The Airtel Axis Credit Card has long been considered one of the most rewarding yet underrated cards in India—particularly for Airtel recharges and utility bill payments. Offering up to 25% cashback on Airtel spends and 10% on utilities, it built a loyal following among users who appreciated rewards in a category most cards exclude.

However, the card is now seeing a quiet devaluation. While it continues to claim a 10% cashback on utility payments, the convenience fee—previously 1.75%—has been raised to 2.24%. This means the actual net benefit now stands at 7.76%, after factoring in the increased fee.

Interestingly, cardholders have not been officially notified of this revision, even though the updated charges are already live.

Also read | KOTAK CREDIT CARD AIR MILES CAN NOW BE CONVERTED TO AIR INDIA MAHARAJA CLUB POINTS

This shift raises an important question: is this the beginning of a larger devaluation or additional charges for Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card users? Since most cardholders primarily use it for utility bill payments—offering limited transaction volumes and interest revenue—this could impact the long-term sustainability of its generous cashback structure.

That said, even at 7.76%, the effective cashback remains one of the highest in the market for utility bills, a segment where most cards offer no rewards at all. While some users use indirect methods like gift vouchers to earn points (typically capped at around 5%), the Airtel Axis Card still leads the pack.

Still, the silent hike in fees has undoubtedly dulled some of its earlier appeal, leaving users to wonder whether more changes might follow.

For more such updates, click here.