Utility bills like mobile recharge, DTH, gas, electricity, etc., are something that most of us have to pay every month. Usually, we don’t get any discount or cashback for paying these bills. Some service providers or intermediaries even charge us a convenience fee for paying utility bills. However, what if you could get up to a whopping 25% cashback on the payment of these utility bills every month?

The “Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card” can provide up to 25% cashback on utility bill payments and a lot more. In this article, we will understand the features and benefits of this card and whether you should get it.

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Overview Table

Feature	Details
Card type	Rewards Credit Card (Cashback Focus)
Reward range	1% to 25% cashback on utility bill payments and other spends
Joining fee	₹500 + Taxes
Welcome bonus	₹500 Amazon Gift Voucher on first transaction within 30 days
Renewal fee	₹500 + Taxes
Annual Fee Waiver	Waived on spending ₹2,00,000 in the previous year (Excl. Rent/Wallet Load)
Best for	Utility bill payments through the Airtel App, Bigbasket, Swiggy, and Zomato
USP	Up to 25% cashback on utilities via Airtel Thanks App, 10% on groceries/food, and complimentary airport lounge access.

Fees & Benefits

Joining & Welcome Benefits

• The card’s joining fee is ₹500 + Taxes.
• Welcome Bonus: You receive a **₹500 Amazon eVoucher code** on performing the first transaction within 30 days of card issuance.
• The eVoucher code is sent via SMS within 30 days of meeting the criteria and must be redeemed within 3 months.

Annual Fee Waiver

• The card’s annual renewal fee is ₹500 + Taxes.
• The renewal fee is waived on spending **₹2,00,000** or more in the previous year.
• **Note:** Rent payment and wallet loading transactions are **not** eligible for spends counted in availing the annual fee waiver.

Rewards Structure & Caps

The card’s primary benefit is its high cashback rate on essential categories, though these are subject to monthly capping:

Cashback Rate	Details	Maximum Monthly Cashback Cap
25% cashback	Airtel prepaid, postpaid mobile, broadband, WiFi, and DTH bill payments made through the Airtel Thanks App.	₹250
10% cashback	Gas and electricity bill payments made through the Airtel Thanks App.	₹250
10% cashback	Spends on Swiggy, Zomato, and Bigbasket Apps.	₹500 (Combined across all 3 merchants)
1% cashback	All other merchants and other eligible spends.	No Limit (Unlimited)

Cashback Eligibility Notes:

• The 10% cashback on the Bigbasket App applies to Bigbasket and BBnow. Transactions on ‘the beauty store’ and ‘fresho! meats’ are **not** eligible.
• The 10% cashback on the Swiggy App applies to food delivery and Dineout spends. Instamart and Genie spends are **not** eligible.
• The 10% cashback on the Zomato App applies to food delivery and dining spends. Spends on Blinkit, District, Money, and Zomaland are **not** eligible.

Cashback Credit Cycle

The cashback earned for the purchases during the current billing cycle will be credited in the next billing cycle, **3 days prior** to the statement generation date, directly to the credit card statement.

Excluded Categories & Transaction Fees

Categories Excluded from Earning Cashback (0% Cashback)

The 1% cashback will not apply for spends on the following categories:

• Fuel
• EMI transactions (including purchases later converted to EMIs)
• Wallet loading
• Jewellery purchases
• Rent payments
• Government-related payments
• Insurance premiums
• Education-related payments
• Utility spends done **outside** the Airtel Thanks App

Applicable Transaction Fees

The following charges apply to certain transactions (these do not earn cashback):

• Rent payments: A transaction fee of 1% of the transaction amount will be applicable.
• Wallet loads: A fee of 1% of the transaction amount will be applicable for cumulative spends of ₹10,000 or more per statement cycle.
• Utility bill payments (cumulative): A fee of 1% of the transaction amount will be applicable for cumulative spends of ₹25,000 or more per statement cycle.
• Education-related payments: A fee of 1% of the transaction amount will be applicable for payments made through **third-party apps**. No fee for payments made directly on the school/college website/App/POS machine.

Additional Features

Complimentary Airport Lounge Access

• The cardholder can enjoy **4 complimentary visits** to select airport lounges within India per calendar year (1 per quarter is common, check bank terms for exact limit).
• **Spend Condition:** The cardholder must spend a minimum of **₹50,000** in the previous 3 calendar months to unlock the complimentary lounge access benefit. (The minimum spend criteria is waived for the month of card issuance and the following 3 calendar months).

