SBI Air India Signature vs Axis Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
SBI Air India Signature wins 6-3. Air India loyalists — highest miles earn on AI bookings. Axis Reserve is still the right call if invitation-only super-premium — for ₹25l+/year spenders..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | SBI Air India Signature | Axis Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹4,999 | · ₹50,000 |
| Joining fee | ₹4,999 | · ₹50,000 |
| Top reward rate | 8% (travel) | · 5% (general) |
| Base reward rate | · 2% | 5% |
| Forex markup | · 1.99% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = 20,000 Air India reward points | = 50,000 EDGE points + Taj Epicure membership |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹500,000 / yr | · ₹2,500,000 / yr |
| Min income | ₹1,200,000 | · ₹5,000,000 |
| Min credit score | 780 | · 820 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.3/5 | 4.7/5 |
Benefits compared
SBI Air India Signature
- 30 AI reward points per ₹100 on Air India bookings
- 4 reward points per ₹100 on others
- Air India Maharajah Club Silver
- 8 international + 8 domestic lounge visits/year
- Free Air India ticket on ₹5L spend
Axis Reserve
- 5 EDGE points per ₹100 (effectively 5%)
- Unlimited international + domestic lounge visits
- Taj Epicure + ITC Culinaire memberships
- Concierge 24x7 globally
- 0% forex markup on first ₹15L of FX/year
- Annual ₹25K vouchers at milestones
FAQ
›SBI Air India Signature vs Axis Reserve: which is better?
SBI Air India Signature wins on more dimensions (6 vs 3). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use SBI Air India Signature for its best categories, Axis Reserve for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
SBI Air India Signature: 20,000 Air India reward points. Axis Reserve: 50,000 EDGE points + Taj Epicure membership.