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AXIS BANK mastercard Magnus Burgundy BURGUNDY-RELATIONSHIP SUPER PREMIUM

Axis Bank · Mastercard · Super-premium

Magnus Credit Card for Burgundy

Super-premium invite-only — the Burgundy carve-out that retained the 5:4 transfer ratio.

Super-premium Invite-only Mastercard
Annual fee
₹35,400all-in
Base earn
6% → 17.5%
Best redemption
₹1.20per RP

Updated April 2026 · Last verified

At a glance

Strengths
  • 5:4 transfer ratio preserved on Burgundy (vs 5:2 on vanilla Magnus)
  • Up to 17.5% effective return at AEP tier with peak redemption
  • 10 lakh RP annual transfer cap (2× vanilla Magnus)
  • Unlimited Priority Pass for primary cardholder
  • Club ITC at 5:4 — best hotel transfer on any Indian card in 2026
Weaknesses
  • ₹35,400 annual fee — needs ₹30L spend to waive
  • AEP capped at credit limit + ₹1.5L per month since June 2025
  • 8 devaluations in 2.5 years; partners removed without notice
  • Silent downgrade if Burgundy relationship lapses
  • Excluded categories include fuel, rent, utilities, insurance

Who can get this card?

Magnus Burgundy is invite-only. You must hold an active Axis Bank Burgundy relationship, which is established by meeting any one of the following:

The lifetime-free application window closed on 31 January 2024. Since 1 February 2024 the card carries a ₹30,000 + GST joining fee. As of April 2026, direct card applications are routinely rejected — the accepted path is to apply for vanilla Magnus first, then request an upgrade to Magnus Burgundy through your relationship manager after 2–3 months of usage.

How does the earn structure work?

EDGE Reward Points are earned in three tiers depending on where and how much you spend in a calendar month. The tiers stack — once you cross ₹1,50,000 of eligible non-portal spend, additional spend that month earns at the accelerated rate.

12 RP / ₹200
Base rate
6%peak
First ₹1.5L of monthly eligible spend
35 RP / ₹200
Accelerated (AEP)
17.5%peak
Above ₹1.5L · capped at credit limit + ₹1.5L
60 RP / ₹200
Travel EDGE portal
30%peak
Up to ₹2L portal spend / month

The most common mistake on this card is assuming Travel EDGE portal spend counts toward the ₹1.5L AEP threshold. It does not — booking ₹1.5L through the portal earns 60 RP per ₹200 on those bookings but leaves the AEP bucket at zero, so retail spend that month earns at the base rate. A more efficient mix is ₹50K Travel EDGE + ₹1L through the GiftEdge voucher portal, which fills the AEP threshold and unlocks 35 RP per ₹200 on everything else.

Excluded — earns zero rewards
Fuel · rent · wallet loads · insurance premiums · utility bills · government and tax payments · education · MCC 6051 quasi-cash. Rent above ₹50,000 per month also incurs a 1% + GST fee.
Tool
Plan your spend across every category
See exactly which routing rule earns the most on Magnus Burgundy — including AEP threshold mechanics, Travel EDGE portal traps, and excluded categories.
Open optimizer

What are EDGE points actually worth?

EDGE Reward Points have a 6× value spread depending on how you redeem. The same 1,70,000 RP balance is worth ₹34,000 as gift vouchers, ₹2,04,000 as Club ITC hotel points, or ₹4,00,000+ as KrisFlyer business-class miles. Choosing the right redemption path matters more than earning more points.

Redemption value per EDGE RP
₹0.20 Gift vouchers
₹1.20 Club ITC (5:4)
₹3.00+ KrisFlyer J class

Same point, three orders of magnitude difference in value

Tool
Open the Magnus Burgundy points calculator
Rank all 17 redemption paths against your actual RP balance, including the ITC → Marriott bridge.
Open calculator

What other benefits come with the card?

Lounge access · domestic
Unlimited via Priority Pass
Primary cardholder only. 4 guest visits per year (down from 8 in April 2024).
Spend gate: ₹50,000 in the previous 3 months required to activate access
Lounge access · international
Unlimited via Priority Pass
Primary cardholder only. 4 guest visits per year (down from 8 in April 2024). Add-on cards not covered.
Airport transfers
4 meet-and-assist per year
Domestic airports only. Cut from 8 per year in April 2024.
Dining
EazyDiner Prime (1 year)
50% off up to ₹3,000 during birthday week, 30% off up to ₹1,000 outside it. Auto-activated; renews annually if card stays active.
Welcome offer
₹5,000 voucher + EazyDiner Prime
Yatra / Luxe / PostCard via Thriwe portal. Modelled effective value ₹4,500 net (vs ₹7,000 face). Upgraders from vanilla Magnus are not eligible for the voucher.
Forex markup
2.0%
Standard for super-premium cards. Travel EDGE portal bookings denominated in INR avoid this.

