If you travel frequently by train, getting a co-branded IRCTC credit can be useful. It will let you save money on your railway tickets while giving you other benefits. The IRCTC SBI Platinum credit card is one such option. The IRCTC SBI Platinum credit card comes with a joining and annual fee of Rs 500+GST. It offers 10% value back on AC class bookings on IRCTC. Among its benefits are complimentary railway lounge access and savings on IRCTC transaction charges.
IRCTC SBI Platinum Credit Card Fees
| Joining Fee | Rs 500+GST ~Rs 590 |
| Welcome Benefit | 350 RP on Rs 500 spend within 45 days of card issuance ~Rs 350 Value |
| Annual Fee | Rs 300+GST ~Rs 354 |
| Annual Fee Waiver | None |
| Renewal Benefit | None |
The joining and annual fee are on point for a card in this segment. But, the surprising part is no annual fee waiver and renewal benefit. These two are essential for the target customers of this credit card.
Rewards on AC and Chair Car Bookings
| Spend Category | Reward Rate |
|---|---|
| AC1, AC2, AC3, Executive Chair Car and Chair Car IRCTC Bookings | 4% – 10% |
SBI Card in collaboration with IRCTC offers good value on AC travel bookings. We get:
- Up to 10% reward points for AC travel (1st, 2nd, 3rd, Executive Chair Car, Chair Car) as per the below dates
- 4% RP for travel between April 1 – July 14 and September 16 – January 14
- 10% RP for travel between January 15 – March 31 and July 15 – September 15
- Reward points will be accumulated in the IRCTC loyalty account
- 1 RP = Rs 1
For the 10% value back on AC tickets, the cardholder has to be one of the passengers on the booked ticket.
Rewards on Other Spends
| Spend Category | Reward Rate | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Other Retail Spends | 1 RP/Rs 125 | 0.8% |
| Rent, Wallets | No Rewards | NIL |
For other spends, the IRCTC SBI Platinum credit card offers offers 1 RP per Rs 125 spend (excluding fuel) which is a return of 0.8%. So, it may not exactly be a good idea to get this card if you don’t plan to use it for AC or chair car bookings on IRCTC.
IRCTC SBI Platinum Credit Card Railway Lounge Access
The IRCTC SBI Platinum card gets 1 complimentary railway lounge access per quarter. The cities where this is available are Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Ahmedabad, Kolkata(Sealdah). The benefits in the lounge include:
- Two hours of lounge stay
- A/C sitting arrangements
- 1 Buffet Meal – Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner as per the time of visit
- Unlimited tea and coffee
- Free Wi-Fi
- Newspapers and Magazines
You can also refer to this railway lounge programme guide on SBI Card’s website.
Other Key Benefits
- Save 1% transaction charges on IRCTC railway ticket bookings
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between Rs 500 to Rs 3000 (Max Rs 100/statement cycle)
Final Thoughts
The IRCTC SBI Platinum credit card is a lucrative option from SBI Card for someone who regularly travels in trains. 10% value back on AC tickets is a good benefit during the off-peak season.
One thing we would like to see a change in is the complimentary railway lounge access. We seldom travel alone. SBI Card needs to add complimentary access for guests or add-on cardholders. The other addition could be a little more benefits on non-AC ticket bookings. 0.8% for an IRCTC co-branded card is quite less.
If you are looking for other cards that offer good benefits on IRCTC, then do have a look at IRCTC HDFC Bank credit card. This offers better benefits on IRCTC with extra rewards on SmartBuy. SBI Card also has a higher variant of IRCTC credit card in the IRCTC SBI Premier credit card.
Frequently Asked Questions
IRCTC SBI Platinum Credit Card
