Club Vistara IDFC First Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Introduction

The Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card, issued by IDFC FIRST Bank, is positioned as a premium co-branded travel card designed to offer a world of luxury travel and experiences. It aims to elevate the travel experience for customers, especially those who regularly fly with Vistara (now Air India's Maharaja Club). Key differentiating benefits include complimentary Premium Economy Ticket Vouchers, One Class Upgrade Vouchers, Maharaja Club Silver Membership, extensive airport lounge access, exclusive golf privileges, and a competitive forex mark-up. It's important to note that the bank is no longer accepting new applications for this card, and it will be discontinued after March 31, 2026.

Welcome Benefits

• 1 complimentary Premium Economy Ticket Voucher
• 1 One Class Upgrade Voucher
• 3 months complimentary EazyDiner Prime membership
• Complimentary Maharaja Club Silver Membership
• Activation Bonus: Up to 6000 bonus Maharaja Points (2000 points per month) on spending ₹30,000 in each of the first three card billing cycles (months 2, 3, and 4 from date of joining).
• Annual Fee Payment Benefits: Upon payment of the annual fee, cardholders receive 1 complimentary Premium Economy Ticket Voucher, 1 One-Class Upgrade Voucher, and renewal of Maharaja Club Silver Membership.

Fees

• Joining Fee (1st Year): ₹4,999 + GST
• Annual Fee (2nd Year onwards): ₹4,999 + GST
• Interest Rates: From 0.75% - 3.5% per month (9% - 42% per annum)
• Foreign Currency Markup: 2.99% of the transaction amount
• Rewards Redemption Fee: ₹99 per redemption request
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Not applicable (meaning surcharge applies)
• Cash Advance Charges:
  • Interest-free withdrawals for up to 45-48 days on Domestic and International ATMs.
  • A fee of ₹199 per transaction after the interest-free period.
• Add-on Card Fee: Nil
• Card Replacement Fee: ₹100
• Surcharges on Specific Spends:
  • 1% surcharge on monthly payments over ₹20,000 towards utilities (Electricity, Gas, Telecom etc.) and Education.
  • 1% surcharge on payments over ₹10,000 towards FASTag recharges and over ₹25,000 towards Railway spends in a billing cycle.

Rewards

• Reward Earning Rate (Maharaja Points):
  • 6 Maharaja Points per ₹200 spent on all spends up to ₹1 lakh per billing cycle.
  • 4 Maharaja Points per ₹200 spent on all spends above ₹1 lakh per billing cycle.
  • 10 Maharaja Points per ₹200 spent on dining on your birthday.
  • 1 Maharaja Point per ₹200 spent on Fuel, Insurance, Utility, Rent, Wallet Load, Railways, and FASTag spends.
  • Effective 17th April 2026: 1 Maharaja Point per ₹200 spent on Government Payments, Education, Jewellery, and Gift Vouchers (GVs).
  • Maharaja Points are not applicable on EMI Transactions, Balance Transfer, and Cash Withdrawals.
  • Any taxes and surcharges appearing separately on a statement shall be excluded from Maharaja point calculation.
• Spend Milestone Benefits (Anniversary Year):
  • Unlock up to 5 complimentary Premium Economy Ticket Vouchers annually based on spends:
    • ₹1,50,000 spend: 1st Ticket Voucher
    • ₹3,00,000 spend: 2nd Ticket Voucher
    • ₹4,50,000 spend: 3rd Ticket Voucher
    • ₹9,00,000 spend: 4th Ticket Voucher
    • ₹12,00,000 spend: 5th Ticket Voucher
• Airport Lounge Access:
  • 2 complimentary visits to Indian airport lounges per quarter.
  • 1 complimentary visit to Global airport lounge per quarter.
  • Condition: Access is activated on monthly spends of ₹20,000 (effective 1st May 2024).
  • Access Method: Present your Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card for Indian airport lounges; present your Dreamfolks card (advance online booking recommended) for Global airport lounges.
• Golf Benefits:
  • India Golf Program:
    • 4 complimentary rounds of green fees per calendar year (maximum 1 round per calendar month).
    • 12 complimentary golf lessons per calendar year (maximum 1 lesson per calendar month).
    • 50% off on green fees beyond complimentary sessions.
  • APAC Golf Program:
    • 50% off on Golf rounds or lessons across Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, New Zealand, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan.
• Dining Benefits:
  • 3 months complimentary EazyDiner Prime membership.
  • Up to 20% discount at over 1500 restaurants.
• Travel & Other Insurance Benefits:
  • Trip Cancellation Reimbursement (CFAR): Up to ₹10,000 on flight and hotel booking cancellations (2 claims annually).
  • Air Accident Cover: ₹1 crore.
  • Personal Accident Cover: ₹10,00,000.
  • Lost Card Liability Cover: ₹50,000.
  • Additional Coverage (up to USD 1200):
    • Loss of Checked-in Baggage: USD 500
    • Delay of Checked-In Baggage: USD 100
    • Loss of Passport and other documents: USD 300
    • Delay in Flight: USD 300
  • Note: Air Accident, Personal Accident, Lost Card Liability, and Additional Coverage are valid on doing at least one transaction on the credit card in the last 30 days.
• Maharaja Club Silver Membership Benefits:
  • Priority airport check-in.
  • Increased Check-In Baggage allowance within and outside India.
  • Priority Waitlist Clearance.
  • Complimentary In-flight Wi-fi.
  • Cabin Upgrade vouchers (valid for 6 months from issuance for Silver Tier members).
  • Excess Baggage Allowance.
• Lifestyle Benefits:
  • 3 months complimentary BQ Prime subscription.
  • More than 300 merchant offers throughout the year.
  • Up to 15% off at over 3000 health and wellness outlets.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• Maharaja Points can be redeemed for Award Flights and Cabin Upgrades with Air India and its 24 Star Alliance Partner Airlines, subject to Maharaja Club terms and conditions.
• To calculate the number of Maharaja Points required for flight bookings, refer to the Points Calculator on the Air India website.
• Premium Economy Ticket Vouchers: Can be used for bookings via the Air India website or app, or by contacting the Customer Service team.
• Cabin Upgrade Voucher: Request at the airport check-in counter (subject to seat availability). Show the active voucher in your Maharaja Club Account (Air India app or website) and validate with an OTP received on your registered mobile number and email ID.
• Vouchers can be used for friends and family members.
• Voucher Validity:
  • Cabin Upgrade Vouchers (for Silver Tier members) are valid for 6 months from the date of issuance.
  • Complimentary Ticket Vouchers have a fixed validity of 9 months, irrespective of the tier.

