Best Travel Credit Cards for ₹20K-30K Salary (2026)

Best Travel Credit Cards for Salaried Professionals (2026)

May 19, 2025

Most travel credit cards target high-net-worth individuals and big spenders with fancy reward points and free lounge access — but a few genuinely good options exist for people earning ₹20,000-30,000 a month too. Here’s what’s actually available at entry-level income.

Earning more, or want lounges and zero-forex options? See our complete travel credit cards guide.

Eligibility: What You Can Expect

Criteria	Entry-Level Travel Cards
Monthly Income Required	₹15,000 – ₹25,000
Fees	₹0 to ₹1,500/year
Benefits	Airport lounge access, travel discounts, reward points
Approval	Salaried employees preferred

1. AU Bank LIT Credit Card – Customizable & Zero Annual Fee

Benefits:

You only pay for features you use
Add airport lounge access, travel insurance, fuel surcharge waiver
No annual fee by default
Excellent for credit card beginners

Monthly Income Required: ₹20,000
Annual Fee: ₹0 (modular pricing)
Best For: Full control over card features

Apply for AU Bank LIT Credit Card

2. ICICI Platinum Chip Credit Card (Visa) – Travel + Utility Combo

Benefits:

Reward points on all spends
No annual fee if you spend ₹50,000/year
Works well for travel bookings on MakeMyTrip/Yatra

Monthly Income Required: ₹18,000+
Annual Fee: ₹199 (waived with spend)
Best For: First-time salaried users

Apply for ICICI Platinum Credit Card

3. SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card – For Online Travel Bookings

Benefits:

10X reward points on travel sites like Cleartrip, IRCTC, etc.
Amazon & BookMyShow vouchers as joining bonuses
Good cashback system on online shopping too

Monthly Income Required: ₹20,000
Annual Fee: ₹499 (waived on ₹1L annual spend)
Best For: Digital-savvy salaried professionals

Apply for SBI SimplyCLICK

4. Axis Bank Neo Credit Card – For Budget Flyers & Movie Lovers

Benefits:

4 complimentary domestic lounge visits/year
Discounts on BookMyShow and Myntra
Travel offers on Cleartrip and Yatra

Monthly Income Required: ₹15,000-20,000
Annual Fee: ₹250
Best For: Students, new job holders, freelancers

Apply for Axis Bank Neo Card

If You Have Lower or Irregular Income: FD-Based Cards

If your salary is below ₹15,000/month or irregular, secured travel credit cards backed by a fixed deposit are easier to get and offer similar benefits:

Card	Bank	Minimum FD
SBI Unnati Card	SBI	₹25,000 FD
Axis Insta Easy	Axis Bank	₹20,000 FD
ICICI Coral Secured	ICICI	₹30,000 FD
Novio Secured Card (RuPay)	SBM/Credilio	FD amount set by issuer (limit is 90% of FD)

Apply for Novio Secured Card — nil joining fee; the annual fee becomes ₹299 (virtual) or ₹499 (physical) from 23 October 2026, waived at ₹50,000 spend in the previous year, per SBM Bank’s fact statement.

Tips for Using Travel Cards on a Budget

Use aggregator offers: Yatra, Cleartrip, and Ixigo often have tie-ups with SBI, Axis, and HDFC.
Track your spending to ensure you meet waiver limits.
Use reward points for travel vouchers, not just merchandise.
Don’t miss lounge visits — you’re paying for them, use them.

You don’t need to be a high earner to enjoy travel perks with a credit card. These entry-level-friendly cards let you access lounges, save on bookings, build credit history, and get cashback or rewards on every trip. Choose a card that matches your monthly spend, not just the hype.