discount on movie tickets via BookMyShow website or app Insurance Coverage: Rs.3 crore life insurance, Rs.50 lakh medical insurance, Rs.10 lakh credit shield1% fuel surcharge waiver (up to Rs. 1,000 per statement cycle) on transactions between Rs.400 and Rs. 5,000 |
(D) How Super Premium Credit Cards different from Premium Credit Cards?
Super Premium credit cards and Premium credit cards are different categories of credit cards in India. Super Premium credit cards are designed for individuals with high incomes and offer exclusive benefits and privileges. On the other hand, Premium credit cards are also suitable for individuals with good income but may not have the same level of exclusive benefits as Super Premium cards.
Super Premium credit cards typically provide luxurious perks such as complimentary airport lounge access, concierge services, higher credit limits, exclusive dining and travel benefits, and enhanced rewards programs. These cards are offered by top credit card providers like HDFC, ICICI Card, and Axis Bank.
Premium credit cards, while still offering excellent features, may not have the same level of exclusivity as Super Premium cards. They provide benefits like reward points, discounts on shopping, fuel surcharge waivers, and travel vouchers. The HDFC Bank Platinum Plus Credit Card is an example of a Premium credit card.
Note: We have already explained “12 Most Premium Credit Cards in India (2023 Top Reviews).” Go through the article for more details.
(E) How much do you need to spend on Super Premium Credit Cards?
The spending requirements for super premium credit cards in India vary depending on the specific card. For example, some super premium credit cards may require you to spend Rs.8 lakh or more in order to have the annual fee waived. Other cards may offer amazing rewards if you spend more than Rs.1.5 lakh a month. It’s important to check the terms and conditions of each credit card to determine the specific spending requirements and benefits associated with it.
(F) Conclusion of Best Super Premium Credit Cards in India
In the world of fancy credit cards, these 7 Best Super Premium Credit Cards in India for 2023 are the kings. They offer incredible benefits like access to fancy airport lounges, lots of rewards, and special perks for travel and luxury living. These cards are not for everyone but are perfect for those who want a taste of the high life.
In conclusion, these cards are like keys to a world of luxury and special treatment. If you’re looking for a card that’s a cut above the rest, these top 2023 picks are worth considering.
