Axis Reserve Devaluation: Is the card still offering best travel benefits?

Beforehand, this card used to supply 50,000 Edge Reward Factors on card activation and renewal. Nonetheless, from April 20, 2024, this renewal profit has been eliminated, and the sign-up bonus has additionally been lowered to fifteen,000 Edge Reward Factors.

Being a super-premium card that comes with a becoming a member of and annual payment of Rs. 50,000, providing 50,000 reward factors on the time of activation and renewal compensated for the payment charged. So, on redeeming these 50,000 Edge Reward Factors towards the miles switch program at a ratio of 5:2 (after September 2023), cardholders would obtain 20,000 air miles yearly, which was a major worth again, particularly for frequent travellers. Nonetheless, after this devaluation, shoppers will solely earn the one-time welcome bonus of 15,000 rewards, which could be transformed to six,000 air miles.

Earlier, there have been no restrictions on this card, and shoppers may earn 15 rewards for each Rs. 200 spent on all home transactions and 2X on worldwide transactions, as per the beneath particulars:

15 Edge Reward Factors for each Rs. 200 spent
30 Edge Reward Factors for each Rs. 200 spent internationally

Nonetheless, throughout September 2023 devaluation spherical, authorities establishments and utility spends have been excluded from incomes rewards. Whereas this might have an effect on customers who’ve put excessive utility payments on this card, Axis Reserve nonetheless options a superb reward-earning charge of seven.5%, which remains to be higher than most super-premium playing cards available in the market.

Revision in redemption ratio to five:2 (5 EDGE Reward Factors = 2 Associate Factors/Miles) from 5:4 throughout journey companions

Mixed with its glorious incomes charge, a point-to-mile conversion ratio of 5:4 made this card fairly a invaluable choice for travellers. Nonetheless, in Sept 2023, Axis Financial institution halved the conversion ratio to five:2 for everybody besides Axis Financial institution’s Burgundy Prospects who would nonetheless get the 5:4 ratio. Whereas customers may beforehand earn 40,000 air miles for 50,000 Edge Reward Factors, they’ll solely earn 20,000 air miles, after the devaluation. Moreover, customers can now switch a most of 5 Lakh Edge Reward Factors to miles in a 12 months. This comes as a serious setback for high-spenders who need to accumulate substantial rewards and redeem them to avoid wasting on their journey spends. To avail the identical redemption ratio, cardholders must open a Burgundy Account, which will not be possible for everybody.

Beforehand, this card used to supply 4 free chauffeured luxurious airport pick-ups/drops yearly, which shall be faraway from April 20, 2024.

Together with different main devaluations, the spend-based situation to avail annual payment waiver of this card has additionally been elevated. The annual payment waiver shall be relevant upon assembly the minimal spend requirement of Rs. 35 Lakh within the earlier 12 months, which was Rs. 25 Lakh earlier than September 2023. Nonetheless, for purchasers onboarded earlier than September 1, 2023, the payment waiver restrict will stay the identical at Rs. 25 Lakh. Along with this, funds in direction of authorities establishments and utilities won’t be counted for annual payment waiver calculation.

Characteristic
Current Characteristic
Revised Options efficient 1st Sep 2023
Revised Options efficient twentieth April 2024

Annual Price Waiver
On annual spends of Rs. 25 Lakh
On annual spends of Rs. 35 Lakh
On annual spends of Rs. 35 Lakh

Excluded Classes*
NA
Authorities establishments and utilities spends
Authorities establishments and utilities spends

Air Miles Conversion Ratio
5:4
5:2

5:4 (For Burgundy Prospects)
5:2

5:4 (For Burgundy Prospects)

Most Capping on Air Miles Conversion
NA
5 Lakh Edge Reward Factors yearly
5 Lakh Edge Reward Factors yearly

Welcome Profit
50,000 Edge Reward Factors
50,000 Edge Reward Factors
15,000 Edge Reward Factors

Renewal Advantages
50,000 Edge Reward Factors
50,000 Edge Reward Factors
Discontinued

Airport Transfers
4 free chauffeured luxurious airport pick-ups/drops yearly
4 free chauffeured luxurious airport pick-ups/drops yearly
Discontinued

*These classes usually are not thought of for incomes Edge Reward Factors and annual payment waiver calculation.

Axis Reserve is a super-premium card that caters to frequent travellers by providing quite a few advantages. Even after two rounds of devaluation, this card can nonetheless be an excellent choice for frequent travellers due to the next advantages:

15,000 Edge Reward Factors on card activation value 6,000 air miles (50,000 rewards on card activation & renewal earlier than devaluation)
Limitless lounge entry at worldwide airports for main and add-on members with Precedence Move memberships, together with 12 complimentary visits for company
Limitless home lounge entry for main and add-on members, together with 12 complimentary visits for company
Complimentary resort and eating memberships, together with Membership Marriott, Accor Plus, ITC Culinaire, and Eazy Diner Prime
Edge Reward Factors conversion into air miles or resort loyalty applications at a ratio of 5:2 (5 EDGE Reward Factors = 2 Associate Factors/Miles)
8 free airport concierge companies in a 12 months for airport processes like check-in, safety examine, immigration processes, and porter companies
2X rewards on worldwide spends

Even after two rounds of devaluation, Axis Reserve nonetheless holds good worth for frequent travellers. Although the drop in redemption ratio would scale back the general financial savings for travellers, the value-back remains to be higher than plenty of premium and even super-premium playing cards. Even with the utmost capping of 5 Lakh rewards on redemption and removing of airport switch profit, those that often journey can maximize the advantages of this card.