The AU ixigo Credit Card is a travel-focused credit card created for people who book flights, hotels, buses, and train tickets regularly. It is designed to deliver value through travel discounts, reward points, lounge access, zero forex markup, and lifetime-free ownership in many offers. For travelers who want a card that is practical, affordable, and easy to use, this card has become a popular choice in the Indian market.
What makes this card stand out is its co-branded structure. It combines the travel ecosystem of ixigo with the banking support of AU Small Finance Bank, creating a card that is centered on travel savings rather than premium status alone. It is especially attractive to people who want to reduce everyday travel costs while still getting useful banking and lifestyle benefits.
The card works in a straightforward way. You use it for eligible purchases, earn reward points, get discounts on ixigo bookings, and enjoy added benefits such as domestic and international lounge access, fuel surcharge waiver, and zero foreign exchange markup on international spending. These features make it useful for both domestic and international travelers.
Understanding how the AU ixigo Credit Card works means looking at the welcome benefits, reward structure, travel booking discounts, lounge access rules, forex charges, fees, EMI conversion, and who it suits best. It is not just a travel card; it is a savings tool for people who book travel frequently and want a simple way to get more value from those expenses.
What Is the AU ixigo Credit Card?
The AU ixigo Credit Card is a co-branded travel credit card offered by AU Small Finance Bank in partnership with ixigo. It is positioned as a travel savings card with reward points, booking discounts, and practical add-on benefits for users who book through the ixigo platform.
The card has been marketed as a lifetime-free travel credit card in many offers, meaning there may be no joining fee and no annual fee. Public sources mention that it includes a welcome bonus, travel booking discounts, zero forex markup, lounge access, and other travel-related perks.
The card is especially appealing to travelers who want savings on flights, hotels, buses, and trains without paying a premium-card fee. It also has practical features such as reward points on offline and online spending, fuel surcharge waiver, add-on cards, and EMI conversion options.
In simple terms, this card is built for travel value and everyday usefulness rather than luxury status.
How It Works
The AU ixigo Credit Card works by rewarding spending and offering travel-related savings when the card is used in the right way. You apply for the card, complete the bank’s verification process, receive the card, and then use it for eligible purchases to earn rewards and unlock discounts.
For example, you may get direct discounts when booking flights, hotels, buses, or trains through ixigo. You may also earn reward points on travel and non-travel spending, which can later be redeemed based on the bank’s rules.
The card also works as a regular credit card for shopping, online payments, utility payments, dining, and international transactions. It is not limited to travel only, but travel is where the biggest value lies.
So the card functions as a hybrid of savings, rewards, and payment convenience.
Travel Booking Discounts
One of the strongest features of the AU ixigo Credit Card is the direct discount on travel bookings. Public sources indicate that users can get discounts on flights, hotels, buses, and train bookings when they book through ixigo.
These discounts are valuable because they reduce the upfront cost of travel rather than just giving points for later use. That makes the benefit easier to understand and immediately useful. For a frequent traveler, direct discounts can create noticeable savings over time.
The travel discounts are usually linked to the ixigo platform, which means the card works best when you book through that ecosystem. That is the trade-off for getting the best savings.
In practice, this means the card is most powerful when used as part of your regular travel planning and booking routine.
Flight Booking Benefits
Flight booking is one of the card’s headline features. Public sources mention discounts on flight bookings made through ixigo, with offers that can be especially attractive for domestic flyers.
These flight-related savings make the card useful for people who travel for work, family visits, or leisure. Even a modest percentage discount can become meaningful if you book flights several times a year.
Since flight booking is usually one of the most expensive travel categories, getting a card-linked discount can lower your travel budget in a direct and visible way.
For frequent flyers, this is one of the easiest ways to recover value from the card.
Hotel Booking Benefits
The card also offers discounts on hotel bookings through ixigo. Public information states that the card can provide hotel booking discounts, making it a useful companion for travelers who need both flights and accommodation.
Hotel savings matter because lodging often makes up a large part of travel expense. A good hotel discount can reduce the total cost of a trip significantly, especially for longer stays.
The fact that the card links hotel savings to ixigo means the experience is integrated. Users can search, book, and save in one place. That simplicity is important for people who want fast and practical travel benefits.
This makes the card more than just a payment tool; it becomes a booking incentive.
Bus Booking Benefits
Bus bookings are another area where the AU ixigo Credit Card provides value. Public sources mention discounts on bus bookings made through ixigo, which is useful for short-distance and intercity travel.
