Overview
The SBI MILES Credit Card is a relatively new entrant in the Indian credit card market, launched in April 2024 by SBI Card. It is India’s first travel-neutral credit card, allowing cardholders to earn Travel Credits (TCs) which can be converted into a wide range of airline miles or hotel loyalty points. Unlike many co-branded cards that restrict users to a single airline or hotel chain, the MILES card offers unmatched flexibility.
The card family includes three versions:
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SBI MILES (Basic)
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SBI MILES PRIME (Mid-tier)
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SBI MILES ELITE (Premium)
Each variant is designed to suit different levels of spending and travel requirements.
SBI MILES (Basic Card)
Key Charges and Welcome Benefits
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Annual Fee: ₹1,499 + GST (effective total: ₹1,769)
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Welcome Offer: 1,500 Travel Credits after spending ₹30,000 within the first 60 days
Earning Rewards
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Travel-related purchases: 2 Travel Credits per ₹200 spent
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Other spends: 1 Travel Credit per ₹200
Redemption Options
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Travel Credits can be:
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Converted to airline miles or hotel points at 1:1 ratio (best value)
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Used on SBI’s booking portal at ₹0.50 per TC
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Redeemed for merchandise at ₹0.25 per TC
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Additional Benefits
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4 domestic airport lounge visits per year
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Earn up to 8 more lounge visits by spending ₹1 lakh per visit
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Priority Pass membership (free but no complimentary international visits)
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Fuel surcharge waiver: 1% on spends ₹500–₹4,000 (up to ₹250/month)
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Foreign currency markup: 3% + GST
Milestone Rewards
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5,000 bonus Travel Credits on ₹5 lakh annual spend
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Annual fee reversal on spending ₹6 lakh annually
SBI MILES PRIME
Fees and Welcome Gift
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Annual Fee: ₹2,999 + GST (total: ₹3,536)
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Welcome Bonus: 3,000 Travel Credits after ₹60,000 spend in 60 days
Reward Points Accrual
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Travel spend: 4 TC per ₹200
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All other spend: 2 TC per ₹200
Travel Perks
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8 complimentary domestic lounge visits
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4 international lounge visits annually through Priority Pass
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Priority Pass membership free for the first 2 years
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Lower forex markup: 2.5%
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Fuel waiver: Same as base card
Milestone Rewards
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10,000 bonus TCs after spending ₹8 lakh in a year
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Annual fee waiver at ₹10 lakh annual spend
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Earn up to 12 additional domestic lounge visits (1 for every ₹1 lakh)
SBI MILES ELITE
Annual Fee and Welcome Bonus
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Fee: ₹4,999 + GST (≈₹5,899)
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Welcome Credits: 5,000 TCs after spending ₹1 lakh within 60 days
Reward Rates
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Travel spends: 6 TCs per ₹200 (3% reward rate if redeemed at 1:1)
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Other spends: 2 TCs per ₹200
Premium Travel Benefits
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8 domestic + 6 international lounge visits annually
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Travel insurance coverage (flight delay, lost baggage, passport replacement)
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Priority Pass free for 2 years
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Lower forex markup: 1.99%
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Fuel surcharge waiver continues
High Spending Rewards
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20,000 bonus TCs for ₹12 lakh spend annually
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Annual fee waived at ₹15 lakh spend
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15 extra domestic lounge visits available (1 per ₹1 lakh)
Travel Credit Redemption Options
The Travel Credits earned through these cards can be transferred to:
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Major airlines: Air India, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, United, etc.
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Top hotel chains: IHG, Accor, ITC, Shangri-La, and others
Most transfer ratios are 1:1, meaning 1 TC = 1 mile/point. However, for some partners like Shangri-La, the conversion is lower (e.g., 6:1).
Redemption Values
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Airline/hotel transfer: Best value (₹1 per TC)
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Travel portal: ₹0.50 per TC
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Catalogue/merchandise: ₹0.25 per TC
To maximize returns, redeem via transfer partners.
Recent Change: Insurance Coverage Removed
As of July 15, 2025, SBI Cards has withdrawn the ₹1 crore complimentary Air Accident Insurance that was previously available on the PRIME and ELITE versions. This is a significant change, especially for frequent travelers who relied on this benefit.
Customer and Expert Reviews
What Experts Say
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CardInsider and CardMaven rate the PRIME version highly for moderate users
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Financial Express calls the ELITE card strong on travel perks but notes that Axis Atlas or HDFC Infinia offer better value for high spenders
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Paisabazaar gives the card a 3/5, appreciating its flexibility but critiquing its low earn rates on non-travel spends
User Feedback
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Reddit and personal finance forums note that the base card has poor value unless you redeem for miles
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PRIME variant gets praise as a cost-effective travel card with solid lounge access
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ELITE is seen as premium, but not the best in its segment when compared with competition like Axis Magnus
Who Should Consider SBI MILES Cards?
Ideal For:
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Travelers who fly multiple airlines and stay across hotel chains
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Users who can meet spend milestones (₹5–15 lakh/year)
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Cardholders who prefer transferable points over cashback
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People looking for domestic and international lounge access
Not Recommended For:
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Low spenders (<₹3 lakh/year)
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Cashback-focused users
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Those looking for high returns on general category spends
Pros and Cons at a Glance
| Feature | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Reward System | Travel-neutral and flexible | Low earn rate on regular spend |
| Lounge Access | Available even on the basic card | Limited international access in base variant |
| Redemption Flexibility | 20+ airline and hotel partners | Poor value on SBI travel portal |
| Milestone Bonuses | High-value TCs for big spenders | High spend thresholds required |
| Forex Markup | Reduced to 1.99% on ELITE | Still above best-in-market cards |
| Insurance | Travel coverage on ELITE (now discontinued) | No longer available post-July 2025 |
Comparison Table
| Feature | SBI MILES | SBI MILES PRIME | SBI MILES ELITE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee (with GST) | ₹1,769 | ₹3,536 | ₹5,899 |
| Welcome Bonus | 1,500 TC | 3,000 TC | 5,000 TC |
| Travel Reward Rate | 2/₹200 | 4/₹200 | 6/₹200 |
| Other Spend Rate | 1/₹200 | 2/₹200 | 2/₹200 |
| Lounge Access (Domestic) | 4/year | 8/year | 8/year |
| Lounge Access (Intl.) | None | 4/year | 6/year |
| Priority Pass | Yes (no intl.) | Yes (2-year validity) | Yes (2-year validity) |
| Forex Markup | 3% | 2.5% | 1.99% |
| Milestone Bonus | 5,000 TC @ ₹5L | 10,000 TC @ ₹8L | 20,000 TC @ ₹12L |
| Annual Fee Waiver | ₹6L spend | ₹10L spend | ₹15L spend |
Final Verdict
The SBI MILES Credit Card series offers good flexibility with a focus on travel benefits, especially for users who frequently fly different airlines or stay across hotel brands. While the Travel Credit system is innovative, the card delivers maximum value only if redemptions are made via transfer partners.
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Choose MILES PRIME if your annual spending is around ₹8–10 lakh and you want solid travel benefits.
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Go for ELITE if you spend ₹12–15 lakh annually and want lounge access + rewards.
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