Priority Pass
State Bank of India
Club Vistara Prime
The Vistara SBI Prime is in a high-transition phase following the 2025 Air India merger. While the iconic Premium Economy renewal tickets have been discontinued, the card now offers a waived ₹2,999 renewal fee and a new ₹10,000 Yatra hotel voucher at the ₹8 lakh milestone, pivoting it from a "free flight" card to a "premium stay" powerhouse.
Direct link to the issuer's website. Terms apply — verify current offer with the bank.
Data last updated 31 May 2026.
At a Glance
Annual Fee
Nil
Joining Fee
₹2,999
Fee Waiver
N/A
Lounge Access
See details
Forex Markup
3.5%
Effective Yield
2% – 3.25%
Our Take
The Vistara SBI Prime is in a high-transition phase following the 2025 Air India merger. While the iconic Premium Economy renewal tickets have been discontinued, the card now offers a waived ₹2,999 renewal fee and a new ₹10,000 Yatra hotel voucher at the ₹8 lakh milestone, pivoting it from a "free flight" card to a "premium stay" powerhouse.In 2026, this card serves as a bridge to the Air India Maharaja Club. While the "free ticket" milestones are gone for new renewals, you still earn a solid 4 Maharaja Points per ₹200 on all spends. An unbiased review must highlight the January 2026 lounge overhaul: its 8 domestic visits are now categorized under "Set B," requiring a ₹2 authorization but maintaining access to major terminals. The real value now lies in the 4 international Priority Pass visits and the 1.99% forex markup, which remains one of the lowest in the SBI stable. However, be wary of the April 2026 redemption rule, which restricts point-to-cash conversions to multiples of 4,000.
Pros
- Maharaja Club Silver Status: Automatically grants Silver Tier status in the unified Air India loyalty program. This unlocks priority waitlist clearance and extra baggage allowance (10kg) across all Air India-operated flights, providing a smoother travel experience than standard economy.
- The 2026 'Auto-Waiver' Benefit: To retain cardholders during the airline merger transition, SBI is waiving the ₹2,999 renewal fee for almost all eligible users. For *CreditGully* readers, this effectively turns a premium travel card into a 'Lifetime Free' (LTF) product for the 2026–27 cycle.
- High-Velocity 'Maharaja Point' Accrual: Earns 4 Maharaja Points (formerly CV Points) for every ₹200 spent. In the unified ecosystem, these points now have broader utility for redemptions across the global Star Alliance network, from Air Canada to Lufthansa.
- Superior Lounge Quota: Offers 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year (max 2 per quarter) and 4 international visits via Priority Pass. While many other SBI cards moved to a 'Set B' (restricted) list in early 2026, the Vistara Prime remains in the premium 'Set A' list.
- Hotel & Milestone Vouchers: Grants a ₹10,000 hotel e-voucher (via Yatra/Pantaloons) upon reaching an annual spend of ₹8 Lakhs. This provides a tangible 'staycation' reward that replaces the old flight ticket milestone, helping justify the card for high-spenders.
Cons
- The 'Ticket Voucher' Sunset: As of April 1, 2025 (and fully enforced in 2026), the card no longer provides a complimentary Premium Economy ticket on renewal. Furthermore, all spend-based ticket milestones (at ₹1.5L, ₹3L, ₹4.5L) have been completely removed.
- Punitive 'Dead Category' Policy: In line with SBI’s 2026 unified rewards policy, zero Maharaja Points are earned on Fuel, Rent, Insurance, Utilities, and Government payments. These high-value 'mandatory' spends also do not count toward milestone targets.
- The 4,000-Point Redemption Hurdle: Effective April 1, 2026, any point-to-statement-credit redemption is restricted to multiples of 4,000 points. This creates a 'liquidity lock' for low-spenders who may find it harder to use their points for small cashbacks.
- Quarterly Lounge Spend Barrier: Access to the 8 domestic lounges is now strictly gated. You must have spent at least ₹50,000 in the previous calendar quarter to unlock your visits, which may catch casual travelers off guard at the lounge entrance.
- High 3.5% Forex Markup: Despite its 'Global Traveler' status, the card carries a heavy 3.5% + GST forex markup. For international shopping or foreign hotel stays, users will find it significantly more expensive than 0% or 0.99% markup rivals like Scapia or AU Zenith+.
Earning & Redemption
How You Earn
| Category | Reward rate | Yield % | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Retail Spends (including Fuel) | 4 Maharaja Points per ₹200 | 2.00% - 3.00% | No Upper Cap on base earning |
| Excluded Categories | No Points Earned | 0.0% | — |
Milestone Rewards
| Spend | Benefit | Value | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹8 Lakh | Hotel Voucher0 pts | ₹10,000 | Earn a ₹10,000 Yatra.com Hotel E-Voucher upon reaching ₹8 Lakhs annual spend. |
| ₹3 Lakh | Fee Waiver0 pts | ₹2,999 + GST Savings | New 2026 Rule: The renewal fee is automatically waived for cardholders under the 'Voucher-less' regime. |
Redemption Value
| Channel | Value per point | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Maharaja Club (Award Flights) | ₹1.00 - ₹1.50 per point1:1 Ratio | Best Value (Redeem for Air India, Vistara, or Star Alliance partner flights) |
Reward Exclusions
Excluded Transactions: Cash Advance, Balance Transfer, Encash, and Flexipay do not earn CV Points.
Welcome Offer
Welcome Ticket (temporarily discontinued)
1 complimentary Premium Economy Class Ticket voucher on payment of joining fee.
Hotel Gift Voucher (temporarily discontinued)
A Hotel Gift Voucher worth ₹ 3,000 from select partners upon joining.
Activation Bonus (temporarily discontinued)
3,000 CV Points on spending ₹ 75,000 within 90 days of card issuance.
Lounge Access
Priority PassDomestic Lounge Access
8 complimentary visits per year to domestic airport lounges, limited to maximum 2 visits per quarter.
International Lounge Access
Complimentary Priority Pass membership with 4 complimentary visits per year to international lounges (max 2 per quarter).
Travel Benefits
Club Vistara Base Earnings
4 CV Points for every ₹ 200 spent on all categories including fuel.
Vistara Membership (temporarily discontinued/outdated)
Complimentary Club Vistara Silver Tier membership.
Milestone Benefits
Hotel Voucher Milestone
Additional Hotel Gift Voucher from Yatra worth ₹ 10,000 on reaching annual spends of ₹ 8 Lakh.
Additional Features
Insurance Cover
Air accident cover up to ₹ 1 Crore and Lost Card Liability cover up to ₹ 1 Lakh.
Fees & Charges
| Fee Type | Amount / Details |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹2,999 |
| Annual / Renewal Fee | Nil |
| Fee Waiver Threshold | N/A |
| Forex Markup | 3.5% |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% surcharge |
Eligibility Criteria
Age
Primary cardholder must be between 18 and 70 years of age.
Income
Subject to SBI Card's internal credit criteria and income requirements.
Applications paused for Club Vistara Prime
This card is not currently accepting new applications. Check back later.
Annual fee
Nil
2% – 3.25% yield