The SBI Miles Credit Card is for people who would rather earn flights and hotel stays than cashback. Every spend earns Travel Credits, and each credit is worth ₹1 when converted into airline or hotel points. Travel spends earn double. The card costs ₹1,499 + GST, and a 1,500-credit welcome bonus roughly pays that back.
How the rewards work
| What you do | What you earn | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Travel spends | 2 Travel Credits per ₹200 | ~1% |
| All other spends | 1 Travel Credit per ₹200 | ~0.5% |
| Welcome bonus | 1,500 credits on ₹30,000 spend in 60 days | ~₹1,500 |
| Annual milestone | 5,000 bonus credits on ₹5 lakh spend | ~₹5,000 |
To get full value: convert Travel Credits into airline or hotel partner points at ₹1 per credit. That is where the card’s value lies.
What you would actually earn
Take someone who spends ₹6 lakh a year on travel and ₹6 lakh on everything else. They earn about ₹6,000 + ₹3,000 = ₹9,000 in Travel Credits, plus the 5,000-credit milestone, so around ₹14,000 a year. That ₹12 lakh of spending also waives the renewal fee and adds 12 extra domestic lounge visits on top of the base 4.
At a more typical ₹3 lakh a year, the earn drops to around ₹2,000 in credits and you would pay the ₹1,499 renewal fee, so the card only shines for higher spenders.
Lounge access
- Domestic lounges: 4 complimentary visits a year, up to 2 per quarter.
- Bonus visits: 1 extra domestic visit for every ₹1 lakh of annual spend.
- Priority Pass: free membership for the first 2 years, giving access to 1,000+ lounges worldwide, though each visit is chargeable.
Tips to get the most from Miles
- Hit ₹30,000 of spending in the first 60 days to collect the 1,500 welcome credits.
- Put flights, hotels and other travel bookings on the card to earn the double rate.
- Convert credits into a single airline or hotel programme you actually use, rather than spreading them thin.
- If you are close to ₹5 lakh a year, consolidate spending on this card to unlock the 5,000-credit milestone.
Fees and charges
| Annual fee | ₹1,499 + GST (covered by welcome credits) |
|---|---|
| Renewal fee | ₹1,499 + GST from the second year |
| Renewal fee waiver | Spend ₹6,00,000 or more in the previous year |
Eligibility
| Age | 21 to 65 years |
|---|---|
| Employment | Salaried or self-employed |
| Minimum income | ₹60,000 a month (salaried) |
| Income (self-employed) | ₹7,20,000 a year |
| Credit score | 750+ with no delayed payments in the last 12 months |
| First credit card? | Not allowed |
Documents you will need
- Identity: PAN card (or Form 60)
- Address: Aadhaar, passport or a recent utility bill
- Income: latest salary slips or bank statements
- Photo: a recent passport-size photograph
How to apply
- Tap Apply on SBI Card site on this page to open SBI Card’s secure application.
- Fill in the form in the same session with your Aadhaar-linked mobile number, keeping your PAN handy.
- Complete e-KYC or video KYC from your current address when asked.
- Once your card arrives, activate it with a first transaction within 30 days, and plan ₹30,000 of spend in the first 60 days for the welcome credits.
Who should get it, and who shouldn’t
Get it if you spend ₹50,000 or more a month, fly and book hotels often, and are happy to convert points into airline or hotel loyalty programmes.
Skip it if you prefer simple cashback, or spend less than about ₹4 lakh a year. The 0.5% base rate is low, and a cashback card will give you more for everyday spending.
