HSBC Taj costs ₹1,10,000 + GST and is built around Taj hotels. Axis Burgundy Private is free at ₹5 crore TRV with zero forex markup. We compare fees, rewards, lounges and Taj benefits.
Quick Verdict
TheHSBC Taj Credit Cardand theAxis Bank Burgundy Private Credit Card(Axis calls it "Burgundy Private – The One Card") are both built for very high earners. But they solve different problems.
The HSBC Taj Credit Card is aTaj loyalty card. You pay ₹1,10,000 plus GST every year, and in return you get stay vouchers, NeuPass Platinum status, Taj lounges, spa, dining and room upgrades across IHCL hotels.
The Axis Burgundy Private card is aprivate banking relationship card. It is complimentary if you keep a Total Relationship Value (TRV) of ₹5 crore with Axis, and it offers zero forex markup, unlimited lounges, 54 golf rounds a year and a lower interest rate.
The simple rule: if Taj hotels are your second home, the HSBC Taj card can return its fee. If you spend a lot abroad and already park ₹5 crore with Axis, Burgundy Private is the stronger everyday card.
Before choosing, check:
how many nights and meals you actually spend at Taj, SeleQtions, Gateway and Vivanta hotels
your yearly international card spend
whether you can keep ₹5 crore TRV with Axis
whether your city and income fit HSBC's eligibility list
whether you need lounge access for add-on cardholders and guests
Benchmarksutra Score: HSBC Taj 63/100 — C Tier · Burgundy Private 71/100 — B Tier
Apply with Axis Bank:Check eligibility and apply for an Axis Bank credit card on the official Axis Bank website
Disclosure: this is an affiliate link. BenchmarkSutra may earn a commission if you apply through it, at no extra cost to you. It does not change our analysis.
The Two Cards at a Glance
Feature | HSBC Taj Credit Card | Axis Burgundy Private Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
Joining fee | ₹1,10,000 + GST, charged after activation | Complimentary for Burgundy Private clients |
Annual fee | ₹1,10,000 + GST on each anniversary | Nil if TRV of ₹5 crore is kept; ₹1,00,000 + GST if TRV falls below ₹5 crore (effective 1 September 2026) |
Network (as listed) | Visa Infinite | Not stated on the card page; check with Axis |
Base earn | 1.5 reward points per ₹100 | 15 EDGE REWARD points per ₹200 |
Accelerated earn | 5 reward points per ₹100 at Taj, SeleQtions, Gateway, Vivanta and amã Stays & Trails | No hotel-specific accelerator listed |
Point value | 1.5 points = ₹1 in the Taj Credit Card Wallet | Depends on redemption; Axis lists dynamic partner transfer ratios |
Forex markup | 3.5% (as per HSBC's MITC) | Zero forex markup |
Airport lounges | Unlimited globally; Priority Pass unlimited for international lounges (primary cardholder) | Unlimited domestic and international for primary and add-on cardholders, plus 12 guest visits |
Hotel programme | NeuPass Taj InnerCircle Platinum tier, vouchers and IHCL privileges | Complimentary Club Marriott, Accor Plus Explorer and Taj Epicure memberships |
Golf | 12 complimentary games and lessons a year | 50 domestic + 4 international rounds or lessons a year |
Interest rate | 3.75% per month (45% a year) | From 1.5% per month, as listed by Axis |
New to fee terms? ReadAnnual Fee vs Joining Feefirst.
Fees and the Real First-Year Cost
This is where the two cards are least alike.
HSBC Taj:the joining fee of ₹1,10,000 is charged after activation, and the same annual fee applies on each anniversary. HSBC's MITC adds applicable taxes. At 18% GST, that is ₹1,29,800 a year. Add-on cards carry no joining or annual fee.
Axis Burgundy Private:the card is free while your TRV with Axis stays at ₹5 crore or more (demat holdings excluded). Axis checks TRV in the month before your card anniversary. If it is below ₹5 crore, a fee of ₹1,00,000 plus GST is charged in the anniversary month. Axis says this fee was revised from ₹50,000, effective 1 September 2026.
