The BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card is the higher-end of the two Etihad co-branded cards launched in India in partnership with BOBCARD, and is positioned squarely at frequent international travellers. At an annual fee of INR 5,000 plus GST, it brings together airline status, lounge access, zero forex markup and a generous Etihad Guest earning structure in a way that few airline co-branded cards currently do.
The card’s biggest attraction is its relationship with the Etihad Guest programme. Cardholders receive Etihad Guest Silver status on their first transaction, and can upgrade to Gold status simply by making their first eligible purchase on etihad.com within the stipulated period.
Normally, Gold status would require substantial flying, so earning it through a credit card is a significant value proposition for travellers who fly Etihad even a few times a year. Gold status brings benefits such as Business Class lounge access when travelling on Etihad, priority check-in, additional baggage allowance, complimentary seat selection and other elite privileges.
Etihad First Class on the Boeing 777-300ER
Cardholders earn 6 Etihad Guest Miles for every INR 100 spent on Etihad Airways purchases and 2 miles per INR 100 on most other eligible domestic and international spends. On top of regular earnings, BOBCARD has layered in monthly, quarterly, and annual milestone bonuses, allowing heavy spenders to accumulate a meaningful number of additional miles over the year.
At launch, the card also offered an attractive welcome offer, allowing new customers to earn up to 15,000 bonus Etihad Guest Miles after meeting specified spending thresholds within the first 60 days, upon payment of the joining fee. The renewal fee is waived upon achieving INR 5 lakh in annual spends, making it relatively easy for regular travellers to offset the annual cost.
Travel benefits extend beyond Etihad. The Premium card offers 12 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year (three per quarter) and 8 international lounge visits per year (two per quarter). Another noteworthy feature is the zero foreign exchange markup, which immediately makes the card attractive for overseas spending, particularly when compared to legacy airline co-branded cards that still levy 2–3.5% forex charges.
For travellers who already redeem Etihad Guest Miles or use Etihad’s expanding network via Abu Dhabi, it is one of the more interesting airline credit cards to have arrived in the Indian market in recent years.
BOBCARD Rolls out Pre-Approved Offers
While BOBCARD has not officially communicated this to members, cardmembers who already hold a core card with the Bank would see a pre-approved offer for the BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card in their additional card section. If you choose to take it up, there are no enquiries on your credit bureau, and the card is issued instantly, with a shared credit limit with the existing card.
And while the offer here says 5,000 miles, someone at BOBCARD told me that the current offer of up to 15,000 Etihad Guest Miles will apply to these accounts too.
I’d passed on the pre-approved offer earlier, given that I was offered the lower-end card. This time, I might look at it.
Bottomline
BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card pre-approved offers have been rolled out to select BOBCARD members. If you take the card, you have a shot at collecting Etihad Gold Guest Status, and also up to 15,000 bonus Etihad Guest Miles.
What are your thoughts around the BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card? Will you go for this offer?
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