SBI IRCTC Platinum Credit Card Review | Apkacyber

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Table of Contents

1. What is the SBI IRCTC Platinum Credit Card?

The SBI IRCTC Platinum Credit Card is a co-branded offering by SBI Cards in collaboration with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). Designed primarily for train travellers, it combines railway-specific perks with everyday credit card functionality. It’s a Visa-branded card, accepted at over 325,000 outlets in India and around 29 million globally 

2. Fees & Joining Bonuses

  • Joining Fee: ₹500 + GST

  • Renewal Fee: ₹500 + GST (typically ₹590 including taxes) 

  • Welcome Gift: 350 Reward Points (₹350 equivalent) on one transaction of ₹500+ within 45–60 days of card issuance 

  • Cashback: ₹100 cashback on your first ATM withdrawal within 30 days 

  • Milestone Bonus: 500 Reward Points credited upon renewal fee payment 

Bottom line: You’ll typically pay ₹590 upfront and each year—and recoup most of it via welcome points, renewal bonus points, and incidental benefits like the ₹100 ATM cash back.

3. Rewards Structure

A. AC Train Tickets (Premium Railway Segments)

  • Book AC1, AC2, AC3, Executive Chair Car, or Chair Car tickets on IRCTC via the official website or mobile app.

  • Earn 10% value-back in Reward Points on base fare for eligible classes 

  • Depending on travel date, you may earn 4% during off-peak periods and 10% during peak/off-season windows 

  • For clarity:

    • 4% value-back when booking from April 1–July 14 and Sept 16–Jan 14

    • 10% from Jan 15–Mar 31 and July 15–Sept 15 

  • Redemption is seamless—link your credit card’s loyalty number with your IRCTC profile and use Reward Points directly against ticket purchases

B. Other Retail Spend

  • 1 RP for every ₹125 spent on non-fuel retail (0.8% value) 

C. Transaction Charge Waiver

  • Save 1% on transaction or convenience fees when booking IRCTC train tickets online (IRCTC fee waiver) 

D. Fuel Surcharge Waiver

  • 1% fuel-surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500–₹3,000, capped at ₹100 per billing cycle 

4. Travel & Lifestyle Benefits

A. Complimentary Railway Lounge Access

  • 4 complimentary railway lounge visits per year (one per quarter) at select stations (e.g., Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata–Sealdah, Agra, Ahmedabad) 

  • Each visit offers 2 hours stay, buffet meal, tea/coffee, Wi‑Fi, newspapers, etc. 

B. Flexipay & Balance Transfer

  • Flexipay: Convert transactions ≥₹2,500 into EMIs within 30 days of purchase 

  • Balance Transfer on EMI: Transfer high-interest balances from other credit cards to this one at lower interest and pay via EMI 

C. Easy Money Facility

  • Access a short-term loan via Easy Money (cheque or NEFT), based on available cash limit 

D. Add‑On Cards

  • Provide add-on cards to family members (spouse, parents, siblings) over 18, at nominal fees 

E. Utility Bill Payments and Global Acceptance

  • Earn points on utility bills.

  • Worldwide Visa acceptance and access to 1 million+ Visa ATMs globally, including 18,000 in India & 10,000+ SBI ATMs

F. Personal Accident Insurance

  • Comes with ₹10 lakh personal accident cover in case of a train-related accident, if traveling with a valid ticket 

5. Fees & Interest Profile

Charge Amount
Joining Fee ₹500 + GST
Renewal Fee ₹500 + GST
Finance Charges ~3.35–3.5% p.m. (40–42% p.a.) 
Late Payment Fee Ranges from ₹0 to ₹1,300 depending on dues
Cash Advance Fee 2.5% (domestic, min ₹300); 3% (international, min ₹300)
Over-limit Fee ~2.5% of excess amount (min ₹500)
FX Conversion ~3.5%

6. Who Should Apply?

Ideal candidate:

  • Regular AC/trains travellers booking often via IRCTC.

  • Seekers of travel convenience like lounge access, surcharge waiver.

  • Those preferring a low-fee card with solid railway returns.

Not ideal if:

  • You rarely travel by train.

  • You want high rewards on grocery, dining, fuel, etc. (base rate is low at 0.8%).

  • Irony: only AC passenger named on booking earns full loyalty points—others might get lesser 

In short: great as a niche rail-travel-focused card; less compelling as an everyday spend device 

7. Real-World User Feedback

Positive Feedback

Some Redditors report excellent value:

“I have this exact card … but to be honest irctc sbi is the one which gave me the most return.” 

