Verified 2026 Bank MITC Rules & RBI ExclusionsUpdated: 2026-03-01
Ixigo AU Credit Card vs ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card for ₹15,000 Monthly Spend
Comparing Ixigo AU Credit Card vs ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card at ₹15,000/month. Ixigo AU Credit Card wins, delivering ₹3,082 net annual value (1.71% ROI) vs ₹-3,352 for ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card.
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₹15,000(₹1,80,000/yr)
₹10,000/mo₹1,00,000/mo₹2,50,000/mo
Winner at ₹15,000/mo+ ₹6,434/yr Higher Value
Ixigo AU Credit Card
Delivers ₹3,083 net annual returns (1.71% ROI) vs -₹3,351 on ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card.
Card A
Ixigo AU Credit Card
AU Small Finance Bank
₹3,083Net Annual Benefit
Gross Rewards:₹3,083/yr
Effective Fee (incl. GST):Waived (₹0)
Net ROI on Spend:1.71%
Card B
ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card
ICICI Bank
-₹3,351Net Annual Benefit
Gross Rewards:₹779/yr
Effective Fee (incl. GST):₹4,130
Net ROI on Spend:-1.86%
Fee Waiver Progress (6L target):30%
2-Card Optimization HackMaximize Trapped / Capped Spend
+₹1,800/year Extra YieldPair Ixigo AU Credit Card + SBI Cashback Credit Card
Pair Ixigo AU Credit Card with SBI Cashback Credit Card to capture up to ₹1,800/yr extra on zero-reward categories.
Routes excluded categories:Utility & Offline Spends
Detailed 12-Category Rupee Breakdown (@ ₹15,000/mo)
| Spend Category | Monthly Spend | Ixigo AU Credit Card | ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon, Flipkart & Myntra Shopping | ₹3,750/mo | ₹94 (2.5%) | ₹19 (0.5%) |
| Scan & Pay Merchant UPI | ₹2,250/mo | ₹28 (1.25%) | ₹11 (0.5%) |
| Electricity, Water, Gas & Broadband Bills | ₹1,800/mo | ₹23 (1.25%) | ₹5 (0.25%) |
| Swiggy, Zomato & Dining Out | ₹1,800/mo | ₹45 (2.5%) | ₹9 (0.5%) |
| Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart & Supermarkets | ₹1,500/mo | ₹38 (2.5%) | ₹8 (0.5%) |
| Petrol & Diesel at Fuel Stations1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000, capped at ₹150/cycle | ₹1,200/mo | 0% Excluded | 0% Excluded |
| Flights, Hotels & IRCTC Trains | ₹1,200/mo | ₹30 (2.5%) | ₹12 (1%) |
| LIC, Health & Term Insurance Premiums | ₹750/mo | 0% Excluded | ₹2 (0.25%) |
| House Rent & School/College FeesRent and educational payments are excluded from reward points accrual | ₹750/mo | 0% Excluded | 0% Excluded |
| International Travel & Forex SpendsZero 0% markup fee on foreign currency transactions; 1% dynamic currency conversion fee applies if settled in INR | ₹0/mo | ₹0 (1.25%) | ₹0 (1%) |
| Gold, Silver & Jewelry Purchases | ₹0/mo | ₹0 (0%) | ₹0 (0%) |
| Income Tax, GST & Challan Payments | ₹0/mo | ₹0 (0%) | ₹0 (0%) |
| Net Annual Benefit | ₹1,80,000/yr | +₹3,082 | +-₹3,352 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card is better between Ixigo AU Credit Card and ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card for ₹15,000/month?▼
At ₹15,000/month (₹180,000/year), Ixigo AU Credit Card mathematically outperforms ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card by ₹6,434/year. Ixigo AU Credit Card delivers ₹3,082 net annual benefit (1.71% effective yield), while ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card returns ₹-3,352 (-1.86% effective yield).
Will the annual fee be waived at ₹15,000 monthly spend?▼
On an annual spend of ₹180,000: Ixigo AU Credit Card annual fee is waived (₹0). ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card annual fee is payable at ₹4,130 (incl. 18% GST).
How do reward caps impact the earnings on both cards?▼
At this spend tier, Ixigo AU Credit Card loses ₹0/year to monthly cashback caps, while ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card loses ₹0/year. Ixigo AU Credit Card remains uncapped at this spend. ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card remains uncapped at this spend.
What is the breakeven monthly spend between Ixigo AU Credit Card and ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card?▼
Ixigo AU Credit Card maintains superior net value across all standard monthly spend brackets between ₹15,000 and ₹2,00,000.