If you use Airtel for prepaid, postpaid, broadband or DTH, the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card is still a very useful card to have. The joining and annual fee is ₹500 + GST, with the renewal fee waived on spending ₹2 lakh in a year.
The main attraction is the 25% cashback on Airtel recharges and bill payments through the Airtel Thanks app. You also get 10% cashback on utility payments and select partner spends. However, Axis Bank has changed how the cashback caps work, and the maximum cashback you can earn now depends on the base cashback generated from your regular spends on the card.
So while the card still offers very good value for Airtel users, it is no longer as straightforward as it used to be. You will need to use it for some regular spends as well if you want to make full use of the Airtel and utility cashback benefits.
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Follow Card MavenAirtel Axis Bank Credit Card at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹500 + GST |
| Annual Fee | ₹500 + GST |
| Annual Fee Waiver | On ₹2 lakh eligible annual spends |
| Welcome Benefit | ₹250 Amazon eVoucher on the first transaction within 30 days of card issuance |
| Airtel Payments | 25% cashback on Airtel Mobile, Broadband, WiFi and DTH payments through Airtel Thanks |
| Airtel Cashback Cap | Up to 2X the base cashback earned in the same statement cycle |
| Utility Payments | 10% cashback on eligible utility bills paid through Airtel Thanks |
| Utility Cashback Cap | Up to 1X the base cashback earned in the same statement cycle |
| Regular Spends | 1% cashback on eligible spends with no overall cap |
| Zomato | 10% value back, up to ₹200 per month. Minimum order ₹499 |
| Blinkit | 10% value back, up to ₹200 per month. Minimum order ₹499 |
| District Movies | 10% value back, up to ₹200 per month |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% waiver on transactions of ₹400-₹4000, up to ₹500 per statement cycle |
| Forex Markup | 3.5% |
| Airport Lounge Access | None |
| Best Suited For | Airtel users who can also route regular eligible spends through the card |
Fees
| Joining Fee | ₹500+GST ~₹590 |
| Welcome Benefit | ₹250 Amazon e-Voucher on the first eligible transaction within 30 days of card issuance |
| Annual Fee | ₹500+GST ~₹590 |
| Annual Fee Waiver | On annual spends above ₹2 lakh excluding rent and wallet load transactions |
Disclosure: This is an affiliate link. Card Maven may earn a commission if you apply through this link, at no additional cost to you.
The ₹500 + GST annual fee is still quite reasonable for the cashback on offer. However, there is an important change here. Earlier, Airtel and utility spends alone could easily recover the annual fee. That calculation no longer works in the same way because the cashback caps on these spends are now linked to the 1% base cashback you earn during the statement cycle.
The ₹2 lakh annual fee waiver is useful, though we would not spend extra just to reach it. Rent and wallet load transactions are also excluded while calculating spends for the waiver.
Cashback and Value Back
| Spend Category | Benefit | Monthly Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Airtel Mobile, Broadband, WiFi and DTH payments via Airtel Thanks app | 25% cashback | Up to 2X the base cashback earned in the statement cycle |
| Utility bill payments via Airtel Thanks app | 10% cashback | Up to 1X the base cashback earned in the statement cycle |
| Zomato | 10% value back | ₹200 per month |
| Blinkit | 10% value back | ₹200 per month |
| District Movies | 10% value back | ₹200 per month |
| Other eligible spends | 1% cashback | No cap |
The Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card still offers very good cashback but the structure is not as simple as it used to be. The 25% Airtel and 10% utility cashback now depend on how much base cashback you earn from regular spends during the same statement cycle.
For example, if you spend ₹10,000 on eligible regular purchases, you earn ₹100 as base cashback. This means your Airtel cashback will be capped at ₹200 and utility cashback at ₹100 for that statement cycle. If you don’t earn any base cashback, you will not get the 25% Airtel or 10% utility cashback either.
This is a fairly big change. Earlier, the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card worked very well even if you kept it only for Airtel and utility payments. You now need to put some regular spends on the card to unlock meaningful cashback in these categories.
The old 10% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato and BigBasket has also been replaced. You now get 10% value back on Zomato, Blinkit and District Movies, capped at ₹200 per partner per month. Zomato and Blinkit require a minimum order value of ₹499. The benefit is credited to the respective partner wallet rather than your credit card statement.