Card Review

The Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card is an excellent choice for individuals who are loyal Vistara (now Air India's Maharaja Club) customers and seek a luxurious travel experience. It offers a comprehensive suite of benefits that rival other co-branded airline credit cards.

• Pros:
  • Complimentary Maharaja Club Silver Tier membership.
  • Extensive complimentary international and domestic airport lounge access.
  • Generous reward earning rates and milestone benefits for flight vouchers.
  • Valuable travel insurance coverage, including CFAR.
• Cons:
  • The annual membership fee of ₹4,999 + GST may be considered high for some users.
  • A reward redemption charge of ₹99 applies per request.
  • The card is no longer available for new applications and will be discontinued in March 2026.

Important Product Details

• The card is no longer accepting new applications.
• Offers 1 complimentary Premium Economy flight ticket voucher and 1 Class Upgrade voucher as a welcome benefit.
• Includes complimentary Maharaja Club Silver Membership.
• Earn up to 6 Maharaja Points per ₹200 spent on the card.
• Provides up to 6000 bonus Maharaja Points on spending ₹30,000 in each of the first 3 months of card activation.
• Allows earning a maximum of 5 complimentary Premium Economy Vistara flight ticket vouchers annually on achieving target spending milestones.
• Features 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits and 1 international airport lounge visit per quarter, subject to a monthly spend condition.
• Includes 4 complimentary green fees golf rounds and 12 golf lessons per year.
• Provides CFAR Trip Cancellation cover up to ₹10,000 on flight and hotel bookings twice per year.
• Charges a competitive forex markup fee of 2.99% of the transaction amount.
• The card will not charge an annual fee upon renewal on or after April 1, 2025, but associated renewal benefits (ticket/upgrade vouchers, silver membership) will also cease.
• The card will remain functional until March 31, 2026, after which it will be discontinued.

Other Details

• The Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card is no longer accepting new applications.
• Club Vistara has merged with Air India’s Flying Returns to become Maharaja Club, effective November 12, 2024.
• All existing Club Vistara Points, Tier Points, and Vouchers have been automatically transferred to the linked Maharaja Club account (CV Points to Maharaja Points in a 1:1 ratio). These points will remain valid for at least 1 year.
• Existing Silver tier membership has been extended till November 2025 in the Maharaja Club account. For card renewals after November 2024, Silver memberships will be extended in Maharaja Club accounts for a period of 1 year aligned with the renewal date.
• Air India will honor all valid and active tickets and vouchers issued by Club Vistara, which have been transferred to the Maharaja Club Account.
• The card will continue to function as usual, with cardholders earning Maharaja Points and Vouchers instead of Club Vistara Points and Vouchers.
• Card renewal is possible until March 2025, with all card benefits and features honored for 1 year from the renewal date.
• For cards renewing on or after April 1, 2025:
  • The annual fee will not be levied.
  • Renewal benefits (1 premium economy ticket voucher, 1 cabin upgrade voucher, and silver membership) will not be provided.
  • Flight ticket vouchers based on spending milestones will not be issued after the renewal date.
  • Earning of Maharaja Points on eligible transactions will continue unchanged.
• The Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card will remain functional for all transactions until March 31, 2026, after which it will be discontinued.
• Add-on Card Benefits:
  • Add-on cards come without any joining or annual fees.
  • While the add-on member does not receive a separate Maharaja Club ID, Maharaja Club, Maharaja points, or complimentary flight tickets, all spends made by the add-on customer contribute towards helping the primary cardholder reach their milestones faster and earn more Maharaja points.
  • Add-on customers can also enjoy airport lounge access, as it is fungible between both the primary and add-on cardholders.
• For any questions regarding the credit card while abroad, contact +91 22 6248 5152.
• Refer to official bank documents (Most Important Terms & Conditions, Card Member Agreement, Product Usage Guide, Credit Card Basics) for detailed terms and conditions.