For regular business travelers, utilizing credit card rewards is an intelligent means to cut down travel expenses and improve experiences. In this review, we compare the Axis ATLAS Credit Card and the Magnus Burgundy Credit Card on a monthly spend of ₹2.5 lakhs, keeping in mind the conversion of rewards into Accor Live Limitless (ALL) points.
This situation is perfect for those who would like to maximize travel rewards through reward conversions with a strategic plan.
Axis ATLAS Credit Card
Monthly Spend: ₹2.5 Lakhs
Reward Structure:
Earn Rate: 5% of spend in Edgemiles
Edgemiles Earned: ₹2.5 Lakhs × 5% = 11,000 Edgemiles
Bonus Milestone:
Extra 2,500 Edgemiles on achieving ₹3 Lakhs monthly spend
(Not applicable unless spend is upgraded to ₹3 Lakhs)
Total Edgemiles with ₹3L Spend:
13,500 Edgemiles
Conversion to Accor:
1 Edgemile = 2 Accor Points
13,500 Edgemiles = 27,000 Accor Points
Monetary Value:
1 Accor Point ≈ ₹1.80
27,000 Accor Points = ₹48,600
Effective Return:
₹48,600 / ₹2,50,000 = 19.4%
Magnus Burgundy Credit Card
Monthly Spend: ₹2.5 Lakhs
Reward Structure:
Earn Rate: 14 Edge Rewards per ₹200 spent
Base Edge Rewards = 17,500 Points
Travel Bonus:
5X Edge Rewards on eligible travel/partner spends
Total Edge Rewards with 5X = 68,000 Points
Conversion to Accor:
Conversion Rate: 5 Edge Rewards = 4 Accor Points
68,000 Edge Rewards = 54,400 Accor Points
Monetary Value:
1 Accor Point ≈ ₹1.80
54,400 Accor Points = ₹97,920
Annual Fee Consideration:
Annual Fee = ₹35,000
Applicable to non-Burgundy users
Net Value = ₹97,920 - ₹35,000 = ₹62,920
Effective Return:
₹62,920 / ₹2,50,000 = 25.2%
Conclusion: Which Card Offers Better Value?
Even considering the annual fee of ₹35,000 on the Magnus card, it gives a much superior effective return of 25.2% vs 19.4% using Axis ATLAS. For those on Axis Burgundy who have a fee waiver, the Magnus card value further increases.
Key Takeaways:
Magnus Burgundy is more suitable for high travel spends, especially when utilized for partner or travel-based transactions.
Axis ATLAS provides solid value with straightforward and predictable reward but is behind in terms of returns.
If your monthly spend is consistently around ₹2.5 Lakhs and your goal is to maximize returns through travel related rewards, especially within the Accor ecosystem, the Magnus Burgundy Credit Card is the more rewarding choice. However, for those who value a more straightforward rewards model and may not qualify for fee waivers, Axis ATLAS still provides compelling value.