Credit card spending rules

Blueprint for Every Level

Expected annual spend < Rs. 5 lakhs

• Online spends: SBI cashback
• Offline spends, utility bill (via google pay on android): Axis Ace
• Amazon spend after breaching SBI cashback limit : ICICI Amazon Pay

Expected annual spend Rs. 5–10 lakhs

• Travel bookings i.e. direct airline/hotel via website or offline, or Axis Edge portal: Axis Atlas
• Other online spends: SBI cashback
• Other offline spends: Axis Atlas

If you use wallets for a lot of payments — especially Amazon Pay, then the Amex Gold charge card can further bump up the reward rate

Use your Amex Gold charge card to do 6 transactions of Rs. 1000 each on Amex Gyftr portal to purchase Amazon pay gift cards:

• 6.7% savings on redeeming Amex MR points as cashback (statement credit)
• 10% savings on redeeming Amex MR points as Amazon pay voucher via 18k Gold collection
• 15–25% savings on redeeming Amex MR points as Marriot Bonvoy points

Expected annual spend Rs. 10–15 lakhs

• HDFC Smartbuy portal purchases (travel booking via aggregators, instant vouchers for amazon, swiggy, etc.) : HDFC Infinia/Diners Black
• Travel bookings i.e. direct airline/hotel via website or offline, or Axis Edge portal: Axis Atlas
• All other spends: Axis Atlas

Expected annual spend Rs. 15–25 lakhs

• HDFC Smartbuy portal purchases (travel booking via aggregators, instant vouchers for amazon, swiggy, etc.) : HDFC Infinia
• Travel bookings i.e. direct airline/hotel via website or offline, or Axis Edge portal: Axis Atlas
• For all other spends: either Axis Atlas or Axis Vistara Infinite based on spend thresholds
  - Axis Atlas: sweet spot of annual spend is INR 7.5 lakhs upto a max of INR 15 lakhs
  - Axis Vistara Infinite: sweet spot of annual spend is INR 7.5 lakhs upto a max of INR 12 lakhs

Expected annual spend Rs. 25 lakhs+

• HDFC Smartbuy portal purchases (travel booking via aggregators, instant vouchers for amazon, swiggy, etc.) : HDFC Infinia
• Travel bookings i.e. direct airline/hotel via website or offline, or Axis Edge portal: Axis Atlas
• Amazon pay gift cards to pay insurance /utility bills etc.: Amex Trifecta (Platinum travel, Gold, MRCC)
• For all other spends: either Axis Atlas, Axis Vistara Infinite, or Amex Platinum travel based on spend thresholds
  - Axis Atlas: sweet spot of annual spend is INR 7.5 lakhs upto a max of INR 15 lakhs
  - Axis Vistara Infinite: sweet spot of annual spend is INR 7.5 lakhs upto a max of INR 12 lakhs
  - Amex Platinum Travel: sweet spot of annual spend is INR 4 lakhs