How to Maximise Cashback
The new cashback rules are easier to understand with one simple example.
If you spend ₹10,000 on regular eligible purchases in a statement cycle, you earn ₹100 as base cashback. This lets you earn up to:
- ₹200 cashback on Airtel payments
- ₹100 cashback on utility bill payments
So, with ₹10,000 regular spends, the ideal usage would be around ₹800 on Airtel and ₹1,000 on utilities.
| Spend Type | Monthly Spend | Cashback |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Spends | ₹10,000 | ₹100 |
| Airtel Payments | ₹800 | ₹200 |
| Utility Bills | ₹1000 | ₹100 |
| Total | ₹11,800 | ₹400 |
That gives you ₹400 cashback on a total spend of ₹11,800, or around 3.4% overall cashback.
The important point is that you now need some regular spending on the card to unlock the higher Airtel and utility cashback. Using the card only for Airtel recharges and utility bills will no longer work as well as it did earlier.
If your monthly regular spends are higher, the Airtel and utility cashback limits also increase automatically.
The Zomato, Blinkit and District Movies offers are separate from this calculation and can give you additional value back every month.
Airport Lounge Access
The Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card no longer offers complimentary airport lounge access.
Axis Bank discontinued the 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits from 12 April 2026. There is no international lounge access either.
This is a clear downgrade from the earlier version of the card, which offered 4 domestic lounge visits every year subject to the spend requirement. If airport lounge access is important to you, you will now need to pair the Airtel Axis card with another credit card that offers this benefit.
Other Benefits & Charges
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% on fuel transactions of ₹400 to ₹4,000 |
| Fuel Waiver Cap | ₹500 per statement cycle |
| Forex Markup Fee | 3.5% + GST (~4.13%) |
The fuel surcharge waiver is useful for occasional fuel spends, though fuel transactions do not earn cashback.
For international spends, the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card is not particularly attractive. The 3.5% forex markup works out to around 4.13% after GST, so a low or zero forex markup card would be a better choice.
Cashback Exclusions
The following transactions do not earn cashback on the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card:
| Excluded Spends |
|---|
| Cash advances / financial institutions, fuel, rent, wallet reloads, jewellery, insurance, education, government payments, and utility or telecom payments made outside the Airtel Thanks app |
EMI transactions and purchases subsequently converted to EMI also do not earn cashback.
The exclusions are more important after the recent changes because these spends do not earn the 1% base cashback either. So, for example, putting ₹20,000 of insurance or education payments on the card will not help increase your Airtel or utility cashback limits.
For utility and telecom payments, make sure you use the Airtel Thanks app. Payments made outside the app do not earn cashback.
Who Should Get the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card?
The Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card still makes the most sense if you already use Airtel for mobile, broadband or DTH. The 25% cashback can save a decent amount every month, while utility payments add another useful 10% cashback.
However, the card is no longer ideal if you plan to use it only for Airtel and utility bills. Since the cashback limits now depend on the 1% base cashback earned from regular spends, you will need to put some everyday expenses on the card as well.
For someone spending around ₹10,000 or more every month on eligible regular purchases, along with Airtel and utility bills, the card can still work very well. Zomato, Blinkit and District benefits are an added advantage if you already use these platforms.
If you don’t use Airtel services or don’t want to shift regular spends to this card, there are better cashback cards available.
Conclusion
The Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card is still a good card for Airtel users, but it is not as rewarding or as simple as it used to be.
The 25% cashback on Airtel payments and 10% cashback on utilities look excellent on paper, but the new cashback caps mean you now need regular eligible spends on the card as well. That changes the way this card should be used.
If you can route around ₹10,000 or more of regular monthly spends through the card, the overall value can still be quite good. The Zomato, Blinkit and District benefits add to it, while the ₹500 + GST annual fee remains reasonable.
For someone who only wanted a card for Airtel recharges and utility bills, the old Airtel Axis was clearly better. But for an Airtel user who can also use it for regular spends, it still deserves a place in the wallet.
Disclosure: This is an affiliate link. Card Maven may earn a commission if you apply through this link, at no additional cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card worth it?
Yes, especially if you use Airtel for mobile, broadband or DTH. The card still offers very good cashback, though you now need regular eligible spends to maximise the Airtel and utility cashback.
