After partnering with India’s largest airline, IndiGo, IDFC FIRST Bank has entered the travel rewards space with a co-branded credit card aimed at IndiGo’s loyal flyers. The IndiGo IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Card is designed primarily for frequent travellers who want to earn flight rewards on everyday spending. For a joining fee of ₹4999 + GST, members receive 5000 IndiGo BluChip vouchers, a complimentary in-flight meal, and can earn up to 22 BluChips per ₹100 spent on IndiGo bookings. Regular purchases earn 3 BluChips per ₹100, while utilities and fuel fetch 0.5 BluChips per ₹100.
Add to that a low forex markup of 1.49%, milestone vouchers worth up to ₹25,000 a year, and even an FD-backed version for new-to-credit users, and you get one of the most more travel-focused co-branded cards in the market today.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Bank credit card stand out, how its rewards structure works, and whether it’s truly worth the annual fee for the average traveller.
About the Card
- Dual-Network Design (Mastercard + RuPay): The IndiGo IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Card is a dual-network card, giving you both a Mastercard and a RuPay version under a single credit limit. The Mastercard works globally for online and in-store purchases, while the RuPay card can be linked to UPI for everyday digital payments in India.
- Reward Currency – IndiGo BluChips: Instead of reward points, you earn BluChips, IndiGo’s loyalty currency. BluChips can be redeemed directly on IndiGo’s website or app for flights.
- Reward Structure:
- Up to 22 BluChips per ₹100 on IndiGo flight bookings.
- 3 BluChips per ₹100 on regular spends like shopping and dining.
- 0.5 BluChips per ₹100 on utilities, fuel, rent, and wallet reloads.
- Joining and Renewal Benefits: You pay a joining fee of ₹4999 + GST, which is partially offset by welcome rewards worth a similar value. Each renewal year, you also receive 5000 BluChip vouchers and a meal voucher.
- Milestone Rewards: The card includes spend-based bonuses. Reaching annual milestones like ₹2 lakh, ₹5 lakh, ₹8 lakh, ₹10 lakh, and ₹12 lakh earns you extra BluChip vouchers, potentially adding up to ₹25,000 worth of travel credits in a year.
- Low Forex Markup: A 1.49% foreign exchange fee makes international transactions more affordable than with most cards that charge 3–3.5%.
- Secured Card Option: New-to-credit users can apply for an FD-backed version, available against a fixed deposit of ₹1 lakh or more, offering an accessible entry point into premium credit cards. There is no joining or annual fee for the secured card option.
Fees and Charges
The IndiGo IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Card carries a mid-premium annual fee but compensates with welcome and renewal benefits, especially for frequent IndiGo flyers.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹4999 + GST ~₹5898 |
| Annual Fee | ₹4999 + GST ~₹5898 |
| Welcome Benefits | 5000 IndiGo BluChip voucher + complimentary in-flight meal voucher |
| Renewal Benefits | 5000 IndiGo BluChip voucher + complimentary in-flight meal voucher |
While the annual cost places this card firmly in the premium category, the value of vouchers and travel perks helps justify the expense for IndiGo regulars. That said, a slightly higher reward – say 7500 BluChips instead of 5000 would have made the offering more competitive given the annual fee.
Kiwi RuPay Card
Lifetime FreeRewards Structure
Instead of traditional reward points, the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Bank credit card earns BluChips. BluChips are IndiGo airline’s loyalty currency, which can be redeemed for flights on IndiGo’s platform.
| Spend Category | Reward Rate (BluChips / ₹100) |
|---|---|
| IndiGo Bookings (via website or app) | 6 BluChips |
| Regular Spends (shopping, dining, travel) | 3 BluChips |
| Utilities, Fuel, Rent, Wallet Reloads, UPI | 0.5 BluChips |
Each BluChip is typically valued between 40 paise to 60 paise though there are select fares where few have managed to get ₹1 or more as the value. Redemptions can be done directly on IndiGo’s website or app.
The “up to 22 BluChips” figure cited by IDFC First Bank includes additional bonus rewards from IndiGo’s own loyalty program when booking directly through its website or app. The base earn rate from the credit card itself is 6 BluChips per ₹100.
BoB Eterna
Lifetime FreeMilestone Benefits
The IndiGo IDFC FIRST Bank credit card also includes milestone vouchers at annual spending levels of ₹2 lakh, ₹5 lakh, ₹8 lakh, ₹10 lakh, and ₹12 lakh. Each milestone gives 5,000 additional BluChips, allowing high spenders to earn up to 25,000 BluChips in a year. All transactions count toward milestone eligibility.
BluChips Redemption
BluChips can be redeemed directly on the IndiGo website or mobile app. During booking, select “Pay with BluChips”before searching for flights. The fare will appear in both cash and BluChip equivalents, allowing full or partial payment using points.
However, the BluChips program follows a dynamic redemption model, meaning the value of each BluChip varies depending on route, demand, and timing.
In most cases, each BluChip is worth ₹0.40 to ₹0.60, based on real-world observations. Occasionally, off-peak or specific routes can yield values closer to ₹1 per BluChip, though such instances are rare.
Lounge Access
For a product that costs ₹4,999 + GST annually, the absence of airport lounge access is a major downside. Travel cards in this price range from banks such as Axis Bank, HDFC, and SBI typically offer at least a few complimentary lounge visits per quarter. This omission makes the card feel less premium than its cost suggests.
Domestic Lounge Access: Not Available
International Lounge Access: Not Available
Where the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Card Falls Short
For a card with a ₹4999 + GST annual fee, the lack of lounge access is disappointing. Most competing travel cards include this as a standard benefit.
The rewards structure is also modest. Earning 6 BluChips per ₹100 on IndiGo spends translates to a 3% return if each BluChip is valued at ₹0.50 a rate that can easily be matched or exceeded by other cards with lower or no annual fees.
The BluChips program, while easy to use, is restrictive. Points can only be redeemed on IndiGo’s platform, and the value fluctuates between ₹0.40 and ₹0.60 depending on flight route and demand. This makes rewards unpredictable and often less rewarding than expected.
The welcome and renewal benefits of 5000 BluChips and a meal voucher each year cover only part of the annual fee. While milestone rewards do add value for high spenders, a higher base earn rate or broader redemption flexibility would make the card far more attractive.
Who Should Get It
This card is ideal for frequent IndiGo flyers who regularly book directly through IndiGo and can maximise milestone benefits. It also suits new-to-credit users opting for the FD-backed version who want to build a relationship with IDFC FIRST Bank.
However, travellers who fly across different airlines or prioritise lounge access, flexible rewards, and higher earn rates will likely find better options among other mid-premium travel cards.
Verdict
The IndiGo IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Card is innovative in concept but limited in execution. It’s best viewed as an IndiGo loyalty enhancer rather than a comprehensive travel card. The dual-network setup and milestone vouchers are thoughtful features, but the missing lounge access and modest reward rate make it hard to justify the ₹4999 annual fee for most users.
IndiGo IDFC First Bank Credit Card