Scenario | HSBC Taj yearly cost | Axis Burgundy Private yearly cost |
|---|---|---|
TRV with Axis above ₹5 crore | ₹1,29,800 (₹1,10,000 + 18% GST) | ₹0 |
TRV with Axis falls below ₹5 crore | ₹1,29,800 | ₹1,18,000 (₹1,00,000 + 18% GST) |
There is no spend-based waiver listed for either card. For HSBC Taj, the fee is the price of the Taj package. For Axis, the "fee" is really the cost of keeping ₹5 crore in Axis deposits and investments.
Eligibility
HSBC Taj Credit Card
HSBC's product page lists these requirements:
age 25 to 75 years
Indian resident (or an existing HSBC India bank account for NRIs)
annual income of at least ₹36 lakh if salaried, or ₹45 lakh if self-employed
residence in one of 21 listed cities, including Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Kochi
Note: HSBC's MITC PDF still shows higher thresholds (₹40 lakh salaried, ₹60 lakh self-employed), a shorter city list and says the card is offered on an invite basis. The product page and MITC do not match, so confirm the current rule with HSBC before applying.
Axis Burgundy Private Credit Card
you must be a Burgundy Private client
the card can be availed only on meeting the TRV requirement of ₹5 crore (excluding demat)
TRV can include savings, current and term deposits, plus mutual funds, life insurance premium, PMS, AIF drawdowns, RBI bonds, PPF and NPS held through Axis
TRV can be counted at Customer ID or Family ID level
In short: HSBC Taj is gated by income and city. Burgundy Private is gated by how much money you keep with Axis.
Welcome and Renewal Benefits
Benefit | HSBC Taj | Axis Burgundy Private |
|---|---|---|
On activation | Two nights' breakfast-inclusive stays at hotels across India, plus a one-night stay at a Taj Palace | No welcome points; the 30,000 EDGE REWARD points welcome and annual benefit was discontinued from 20 April 2024 |
Limited-period extra | An extra one-night Taj Palace voucher, valid 6 months, with every new or renewed card, offer valid until 31 December 2026 | Not listed |
Memberships | NeuPass Taj InnerCircle Platinum tier | Club Marriott, Accor Plus Explorer, Taj Epicure and EazyDiner Prime |
HSBC's offer terms say the stay vouchers are credited within 8 working days of activation or renewal. The breakfast-inclusive stay vouchers do not work at Taj Palaces, Taj Safaris, Tree of Life, Ginger or amã Stays & Trails. The Palace voucher covers the base room category at listed palaces such as Rambagh Palace, Taj Lake Palace, Umaid Bhawan Palace and The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai.
For Axis, hotel memberships cannot be issued if you already hold an active membership with that hotel partner. From 15 November 2026, Axis says complimentary memberships will renew only with your explicit consent.
Reward Earn Rates and What They Are Worth
HSBC Taj
1.5 reward points per ₹100 on standard spends
5 reward points per ₹100 at Taj, SeleQtions, Gateway, Vivanta and amã Stays & Trails
1.5 points = ₹1 in your HSBC Taj Credit Card Wallet, usable for stays, food and beverages and spa at Taj and participating IHCL hotels
That works out to about1%on regular spends and3.33%on Taj spends, but only if you redeem at IHCL hotels.
HSBC excludes fuel, wallets, rent, education and government payments including tax, insurance, jewellery, cash, money transfers and some other MCCs from earning points. SeeWhy You Sometimes Earn Zero Reward Points.
Axis Burgundy Private
15 EDGE REWARD points per ₹200 spent
no points on EMIs, government institutions, gold and jewellery, fuel, utilities and telecom
rent earns points only on spends up to ₹1 lakh a month
insurance earns up to 6,000 points a month
conversion to partner points is capped at 15,00,000 EDGE REWARD points per Customer ID per calendar year
Axis does not publish a fixed rupee value for these points. It describes its Miles Transfer programme as having dynamic conversion ratios. So we show the value at different assumed rates below.
Worked example: ₹20 lakh of eligible spends a year
Card | Points earned | Value |
|---|---|---|
HSBC Taj, all regular spends | 30,000 | ₹20,000 in Taj wallet |
HSBC Taj, ₹17 lakh regular + ₹3 lakh at Taj hotels | 25,500 + 15,000 = 40,500 | ₹27,000 in Taj wallet |
Axis Burgundy Private | 1,50,000 EDGE REWARD points | ₹30,000 at an assumed ₹0.20 per point; ₹75,000 at an assumed ₹0.50 per point |
The per-point values for Axis are our assumptions for illustration, not Axis figures. Your actual value depends on the partner and ratio you use. To work out a fair value, use our guide oncalculating the real value of 1 reward point.