Fuel Surcharge Waiver

• A 1% fuel surcharge waiver is provided on all fuel transactions at all fuel stations across India.
• The waiver applies to fuel transactions between **₹400** to **₹4,000**.
• The maximum waiver that can be availed in a monthly billing cycle is **₹500**. Fuel transactions do not earn any cashback.

Dining Discounts

Enjoy up to a **15% discount** at partner restaurants:

• Book a dining table at a partner restaurant using the EazyDiner App.
• Pay the bill with the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card through the EazyDiner App to avail the card-based discount. (Up to 15% discount, subject to a maximum cap like ₹500, check EazyDiner terms).

How to Apply

To apply for the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card, the individual must be a resident of India and aged between 18 and 70 years.

• You can apply for the card through the **Axis Bank website/App** or the **Airtel Thanks App** (recommended).

Optimal Use & Maximising Rewards

The high cashback rates are capped, so strategic spending is key to maximizing value:

Maxing Airtel Utility Cap (25%): Spend exactly **₹1,000** on your Airtel bills (mobile, DTH, broadband) via the Airtel Thanks App to hit the maximum monthly cashback of ₹250 ($1000 \times 0.25 = ₹250$).

Maxing General Utility Cap (10%): Spend exactly **₹2,500** on Gas/Electricity bills via the Airtel Thanks App to hit the maximum monthly cashback of ₹250 ($2500 \times 0.10 = ₹250$).

Maxing Food/Grocery Cap (10%): Spend exactly **₹5,000** combined across Swiggy, Zomato, and Bigbasket to hit the maximum monthly cashback of ₹500 ($5000 \times 0.10 = ₹500$).

Tips to Maximise Rewards

1. Club Airtel & Other Utilities: Always use this card for the first ₹3,500 of utility payments via the Airtel Thanks App to secure the maximum ₹500 monthly utility cashback.
2. Food & Grocery Priority: Allocate your first ₹5,000 of monthly spends on Swiggy, Zomato, and Bigbasket to this card for the 10% benefit.
3. Unlock Lounge Access: Ensure your total monthly spends are consistent (approx. ₹16,700/month) to comfortably cross the ₹50,000 per 3 months spend threshold required to unlock your 4 complimentary lounge visits.
4. Avoid Fee Traps: Do not use this card for large Rent, Wallet Loads, or Utility payments exceeding the cumulative ₹25,000/month, as these attract a 1% fee without earning cashback.

Eligibility & Documents

Criteria	Requirement
Residency	Must be a Resident of India
Age	Primary cardholder must be between 18 and 70 years
Income Type	Salaried or Self-Employed
Credit Score	A good credit score (usually 750 or higher) is recommended for high chances of approval.

Required KYC & Income Documents:

• Identity Proof (Any One): PAN Card (Mandatory), Aadhaar Card, or Passport.
• Address Proof (Any One): Aadhaar Card, Utility Bills (latest), or Registered Rent Agreement.
• Income Proof (Any One): Latest Salary Slip (for salaried), Form 16, or Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) copy (for self-employed).

Expert Verdict / Conclusion

If you are an Airtel user and handle utility bill payments for your household, the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card is a **no-brainer**. The up to **25% cashback** on Airtel bills and **10% cashback** on other utilities, exclusively via the Airtel Thanks App, makes it a top contender in the utility bill payment space.

The additional **10% cashback on everyday spends** like Bigbasket, Swiggy, and Zomato, along with the spend-based complimentary airport lounge access, provides excellent value for the modest annual fee of ₹500 (which is easily waived). While the accelerated cashback is capped, the limits are practical for most users’ monthly needs.

Verdict: Highly Recommended for all Airtel users and families with significant spending on utilities, food delivery, and groceries.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How do I get the renewal fee waiver?

The annual renewal fee of ₹500 + Taxes is waived if you spend a total of **₹2,00,000** or more in the preceding card anniversary year. Spends on Rent Payments and Wallet Loading transactions are not counted towards this threshold.

Q2. Is the 1% fuel surcharge waiver applicable to all fuel transactions?

Yes, the 1% fuel surcharge waiver is applicable for transactions ranging from **₹400 to ₹4,000** at any fuel station across India. The maximum waiver is capped at **₹500** per statement cycle. Fuel spends do not earn any cashback.

Q3. Is the lounge access truly complimentary?

The 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year are **spend-based**. You must spend a minimum of **₹50,000** in the previous three calendar months to unlock the lounge access benefit for the subsequent period.

Q4. How much cashback can I earn on utility bills in a month?

You can earn up to **₹250** per month on Airtel bills (25% category) and an additional up to **₹250** per month on other utility bills like Gas/Electricity (10% category), for a total of **₹500** per month on utilities via the Airtel Thanks App.