This Article was fact checked and last updated for accuracy on July 16, 2025 by Mani Karthik
When I moved back from USA in 2017, I was overwhelmed by Indian telecom options. Jio was new. Airtel was established. BSNL was… well, BSNL.
I chose Airtel for my family. Two postpaid connections. Broadband for work. DTH for my mom.
When Airtel launched their credit card with Axis Bank in 2023, I was skeptical. Another co-branded card? Really?
But here’s what surprised me. This card actually works for Indian families.
Bottom Line Up Front: Perfect for Airtel users wanting cashback on bills. Limited if you want broader rewards or travel benefits.
Card Overview: The Bill Payment Champion 📋
The Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card targets one specific audience. Airtel customers who pay bills regularly.
Target Audience:
- Airtel mobile/broadband users
- Heavy utility bill payers
- Food delivery enthusiasts (Swiggy/Zomato)
- Grocery shoppers (BigBasket)
- Budget conscious families
Card Networks: Visa and RuPay (both available)
Fee Structure: The Affordable Entry 💰
Annual Fee: ₹500 + GST
Welcome Benefit: ₹500 Amazon voucher on first transaction
Fee Waiver: On ₹2,00,000 annual spend
Effective First Year Cost: Almost zero
The Math: Your ₹500 fee gets recovered immediately via Amazon voucher. Fair deal.
Cashback Structure: The Bill Focused Rewards 🏆
Primary Categories:
- 25% cashback on Airtel bills (Mobile, Broadband, DTH) via Airtel Thanks app
- 10% cashback on utility bills (Gas, Electricity) via Airtel Thanks app
- 10% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, BigBasket
- 1% cashback on all other spends
Monthly Caps (The Reality Check):
- Airtel bills: ₹250 cashback (₹1,000 spend)
- Utility bills: ₹250 cashback (₹2,500 spend)
- Partner merchants: ₹500 cashback (₹5,000 spend)
Important Restriction:
All Airtel and utility cashback ONLY via Airtel Thanks app. No other payment method works.
Comprehensive Comparison: Co-branded Reality Check 📊
| Feature | Airtel Axis | Amazon Pay ICICI | SBI Cashback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | ₹500 (Waivable at ₹2L) | ₹0 (Lifetime Free) | ₹999 (Waivable at ₹2L) |
| Telecom Bills | 25% (₹250 cap) | 1% | 5% (online) |
| Utility Bills | 10% (₹250 cap) | 2% (Amazon Pay partners) | 5% (online) |
| Food Delivery | 10% (₹500 cap) | 2% (Amazon Pay partners) | 5% (online) |
| Grocery | 10% BigBasket (₹500 cap) | 1% | 5% (online) |
| Other Spends | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% (₹500 cap) | None | 1% (₹5,000 cap) |
| Lounge Access | 4 domestic/year | None | None |
| Welcome Benefit | ₹500 Amazon voucher | None | None |
| Interest Rate | 3.75% per month | 3.5-3.8% per month | 3.35% per month |
Real World Usage: My Family’s Airtel Journey 🏠
Month 1-6: The Discovery Phase
When we first got this card, my wife was excited about the 25% cashback on Airtel bills. We have two postpaid connections plus broadband.
Our monthly Airtel spending:
- Mobile bills: ₹800 (25% = ₹200 cashback)
- Broadband: ₹600 (25% = ₹150 cashback)
- Total Airtel cashback: ₹250 (capped)
Month 7-12: The Cap Reality
By month seven, we realized the caps were limiting. Our actual Airtel spending was ₹1,400 monthly. But cashback was capped at ₹250.
My US-born son asked, “Dad, why do they give high percentage but low limits?”
Smart kid. That’s Indian credit cards for you.
Annual calculation:
- Airtel bills: ₹250 × 12 = ₹3,000
- Utility bills: ₹200 × 12 = ₹2,400
- Food delivery: ₹300 × 12 = ₹3,600
- Other spends: ₹100 × 12 = ₹1,200
- Total annual cashback: ₹10,200
- Annual fee: ₹500
- Net benefit: ₹9,700
Travel Benefits: The Basic Perks ✈️
Airport Lounge Access:
- 4 domestic visits per year
- Spending requirement: ₹50,000 in previous quarter
- Limited cities: Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune
My experience: Used twice in 2024. Decent lounges. Nothing spectacular.
