Super-Premium RuPay EKAA Card Features [Details Inside]

We’ve finally got our hands on the full details of RuPay EKAA, launched during GFF 2025 by NPCI. It’s a super-premium network-level credit card variant offering elevated lifestyle, travel, and wellness privileges. Multiple banks are set to issue cards under this variant. 

After EKAA was officially introduced, specific cards began appearing in partner banks’ portfolios; examples include the Union Bank Metal Int Nexteria RuPay EKAA card. 

Rupay EKAA Credit Card Details

Most Anticipated Cards on the EKAA Network 

• Kotak White Reserve RuPay EKAA Card
• BOI Celestia RuPay EKAA Card
• NPCI RuPay EKAA Card
• PNB Luxura RuPay EKAA Card
• CRED Sovereign Credit Card
• Union Bank Metal Int Nexteria RuPay EKAA Card

Features in Detail

1. Hotels, Wellness & Dining

• Stay two, get the third night free at participating ITC Premium hotels when you book via concierge and pay with the EKAA card.
• One-plus-one spa therapy (60 mins) at ITC Hotels between 10:00–20:00 hrs, multiple redemptions possible during the stay. 
• One-plus-one set-menu offers at signature ITC Restaurants (e.g., Avartana, Dum Pukht, Peshawri) usable multiple times a year. 
• Complimentary HoteLux Elite Plus membership (12 months), with benefits like room upgrades (subject to availability), flexible check-in/out, complimentary breakfast, spa/dining credits. 

2. Travel and Visa-Related Privileges

• One Vasco visa concierge services: visa submission assistance, document support, appointment setting, and fast-track immigration. 
• Expected access to airport lounges (both domestic and international) across issuers in this EKAA tier.

3. Entertainment, Sports and Other Lifestyle Perks

• BookMyShow buy-one-get-one free movie tickets monthly (up to ₹500 per ticket; value beyond limit to be paid by cardholder). 
• Complimentary golf course access and golf lessons from trained golf professionals. 

How EKAA Compares To Existing Premium Cards?                    

What is Still Undisclosed

• Annual fees / joining fees for EKAA cards across different banks (expectation ranges in premium segment) 
• Spend thresholds for fee waiver or rewards multipliers, if applicable
• Exact count of free lounge access segments (number, domestic vs international)
• Terms and availability for EKAA card issuance—eligibility, credit score, etc.

What This Means for Cardholders? 

For consumers interested in high-end credit cards, RuPay EKAA provides a unified premium offering that works across issuers but delivers consistent network-level benefits. 

If you frequently travel, stay at partner hotels, enjoy premium dining, or seek visa assistance, EKAA could offer value comparable to international premium cards.

However, it will be critical to compare the fees and spending required versus the benefits in your city/state, and to understand redemption processes. Where issuers put EKAA out, and how accessible the perks are in practice, may differ.

Our Personal View

EKAA appears to be NPCI’s strategy to move RuPay into the super-premium tier that has long been occupied by international networks. 

By offering network-level privileges rather than issuing-bank features alone, RuPay may streamline benefits and reduce fragmentation. Yet, success will depend heavily on execution: service availability, ease of redemption, and clearly stated costs.

RuPay EKAA is a development worth watching for premium credit card users. If you want consistently strong lifestyle, travel, and wellness perks without switching networks or relying on co-brands, EKAA could be a suitable choice, once full terms are revealed. Before applying, demand disclosure of annual fees, lounge access limits, and the process for activating perks such as the HoteLux membership.