Taj and Hotel Benefits
This is the HSBC Taj card's home ground.
Taj benefit | HSBC Taj Credit Card | Axis Burgundy Private (Taj Epicure) |
|---|---|---|
Room rates | 25% off Best Available Rate at Taj and participating IHCL hotels; unlimited room upgrades to the next level | Stay vouchers for 20% off Best Available Rate at participating hotels, Taj Palaces and Taj Safaris |
Dining | 25% off food and beverages and Qmin deliveries; four set-meal vouchers for two | 25% off food and beverages; 25% off on Qmin |
Spa | 60-minute spa treatment up to 4 times a year, with sauna and steam | 20% off Jiva Spa treatments |
Lounges | The Chambers up to 12 times a year (with a guest); Taj Club Lounge up to 12 times a year | Not listed |
Status | NeuPass Taj InnerCircle Platinum, with early check-in, late check-out and 24/7 Platinum care | Epicure membership benefits only |
Other | Pool access for 2, up to 12 times a year; Rendezvous events | Also Club Marriott and Accor Plus Explorer memberships |
Two practical points from HSBC's offer terms: the 25% dining benefit is not valid on 1 January, 14 February and 24, 25 and 31 December, and you must carry the metal card for OTP verification at the hotel.
The Axis Epicure terms we found are an older Axis PDF. Confirm the current Epicure benefits with Axis before counting on them.
For more on Taj loyalty, seeTaj InnerCircle, NeuPass and oneworld Status Benefits.
Lounge Access
Point | HSBC Taj | Axis Burgundy Private |
|---|---|---|
Domestic | Unlimited airport lounge access, as listed on the product page | Unlimited for primary and add-on cardholders |
International | Priority Pass membership, unlimited visits in a calendar year | Unlimited via Priority Pass for primary and add-on cardholders |
Guests | Priority Pass facilities restricted to primary cardholders | 12 guest visits |
Axis has also changed how you enter lounges. From 28 August 2026, the Priority Pass card is not valid at domestic lounges in India. Use the Burgundy Private card itself with your boarding pass. Lounges at Indian international terminals after immigration still count as international and take Priority Pass.
For families who fly together, Axis is clearly better here because add-on cardholders get unlimited access and there are guest visits.
Forex Markup: The Biggest Money Gap
HSBC's MITC lists a 3.5% foreign currency transaction fee on the Taj card. Axis lists zero forex markup on the Burgundy Private card.
Yearly international spend | HSBC Taj markup (3.5%, before GST) | Axis Burgundy Private markup |
|---|---|---|
₹2,00,000 | ₹7,000 | ₹0 |
₹5,00,000 | ₹17,500 | ₹0 |
₹10,00,000 | ₹35,000 | ₹0 |
GST is normally charged on the markup as well, so the real gap is a little larger. If you spend ₹10 lakh a year abroad, the forex markup alone on HSBC Taj costs about a third of its annual fee.
Other Benefits
HSBC Taj
4 domestic + 4 international chauffeur-driven airport transfers a year
BookMyShow Buy 1 Get 1 on movies and events (up to ₹1,000 per ticket, twice a month)
50% off at Starbucks, up to ₹150, 4 times a month
15% off duty-free on the AdaniOne app (once a month, min ₹7,500, max ₹3,000)
14X reward points on select Apple products via the HSBC Unicorn portal (offer valid until 30 November 2026)
Axis Burgundy Private
up to 8 complimentary airport meet and assist services a year
24x7 concierge
no cash withdrawal charges, and no interest till the payment due date on cash withdrawals
BookMyShow: buy one and get up to ₹500 off a movie ticket or ₹1,000 off a non-movie ticket
1% fuel surcharge waiver on ₹400 to ₹4,000, up to ₹400 a month
health benefits: specialist second opinions, diagnostics and wellness coaching
Axis also charges 1% on wallet loads of ₹10,000 or more, fuel of ₹50,000 or more, utilities of ₹25,000 or more and gaming of ₹10,000 or more per statement cycle, and on education payments via third-party apps.