Operational risks worth knowing

Magnus Burgundy carries several non-obvious risks that can quietly erode value or block access entirely. The most important ones:

Silent downgrade if Burgundy relationship lapses
If your AQB drops, salary stops landing at Axis, or TRV falls below the threshold, the card may silently revert to vanilla Magnus — same fee, 5:2 ratio, 5L annual transfer cap. No notification is sent. Confirm relationship status with your RM annually before peak redemption activity.
Burgundy Private upgrade may default-downgrade the card
Upgrading from Burgundy to Burgundy Private tier has historically default-downgraded the Magnus Burgundy card. Get card retention confirmed in writing before accepting a Burgundy Private upgrade.
Partners removed without notice
Axis removed Accor, Marriott Bonvoy and Qatar Airways on 1 April 2026 with no public notice. Don't stockpile EDGE RP — transfer to partners as soon as a specific redemption is confirmed.
Points lapse on missed payments
Since 1 October 2025, EDGE RP lapse if minimum amount due is unpaid for 90 or more days. Points also expire 36 months after earning, and 30 days after card closure.
Lounge access spend gate
Domestic lounge access requires ₹50,000 spend on the card in the previous 3 months (rolling). Drop below and the lounge will deny access at the gate.

How often has this card been devalued?

Magnus Burgundy has been devalued 8 times in 2.5 years since launch. Most changes have been communicated with minimal or zero notice. The full timeline:

2 Apr 2026
Accor Live Limitless, Marriott Bonvoy, Qatar Airways removed from transfer partners entirely. British Airways, Finnair Plus, Vietnam Airlines added at the worse 5:2 ratio. No prior notice.
1 Oct 2025
EDGE RP forfeiture rule introduced — points lapse 30 days after card closure or if minimum amount due unpaid for 90+ days.
1 Aug 2025
Dining Delights restructured. Burgundy retains the EazyDiner Prime birthday benefit; vanilla Magnus dropped from the HNI tier.
20 Jun 2025
AEP capped at (credit limit + ₹1.5L) per month. Exclusions migrated from MCC-based to category-name-based, tightening enforcement. Rent above ₹50K/month excluded from AEP threshold counting.
1 May 2024
Domestic unlimited lounge access becomes spend-gated on ₹50,000 in the previous 3 months (rolling window).
20 Apr 2024
Insurance, gold/jewellery, fuel added to earn exclusions. Group A (2L) / Group B (8L) sub-caps introduced. BookMyShow BOGO and 24/7 concierge discontinued. Meet-and-assist and guest lounge visits both halved (8 → 4 per year).
31 Jan 2024
Lifetime-free application window closed. From 1 February 2024 onwards, ₹30,000 + GST joining fee required.
1 Sep 2023
Launched as the Burgundy carve-out of vanilla Magnus. Retained 5:4 transfer ratio, 10L RP annual cap. Lifetime-free until 31 January 2024.

Pattern to note. Axis has devalued Magnus Burgundy roughly every 6–9 months since launch. Do not stockpile EDGE RP — transfer to partners as soon as a target redemption is confirmed. Overnight removal of partners is the norm, not the exception.

How does it compare to similar cards?

Magnus Burgundy sits in a crowded super-premium tier alongside its own non-Burgundy sibling and two market alternatives. The honest comparison:

Magnus Burgundy Vanilla Magnus HDFC Infinia Metal Amex Plat Charge
Annual fee (all-in) ₹35,400 ₹11,800 ₹14,750 ₹71,400
Fee waiver threshold ₹30L spend ₹15L spend ₹10L spend None
Transfer ratio 5:4 (most partners) 5:2 across the board 1:1 (Diners platform) 1:1 typical
Annual transfer cap 10L RP 5L RP None None
Best redemption / RP ₹1.20 (Club ITC) ₹0.60 (Club ITC at 5:2) ₹0.33 (SmartBuy 5X) ₹1.50 (Taj InnerCircle)
Required relationship Burgundy None None (income gated) None

Magnus Burgundy wins on per-RP value at peak redemption and on transfer ratio preservation. HDFC Infinia has a wider partner network and a much easier fee waiver. Amex Platinum Charge has a richer welcome bonus but costs 2× more annually and limits offline acceptance to Amex-friendly merchants.

Who is this card actually for?