What is the annual fee of the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card?
The annual fee is ₹500 + GST. It is waived on eligible annual spends above ₹2 lakh.
How much cashback does the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card offer on Airtel payments?
You get 25% cashback on Airtel mobile, broadband, WiFi and DTH payments made through the Airtel Thanks app. The cashback is capped at 2X the base cashback earned in the same statement cycle.
How much cashback does the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card offer on utility bills?
You get 10% cashback on eligible utility bill payments made through the Airtel Thanks app. The cashback is capped at 1X the base cashback earned in the same statement cycle.
Do I need regular spends to earn Airtel and utility cashback?
Yes. The cashback caps on Airtel and utility payments are now linked to the 1% base cashback earned from eligible regular spends. If you earn no base cashback in a statement cycle, you will not earn Airtel or utility cashback either.
Does the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card offer cashback on Zomato and Blinkit?
You get 10% value back on Zomato and Blinkit, capped at ₹200 per partner per month. A minimum order value of ₹499 applies.
Does the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card offer airport lounge access?
No. Complimentary domestic airport lounge access was discontinued from 12 April 2026.
What is the forex markup on the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card?
The forex markup is 3.5% + GST, which works out to around 4.13%. We would avoid using this card for international spends.
Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card
Is the base cashback of the previous month accounted to calculate the 2X, and 1X cashback for airtel and utility payments, or the same months?
Same one
The easiest way to apply if you already have a Axis Credit card is via Axis App, they have all the eligible credit card listed and then by choosing a virtual credit card is direct issued, the card is dispatched later.
When I applied via Airtel App or directly thru website the card was rejected with reason “Internal Policy”.
Since I already had Axis card, was very easy to get this one.
If I use credit card for recharge and the limit of 250 gets triggered and during the same month if I do some Swiggy zomato transaction, is the limit different or it will get capped under the same 250rs cap of recharge discount?
Both of these have different caps.
I have some Jewellery and high value fuel spending coming up , if i use airtel axis credit card, will they count in fee waiver threshold ?
Yes, it should. Right now, only rent and wallet load transactions are excluded.
Do they offer Rupay variant in Airtel axis credit card ?
Yes
Hi,
To avail the welcome offer (amazon voucher); is there any minimum amount to spend or any amount will do ?
Any amount is ok. Axis Bank does not specify any minimum amount for this card.
Using this card can I avail instant discount during big billion day sale?
Yes, it works.
Hi.
Will I get 10% cashback on payment of JIO or ACT broadband bills via Airtel Thanks app?
No
I applied a few days back through the Airtel Thanks App, but got rejected saying I don’t fit the bank’s criteria. I earn 70K+ a month easily so I am unsure what else is in the criteria. If there is any workaround or any other way that I should apply I’d be glad to know.
No workarounds. This card has always been difficult to get. You may want to try for some other mobile number in the family.
I have a doubt on apply from different number . can i apply from different number with my name and my pan
Yes, you can do that.
I am customer of Airtel for the past 10 years. Earning twice of you, Credit score is more than 800 still card rejected 2 times. Juts today, the card is approved. Axis bank is a tough bank to get a card.
Will I be able to pay friends and family Airtel services bills using it and get 25% cashback. Or services have to be on card holders name
Yes, you can
Insurance payment on Airtel Thanks app will get 10% cashback or not?
It is not applicable on insurance transactions.
Application of mine got rejected.
Is there any possible way to get it approved else way?
By mailing nodal officer? Or get it against FD?
I mailed nodal officer to reconsider and pathetic customer service, they told to get credit card against FD and also to reply back with the application reference number if not eager to do FD.
I have replied with the reference number to reconsider as well as provide airtel CC against FD for which I am ready to book an FD now waiting for the principal nodal officer to reply for my replied mail.
Is there any chance that they’ll approve? Or allow me to get airtel CC against FD?
Can a non-airtel user apply for the card? Thinking of getting one, but only if card is approved then only will port to airtel.
Is there any internal criteria to apply from a airtel sim only for further approval?
Cashback capping is 300₹ per statement period or calendar month?
It is per statement period.
Have they stopped issuing this card? Applied 1 month back, haven’t got the card yet.
good article