M16S / State Bank of India (SBI Card) / Air India SBI Signature Card
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Air India SBI Signature Card
The Air India SBI Signature Card costs Rs 4,999 a year. It earns 4 RP per Rs 100 spent. The forex markup is 3.5%. Lounge visits in India: 8 per year, max 2 per quarter (Visa lounge access programme). Read from the issuer's own documents on 12 Oct 2026.
- Annual fee
- Rs 4,999+ GST
- Fee waived at
- —
- Base return
- —
- Forex markup
- 3.5%
- Interest
- 3.75%a month
What changed on this card
- Air India and SBI Card to launch Visa co-brand credit card, Oct 2026
Air India and SBI Card announced a new Visa co-brand credit card for Maharaja Club members on 28 October 2026. Fees, earn rates and the launch date are not yet published.
- SBI Card to add 1% fee on transport above Rs 30,000, Dec 2026
From 1 Dec 2026 SBI Card charges 1% of the transaction amount on every transportation transaction above Rs 30,000 (MCCs 4111, 4784, 4131). Source: SBI Card, sbicard.com, read 28 Oct 2026
- SBI Card to add 1% fuel fee above Rs 50,000 a cycle, Dec 2026
From 1 Dec 2026, if fuel transactions in a billing cycle exceed Rs 50,000, SBI Card charges 1% on the total fuel spends. Source: SBI Card, sbicard.com, read 28 Oct 2026
- SBI Card limits statement credit to multiples of 4,000 points, Apr 2026
From 1 Apr 2026 Reward Points for Statement Credit can be redeemed only in multiples of 4,000 Points, on all eligible cards except the two PhonePe cards. Source: SBI Card, sbicard.com, read 28 Oct 2026
- SBI Card revises late payment charges from May 2026
From 1 May 2026 no charge applies up to Rs 100 due (was up to Rs 500). Rs 100 applies above Rs 100 up to Rs 500, and Rs 500 above Rs 500 up to Rs 1,000 (was Rs 400). Higher slabs are unchanged. Source: SBI Card, sbicard.com, read 28 Oct 2026
- SBI Card adds 1% fee on wallet loads above Rs 1,000, Nov 2025
From 1 Nov 2025 SBI Card charges 1% of the transaction amount on every wallet load transaction above Rs 1,000. Source: SBI Card, sbicard.com, read 28 Oct 2026
- SBI Card adds 1% fee on education payments via apps, Nov 2025
From 1 Nov 2025 a 1% fee applies to education payments made through third-party apps. Payments made directly to colleges or schools through their websites or POS machines carry no fee. Source: SBI Card, sbicard.com, read 28 Oct 2026
- SBI Card adds Rs 200 cheque processing fee from Sep 2025
From 15 Sep 2025 a Cheque Processing Fee of Rs 200 applies to outstanding payments made by cheque. Payments by UPI, BBPS and NEFT stay free of extra charges. Source: SBI Card, sbicard.com, read 28 Oct 2026
- Air India SBI Signature cuts Air India ticket earn to 10 points, Mar 2025
From 31 Mar 2025 the accelerated earn on Air India tickets bought by the primary cardholder on the Air India website or app falls from 30 to 10 Reward Points per Rs 100. Source: SBI Card, sbicard.com, read 28 Oct 2026
- SBI Card adds 1% fee on utility payments above Rs 50,000, Dec 2024
From 1 Dec 2024, if utility payments in a billing cycle add up to more than Rs 50,000, SBI Card charges a 1% fee on the total utility amount. Source: SBI Card, sbicard.com, read 28 Oct 2026
- SBI Card raises finance charge to 3.75% a month from Nov 2024
From 1 Nov 2024 the rate of Finance Charges is 3.75% p.m. on all unsecured SBI credit cards, except Shaurya and Defense cards. Source: SBI Card, sbicard.com, read 28 Oct 2026
- Air India SBI Signature card closed to new customers, Oct 2024
SBI Card stopped issuing the Air India SBI Signature Credit Card from 10 Oct 2024. Source: SBI Card, sbicard.com, read 28 Oct 2026
- SBI Card stops reward points on government payments for co-brand cards, Jul 2024
From 15 Jul 2024 Reward Points do not accrue on government related transactions on the listed co-brand cards. Source: SBI Card, sbicard.com, read 28 Oct 2026
- SBI Card stops reward points on rent payments for co-brand cards, Apr 2024
From 15 Apr 2024 Reward Points do not accrue on rent payments on the listed co-brand cards. Source: SBI Card, sbicard.com, read 28 Oct 2026
Each change is read from the bank's own notice or terms document, linked above. Every card's changes are on the change log.