High-value seasonal returns offset most fees.

Common Complaints

A. Points Not Credited

Many users report loyalty points sometimes don’t show up or don’t qualify as “loyalty bookings”:

“None of these bookings are now tagged as loyalty bookings and no points have been rewarded. … IRCTC customer care is frustrating… SBI is clueless.” 

“Trying from 3‑4 days, not able to book tickets on IRCTC from the loyalty points of SBI IRCTC Credit Card. … SBI said points transferred; IRCTC didn’t allow redemption.” 

B. Linking & Errors on IRCTC

Issues arise while linking loyalty accounts: profile changes, gender mix-ups, etc.

“It randomly changed my gender in their system… 56 emails later.” 

Such issues severely affect redemption, often leaving users frustrated.

C. Charges, Fee Waiver Promises

Some have reported unexpected joining or annual fees and difficulty in getting reversals. But for those persistent, bank sometimes negates them.

8. Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

  1. Outstanding AC ticket rewards – up to 10% back.

  2. ₹100 cashback on first ATM withdrawal.

  3. IRCTC fee-free bookings—no extra convenience charge.

  4. Complimentary lounge access enhances journey comfort.

  5. Flexible utility and global Visa use, lifestyle benefits.

  6. Easy Money and EMI options provide financial flexibility.

Weaknesses

  1. Limited appeal outside train travel—flat 0.8% retail returns.

  2. High APR (~40% p.a.) penalises outstanding balances.

  3. Reward inconsistency—reports of points not being credited due to technical glitches.

  4. Redemption hassles—linking errors, blocked loyalty accounts, poor support.

  5. Annual fees & surcharges—requires discipline to offset.

  6. Subject to IRCTC & SBI technical processes, which sometimes frustrate users.

Indusind Credit Card

9. Competitive Context

IRCTC-themed cards like SBI IRCTC Premier, BOB Rupay, HDFC, and RBL offer varied benefits. The Premier variant, with higher fee (~₹1,499) and more lounge accesses, accelerates rewards on air, train, and e-catering 

However, for budget travelers, the Platinum card remains the most cost-effective, assuming travel frequency qualifies it as “worth it”.

10. Maximizing Value: Pro Tips

  1. Activate Welcome Bonus: spend ₹500+ quickly to earn 350 RP.

  2. Link card loyalty properly on IRCTC immediately.

  3. Time your travel: aim for 10% windows (Jan–Mar, Jul–Sep).

  4. Monitor Rewards: verify points credit and escalate early if missing.

  5. Use lounge benefits once each quarter.

  6. Convert big spends into EMIs via Flexipay.

  7. Keep zero balances monthly to avoid high interest.

  8. Track and challenge unwanted fees—SBI often reverses erroneous charges.

  9. Close the card or ask for fee waivers if you lose interest.

11. Summary Evaluation

The SBI IRCTC Platinum Credit Card is a smart pick for:

  • Frequent AC-class railway customers.

  • Budget-conscious users seeking railway savings and comfort.

However, it demands:

  • Active management—linking, booking through IRCTC, claim tracking.

  • Financial discipline—avoid carrying debt to dodge high interest.

  • Tech/Support vigilance—be ready to escalate redemption issues.

If you’re a casual spender who rarely travels by train, an alternative with broader rewards (grocery, dining, fuel) is likely a better fit. But if you’re a train commuter or traveller, this card can deliver high value—provided you stay on top of the process.

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12. Final Verdict

SBI IRCTC Platinum Credit Card is a niche but rewarding card for train travellers who:

  • Book regular AC-class rail journeys via IRCTC

  • Are willing to invest time in setup and tracking

  • Aim to cut down on travel costs and enjoy lounge access

  • Prefer a low annual fee (₹590 net) to balance perks

Just remember: missing or uncredited rewards—due to system/blocking errors—are real risks  If you’re fine with occasional friction and have patience with customer support, this card can significantly lighten the travel bill and enhance comfort.

idfc credit card

TL;DR

  • Joining & Renewal: ₹500 + GST (₹590 including taxes)

  • Welcome: 350 RPs + ₹100 ATM cashback

  • Rail Rewards: 4–10% on AC ticket base fare

  • Everyday Rewards: 1 RP per ₹125 (0.8%)

  • Extras: Waived IRCTC fee, lounge access, EMI features

  • Drawbacks: Occasional reward failures, tech glitches, limited non-rail benefit

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