Credit card starter pack for India
Jan 4, 2026 | 8:32 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Living in SIN™, trying to make it through a year in BLR
Programs: SQ Pew Pew SSSS, Marriott/Accor Plat, IC Dia Amb, GHA Tit, Avis/Hertz PC
Posts: 6,770
Credit card starter pack for India
I'm moving to India for 2 years to set up a new office for my employer in Bangalore, and was wondering if there was a good starter pack for earning points and miles.
I've got an Axis Burgundy NRO account opened, and my RM says the Magnus for Burgundy credit card gives the best mileage rewards. Did the math on the Edge Rewards and it looks like he's right:
1. If I want to keep it simple and only have a couple of cards, are there any others with a good earning rate that I should look at? My programs are mainly Krisflyer, Aeroplan, Avios, Cathay and Flying Blue. My spend will mostly be on rent, flights, hotels, dining, Uber, Amazon/Flipkart, Swiggy/Blinkit.
2. I don't have a CIBIL score yet, though I have a PAN and Aadhaar card. Axis will give me a card secured with a deposit account, so that's good. How long before I can build up a credit score to apply for a different issuer card?
3. Do I need a RuPay credit card? A friend told me that those are the only ones that earn cashback on UPI transactions, which I suppose I'll have to use.
4. I can see myself flying Indigo domestic a lot on BLR-GOI, so have signed up for Indigo BluChip. Any Indigo credit cards that will make that less painful? I already have Priority Pass and DragonPass so don't care about lounge access.
I've got an Axis Burgundy NRO account opened, and my RM says the Magnus for Burgundy credit card gives the best mileage rewards. Did the math on the Edge Rewards and it looks like he's right:
- 12 Edge rewards or 9.6 miles/200 INR regular spend, or roughly 4.3 mpd
- 35 Edge rewards or 28 miles/200 INR on spends greater than 1.5L per month, or roughly 12.6 mpd
- 60 Edge rewards or 48 miles/200 INR on Axis Travel Edge portal for flights/hotels, or roughly 21.8 mpd
- Rent earning limited to INR 50K spend a month.
1. If I want to keep it simple and only have a couple of cards, are there any others with a good earning rate that I should look at? My programs are mainly Krisflyer, Aeroplan, Avios, Cathay and Flying Blue. My spend will mostly be on rent, flights, hotels, dining, Uber, Amazon/Flipkart, Swiggy/Blinkit.
2. I don't have a CIBIL score yet, though I have a PAN and Aadhaar card. Axis will give me a card secured with a deposit account, so that's good. How long before I can build up a credit score to apply for a different issuer card?
3. Do I need a RuPay credit card? A friend told me that those are the only ones that earn cashback on UPI transactions, which I suppose I'll have to use.
4. I can see myself flying Indigo domestic a lot on BLR-GOI, so have signed up for Indigo BluChip. Any Indigo credit cards that will make that less painful? I already have Priority Pass and DragonPass so don't care about lounge access.
Jan 6, 2026 | 6:35 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: DL Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, ALL Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 30,703
If you want to keep it simple then the Magnus for Burgundy & Olympus cards are the way to go. Both from Axis.
Axis will also give you a RuPay card which can be used for most UPI transactions.
Axis will also give you a RuPay card which can be used for most UPI transactions.
Jan 10, 2026 | 12:31 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Living in SIN™, trying to make it through a year in BLR
Programs: SQ Pew Pew SSSS, Marriott/Accor Plat, IC Dia Amb, GHA Tit, Avis/Hertz PC
Posts: 6,770
Thanks, now if only Axis could be a little more efficient. Took them 5 weeks just to open a bank account.
Jan 10, 2026 | 10:43 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: DL Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, ALL Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 30,703