Travel Light, Earn Heavy from Credit Cards: Using Jupiter Edge+ for Travel
The Travel-Heavy, Reward-Light Reality I used to think I was pretty smart with my credit cards. Between my HDFC MoneyBack, Flipkart Axis, and SBI SimplySAVE, I covered almost every category: groceries, online shopping, and dining.But when I sat down one weekend with my monthly expense tracker, I realized something embarrassing: I was spending over ₹1.2…
The Travel-Heavy, Reward-Light Reality
I used to think I was pretty smart with my credit cards.
Between my HDFC MoneyBack, Flipkart Axis, and SBI SimplySAVE, I covered almost every category: groceries, online shopping, and dining.
But when I sat down one weekend with my monthly expense tracker, I realized something embarrassing:
I was spending over ₹1.2 lakh a year on travel — flights, hotels, cabs — and earning next to nothing from it.
No flight points. No lounge benefits. No travel cashback.
It was like taking the same flight every month and leaving a ₹500 note behind each time.
That’s when I started hunting for a true all-rounder travel card, one that didn’t need premium fees or high spends. And that search led me to the Jupiter Edge+ RuPay Credit Card.
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My Life in Numbers (Before Edge+)
Here’s what my monthly expenses typically look like:
Category | Avg. Monthly Spend | Annual Value |
Travel (Flights, Hotels, Cabs) | ₹10,000 | ₹1,20,000 |
Groceries | ₹8,500 | ₹1,02,000 |
Dining / Food Delivery | ₹6,500 | ₹78,000 |
Fuel & Commute | ₹5,000 | ₹60,000 |
Shopping / E-commerce | ₹11,000 | ₹1,32,000 |
Bills / Utilities | ₹8,500 | ₹1,02,000 |
Miscellaneous | ₹8,500 | ₹1,02,000 |
Total Monthly: ~₹58,000–₹60,000
Total Annual: ~₹7 lakh
That’s a pretty average profile for a double-income, middle-class couple in Pune.
And yet, despite ₹7 lakh in annual spending, my rewards rarely crossed ₹8,000–₹9,000 a year.
What My Old Cards Got Wrong
Card | Strength | Weakness |
HDFC MoneyBack | 2% cashback on online spends | Poor offline returns, limited travel perks |
Flipkart Axis | 4% cashback on Flipkart/Myntra | No travel benefits, no lounge access |
SBI SimplySAVE | 10x points on dining & groceries | Capped rewards, clunky redemption, no travel benefits |
They each worked well in silos — but none gave a combined reward ecosystem.
I wanted one card that could reward me across:
- Flights
- Hotels
- Groceries
- Dining
- Online shopping …without needing an annual fee north of ₹5,000.
Enter Jupiter Edge+: One Card for Everything
The Jupiter Edge+ (RuPay) card caught my eye because it wasn’t marketed as “premium” — it was practical.
A card designed for people who don’t have a corporate travel desk or an AMEX Platinum, but still travel often and shop online regularly.
Here’s what it offers on paper:
- 10% cashback (up to ₹1,500/month) on online shopping
– Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Nykaa, Ajio, etc. - 5% cashback (up to ₹1,000/month) on travel bookings
– MakeMyTrip, Yatra, EaseMyTrip, Cleartrip - 1% cashback on all other spends (uncapped)
- Free 1-year Amazon Prime (worth ₹1,499)
- Lifetime free after ₹1L annual spend
- UPI on Credit — pay via Google Pay / PhonePe using RuPay
- Instant statement credit cashback (no confusing points)
That means even if I’m paying for a cab via UPI QR, I’m technically earning with my credit line.
My Real-World Travel Basket Test
I used the card for two billing cycles (March & April 2025) to test its actual performance.
Here’s what happened.
Month 1: Business + Leisure Mix
- Flights to Delhi & Bangalore: ₹9,500
- Hotel bookings on MMT: ₹6,500
- Amazon + Myntra shopping: ₹8,000
- Groceries + Dining: ₹10,000
- Bills + Fuel: ₹7,000
Category | Spend | Cashback % | Cashback ₹ |
Travel (MMT, Yatra) | ₹16,000 | 5% | ₹800 |
Online Shopping | ₹8,000 | 10% | ₹800 |
Groceries/Dining | ₹10,000 | 1% | ₹100 |
Fuel + Bills | ₹7,000 | 1% | ₹70 |
Total Cashback | ₹1,770/month (~3.5%) |
Not bad — and far better than the ₹900–₹1,000 I used to earn with my HDFC/Axis combo.
