ZeroScapia vs ixigo AU Credit Card: Which is Best for Travelers?
Zero forex markup cards are the absolute gold standard for international transactions. Here, we match the fully co-branded Scapia Credit Card (issued by Federal Bank/BOBCARD) against the ixigo AU Small Finance Bank Credit Card. Both claim 0% markup fees, but their travel benefits, reward structures, lounge thresholds, and annual pricing rules diverge significantly.
Card Profiles Comparison
Scapia Credit Card
Lifetime Free · 0% Forex
ixigo AU Credit Card
₹999/yr · 0% Forex
Feature Comparison Matrix
| Feature | Scapia Credit Card | ixigo AU Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing Bank | Federal Bank / BOBCARD | AU Small Finance Bank |
| Annual / Joining Fee | ₹0 (Lifetime Free) | ₹999 + GST (Waived on ₹1L annual spend) |
| Forex Markup | 0% | 0% |
| Base Reward Rate | 2% net on Visa (10% coins); 1% on RuPay | 0.5% - 1% on retail spends |
| Travel Booking Multiplier | 4% net (20% coins) in Scapia App | Up to 10% instant discounts on ixigo |
| Airport Lounge Access | Unlimited domestic (₹20,000 monthly spend milestone) | 16 domestic airport lounges / yr + 1 international |
| Railway Lounge Access | None | 2 visits per calendar quarter (8 / yr) |
| UPI Credit Capability | Yes (Companion virtual RuPay variant) | No (Issued only on Visa rail) |
Pros and Cons Breakdown
Scapia Advantages
- 100% Lifetime Free without spending conditions
- Flexible issuing partners (Federal & BOBCARD)
- Companion RuPay card for merchant UPI payments
- Unlimited domestic airport lounge access upon reaching spend milestone
- Intuitive in-app travel booking engine
ixigo AU Advantages
- Railway lounge access across major Indian railway hubs
- Includes international airport lounge visits (1 per year)
- Direct instant fare discounts on ixigo flight and hotel bookings
- Low foreign transaction reward points continue to accrue abroad
Final Verdict: Which Card Should You Pick?
Choose Scapia if: You want a completely lifetime-free card for all your international travels, love using UPI scan-and-pay on credit rails, and spend at least ₹20,000 a month to unlock unlimited domestic airport lounge access.
Choose ixigo AU if: You frequently travel by Indian Railways and value executive railway lounge access, regularly book through the ixigo app, or want international lounge access bundled with a zero-forex card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ixigo AU credit card free?
It carries a ₹999 + GST joining and annual fee. The first-year joining fee is waived by spending ₹1,00,000 within the first year.
Do international transactions on Scapia earn rewards?
No, Scapia does not award Scapia Coins on international spends, though it continues to offer a 0% forex markup.
Does the ixigo AU card have a RuPay UPI variant?
No, the co-branded card is issued exclusively on the Visa network, so it cannot be linked to UPI apps.