AU Ixigo Credit Card
AU ixigo is the single best free card for lounge access in India and it is not a close competition. Seventeen lounge visits per year — 16 domestic and 1 international — at zero annual fee is a benefit structure that paid cards costing ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 per year cannot match on lounge count alone.
By Ashutosh · Updated June 2026
The benchmark for lounge access in the free card market before ixigo was two to four visits per year. Scapia offers unlimited domestic lounge but requires a ₹20,000/month spend milestone. AU ixigo requires no milestone for its 17 visits — you simply get them as a cardholder benefit. At ₹800/visit conservative lounge walk-in value, 17 visits represent ₹13,600 in annual value from a card with zero annual fee. Even if you only use six visits per year — roughly every second domestic trip — that is ₹4,800 in concrete value from a free card. The 1.25% base reward rate is decent for a free card (above SBI SimplyCLICK's 1% on general spend and well above Yes Kiwi's 0.5%). The ixigo platform integration provides booking discounts on flights and hotels through the ixigo app, which adds value for ixigo users but is not a differentiator for travelers who prefer other booking platforms. This card belongs in every frequent domestic traveler's wallet regardless of what other cards they hold.
Domestic travelers who fly three or more times a year and want free lounge access without paying an annual fee or meeting monthly spend milestones.
You never travel by air, primarily want cashback on everyday categories like groceries and dining, or need international lounge access for frequent overseas travel.
~1.25% effective on all spends (10 pts/₹200, ₹0.25/pt) · ixigo 10% discount (cap ₹1K) · Zero forex · 17 lounge visits/yr · Lifetime free
PROS
- No fee with excellent perks
- 17 lounge visits (16 domestic + 1 intl)
- Zero forex markup
- 1.25% effective base rate
CONS
- ixigo discount capped at ₹1K
- Travel benefits tied to ixigo platform
- Reward rate misleading: 10 pts/₹200 = 1.25% effective, not 5%
- Domestic Airport Lounge Access: Sixteen complimentary domestic lounge visits per year is the defining feature. At two visits per trip (one each for departing and returning), 16 visits covers eight domestic round trips annually — typical for someone who travels twice a quarter for work or leisure. Participating lounges include all major VISA lounge program locations across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, and other major airports.
- International Lounge Access: One complimentary international lounge visit per year is minimal but better than zero — use it strategically on a layover at Singapore Changi, Dubai DXB, or another major international hub. The international lounge access is through the VISA lounge program and depends on the specific lounge's participation. Confirm eligibility with the lounge before entering.
- ixigo App Travel Bookings: ixigo platform users may receive flight and hotel booking discounts or cashback benefits when booking through the ixigo app with the AU ixigo card. These offers vary and are periodically updated — check the current ixigo app offers section for the latest deals. Even without special offers, the 1.25% base reward rate applies to travel bookings as with any other spend.
- General Everyday Spend (1.25% Base Rate): At 1.25% base rewards, AU ixigo earns better than most free cards on general spend. SBI SimplyCLICK earns 1%, ICICI Platinum earns 0.5%, Yes Kiwi earns 0.5%. Use ixigo for everyday spend where you do not have a better-earning specialist card, capturing above-average base returns from a zero-fee product.
- Secondary Lounge Card When Primary Card Visits Are Exhausted: If your primary card (say, IDFC FIRST Ashva with 8 visits or HDFC Regalia with 18 visits) has exhausted its annual lounge quota, AU ixigo's 16 domestic visits serve as a backup lounge access card at zero cost. Holding both cards and rotating lounge access between them effectively doubles your total annual lounge visits.
AU ixigo earns 1.25% on dining and grocery — HSBC Live+ earns 10% on the same categories. If maximizing cashback on food and groceries is a priority, Live+'s ₹1,999 fee is justified and delivers far superior category returns.
Amazon Pay ICICI gives 5% on Amazon purchases for Prime members from a zero-fee card. AU ixigo earns 1.25% on the same Amazon purchase. Always use Amazon Pay ICICI for Amazon.
AU ixigo has a standard forex markup — your international purchases cost 3% to 3.5% more in bank fees. Scapia is free and has zero forex markup. For international spending, use Scapia to eliminate the forex charge while ixigo handles domestic travel.
