BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card vs IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card
How BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card and IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card compare on fees, rewards and eligibility — verified as of June 2026.
By NexMaxo Editorial Team · Terms verified June 2026
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Quick take
Neither is lifetime-free: BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card costs ₹2,500 + GST joining and annual fee (annual fee waived on ₹3 lakh annual spend) and IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card costs ₹500 + GST joining fee; ₹500 + GST annual/renewal fee (no spend-based waiver advertised) — both waivable on spend, so the rewards decide it.
BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card — better for frequent etihad airways flyers who want a lower-fee co-branded card that earns etihad guest miles on every spend plus international lounge access and a low 1% forex markup.
IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card — better for frequent train travellers who book on the irctc website/app and want railway-lounge access plus a transaction-charge waiver on rail tickets.
Side by side
| BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit CardBOBCARD (Bank of Baroda) | IRCTC RBL Bank Credit CardRBL Bank | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹2,500 + GST joining and annual fee (annual fee waived on ₹3 lakh annual spend) | ₹500 + GST joining fee; ₹500 + GST annual/renewal fee (no spend-based waiver advertised) |
| Reward rate | 3 Etihad Guest Miles per ₹100 on Etihad Airways spends; 1 mile per ₹100 on all other domestic and international spends. Welcome: base 2,500 miles, plus a limited-time offer (until 30 Jun 2026) of up to 7,500 bonus miles (5,000 on ₹25,000 + 2,500 on ₹50,000 spend within 60 days). | 5 RP/₹200 on IRCTC train tickets; 3 RP/₹200 on FASTag/NCMC; 2 RP/₹200 on IRCTC flights/hotels/tourism; 1 RP/₹200 on other select spends. 1 RP = ₹1 when redeemed on IRCTC. |
| Lifetime-free | No | No |
| Network | Visa | RuPay |
| Eligibility | Age approx 21-60 years; minimum income approx ₹18 lakh per annum (aggregator-sourced); salaried or self-employed Indian residents | approx: salaried/self-employed adults (age ~21-65); specific minimum income not published by RBL/aggregators |
| Best for | Frequent Etihad Airways flyers who want a lower-fee co-branded card that earns Etihad Guest Miles on every spend plus international lounge access and a low 1% forex markup. | Frequent train travellers who book on the IRCTC website/app and want railway-lounge access plus a transaction-charge waiver on rail tickets. |
BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card
- 3 Etihad Guest Miles/₹100 on Etihad spends; 1 mile/₹100 on all other domestic and international spends
- 8 domestic (2/quarter) + 4 international (1/quarter) complimentary lounge visits per year
- Low 1% forex markup; complimentary Etihad Guest Silver tier on first transaction within 6 months
IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card
- 5 RP per ₹200 on IRCTC train tickets; 3 RP/₹200 on FASTag/NCMC recharge; 2 RP/₹200 on IRCTC flights & hotels; 1 RP/₹200 on other spends (1 RP = ₹1 on IRCTC)
- 8 complimentary IRCTC Executive railway lounge visits per year (max 2 per quarter, primary cardholder only; guests chargeable)
- 1% IRCTC train-booking transaction-charge waiver on transactions up to ₹5,000, capped at ₹200/month (reversed in next statement)
BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card vs IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card — FAQs
Neither is universally better. BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card suits frequent etihad airways flyers who want a lower-fee co-branded card that earns etihad guest miles on every spend plus international lounge access and a low 1% forex markup. IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card suits frequent train travellers who book on the irctc website/app and want railway-lounge access plus a transaction-charge waiver on rail tickets. Compare the annual fee and reward rate above against your own spending — that's what decides it.
Neither is lifetime-free: BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card costs ₹2,500 + GST joining and annual fee (annual fee waived on ₹3 lakh annual spend) and IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card costs ₹500 + GST joining fee; ₹500 + GST annual/renewal fee (no spend-based waiver advertised) — both waivable on spend, so the rewards decide it. On rewards, BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card gives 3 etihad guest miles per ₹100 on etihad airways spends (1 mile per ₹100 on everything else), with a low 1% foreign-currency markup. whereas IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card gives 5 reward points per ₹200 on irctc train ticket bookings (1 rp = ₹1 on irctc), i.e. ~2.5% value back on rail tickets.
BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card: ₹2,500 + GST joining and annual fee (annual fee waived on ₹3 lakh annual spend). IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card: ₹500 + GST joining fee; ₹500 + GST annual/renewal fee (no spend-based waiver advertised). Both fees can usually be waived on annual spend — check the thresholds on each issuer's page.
This is an informational comparison, not financial advice. Card terms change often — confirm current fees, rewards and eligibility on each issuer's official page before applying. Pay your bill in full to avoid interest.