Kotak Air Credit Card vs SBI Card MILES PRIME Compared
Which credit card suits you? Side by side on the numbers that decide it. A blank means the provider has not published that figure, not that it is zero. Data last verified: 11 October 2026.
| Feature | Kotak Air Credit CardKotak Mahindra Bank1 recent change → | SBI Card MILES PRIMEState Bank of India4 recent changes → | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards by spend | |||
| Rewards | 1% on most spends; 3% only at partner merchants | 0.5% base, up to 1% on travel | |
| UPI payments (scan and pay)same | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Online shopping | 1% | 0.5% | |
| Dining and food delivery | 1% | 0.5% | |
| Groceries | 1% | 0.5% | |
| Travel: flights, hotels, trains | 1%; 3% only at Kotak Unbox, flights & hotels | 1% | |
| Fuelsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Bills and rechargessame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Rentsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Insurance premiumssame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| School and college feessame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Wallet top-upssame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Taxes and government payments | Earns nothing | Not stated | |
| Spend abroad or in a foreign currency | 1% | 0.5% | |
| Everything else | 1% | 0.5% | |
| Card identity | |||
| Card typesame | Travel | Travel | |
| Network | Visa | Mastercard | |
| Card tier | Mid | Premium | |
| Fees | |||
| Joining fee | ₹999 + GST | ₹2,999 + GST | |
| Annual fee | ₹999 + GST | ₹2,999 + GST | |
| Fee waived at | ₹2,50,000 | ₹10,00,000 | |
| Eligibility | |||
| Min age | 18 years | 21 years | |
| Max age | - | 70 years | |
| Employment typesame | BOTH | BOTH | |
| Rewards | |||
| Reward typesame | Air miles | Air miles | |
| Point valuesame | ₹1 | ₹1 | |
| Fuel surcharge | |||
| Fuel surcharge waiversame | Yes | Yes | |
| Fuel waiver cap | ₹3,500 | ₹250 | |
| Lounge access | |||
| Domestic lounge visits | 4 | 8 | |
| International lounge visits | 0 | 4 | |
| Lounge programme | - | PRIORITY_PASS | |
| Priority Pass | No | Yes | |
| Lounge condition | Spend Rs 60,000 in the previous quarter for domestic lounge access | 8 domestic airport lounge visits/year (max 2/quarter) plus Priority Pass with 4 international visits/year. 1 extra domestic visit per ₹1 lakh spend, capped at 12/year. Priority Pass free for first 2 years | |
| Forex and international | |||
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 2.5% | |
| Interest and charges | |||
| Interest rate (monthly)same | 3.75% | 3.75% | |
| Interest rate (annual)same | 45% | 45% | |
| Page content | |||
| Documents needed | PAN card Aadhaar / valid address proof Latest 3 months bank statement Income proof, salary slips (salaried) or ITR (self-employed) Recent passport-size photograph | PAN card Aadhaar / address proof Income proof (salary slips or ITR) Recent passport-size photograph | |
| Apply | Apply Now | Apply Now | |
Worth in Rupees at ₹20,000 a Month
- Rewards a year
- ₹2,400
- Fee a year
- - ₹1,179
- You keep
- ₹1,221
- Rewards a year
- ₹1,500
- Fee a year
- - ₹3,539
- You keep
- - ₹2,039
At this spend, Kotak Air Credit Card comes out ₹3,260 a year ahead of SBI Card MILES PRIME. Worked out from each card's published reward rate, caps and fee, on ₹20,000 a month. Your own spend changes the answer: try the rewards calculator.
Best For
- Occasional domestic flyers
- Kotak Unbox bookers
- Travellers on a modest budget
- Frequent flyers
- People who spend heavily on travel
- Travellers who want Priority Pass access
Watch-Outs
- Lounge visits need Rs 60,000 spend in the previous quarter
- Travel bonus only through Kotak Unbox, with a monthly cap
- 3.5% forex markup
- No international lounge access
- Fee waiver needs Rs 10 lakh a year, which most people will not reach
- Base return of about 0.5% is low
- Credits are worth the most only when redeemed for travel
Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in (Kotak Air Credit Card, SBI Card MILES PRIME), India Credit Card Facts, CC BY 4.0, adapted by SkyloFin.
Questions People Ask
Which has the lower annual fee, Kotak Air Credit Card or SBI Card MILES PRIME?
Kotak Air Credit Card. Kotak Air Credit Card: ₹999; SBI Card MILES PRIME: ₹2,999. Check whether a spend-based waiver applies before you decide.
Which is better for spending abroad?
SBI Card MILES PRIME has the lowest forex markup. SBI Card MILES PRIME: 2.5%; Kotak Air Credit Card: 3.5%. The markup is charged on every foreign-currency transaction, before GST.
Which earns more on everyday spending?
On spends outside any bonus category: Kotak Air Credit Card 1%, SBI Card MILES PRIME 0.5%. Bonus categories, rates limited to named merchants and monthly caps change the picture, so compare the rewards by spend too.
Which gives airport lounge access?
Kotak Air Credit Card: 4 domestic lounge visits a year; SBI Card MILES PRIME: 8 domestic lounge visits a year. Some cards need a minimum spend in the quarter before a visit counts, so check the lounge terms.
Can I hold more than one of these cards?
Usually yes, if each bank approves you. Many people keep one card for everyday spending and another for a specific use such as travel. Each application is a separate credit check.
Work Out the Numbers
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Guides in Plain Words
Short reads that explain how it works before you decide.
- GuidesBest Credit Cards Under ₹1,000 a Year in India (2026)Credit cards with an annual fee of ₹1,000 or less (before GST) in 2026, ranked by the reward rate each bank states, with fee waivers.Read the guide →
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