Fees
| Joining fee | Rs 4,999 |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | Rs 4,999 |
| Fee notes | Annual fee Rs 4,999 + taxes; renewal fee Rs 4,999 from second year (product page). No spend-based waiver on the page or in the MITC. |
Rewards
| Welcome benefit | 20,000 RP on payment of joining fee, credited within 15 days of fee posting; complimentary Air India Maharaja Club membership |
|---|---|
| Reward currency | Reward Points convertible to Air India Maharaja Points |
| Base earn | 4 RP per Rs 100 spent |
| Point value | 1 RP = 1 Air India Maharaja Point; rupee value not stated |
| Accelerated earn | 10 RP per Rs 100 on Air India tickets booked via website, app, booking offices or call centres (cut from 30 on 31 Mar 2025, issuer notice); credited within 60 days |
| Caps | Milestone bonuses up to 1,00,000 RP a year |
| Points expiry | 24 months |
| Milestone benefits | Anniversary gift of 5,000 RP every year; 20,000 bonus RP at Rs 5 lakh, 30,000 at Rs 10 lakh, 50,000 at Rs 20 lakh annual spend (year counted from account creation date) |
| Reward notes | base_return_pct left null: points convert 1:1 to Air India Maharaja Points and the issuer states no rupee value. Exempt from the 60,000-point monthly statement-credit cap (issuer notice). |
Transfers
| Partners | Air India Maharaja Club |
|---|---|
| Ratio | 1 RP : 1 Maharaja Point; minimum 5,000 points, in multiples of 5,000; converted within 7 working days; not reversible |
Travel and perks
| Domestic lounge | 8 per year, max 2 per quarter (Visa lounge access programme) |
|---|---|
| International lounge | No complimentary visits; Priority Pass membership worth USD 99 with USD 27 charged per lounge visit |
| Forex markup | 3.5% |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% on fuel txns Rs 500-4,000, cap Rs 250 per statement cycle |
| Other freebies | Priority Pass membership worth USD 99; Rs 1 lakh lost-card liability cover (48 hours before to 7 days after reporting) |
Charges and eligibility
| Interest per month | 3.75% |
|---|---|
| Late payment fee | On outstanding amount due: Nil up to Rs 100; Rs 100 (>100-500); Rs 500 (>500-1,000); Rs 750 (>1,000-10,000); Rs 950 (>10,000-25,000); Rs 1,100 (>25,000-50,000); Rs 1,300 (>50,000); plus Rs 100 if minimum due missed two cycles running (slabs as revised 1 May 2026) |
| Cash advance fee | 2.5% of amount, min Rs 500; ATM limit Rs 15,000/day; interest from day one |
| Fine-print notes | Issuance discontinued from 10 Oct 2024 (issuer notice); the product page is still up and does not mention closure. Existing cards still serviced. Benefit fields now read from that page (rendered 2026-10-12). Network from the page's 'over 2 million Visa outlets / Visa ATMs' text. Redeeming Maharaja Points needs at least 1 flight accrual activity for self and 5 for family or friends. Page vs earlier value (page used): point_value said minimum 10,000 points to convert (Card Insider); page says minimum 5,000 points, in multiples of 5,000; old fuel waiver had no cap; page caps it at Rs 250 per statement cycle; old welcome text marked the 20,000 points as historical; the page still lists it. Issuer-wide (MITC): rent payments carry Rs 199 fee; utility bills totalling over Rs 50,000 in a cycle carry 1% fee; wallet loads over Rs 1,000 carry 1% fee; education payments via third-party apps carry 1% fee; forex markup is not reversed on refunds; fees shown exclude 18% GST. |
Questions
- What is the annual fee of the Air India SBI Signature Card?
- Rs 4,999 a year, before GST.
- Does the Air India SBI Signature Card give airport lounge access?
- Yes. In India: 8 per year, max 2 per quarter (Visa lounge access programme). Outside India: none listed.
- What is the forex markup on the Air India SBI Signature Card?
- 3.5% of each foreign-currency transaction, before GST.