Other Benefits:
- Dining discounts: 15% at 4,000+ restaurants (min ₹2,500 spend)
- Fuel surcharge waiver: 1% up to ₹500 monthly
The Good, Bad, and Ugly ⚖️
The Good ✅
- Excellent Airtel cashback: 25% is genuinely high
- Utility bill rewards: 10% beats most cards
- Food delivery benefits: Covers Swiggy, Zomato, BigBasket
- Low annual fee: ₹500 is very reasonable
- Easy application: Via Airtel Thanks app
- Quick approval: 7-10 days delivery
The Bad ❌
- App dependency: Must use Airtel Thanks for main benefits
- Low caps everywhere: ₹250-500 monthly limits hurt
- No international benefits: Zero forex advantages
- Limited lounge access: Only 4 visits, spending based
The Ugly 🚫
- Platform restriction: No cashback on other payment apps
- High interest rates: 3.75% monthly if you carry balance
- Multiple exclusions: Fuel, EMI, rent, insurance, education
- Quarterly spending requirement: For lounge access
Who Should Get This Card? 🤔
Perfect For:
- Heavy Airtel users with multiple connections
- Regular utility bill payers comfortable with Airtel Thanks app
- Food delivery enthusiasts ordering from Swiggy/Zomato frequently
- Budget conscious families wanting cashback on essentials
- People avoiding annual fees (easily recoverable)
Not Suitable For:
- Multi-platform users preferring Google Pay/PayTM for bills
- High spenders who’ll hit caps quickly
- Travel enthusiasts wanting premium lounge access
- Non-Airtel customers (obviously)
- International spenders (no forex benefits)
NRI Perspective: The Digital India Reality 🇮🇳
Why This Matters for Returning NRIs:
When I moved back in 2017, bill payments were chaos. Multiple apps. Different platforms. No consolidated view.
Airtel Thanks changed that for us. One app for telecom, utilities, recharges. The credit card made it rewarding.
For NRI Families: Pros:
- Simplified bill management: One app for most utilities
- Digital payment adoption: Helps transition from US payment habits
- Cashback on essentials: Reduces monthly expenses
- Easy application process: No branch visits needed
Cons:
- Platform lock-in: Must use Airtel ecosystem
- Limited travel benefits: Unlike premium US cards
- Low caps: Restrict heavy spenders
- No international perks: Zero global usage benefits
My recommendation: Get it if you’re an Airtel customer. The bill payment benefits alone justify the fee.
Personal Anecdote: The Electricity Bill Surprise ⚡
Last summer, Bangalore had power cuts. Our electricity bill was ₹4,500 for AC usage.
I paid via Airtel Thanks using this card. Got ₹250 cashback (10% capped).
My mom, visiting from Mysore, asked, “Beta, you get money back for paying bills?”
She couldn’t believe it. In her generation, you paid bills and got nothing back.
That’s when I realized the real value. It’s not just cashback. It’s making essential payments rewarding.
Lesson learned: Sometimes the best credit card benefits are the ones that reward your necessary expenses.
Application Process: The Airtel Thanks Experience 📱
Eligibility Requirements:
- Age: 18-70 years
- Indian resident
- Stable income (no specific limit mentioned)
- CIBIL score: 650+
How to Apply:
- Download Airtel Thanks app
- Go to Shop section
- Select Financial Services
- Apply for credit card
- Complete KYC process
- Get card in 7-10 days
Documents Required:
- PAN Card
- Aadhaar Card
- Income proof (salary slips/ITR)
- Bank statements
- Address proof
My experience: Applied via app. Approved in 2 days. Card delivered in 8 days. Smooth process.
Fee Waiver Strategy: The ₹2 Lakh Target 💡
To waive the ₹500 annual fee:
- Required spend: ₹2,00,000 annually
- Monthly target: ₹16,667
Strategic approach:
- Use for all Airtel bills (guaranteed spending)
- Pay utilities via Airtel Thanks (10% cashback)
- Food delivery through card (10% cashback)
- Regular shopping (1% cashback)
Expected monthly breakdown:
- Airtel bills: ₹1,500
- Utilities: ₹3,000
- Food delivery: ₹2,000
- Other spends: ₹10,000
- Total: ₹16,500
Result: Fee waived + ₹10,000+ annual cashback
Recent Changes: December 2024 Updates 📅
Axis Bank made several changes effective December 20, 2024:
Interest Rate Increase:
- New rate: 3.75% per month (up from 3.6%)
- Annual rate: 55.55% (up from 52.86%)
Fee Changes:
- Cash payment at branch: ₹175 (up from ₹100)
- Additional MAD fee: ₹100 if minimum payment missed for 2 consecutive cycles
Third-party Payment Restrictions:
- 1% fee on education payments via CRED, PayTM, etc.
