Axis Bank Horizon vs BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card
A field-by-field comparison of fees, reward rates, accelerated categories, caps, exclusions, lounge access and forex markup, using each issuer's own published terms. Affiliate payout never decides the verdict.
Short answer
Axis Bank Horizon and BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card differ first on recurring cost: Axis Bank Horizon has an annual fee of ₹3,000 + GST against ₹2,500 + GST for BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card, so BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card is cheaper to hold. On rewards, Axis Bank Horizon earns 2 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on other eligible spend while BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card earns 1 Etihad Guest Mile per ₹100 on eligible domestic and cross-border spends. BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card has the lower forex markup at 1%. Neither card wins outright: the better choice depends on which accelerated categories match your spend, the monthly caps, the exclusions and issuer approval fit.
Source: CardMasters issuer-evidence catalogue, release 2026-08-25. Confirm final terms with the issuer.
| Feature | Axis Bank Horizon | BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Axis Bank | BOBCARD |
| Joining fee | ₹3,000 + GST | ₹2,500 + GST |
| Annual fee | ₹3,000 + GST | ₹2,500 + GST |
| Fee waiver | No waiver recorded | ₹3,00,000 annual eligible spend |
| Base rewards | 2 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on other eligible spend | 1 Etihad Guest Mile per ₹100 on eligible domestic and cross-border spends |
| Accelerated routes | Axis Travel EDGE and direct airline websites | 3 Etihad Guest Miles per ₹100 |
| Reward exclusions | fuel, rent, wallet load, insurance, utility, telecom, education, government, transportation, tolls | fuel |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 1% |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% fuel-surcharge waiver on ₹400–₹5,000 transactions, capped at ₹400 per statement cycle; GST is not reversed | 1% fuel surcharge waiver up to ₹250 per statement cycle on ₹500–₹5,000 transactions |
| Domestic lounge | 6/quarter on Mastercard World or 8/quarter on Visa Signature | 8/year (2/quarter) |
| International lounge | 2/quarter | 4/year (1/quarter) |
| Card networks | Visa Signature, Mastercard World | Visa |
| Best suited to | travel, flights, lounge | travel, international travel, air miles, low forex |
| Issuer evidence | Checked 2026-08-23 | Checked 2026-08-08 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Axis Bank Horizon better than the BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card?
Neither is universally better. Axis Bank Horizon charges ₹3,000 + GST a year and earns 2 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on other eligible spend; BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card charges ₹2,500 + GST and earns 1 Etihad Guest Mile per ₹100 on eligible domestic and cross-border spends. The better card is the one whose accelerated categories, caps and exclusions match your actual spending, after subtracting the annual fee and GST.
Which of the two has the lower annual fee, Axis Bank Horizon or BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card?
BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card has the lower recorded annual fee at ₹2,500 + GST. A spend-based waiver may reduce the effective cost of the other card, so check the waiver threshold before deciding.
Which is better for international spending, Axis Bank Horizon or BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card?
BOBCARD Etihad Guest Credit Card publishes the lower forex markup at 1% versus 3.5%. Also confirm whether international transactions earn rewards, since some issuers exclude them.
Can I hold both cards together?
Yes, provided each is approved on its own merits and you can pay both statements in full. Holding both makes sense only when their accelerated categories do not overlap; otherwise the second card adds an annual fee without adding rewards.