Strong fit
  • Burgundy wealth-management clients spending ₹2L+ per month who fly business class internationally 2–3 times a year. AEP plus 5:4 transfers to KrisFlyer or Aeroplan delivers 10–15% net ROI.
  • ITC Hotels regulars staying 5–8 nights per year at ITC Grand Chola, Grand Central or Gardenia. Club ITC transfers at 5:4 are the single best hotel redemption on any Indian card in 2026.
  • HNI couples with add-on structures who can route ₹3L+ combined monthly spend through one Magnus Burgundy account, saturating AEP across multiple months.
Weak or poor fit
  • Sub-₹1.5L per month spenders never trigger AEP and earn at the 6% base rate only. The ₹35,400 fee eats most of the value.
  • Cashback preferrers who don't actively manage point transfers see value collapse to the ₹0.20 voucher floor.
  • Fuel-and-utility-heavy spenders have most of their spend excluded from earning entirely.
  • Anyone without Burgundy relationship eligibility — apply for vanilla Magnus instead at one-third the fee.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a Magnus Burgundy card?
You need an active Axis Bank Burgundy relationship. Eligibility requires any one of: ₹10L average quarterly balance in a Burgundy savings account, ₹30L total relationship value (deposits + investments), ₹1Cr TRV including demat assets, or ₹3L per month salary credit into an Axis account. Once Burgundy-eligible, request the card through your relationship manager. As of April 2026, direct applications are routinely rejected — the accepted path is to apply for vanilla Magnus first, then upgrade to Magnus Burgundy after 2–3 months of usage.
Is the ₹35,400 annual fee worth it?
If you spend at least ₹1.5 lakh per month on the card AND transfer points to Club ITC or airline partners, yes — net ROI typically lands between 7% and 14%. If you spend less than ₹1.5L per month or redeem for vouchers and statement credit, no — the voucher floor of ₹0.20 per RP barely covers the annual fee. The card rewards active point management; passive holders capture a fraction of the value.
What's the difference between Magnus Burgundy and vanilla Magnus?
Magnus Burgundy retained the 5:4 transfer ratio to most airline and hotel partners, while vanilla Magnus was degraded to 5:2 in April 2024. Burgundy also has a 10 lakh annual transfer cap (vs 5 lakh on vanilla) and kept the Dining Delights HNI tier. The fee is 3× higher (₹30,000 vs ₹10,000 plus GST). Burgundy requires an active Burgundy banking relationship; vanilla Magnus has no such prerequisite.
What is the AEP and how does it work?
AEP stands for Accelerated Earn Programme. Spend above ₹1,50,000 in a calendar month earns 35 RP per ₹200 (17.5% effective at peak redemption) instead of the base 12 RP per ₹200 (6% effective). It is a marginal slab, not a threshold flip — the first ₹1.5L always earns at base rate; only spend above that threshold gets the boost. Travel EDGE portal spend does NOT count toward the ₹1.5L threshold, which is the most common mistake users make.
Why was Marriott Bonvoy removed as a transfer partner?
Axis removed Marriott Bonvoy (alongside Accor and Qatar Airways) on 1 April 2026 without public explanation. The ITC → Marriott bridge (via Club ITC's 2:3 transfer ratio to Bonvoy, capped at 10K ITC points per quarter) remains operational — 50,000 EDGE RP per year can still reach Marriott indirectly at a net effective rate of 1 EDGE RP to 1.2 Marriott points, which is actually better than the previous direct transfer.
Do EDGE Reward Points expire?
Yes — 36 months from the end of the billing cycle in which they were earned. Points also lapse 30 days after card closure, or if the minimum amount due is unpaid for 90 or more days (a rule introduced October 2025). Partner programmes have their own expiry rules; for example, Club ITC points expire 12 months after the last earning or redemption activity. Don't stockpile EDGE RP — Axis has a track record of removing partners without notice.
What happens if I lose my Burgundy status?
The card may silently downgrade to vanilla Magnus — same ₹30,000 annual fee, but with the worse 5:2 transfer ratio and 5 lakh annual transfer cap (vs 10 lakh on Burgundy). No notification is typically sent when this happens. Confirm your relationship status with your RM annually before any major redemption activity, especially if you've recently moved deposits or salary credits away from your Axis account.
How does the lounge access work?
Unlimited domestic and international lounge access for the primary cardholder via Priority Pass. Domestic lounge access is gated on ₹50,000 spend in the previous 3 months (rolling) — drop below that and access is suspended for the month. 4 guest visits per year each for domestic and international (down from 8 per year before April 2024). Add-on cardholders are not covered by either lounge benefit.
Should I upgrade to Burgundy Private tier?
Be careful — upgrading the underlying Burgundy relationship to Burgundy Private may default-downgrade the Magnus Burgundy card itself. Always confirm card retention in writing with your relationship manager before accepting a Burgundy Private upgrade. The card was originally designed as a Burgundy carve-out and the upgrade interaction has caused user issues in 2025 and 2026.

Sources and methodology

This review draws on Axis Bank's official EDGE Rewards documentation, Most Important Terms and Conditions PDFs published April 2026, and corroborated community research from Indian credit card forums and discussion communities. Earn-rate worked examples assume the post-June-2025 AEP cap and post-April-2026 transfer partner list. Hotel and airline redemption value ranges reference partner award charts published in 2026; airline ceiling values reflect documented sweet spots and assume award availability.

For sector context, see the RBI Financial Stability Reports, which track credit card outstandings growth across Indian issuers. Industry-wide mile valuations reference research published by IATA. Card art and product specifications are verified against the official Axis Bank product page. Community discussion and lived-experience reports from r/CreditCardsIndia and other Indian credit card forums inform the operational risk and edge-case sections.