Understanding the Benefits and Rewards of the IRCTC Premier SBI Card

[Shekhar_kapoor]

Hi Members
What are the benefits of the IRCTC Premier SBI Card and how does its reward structure work? Are reward points only given to the cardholder or are they also earned for all ticket bookings made on the card via the IRCTC website?"

 

[RaviAglRaviAgl is verified member.]

I have an sbi irctc visa card. Don't know about the other variants but I have been holding it since the past 4 years or so. You should get a fair idea of how it works after going through this post. However, the reward point structure maybe a bit different for other card variants.

You get 1 reward point for every Rs 125 spent. One reward point is equal to Re 1 on irctc website. Points are automatically transferred from your card account to your loyalty account after billing cycle.

You will get your irctc credit card with a loyalty membership number embossed on it. Create a new user account on irctc using the exact credit card personal details, such as Name, Adhaar, Date of Birth, email id and registered mobile number of the card. You need to specifically link that irctc id to the loyalty membership id using the website. It is pretty easy and you should get a full tutorial regarding it when you get your card.

You get 4% (Valid on tickets with Date of Travel between April 1- July 14 and September 16 - January 14) or 10% reward points ((Valid on tickets with Date of Travel between January 15 - March 31 and July 15 - September 15) in case you book a ticket in second third ac or higher classes for yourself but not in the lower classes (such as 3rd AC Economy & Sleeper Classes). Points don't accrue for other travelers.

You can redeem points for any ticket booking (Earlier, points redemption was possible only if you booked tickets for yourself).

There are annual fees though but the card is great if you travel a lot using railways and much better if you travel using higher classes. You get approximately the same value of reward points as a welcome gift (fees charged for new credit card application) when you activate and spend some minimum amount with your card. There is a time barrier of 30 days I think, in which you need to complete your first transaction in order to avail welcome gift points.

You get 1% payment gateway charges reversed in the the form of cashback using this card. Just make sure you use the hdfc payment gateway only. Other gateways charge higher transaction fees and cashback may not trigger.

Other than that sbi is very aggressive in offers.

There is no airport lounge access but you get to use irctc lounges.

Points cannot be redeemed anywhere except the irctc website. Points carry an expiry date of 3 years and the loyalty membership needs to be renewed every 1 or 3 (this part I am not sure) years for a small fee.

Other than that, in case of any other questions, feel free to ask. Also attached is pdf from irctc website.

Regards,
Ravi.

Edited : 04.04.2023 -Note 3AC travel of Card Holder is also included in Additional Reward Points Program.

 

[catcat]

Since I wasn't travelling all that much by train (and HDFC Infinia gives comparable reward points via smartbuy from train travel), I asked to change my SBI IRCTC premier card to something else. They could provide no option. So I put in a request to cancel the card. Got a call, I explained the reasons, and they made it lifetime free.

Hmm. I already hold 3 cards, was hoping to surrender this, and apply for BPCL High Octane card. I guess I'll try to cancel another card and try.

 

[Kush]

I have already have an IRCTC account with ID password. can I link it with existing account or I will need to create another one ?

 

[RaviAglRaviAgl is verified member.]

I have already have an IRCTC account with ID password. can I link it with existing account or I will need to create another one ?

Following detail must exactly match with your credit card detail -

First and Last Name
Date of Birth
Gender
Email id
Mobile number

If yes, then you can link it with your irctc user id.

If no, then you can go to your user profile in irctc and change them. Only email id and mobile number are editable. Other details cannot be changed.

Thanks!!

 

[Kush]

Thank you. Also may I know so we get the Loyalty account number printed on the premier card or gas tobe requested separately?

Thank you

 

[cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.]

Nowadays irctc have started showing redeem points on the top of payments page itself. No need to go inside any option to redeem points. It's just there in front of the page.

 

[Beyond]

Since I wasn't travelling all that much by train (and HDFC Infinia gives comparable reward points via smartbuy from train travel), I asked to change my SBI IRCTC premier card to something else. They could provide no option. So I put in a request to cancel the card. Got a call, I explained the reasons, and they made it lifetime free.

Hmm. I already hold 3 cards, was hoping to surrender this, and apply for BPCL High Octane card. I guess I'll try to cancel another card and try.

What were your spend on this card and how much old the card was at that moment?