IDFC FIRST Club Vistara Credit Card to Be Discontinued; Existing Cardholders to Be Upgraded to Diamond Reserve

The Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card is finally coming to an end, nearly two years after the merger of Vistara and Air India.

After the airline merger, Vistara discontinued new issuances of Vistara-branded credit cards, but existing cardholders could continue using them. That arrangement is now ending for IDFC FIRST Bank customers, and the Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card will become inactive after September 30, 2026. From October 1, 2026, cardholders will no longer be able to use the card for transactions.

Instead of simply closing the card, IDFC FIRST Bank is migrating existing Club Vistara cardholders to its Diamond Reserve Credit Card.

The interesting part is that the replacement card will be issued Lifetime Free. The regular Diamond Reserve carries a ₹3,000 annual fee, which is normally waived if you meet the applicable annual spending criteria. Existing Club Vistara cardholders receiving it as a replacement will not have to pay this fee.

This is a welcome move, as it offers a lifetime free option without any joining or annual charge, rather than forcing cardholders onto a credit card.

What Does the Diamond Reserve Offer?

The Diamond Reserve is positioned as a premium travel-focused card rather than an airline co-branded card.

Some of its key benefits include:

• Zero Forex Markup on international transactions
• 2 Domestic & 2 International Lounge Visits every quarter
• 4 Complimentary Railway Lounge Visits every quarter
• Up to 10 Reward Points per ₹150 spent on eligible transactions
• 2 Complimentary Golf Games/Lessons every month
• Buy 1 Get 1 Movie Tickets via District, up to ₹250 off twice a month
• ₹1 Crore Personal Air Accident Insurance cover
• Flight & Hotel Cancellation Cover up to ₹25,000

Bottom Line

The Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card will stop working after September 30, 2026, bringing the card’s journey to a close. Existing cardholders will receive the IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve Credit Card Lifetime Free, giving them access to a new set of travel, rewards, and lifestyle benefits.

Since the Diamond Reserve is available on the Visa Infinite variant, cardholders can also unlock additional privileges offered by Visa.

Even the Axis Vistara Credit Cards are set to be replaced with new credit cards, although the exact replacement credit card has not been confirmed yet. However, existing Axis Vistara cardholders may eventually be moved to the Axis Horizon Credit Card, given its stronger focus on airline rewards and travel benefits.

So, in a way, Vistara Credit Cards are now finally being replaced by more generic travel cards long after the airline’s merger.