Month 2: Light Travel, Heavy Shopping
- Flights: ₹5,000
- Amazon Great Indian Festival: ₹18,000
- Dining: ₹6,000
- Utilities + Groceries: ₹10,000
Category | Spend | Cashback ₹ |
Shopping (10%) | ₹18,000 | ₹1,500 (cap hit) |
Travel (5%) | ₹5,000 | ₹250 |
Dining/Groceries (1%) | ₹10,000 | ₹100 |
Utilities/Fuel (1%) | ₹8,000 | ₹80 |
Total Cashback | ₹1,930/month (~4%) |
So in two months, I earned ~₹3,700 cashback + ₹1,499 Prime value. If I maintain this pattern for a year, that’s ₹22,000+ total annual benefit — with zero annual fee after ₹1L spend.
Why It Works Perfectly for My Lifestyle
- Domestic Traveler-Friendly: My MakeMyTrip and Cleartrip bookings directly trigger 5% cashback. I don’t need to route via a “portal” like SmartBuy.
- Online Shopping Power: Every Amazon or Myntra sale hits the 10% slab, allowing you to effortlessly max out at ₹1,500/month.
- Groceries + UPI Magic: Even my BigBasket or Blinkit orders via UPI link back to the same card. So I’m getting cashback on groceries and QR payments — something my Visa and Mastercard couldn’t do.
- No Guesswork Rewards: Cashback is auto-applied to my next bill. I don’t convert points, chase portals, or read redemption fine print.
Numbers Don’t Lie: Edge+ vs My Other Cards
Category | HDFC MoneyBack | Flipkart Axis | SBI SimplySAVE | Jupiter Edge+ |
Travel | 2% via SmartBuy | 1.5% | 0 | 5% |
Online Shopping | 2% | 4% (Flipkart only) | 1% | 10% (all major apps) |
Dining / Food | 2% | 1.5% | 4–5% | 1% (UPI + credit) |
Groceries | 2% | 1.5% | 4–5% | 1% |
Fuel | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% + QR ease |
Lounge Access | 1/qtr | 0 | 0 | Expected via RuPay tie-ups |
Annual Fee | ₹500 | ₹500 | ₹499 | ₹499 (waived @₹1L) |
Result:
Edge+ beats every card I own in travel, shopping, and simplicity.
Sure, SBI SimplySAVE gives 5% on dining, but the redemption friction cancels the joy.
A Few Watchouts
- Cashback Caps:
₹2,500/month total (₹1,500 shopping + ₹1,000 travel).
If your monthly spend crosses ₹60K+, you might outgrow it. - RuPay Acceptance Abroad:
Limited international acceptance for now. Use a Visa/Mastercard backup overseas. - Lounge Access (coming soon):
As of now, not confirmed — but likely to be added via NPCI tie-ups in 2025. - Fintech Card Adjustments:
Jupiter, like other fintechs, may tweak benefits later — best to recheck T&Cs annually.
My “Optimal Mix” Setup Now
Card | Purpose | Use |
Jupiter Edge+ | Primary | Travel, UPI, Amazon, general spends |
Flipkart Axis | Secondary | Flipkart/Myntra orders |
SBI SimplySAVE | Backup | Dining offers, grocery-only days |
I’ve completely phased out my HDFC MoneyBack. It simply doesn’t justify a slot in my wallet anymore.
Pro Tip: UPI on Credit = Hidden Cashback Goldmine
If you’re still wondering what “UPI on credit” means — it’s a game changer.
When I pay my milk vendor or a Zepto order using Google Pay → Credit Card (RuPay), I’m technically earning cashback using borrowed credit.
No other network except RuPay currently allows this in India.
That means the chai you buy, the Uber you take, and the petrol pump you scan — all count toward your cashback.
The Verdict: For the Everyday Indian Traveler
“Jupiter Edge+ is what middle-class India needed — not another shiny premium card, but one that rewards you for how you actually live.”
If you:
- Travel 3–5 times a year
- Spend ₹50K–₹60K/month
- Love instant cashback over reward points
- Use UPI daily
- Prefer simplicity over 10 overlapping cards
Then Jupiter Edge+ is not just worth adding — it’s worth upgrading to.
I’m now earning ~₹22K/year in combined value from a card that costs less than a Domino’s dinner.
Should You Get Jupiter Edge+?
Profile Type | Verdict |
Occasional traveler (2–3 trips/year) | ✅ Perfect — you’ll hit caps easily |
Frequent traveler (monthly flights) | ⚡ Great companion to premium card |
Online shopper (Amazon, Myntra, Flipkart) | 🚀 Massive cashback potential |
UPI-heavy spender | 💸 One of few cards that earns on QR payments |
International traveler | ❌ Not ideal (RuPay acceptance limited) |
Final Words
I didn’t get this card for prestige.
I got it because I wanted a simple way to earn on everything I already spend on — travel, groceries, fuel, QR payments, and Netflix bills.
And for the first time in years, I actually look forward to checking my statement each month.
Travel light. Earn heavy. Jupiter Edge+ makes it that simple.