Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card: In-Depth Review

Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card: A Detailed Review

Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card

The Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card is a co-branded credit card designed for frequent travelers who utilize the EaseMyTrip platform for booking flights and hotels. This review delves into the card's features, benefits, drawbacks, and helps you determine if it's the right fit for your travel needs.

Key Features and Benefits

• Up to 20% discount on EaseMyTrip bookings: Enjoy significant savings on domestic and international hotel bookings (up to ₹5,000 and ₹10,000 respectively) and flights (up to ₹1,000 and ₹5,000 respectively). A flat ₹125 discount is also available on bus tickets over ₹500. Note that these discounts are capped and may be limited to once per month per category.
• Reward Points: Earn 2 reward points for every ₹100 spent on retail purchases and a boosted 10x reward points on bookings made at standalone airline or hotel websites/apps (excluding travel aggregators). Each reward point is worth ₹0.25.
• Complimentary Domestic Lounge Access: Get two complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year.
• Spend-Based Annual Fee Waiver: The annual fee of ₹350 + GST is waived if you spend ₹50,000 or more in a year.
• Zero Liability Protection: This benefit protects you against unauthorized transactions if your card is lost or stolen.

Fees and Charges

Fee/Charge	Amount
Joining Fee	₹350 + GST
Annual Fee	₹350 + GST (waived on spending ₹50,000 or more annually)
Foreign Currency Markup	3.5% of the transaction amount
Cash Advance Fee	3% of the cash amount or ₹300 (whichever is higher)
Rewards Redemption Fee	₹99
Interest Rate	3.75% per month
Fuel Surcharge	1%

Drawbacks

• Limited Welcome Benefits: The card doesn't offer any significant welcome bonus.
• Low Base Reward Rate: The base reward rate of 2 points per ₹100 is relatively low compared to some other cards.
• Rewards Redemption Restrictions: Reward points cannot be redeemed against outstanding card balances.
• No International Lounge Access: The card currently only offers domestic lounge access.
• Discount Limitations: The discounts on EaseMyTrip are capped and may have a limited usage per month.

Use Cases and Recommendations

This card is best suited for frequent domestic travelers who regularly book through EaseMyTrip. The discounts and reward points can add up to significant savings.

Spending Scenario	Category	Spend	Reward Points Earned	Cashback/Value
Domestic Flight Booking	EaseMyTrip	₹10,000	200	₹50 (discount) + ₹50 (reward points) = ₹100
International Hotel Booking	EaseMyTrip	₹20,000	400	₹4,000 (discount) + ₹100 (reward points) = ₹4,100
Retail Shopping	Various Merchants	₹5,000	100	₹25 (reward points)
Standalone Airline Website Booking	Airline Website	₹15,000	1500	₹375 (reward points)

Recommendation: If you are a frequent domestic traveler using EaseMyTrip and value the discounts offered, this card could be a valuable addition to your wallet. However, if you prioritize a higher base reward rate, more comprehensive travel benefits, or international lounge access, you might want to consider alternative travel credit cards.

Consider comparing with other travel credit cards before making a decision.