This feature is especially practical in India, where bus travel remains a major travel option for many people. A card that supports buses as well as flights and hotels becomes more versatile than a card focused only on premium travel.
Bus discounts may not sound as glamorous as business-class flight perks, but they are highly useful for everyday travelers who want to reduce their travel spending across multiple modes of transport.
That broad utility is one reason this card appeals to a wide audience.
Train Booking Benefits
Train booking benefits are a major part of the AU ixigo Credit Card. Public sources mention reward points on train bookings and even waiver of payment gateway charges on train tickets booked through ixigo.
This is particularly valuable because train travel is one of the most common and important modes of transport in India. A card that supports train savings is more practical for Indian users than many global travel cards.
The combination of reward points and fee waivers makes the card useful for regular rail travelers. Even small savings on repeated bookings can add up over time.
This train focus helps the card stand out from many other travel cards that focus only on flights and hotels.
Reward Points System
The reward points system is one of the card’s main value drivers. Public sources state that the card gives 20 reward points per Rs. 200 spent on train bookings through ixigo, 10 reward points per Rs. 200 on online purchases, and 5 reward points per Rs. 200 on offline purchases.
That structure rewards both travel behavior and everyday spending. If you use the card online or for travel-related purchases, you can accumulate points relatively quickly. The train booking category is especially rewarding, which aligns with the card’s travel focus.
Reward points are useful because they create ongoing value beyond the immediate travel discounts. They also encourage cardholders to use the card consistently rather than just for occasional bookings.
For users who book travel often, the point accumulation can become a meaningful part of the overall benefit package.
Welcome Bonus
The card offers a welcome bonus that includes 1,000 reward points and ixigo money vouchers worth Rs. 1,000 on the first successful transaction made within 30 days of card issue.
This welcome offer is useful because it gives new cardholders immediate value after activation. It also encourages early use of the card, which helps users get familiar with how it works.
The ixigo money vouchers and reward points together create a strong introductory package for new users. They help reduce the effective cost of early travel bookings.
For many applicants, the welcome bonus is one of the first signs that the card can deliver value quickly.
Lounge Access
The AU ixigo Credit Card includes airport and railway lounge benefits. Public sources mention 16 complimentary domestic airport and railway lounge visits annually, along with one international lounge access benefit.
This is a strong perk for a travel card in this segment because lounge access usually improves comfort during waiting periods. Travelers can use lounges for seating, refreshments, Wi-Fi, and a quieter environment.
Some sources note that domestic lounge access may depend on minimum spending in a calendar quarter. International lounge access may require a Priority Pass or similar arrangement.
These lounge benefits make the card more attractive for users who travel regularly and want a better airport experience.
How Lounge Access Works
To use lounge access, cardholders generally need to meet the bank’s usage criteria and present their eligible card at participating lounges. In some cases, domestic lounge access may be linked to a minimum quarterly spend requirement.
International lounge access may be available through Priority Pass issuance on request, and usage outside India can depend on lounge network rules.
The key thing to remember is that lounge benefits are part of the card’s overall travel package, but they still require the cardholder to understand the terms and conditions. That is normal for premium travel cards.
Once activated and used correctly, the lounge benefit can add a lot of convenience and comfort during trips.
Zero Forex Markup
Another major feature is the zero forex markup fee on international purchases. Public sources state that the card does not charge the usual foreign exchange markup on overseas or foreign currency transactions.
This is especially useful for international online shopping, travel abroad, and subscriptions billed in foreign currencies. The savings can be meaningful because many cards add around 3% to 4% in forex markup charges.
For users who make cross-border purchases even occasionally, this feature can be one of the card’s most valuable benefits.
It gives the card a strong international-use advantage despite being a travel-focused domestic card.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver
The card offers a fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between Rs. 400 and Rs. 5,000 at fuel stations in India. Public sources describe this as a 1% waiver, which helps reduce the cost of everyday fuel spending.
This is a practical feature because fuel expenses are a recurring part of life for many cardholders. Even though the amount may be modest, the waiver adds up over repeated transactions.
Fuel surcharge waivers are common in good travel cards, and this one helps round out the card’s practical value beyond just travel bookings.
It is a small benefit, but one that can matter in regular use.
Card Protection Benefits
The card also includes fraud protection and card shield coverage. Public information mentions zero liability on fraudulent transactions after reporting loss and a card shield cover worth Rs. 1.5 lakh.
