Credit card enthusiasts may already be familiar with two super-premium and rewarding credit cards: the Axis Bank Reserve and the AMEX Platinum Charge Card. For those who are unaware of these cards or for those looking for a detailed comparison, this article will be helpful. We shall have a look at the benefits and drawbacks of these cards and compare them to each other.
Both of these cards are top offerings from their issuers. Most suited for high-end individuals, these credit cards are known to offer the best benefits, from unlimited lounge access to a great reward structure. Yet it’s best to check all the features of the card before applying for one.
Compare Top Features
As both the cards are super-premium credit cards, apart from a pretty reward rate, you also get a plethora of additional benefits and perks, such as complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access, comprehensive insurance cover, complimentary hotel gift vouchers, and many more. In this article, we will give a point-wise comparison between the AmEx Platinum Credit Card and the Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card.
| Features | Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card | AmEx Platinum Charge Card |
| Annual Fee | ₹50,000 + GST | ₹66,000 + GST |
| Welcome Benefits | 50,000 Edge Reward Points | Vouchers Worth ₹60,000 of Taj Hotels, Luxe Gift Card, and The Postcard Hotels & Resorts |
| Foreign Currency Markup | 1.5% | 3.5% |
| Spend-Based Renewal Fee Waiver | On Spending ₹35 Lakh in the Previous Year | N/A |
| Complimentary Memberships | Club ITC Culinaire MembershipAccorplus MembershipClub Marriott Asia Pacific Membership | Complimentary Ace by Times Prime MembershipI Prefer Hotel Rewards (Titanium Tier)The Postcard Hotel Sunshine Club (Platinum Tier)Accor Plus TravellerHilton Honors Gold StatusRadisson Rewards Premium StatusHertz Gold Plus RewardsMarriott Bonvoy Gold Elite StatusTaj Reimagined Epicure |
| Earning Rewards | 15 Edge Reward per ₹200 Spent.2x Edge Reward Points on International Spends | 1 MRPs per ₹40 Spent5XMRPs on Fuel5X MRPs on Purchases Made via Reward Multiplier Platform3X MRPs on International Spends |
| Airport Lounge Access | Unlimited Complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge AccessUnlimited Airport Lounge Access at Select International Airports via Priority Pass | Unlimited Free Domestic Airport Lounge AccessAccess to Over 1,400 Airport Lounges Globally |
American Express Platinum Credit Card
The American Express Platinum Charge Credit Card is one of the super-premium credit cards, which comes with an annual fee of ₹60,000 + GST. This card is among the top credit cards with some of the highest membership fees in the market. The AmEx Platinum Card is a charge card, meaning it does not have a predetermined credit limit. The credit limit for the card varies based on customers’ spending behavior. The key features of the American Express Platinum Credit Card include the following:
Joining Benefits
Get gift vouchers worth ₹45,000 from Taj Hotels, Luxe Gift Card, and The Postcard Hotels & Resorts worth ₹60,000 if you spend ₹50,000 in the first two months of card issuance.
Rewards Rate
The card will earn you 1 Membership Rewards Point on every ₹40 spent, except on fuel, insurance, and fuel transactions. You earn up to 5 Membership Rewards Points on every ₹100 spent on fuel. You earn 3X Membership Rewards Points on all spends abroad and 5X Membership Rewards Points via Reward Multiplier.
Airport Lounge Access, Golf and Global Concierge Services
The card also entitles you to unlimited domestic and international lounge access, featuring more than 1,200 airport lounges, including some of the most renowned names such as Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Lounges, Escape Lounges, Delta Sky Club Lounges, and American Express Lounges. You also receive a 24/7 global concierge service with the American Express Platinum Card for assistance with any hotel or flight booking. The card also entitles you to complimentary access to over 30 golf courses in India and more than 50 golf courses worldwide each year.
Dining Discounts
You also get a discount of up to 50% with more than 1,800 premium restaurants in the country, along with a complimentary membership of the EazyDiner Prime.
Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card
Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card offers a decent reward rate of 1.5% on domestic spends, whereas international spends have an accelerated reward rate of 2x. As a super-premium credit card, it comes with a hefty annual membership fee of ₹50,000. It offers a range of add-on benefits, including complimentary airport lounge access, exclusive offers at premium hotels and restaurants, buy-one-get-one (BOGO) offers on movie tickets, and more. Some of the salient features of Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card are mentioned below –
Rewards Rate
50,000 Edge Reward Points are a welcome benefit upon card activation, and card membership is renewed annually. 15 Edge Reward Points per ₹200 spent on domestic transactions and 2x reward rate on international transactions.
Airport Lounge Access, Golf and Global Concierge Services
Unlimited domestic airport lounge access and 12 international airport lounges every year with Priority Pass membership. You receive VIP assistance at airports eight times a year, including support with processes such as immigration, security checks, and porter services. You also get 8 luxury pick-ups and drop-offs at airports 8 times a year. You also get 50 complimentary rounds of golf every year with your Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card at some of the most premium golf destinations across the country.
Other Complimentary Memberships and Discounts
- The card also entitles you to a complimentary Club ITC Culinaire Membership, which provides benefits such as a complimentary third-night stay (2+1 night stay), discounted rates on room tariffs and suites, and many more.
- You also receive a complimentary Accorplus membership, which offers benefits such as a complimentary room upgrade, a complimentary night’s stay, a complimentary buffet, and 50% off dining across Accor hotels in India.
- The card entitles you to multiple attractive benefits at Oberoi hotels, including discounted room tariffs, complimentary third-night stays (2+1 night stay), and 50% off the best available rates on suites, among others.
- You also receive multiple benefits at Postcard hotels, including a 15% discount on the best available room rates, an anytime check-in and check-out facility, and a complimentary lifestyle consultation (available only at Postcard hotels in Goa).
- Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card also entitles you to a Buy One Get One (BOGO) offer on BookMyShow tickets, with a maximum benefit of ₹500 on movie tickets and ₹1,000 on non-movie tickets.
- You also get a discount of up to 25% on dining bills at partner restaurants with a complimentary Eazydiner membership and a discount of up to 20% at over 4,000 partner restaurants with the Axis Bank Dining Delights program.
Insurance Cover
Axis Bank Reserve credit cardholders also get comprehensive insurance coverage, including air accident cover worth ₹4.5 crores, purchase protection cover worth ₹2 lacs, cover against loss/delay of baggage/personal documents worth USD 500, credit shield cover worth ₹5 lacs, and lost card cover up to the credit limit of the card.
Conclusion
After considering both the Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card and the American Express Platinum Charge Card, it’s clear that both cards have their own benefits and privileges. Your decision on which one to choose should be based on your individual preferences, spending habits, and lifestyle. It’s crucial to select the card that best suits your needs.
As you can see from the comparison above, both the American Express Platinum Credit Card and the Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card offer top-tier travel benefits, including complimentary airport lounge access, discounted rates at premium hotels and restaurants, and airport assistance services, among others. The annual fee for the Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card is ₹50,000, while the cost for the AmEx Platinum Card is ₹60,000.
When it comes to travel benefits, the American Express Platinum Credit Card provides discounts and perks at Taj hotels. At the same time, the Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card offers advantages at ITC hotels. Furthermore, the AmEx Platinum Credit Card provides unlimited access to domestic and international airport lounges. In contrast, the Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card provides unlimited domestic lounge access and 12 international lounge visits per year. Overall, both cards are equal in terms of reward rates, features, benefits, and even annual fees.
Read Also- Best American Express Credit Cards in India