Planning a train journey across India soon? With over 20 million passengers daily, Indian Railways is the most popular mode of long-distance transportation in India. Booking train tickets can be expensive, so using the right credit card is crucial to get additional savings.
This comprehensive guide will explore the top credit cards that offer lucrative rewards, cashbacks, and benefits for booking IRCTC train tickets in 2023. We will compare popular cards on parameters like rewards rate, joining/annual fees, and complementary benefits to help you zero in on the best option. So hop on as we embark on finding the most rewarding cards for your upcoming rail journeys!
Why Use a Credit Card for Booking Train Tickets?
Gone are the days of long queues and difficulties booking railway tickets. Today, with the IRCTC website and app, booking tickets is convenient. But did you know you can further sweeten the deal by using credit cards? Here are some solid reasons to use credit cards for train ticket bookings:
- Cashbacks & Rewards: The biggest incentive for using credit cards is enjoying cashback offers or reward points on every ticket purchase. This allows you to earn savings on rail travel.
- Interest-free Credit Period: You get an interest-free period of up to 50 days on credit card purchases. This gives you breathing room to repay the bill before interest is levied.
- Insurance Cover: Premium cards include free travel insurance covers for ticket cancellations, delays, and more. This protects your travel investment.
- Online Tracking: Credit card purchases are tracked online. This helps in maintaining expenses records and claiming rewards.
- Enhanced Security: Credit cards offer more security than other modes of payment for online ticket booking. This ensures a safe transaction.
Clearly, using credit cards for booking train tickets can open avenues for much greater savings. Now let’s look at the top contending cards to use for this purpose in 2023.
Best Credit Cards for Booking Indian Railway Tickets
1. HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card
A popular premium credit card, the HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card tops our list for train ticket bookings. Here are its key features:
- Rewards Rate: You earn 2 reward points for every ₹150 spent. So rail ticket purchases via IRCTC fetch you 2x points.
- Welcome Benefit: Get 5,000 bonus reward points as a welcome gift on signing up.
- Renewal Benefit: 1,000 reward points every membership year on paying the fee.
- Fee: ₹1,000 per annum.
- Key Benefits: Complimentary lounge access, flexible redemption options, lost card liability cover of ₹1 lakh.
With a higher earnings rate on rewards and useful benefits, this is a worthwhile card for frequent rail travelers.
2. ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card
The ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card is a strong contender due to its lucrative cashback offerings:
- Cashback Rate: Get 10% cashback every month up to ₹250 on IRCTC ticket bookings.
- Other Cashbacks: 5% cashback on utility bill payments, 1% on other spends.
- Rewards Rate: 1 reward point per ₹200 spent.
- Fee: No annual or joining fees.
- Key Benefits: 1% fuel surcharge waiver, zero liability on lost card usage, and more.
With beneficial cashback and zero fees, this is among the most budget-friendly cards for regular train travelers.
3. Axis Bank Neo Credit Card
The Axis Bank Neo Credit Card makes rail travel rewarding with:
- Rewards Rate: 4 reward points for every ₹150 spent on rail bookings via IRCTC website.
- Welcome Gift: Get 2,000 bonus reward points on first transaction.
- Fee: ₹500 per annum.
- Key Benefits: Domestic lounge access, buy 1 get 1 movie ticket free, 15% off on dining and more.
- Drawback: No cashback or discounts on train tickets.
The high reward points rate makes this a good choice for occasional train travelers looking to accumulate points.
4. SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card
The SBI SimplyCLICK card is tailored for online spends, including train tickets:
- Cashback: 10% cashback on first IRCTC rail ticket booking per month. Limited to ₹100.
- Fee: ₹499 per year.
- Key Benefits: Domestic airport lounge access, waiver on fuel surcharge, purchase protection of ₹50,000.
- Drawback: Lower cashback rate compared to other cards.
Overall, a decent card from SBI offering lounge access along with limited cashback on rail bookings.
5. Kotak 811 Credit Card
If you want high rewards on train travel, Kotak 811 is a great choice:
- Rewards Rate: 8 reward points per ₹150 spent on booking rail tickets online.
- Welcome Gift: 100% cashback on first transaction as statement credit.
- Fee: No annual or joining fees.
- Key Benefits: Domestic and international lounge access, zero forex markup on international spends.
The market-leading rewards rate and joining perks make this a top contender for regular train travelers.
6. HSBC Cashback Credit Card
The HSBC Cashback Credit Card is ideal for reaping unlimited cash savings:
- Cashback: 1.5% unlimited cashback on online rail ticket bookings. No cap on how much you can earn.
- Fee: ₹500 per annum.
- Key Benefits: 0% EMI schemes, fuel surcharge waiver, global assistance service.
- Drawback: No lounge access or travel benefits.
Overall, a great value card for daily commuters and frequent travelers looking to maximize monetary returns.
7. IndusInd Bank Iconia Credit Card
For premium travel benefits, the IndusInd Iconia Credit Card hits the sweet spot:
- Rewards: Get 2x Indus Miles on every ₹150 spent on rail bookings via IRCTC.
- Welcome Gift: 2,500 bonus reward points.
- Fee: ₹1,000 per annum.
- Key Benefits: Domestic airport lounge access, complimentary club membership, concierge services.
The higher accelerate rate on rewards and lavish travel benefits make this a premium card for regular train travelers.
How to Choose the Best Credit Card for You?
Now that you know the top credit card options, how do you select the right one? Here are some tips to guide your decision:
- Assess train travel frequency: If you travel by train daily or weekly, opt for cards with high rewards rate or unlimited cashback. For occasional travel, look for cards with one-time welcome gifts or benefits.
- Check fee affordability: Cards with annual fees above ₹500 are suitable only for frequent travelers. Opt for no-fee cards like Kotak 811 or ICICI Coral if you use trains sparingly.
- Compare key benefits: Cards like HDFC Millennia and IndusInd Iconia offer extensive travel privileges like lounge access. Opt for them if you want a luxurious journey. Evaluate add-ons as per your needs.
- Consider usage versatility: Choose cards like SBI SimplyCLICK and Axis Neo that reward other spends too, like online shopping, dining, etc. This widens the benefits scope.
- Evaluate exclusive discounts: Many cards offer direct ticket discounts or cashbacks that add great value. So review card-specific rail booking offers before deciding.
Strike a balance between fee, usage frequency, and exclusive rail benefits to find the most rewarding credit card tailored to your travel habits.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Credit Card
Follow these tips to maximize savings when booking IRCTC train tickets using your credit card:
- Activate offers/discounts for your card before transactions to avail them. Offers keep changing, so keep checking.
- Book tickets during weekdays late at night or early morning when IRCTC levies lower convenience fees. This minimizes surcharges.
- Buy only unreserved train tickets using your credit card to avoid cancellation charges. For reserved tickets, use debit cards or net banking.
- Load your card to digital wallets like Paytm when they offer promotional discounts on train bookings. The credit card rewards will apply on top.
- Use credit card reward points directly on the IRCTC website to book train tickets. Many cards allow this redemption to get extra value.
- Pay your credit card bill on time without fail to enjoy uninterrupted reward points and cashback benefits on rail bookings.
Read – IRCTC: Your Partner in Train Travel
Conclusion
Booking train tickets using the right credit card can make your rail journey more affordable and comfortable. Use this guide to understand the benefits different cards offer and choose one tailored to your travel needs. Cards like HDFC Millennia, Kotak 811 and ICICI Coral offer maximum savings for avid train travelers. Follow the tips above to optimize your credit card usage while ticketing. Happy journey!