These protections are important because they help reduce financial risk if the card is lost or misused. Knowing that the card has some protection makes it easier to use for online and travel transactions.
Card safety features are a key part of modern credit card design. They give users confidence when making purchases, especially online or in unfamiliar places.
For a card that is meant to be used frequently, that protection layer is very helpful.
EMI Facility
The card offers EMI conversion for spending of Rs. 2,000 and above according to public sources. That means a larger purchase can be split into smaller monthly payments.
This feature is useful if you want to manage cash flow more easily. It helps with larger purchases when paying the full amount immediately may not be convenient.
However, EMI conversion should always be used carefully. It is convenient, but it still creates a repayment obligation.
For disciplined users, the EMI feature adds flexibility without undermining the card’s travel focus.
Add-On Cards
The AU ixigo Credit Card also offers an add-on card facility. That means the primary cardholder can request additional cards for family members or others under the account structure.
Add-on cards are useful because they allow the main cardholder to share certain benefits while maintaining control over the account. This is especially helpful for families that travel together.
They can also help centralize spending and make it easier to track expenses in one place. For many households, that convenience is a major benefit.
Add-on access makes the card more flexible and family-friendly.
Contactless Payments
The card supports contactless usage, which means you do not need to enter a PIN for smaller transactions up to the applicable limit. Public information mentions contactless payments as a convenience feature.
This makes day-to-day shopping faster and more efficient. Contactless payments are especially useful for quick purchases at stores, transit points, and cafes.
It adds a modern layer of convenience to the card and aligns with current payment habits.
For users who prefer speed and simplicity, this is a practical benefit.
Fees and Charges
The card is often promoted as lifetime free, meaning no joining fee and no annual fee in many offers.
That makes it attractive to users who want a travel-focused credit card without recurring ownership costs. Since it already offers discounts and rewards, removing the fee makes the card even more appealing.
Other charges may still apply depending on use, such as cash advance fees, interest charges, and late payment charges. Public sources mention cash advance charges as 2.5% of the transaction amount or Rs. 500, whichever is higher.
So while the card can be free to hold, it is still important to use it responsibly to avoid avoidable fees.
Who It Suits
The AU ixigo Credit Card is best for travelers who regularly book flights, hotels, buses, and trains in India. It is especially useful for users who prefer ixigo for booking and want card-linked discounts at the same platform.
It is also a good fit for people who want zero forex markup for international shopping or travel, plus lounge benefits and reward points without paying an annual fee. That makes it appealing to budget-conscious travelers who still want useful perks.
Families, students, young professionals, and frequent domestic travelers may all find value in this card if they use the ixigo ecosystem regularly.
In short, it is a practical travel savings card rather than a luxury status card.
Limitations
The biggest limitation is that many of the strongest benefits are tied to ixigo bookings. If you do not use that platform often, you may not get the full discount value.
Another limitation is that lounge access may depend on spend thresholds or specific usage conditions, so it is not entirely unconditional.
Also, while the reward system is useful, it is not designed to compete with high-end premium travel cards. It is best viewed as a mid-range practical travel card with strong savings features.
So the card is excellent for its intended audience, but it is not a universal fit.
How It Works in Practice
In practice, the AU ixigo Credit Card works by combining booking discounts, reward points, lounge access, and zero forex markup into one travel-focused package. You use the card for travel bookings and daily expenses, earn points, and save directly on selected bookings through ixigo.
The welcome offer gives you a strong start, while the recurring rewards and discounts keep the card useful over time. If you travel often enough, the savings can add up quickly.
The card also works as a general credit card for shopping and spending, but its best value comes from travel-related use. That is where it truly shines.
So the card is most effective when it becomes part of your regular travel and booking routine.
Final Verdict
The AU ixigo Credit Card is a well-designed travel card for people who want practical savings on flights, hotels, buses, and trains. It also gives useful extras like lounge access, zero forex markup, reward points, EMI conversion, and fuel surcharge waiver.
Its biggest strengths are its travel discounts and its low-cost structure. If you use ixigo for booking and value simple, direct savings, this card can be very rewarding. The lifetime-free positioning makes it even more attractive for long-term use.
For domestic travelers and international shoppers who want a no-fee card with practical benefits, it is a strong option. It is not a luxury card, but it is a smart travel savings card that covers many everyday needs.
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