Interest and Charges
HSBC charges 3.75% a month (45% a year) on revolving balances and cash advances. Axis lists a rate from 1.5% a month for Burgundy Private.
At this level, neither card should be revolving a balance. But if you ever carry one, Axis is far cheaper. Readwhy paying only the minimum amount due is dangerous, and try thecredit card interest calculator.
Worked Example: Two Real Profiles
Profile 1: The Taj regular
Spends ₹25 lakh a year, including ₹4 lakh at Taj hotels. Spends ₹2 lakh abroad.
Item | HSBC Taj |
|---|---|
Annual fee with GST | −₹1,29,800 |
Points: ₹21 lakh × 1.5% + ₹4 lakh × 5% | 31,500 + 20,000 = 51,500 points = ₹34,333 |
25% off ₹4 lakh Taj spend (assuming it all qualifies) | ₹1,00,000 |
Forex markup on ₹2 lakh | −₹7,000 |
Net before vouchers | about −₹2,467 |
Add the stay vouchers, upgrades, spa and lounge benefits you actually use, and this profile comes out ahead. The discount assumption matters most: not every Taj bill gets the full 25%.
Profile 2: The global traveller with ₹5 crore at Axis
Spends ₹25 lakh a year, ₹8 lakh of it abroad. Rarely stays at Taj.
Axis Burgundy Private: ₹0 fee, ₹0 forex markup, 1,87,500 EDGE REWARD points
HSBC Taj: ₹1,29,800 fee, ₹28,000 forex markup before GST, and points usable only at IHCL hotels
Here Burgundy Private wins easily.
Who Should Pick Which?
Your situation | Better pick |
|---|---|
You stay and dine at Taj often and want NeuPass Platinum | HSBC Taj |
You spend heavily abroad | Axis Burgundy Private |
You already keep ₹5 crore with Axis | Axis Burgundy Private |
Your family flies with you and needs lounges | Axis Burgundy Private |
You play golf often | Axis Burgundy Private |
You want a simple, fixed point value | HSBC Taj (1.5 points = ₹1 at Taj) |
You do not use Taj hotels and do not bank with Axis | Neither; compare other cards first |
UseHow to Compare Credit Cards in IndiaandIs the Annual Fee Worth It?to run your own numbers.
HSBC Taj vs Burgundy Private Benchmarksutra Score
We rate every card on the same fixed 100-point framework, using official bank data. See how the Benchmarksutra Credit Card Score works.
Scoring Category | Maximum Points | HSBC Taj | Burgundy Private |
|---|---|---|---|
Reward Value | 20 | 10 | 13 |
Fee Value | 15 | 8 | 11 |
Redemption Quality | 10 | 6 | 7 |
Use-Case Fit | 15 | 14 | 14 |
Eligibility & Accessibility | 10 | 3 | 1 |
Benefits & Perks | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Hidden Costs & Conditions | 10 | 5 | 7 |
Bank & User Experience | 10 | 7 | 8 |
Total Benchmarksutra Score | 100 | 63/100 | 71/100 |
HSBC Taj Credit Card: 63/100 — C Tier
Built for heavy Taj/IHCL users: NeuPass Platinum, 25% off rooms and dining, unlimited upgrades.
The ₹1,29,800 yearly cost (with GST) has no spend waiver; vouchers and discounts must recover it.
Points are worth a fixed ₹0.67 each but only at IHCL; 3.5% forex hurts abroad.
Hard to get: ₹36 lakh+ income, 21 cities, and the MITC still describes invite-only issuance.
Axis Bank Burgundy Private Credit Card (Burgundy Private – The One Card): 71/100 — B Tier
Zero forex markup and interest from 1.5% a month make it the strongest card here for foreign spend.
Unlimited lounges for primary and add-on cardholders, 12 guest visits and 54 golf rounds a year.
Only for Burgundy Private clients with ₹5 crore TRV; the fallback fee doubled to ₹1 lakh + GST from 1 Sep 2026.
No welcome points since April 2024, and EDGE point value depends on dynamic transfer ratios.
Scores reflect official terms as of 4 November 2026. Banks can change fees, rewards and conditions, so check the latest terms before applying.
Benchmarksutra Verdict
These are not really rivals. They are two different ways of paying for luxury.