- No impact on direct institutional payments
Alternative Cards to Consider 🔄
| If You Want | Consider Instead |
|---|---|
| Higher utility cashback | SBI Cashback Card |
| Amazon ecosystem benefits | Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Card |
| Travel benefits | HDFC Regalia, Axis Atlas |
| No annual fee | Amazon Pay ICICI (lifetime free) |
| Higher spending limits | Axis ACE Card |
Financial Impact Analysis: Real Numbers 💰
Scenario 1: Heavy Airtel User Family
Monthly Airtel ecosystem usage: ₹8,000
Annual calculation:
- Airtel bills: ₹18,000 → ₹3,000 cashback (capped)
- Utilities: ₹36,000 → ₹3,000 cashback (capped)
- Food delivery: ₹24,000 → ₹6,000 cashback (capped)
- Other spends: ₹60,000 → ₹600 cashback
- Total cashback: ₹12,600
- Annual fee: ₹500
- Net benefit: ₹12,100
Verdict: Excellent value for heavy users.
Scenario 2: Light Airtel User
Monthly Airtel ecosystem usage: ₹3,000
Annual calculation:
- Airtel bills: ₹6,000 → ₹1,500 cashback
- Utilities: ₹12,000 → ₹1,200 cashback
- Food delivery: ₹12,000 → ₹1,200 cashback
- Other spends: ₹40,000 → ₹400 cashback
- Total cashback: ₹4,300
- Annual fee: ₹500
- Net benefit: ₹3,800
Verdict: Still positive but consider alternatives.
Final Verdict: The Bill Payment Hero 🎯
Rating: 8/10
This card excels at what it promises. Bill payment rewards. Food delivery cashback. Simple, focused benefits.
My recommendation:
- Get it if you’re an active Airtel customer
- Get it if you pay high utility bills monthly
- Get it if you order food delivery regularly
- Skip it if you want travel benefits or premium perks
- Skip it if you’re not comfortable with Airtel Thanks app
Best Use Case Scenario:
Airtel postpaid/broadband customer, family of 4, monthly utility bills ₹3,000+, regular Swiggy/Zomato orders, comfortable with digital payments.
Expected annual benefit: ₹8,000-12,000 in cashback for ₹500 fee.
The Bigger Picture: Co-branded Evolution 📈
The Airtel Axis card represents India’s move toward ecosystem-based rewards. Unlike American cards with broad benefits, Indian cards are getting more specialized.
What this means:
- Platform dependency: Cards tied to specific apps/services
- Focused benefits: High rewards in narrow categories
- Digital integration: Apps become central to rewards
- Competition intensity: Each ecosystem wants loyalty
For consumers: Choose your ecosystem carefully. You’ll be using it a lot.
Quick Action Items ✅
If you decide to get this card:
- Download Airtel Thanks app before applying
- Set up all bill payments through the app
- Link UPI for easy transactions
- Track monthly caps to maximize benefits
- Set autopay to avoid high interest charges
If you’re evaluating alternatives:
- Calculate your Airtel ecosystem spending vs caps
- Compare with SBI Cashback Card for utility benefits
- Consider Amazon Pay ICICI if you use Amazon Pay
- Factor in app convenience vs reward rates
Sources & References 📚
Data Sources:
- Airtel Official Credit Card Page
- Axis Bank Fees & Charges
- Paisabazaar Airtel Axis Analysis
- Card Maven Review
- CardInsider Features Analysis
Additional Resources:
- BankBazaar Card Features
- Groww Card Information
- Select Finology Review
- Airtel Interest Rates Guide
- Axis Bank Changes Analysis
Last Updated: July 2025
Next Review: January 2026
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For more insights on optimizing your financial life after moving back to India, visit BackToIndia.com
Disclaimer: This review is based on personal experience and publicly available information as of July 2025. Credit card features and benefits may change. Always verify current terms with Airtel and Axis Bank before applying. The author’s opinions are personal and based on his experience as someone who moved back from USA to India in 2017.