AU ixigo's single international lounge visit per year is insufficient for frequent international travelers. IDFC FIRST Power Plus at ₹2,999 or premium cards with Priority Pass provide better international lounge solutions. ixigo is excellent for domestic travel; supplement with a paid card for serious international lounge needs.
Both cards are completely free. Amazon Pay ICICI owns Amazon at 5% for Prime members. AU ixigo handles domestic lounge access across 17 visits and general spend at 1.25%. Total combined fee: zero. This is the best free card combination for domestic travelers.
Scapia (free) gives zero forex on international purchases and unlimited domestic lounges with the ₹20K/month milestone. AU ixigo gives 17 guaranteed domestic lounge visits with no milestone. For months when you cannot hit Scapia's ₹20K milestone, AU ixigo provides lounge access as a no-strings-attached backup. Combined fee: zero.
View Scapia Credit Card →HSBC Cashback earns 1.5% flat on all categories including those where ixigo earns 1.25%. Route high-volume non-travel everyday spend through HSBC Cashback and use ixigo specifically for airport lounge access and travel-related spend. Total fee: ₹499/year for lounge access plus strong flat cashback.
View HSBC Cashback Credit Card →Is there a spend milestone required to unlock the 17 lounge visits on AU ixigo?
Unlike Scapia which requires ₹20,000/month spend to unlock unlimited domestic lounges, AU ixigo's 17 lounge visits (16 domestic + 1 international) are included as a card benefit without any monthly spend milestone. You receive the lounge access simply by holding the card. The 17 visits are allocated per card year and reset at the card anniversary date.
How do I access lounges with the AU ixigo card?
Lounge access is through the VISA lounge program — present your AU ixigo credit card at the lounge entry desk and they swipe it to verify your complimentary access entitlement. You do not need a separate lounge app or physical voucher. The lounge entry system deducts from your annual 16 domestic visit quota. Some lounges may require a nominal guest charge if you are bringing an additional person — check with the specific lounge.
Which airports and lounges are covered under AU ixigo's program?
The VISA lounge program covers participating lounges across all major Indian airports. Key covered airports include Delhi Indira Gandhi International (T1 and T3), Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International, Bengaluru Kempegowda International, Chennai International, Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International, Kolkata Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International, Pune International, and Ahmedabad Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International. Check the VISA lounge program website for the current full list as lounge participations do change.
Does the ixigo card benefit from accelerated earn rates for ixigo app bookings?
AU ixigo has co-branded benefits through the ixigo platform including periodic booking discounts and promotional cashback offers when booking flights or trains via the ixigo app using the card. These are typically time-limited promotional offers rather than permanent accelerated earn rates. The 1.25% base rate applies as a baseline on all ixigo app bookings. Check the ixigo app's offers section and the AU Bank rewards page for current active promotions.
Can I get the AU ixigo card if I am not an ixigo frequent user?
Yes. The AU ixigo card is a co-branded card issued by AU Bank for the ixigo travel platform's audience, but there is no requirement to use the ixigo app or have an ixigo account to hold the card. You can apply, use the card for everyday spend and lounge access, and never book a flight through ixigo. The card functions as a standard VISA credit card with AU Bank as the issuer regardless of your ixigo usage.
Is the one international lounge visit on AU ixigo worth planning around?
One international lounge visit per year is limited but meaningful for one trip. If you make a single international trip annually, use the one international lounge access at your departure or transit airport. Singapore Changi, Dubai DXB, and Abu Dhabi are top international hubs with strong VISA lounge program representation. Strategic use: save it for a long-haul international flight where the pre-flight lounge experience is most valuable.
How does the AU ixigo card compare to Niyo SBM World or similar travel-focused free cards?
Niyo SBM World is a debit-linked card with zero forex markup, not a credit card — a fundamentally different product profile. AU ixigo as a credit card offers credit line flexibility, credit history building, and reward earning alongside the lounge benefit. The direct comparison for lounge access in free credit cards is Scapia — ixigo gives 17 guaranteed visits without milestones, Scapia gives unlimited visits with a ₹20,000/month milestone. Both are strong; the best strategy is holding both since both are free.