In the competitive world of credit cards, AU Bank has set a new standard with its Zenith+ Credit Card. With a plethora of benefits, including milestone rewards, domestic and international airport lounge access, golf games and lessons, meet and greet services, and a fuel surcharge waiver, this premium offering is poised to redefine your credit card experience.
Unveiling the AU Bank Zenith Plus Credit Card
AU Bank’s latest addition to its credit card portfolio, the Zenith Plus Credit Card, comes with a joining fee of Rs 4,999 plus GST. The interesting part is that you receive luxury gift vouchers worth Rs 5,000 in lieu of the joining fee, making it an enticing proposition right from the start. This credit card offers a competitive reward rate of 1% to 2% along with a host of lifestyle benefits, such as airport lounge access, golf games, and airport meet and greet services. Let’s delve deeper into the world of the AU Bank Zenith+ Credit Card.
Fees and Charges – Zenith+ Credit Card Review
Joining Fee: Affordable Luxury
- Joining Fee: Rs 4,999 + GST (~Rs 5,899)
- Joining Fee Waiver: None
- Welcome Benefit: Rs 5,000 Luxury Gift Voucher or 5,000 Reward Points (RP)
- Annual Fee: Rs 4,999 + GST (~Rs 5,899)
- Annual Fee Waiver: Rs 8 Lakhs Spend
Remarkably, despite its name as Zenith+, this card boasts a lower fee compared to the Zenith card. While it’s unclear whether AU Bank will extend a lifetime free (LTF) offer to government/MCC employees, given its impressive benefits, a nominal fee appears justified.
Rewards – Getting the Most out of Your Spends
Rewarding Every Rupee
- All Spends: 1 RP/Rs 100 (~1% Return)
- Travel and Dining Spends: 2 RPs/Rs 100 (~2% Return)
- International Spends: 2 RPs/Rs 100 (~2% Return)
- Excluded Spends for Rewards: Fuel and EMI Transactions
For a premium credit card, the return may seem relatively modest. However, the AU Bank Zenith+ Credit Card truly shines when you consider the benefits it offers, which we’ll explore further.
Additionally, Zenith+ boasts a low forex markup of 0.99% for international transactions, ensuring a favorable return on international spending, even after accounting for forex fees.
Milestone Rewards – Reaching New Heights
- Earn 1,000 RPs on spending Rs 75,000 in a statement month (~1.3% return)
- Enjoy a Complimentary Epicure Membership on Rs 12 Lakhs retail spends in a card anniversary year
Rewards Redemption – The Power of Your Points
The reward points earned with the Zenith+ Credit Card can be redeemed through the AU Rewardz portal, where each RP holds a value of Rs 1. The redemption options include:
- Vouchers: A wide array, including Amazon Pay gift vouchers
- Merchandise: Not the most recommended option, as better value can be found elsewhere
- Mobile/DTH Recharge
- Flight/Hotel/Bus Booking
- Movies
Complimentary Airport and Railway Lounge Access – Travel in Style
- Airport Lounges within India: 4 complimentary visits/quarter directly on the Visa card to a select list of lounges
- Airport Lounges outside India: 4 complimentary visits/quarter
- Complimentary Airport Meet and Greet
- If you’ve become accustomed to the complimentary airport meet and greet services offered by Axis Magnus, you’ll be pleased to know that the Zenith+ Credit Card provides the same perk, offering one complimentary meet and greet service per quarter.
Other Benefits and Charges – More Than Just Rewards
- Movie Tickets: Enjoy 16 complimentary BOGO movie tickets per year (max 4 per calendar quarter with a cap of Rs 500 per ticket)
- Golf: Get 8 complimentary golf lessons or games per year (max 2 per calendar quarter)
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Benefit from a 1% waiver up to Rs 1,000 per statement cycle
- Forex Markup: A competitive 0.99% + GST (~1.17%)
Final Thoughts – Zenith+ Credit Card: The Premium Choice
In summary, the AU Bank Zenith+ Credit Card offers a compelling proposition at a fee of Rs 4,999 + GST. When factoring in the joining and renewal benefits of 5,000 Reward Points, the effective fee is a mere Rs 900. For this nominal fee, cardholders enjoy a myriad of benefits, including airport lounge access, meet and greet services, movie tickets, and even golf games. With these complimentary perks, the AU Bank Zenith+ Credit Card proves to be a superior choice compared to the Zenith card. If the opportunity arises, we highly recommend upgrading to the Zenith+ Credit Card for an enhanced credit card experience.