Completed one year with Axis Atlas. Time for an honest review since there's a lot of hype around this card.
Net Benefit: ₹1,57,300
Rating: 8.5/10
Excellent card IF you know how to use it. The airline transfer game is real and Atlas enables it beautifully.
This card is a no-brainer.
But if you want simple cashback or don't travel much, there are better options (Flipkart Axis, Amazon ICICI, etc.)
YES. Already planning next year's redemptions.
Target: Transfer to British Airways for Bangalore-London business (saved 60K miles for this).
Questions welcome! Happy to help anyone optimize their Atlas usage.
To the KrisFlyer question: Availability is surprisingly good.
Booked my BLR-SIN-BLR with just 3 weeks notice. Business class had 4 seats available.
Singapore has one of the better award programs. Don't worry.
Disagree on the forex markup.
Still not great but not "highway robbery" when you factor in rewards.
For large forex spends, sure use zero markup card. But for small purchases, the 10 miles/₹200 makes up for some of it.
This review is too positive. Here's the negative take:
My experience (also 1 year):
Feeling: Paid ₹11,800 for uncertain future value.
I'm cancelling Atlas next year.
For normal people, cashback > miles.
Don't let the hype fool you. Calculate YOUR value, not theoretical maximum value.
Milestone strategy tips:
I hit ₹12.5L naturally but planned some annual purchases strategically.
DON'T manufacture spend unnecessarily. Only worth if you'll hit milestone organically or close to it.
The ITC Gold tier mention is GOLD (pun intended).
Nobody talks about this enough!
Stayed at ITC Bangalore and ITC Chennai. The breakfast alone paid for a big chunk of AF.
If you travel domestically for work, this benefit is massive.
Honest question: Why Atlas over Magnus?
Only downside is higher AF. But if you're hitting spend anyway, Magnus seems superior?
Can you share the actual BLR-SIN-BLR business class booking process?
Thinking of doing the same route!
Atlas vs Magnus breakdown:
I chose Atlas because 60% of my spend is travel/dining. The accelerated 20 miles/₹200 is unbeatable for my pattern.
Magnus gives better base but Atlas gives better category multipliers.
Different cards for different spend patterns.
The "Edge Rewards portal is clunky" point is SO TRUE.
Why is the UX from 2010? Axis is a huge bank!
The backend (actual transfer ratios, partners) is GREAT.
The frontend (user experience) is TRASH.
Axis PLEASE fix this!
BLR-SIN-BLR KrisFlyer booking details:
Availability:
I booked 2 months in advance. Saw 4 seats available on my dates. Seems like Singapore has decent award availability especially to/from India.
10/10 would do again. This is the whole point of the Atlas card IMO.
Great review! One correction: Lounge visits don't reset quarterly.
You get 8 visits per year (Jan-Dec), not quarterly.
Don't want others to expect 12 and be disappointed.
Source: Called Axis customer care to confirm.
For the ₹7L guy trying to hit ₹10L:
DON'T do it.
Spending ₹3L in 2 months just for 10K milestone miles is STUPID.
Opportunity cost analysis:
If you put that ₹3L in FD at 7% for 2 months = ₹3,500 interest
If you invest in liquid fund at 6% = ₹3,000
You're manufacturing spend for marginal benefit. Not worth it unless the spends were coming anyway.
This is the trap credit card companies want you in. Don't fall for it.
Unpopular take: The welcome bonus is underwhelming.
10K Edge miles = ₹10K value (best case)
AF = ₹11,800
Net first year: -₹1,800 just from fee
You need to be smart about spends and redemptions to make this card worth it.
Not a "instant value" card like Flipkart Axis (₹500 voucher + cashback from day 1).
Atlas is a long game card. Rewards compound over time.
The dining accelerated rewards are INSANE for foodies.
Just from EATING!
If you're someone who dines out regularly (not Swiggy, actual restaurants), Atlas is incredible value.
The 20 miles per ₹200 on dining is legitimately the best in market.
Singapore KrisFlyer transfer is the way.
But also check out British Airways Avios for short-haul redemptions:
The 5:4 transfer ratio is still excellent value for these.
Vistara shut down so that partner is dead. Focus on Singapore and British Airways.
Don't sleep on Emirates either (5:4) if you're booking long-haul First Class.
Question about renewals:
Does the annual fee get charged exactly after 1 year? Or at end of billing cycle?
My issue date was 15 Feb 2024. When will I be charged ₹11,800 for year 2?
Want to plan my milestone spends accordingly.
Fee charges on anniversary date.
If card issued 15 Feb 2024, AF for year 2 will be charged on 15 Feb 2025.
You can request them to waive if you hit ₹10L in that year (1 Feb 2024 - 31 Jan 2025 likely).
But milestone is calendar year (Jan-Dec) not card year!
So plan accordingly. I got caught by this - milestone reset on 1 Jan, not my card anniversary.
Axis milestone = calendar year
AF charge = anniversary date
They're different! Plan both.
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This is THE review I was looking for. Thank you!
Quick question: How difficult is Singapore KrisFlyer availability?
I have 80K Edge miles planning to transfer but worried about award seat availability. Your experience?
Question: What's your strategy for hitting ₹10L milestone without overspending?
I'm at ₹7L with 2 months left in my year. Struggling to organically hit ₹10L.