The HSBC Taj Credit Card works if:
you spend several nights and many meals a year at IHCL hotels
you will use the vouchers, upgrades, spa and Taj lounges
most of your spending is in India
The Axis Burgundy Private card works if:
you already keep ₹5 crore TRV with Axis
you travel abroad often
you want broad lounge, golf and hotel memberships rather than one hotel group
Final rule: pay ₹1,29,800 a year only if you can count at least that much in Taj benefits you would have paid for anyway. Choose Burgundy Private only if the ₹5 crore relationship makes sense on its own.
You may also want to readHSBC Serve: Complimentary Padel and Pickleball Bookings(Taj cardholders are eligible) andAxis Bank Privilege Credit Card Lifetime Free Offer.
Apply with Axis Bank:Check eligibility and apply for an Axis Bank credit card on the official Axis Bank website
Disclosure: this is an affiliate link. BenchmarkSutra may earn a commission if you apply through it, at no extra cost to you. It does not change our analysis.
FAQs
What is the annual fee of the HSBC Taj Credit Card?
₹1,10,000 plus applicable taxes as joining fee (after activation), and the same on each anniversary.
Is the Axis Burgundy Private Credit Card free?
Yes, for Burgundy Private clients who keep a TRV of ₹5 crore or more. Below that, ₹1,00,000 plus GST applies from 1 September 2026.
Which card has lower forex charges?
Axis Burgundy Private, with zero forex markup. HSBC's MITC lists 3.5% for the Taj card.
How much are HSBC Taj reward points worth?
1.5 points = ₹1 in the Taj Credit Card Wallet, usable at Taj and participating IHCL hotels.
How many points does Axis Burgundy Private earn?
15 EDGE REWARD points per ₹200, with exclusions for fuel, utilities, telecom, jewellery, government payments and EMIs.
Does Axis Burgundy Private give welcome points?
No. Axis discontinued the 30,000-point welcome and annual benefit from 20 April 2024.
Which card gives Taj Palace stays?
HSBC Taj. It gives a one-night Taj Palace stay on activation, plus an extra Palace voucher with every new or renewed card until 31 December 2026.
Can add-on cardholders use lounges?
On Axis Burgundy Private, yes, unlimited. On HSBC Taj, Priority Pass facilities are restricted to primary cardholders.
What income do I need for HSBC Taj?
HSBC's product page lists ₹36 lakh (salaried) or ₹45 lakh (self-employed). The MITC shows higher figures, so confirm with HSBC.
What is the Benchmarksutra view?
HSBC Taj for heavy IHCL users. Axis Burgundy Private for heavy international spenders who already bank big with Axis.
Official Sources and Editorial Note
Data checked as of: 4 November 2026
HSBC Taj Credit Card product page (fees, eligibility, benefits, earn rates)
https://www.hsbc.bank.in/credit-cards/products/taj/
HSBC Taj Important Terms and Conditions (MITC: fees, forex, interest)
HSBC Taj MITC (PDF)
HSBC Taj Vouchers and Benefits Terms
HSBC Taj offer T&Cs (PDF)
HSBC Taj Airport Lounge Terms
HSBC Taj lounge T&Cs (PDF)
Axis Bank Burgundy Private – The One Card page
https://www.axis.bank.in/burgundy-private/the-one-card
Axis Bank Burgundy Private eligibility criteria
https://www.axis.bank.in/burgundy-private/eligibility-criteria
Axis Bank revision of Burgundy Private – The One Card terms (fee, lounge and membership changes)
Burgundy Private T&C revision (PDF)
Axis Bank Burgundy Private rewards programme terms
BP rewards T&Cs (PDF)
Axis Bank Burgundy Private revised terms (EDGE REWARD and welcome benefit changes)
BP revised T&Cs (PDF)
Axis Bank Epicure membership terms for Burgundy Private
Taj Epicure T&Cs (PDF)
Important source note:
This article is based only on official HSBC India and Axis Bank pages and documents. It does not quote or rely on third-party wording. Spend profiles, the 25% Taj discount use and per-point values for EDGE REWARD points are our illustrative assumptions.
Editorial note:
Fees, eligibility, earn rates, hotel benefits and offer dates can change. HSBC's product page and MITC currently show different income thresholds. Always confirm the latest terms with HSBC and Axis Bank before applying.
