IndiGo IDFC FIRST Vs IndiGo SBI Elite Credit Card
If you frequently travel with IndiGo, why not earn rewards every time you book a flight or make a purchase? To give travelers more value beyond just flying, IndiGo has teamed up with leading credit card issuers to introduce co-branded credit cards packed with travel benefits and rewards. Two such options are the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card and the IndiGo SBI Elite Credit Card.
The IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card focuses on higher BluChips earnings, milestone rewards, and better insurance benefits. It is a good choice for people who want more value from their spending and rewards on both travel and everyday purchases.
The IndiGo SBI ELITE Credit Card offers a simpler and fixed rewards system. It gives set BluChips on spending, milestone rewards, and travel benefits like lounge access and insurance cover. It suits users who prefer clear, straightforward benefits.
Both cards are useful for IndiGo travelers, but the IDFC FIRST card is better for higher overall rewards, while the SBI ELITE card is better for those who want a simple and structured travel benefits card.
On the Basis of Fees and Welcome Benefits
When it comes to fees, both the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card and the IndiGo SBI Elite Credit Card have a similar joining fee and annual fee of ₹4,999 + GST. Since the fee structure is similar, the decision largely depends on the welcome benefits each card offers.
The IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card offers welcome benefits worth up to 8,000 IndiGo BluChips vouchers, including 5,000 BluChips on payment of the joining fee and an additional 3,000 BluChips on spending ₹1 lakh within the first 90 days.
In comparison, the IndiGo SBI Elite Credit Card offers a 5,000 IndiGo BluChips voucher and a 6E Eats voucher as a welcome benefit upon fee payment and first transaction.
While both cards offer a strong welcome package for frequent IndiGo travelers, the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card has a clear edge in reward value. With the opportunity to earn up to 8,000 BluChips vouchers as a welcome benefit, it offers a higher overall return and can help cardholders accumulate travel rewards faster right from the beginning.
| Feature | IndiGo IDFC FIRST | IndiGo SBI Elite |
| Joining Fee | ₹4,999 + GST | ₹4,999 + GST |
| Welcome Benefits | 5,000 BluChips Voucher on Fee Payment + 3,000 BluChips Voucher on Spending ₹1 Lakh Within 90 Days | 5,000 IndiGo BluChips Voucher, One 6E Eats Voucher |
On the Basis of BluChips Earnings
When it comes to IndiGo flight bookings, the IndiGo SBI ELITE Credit Card offers a slightly higher direct earning rate. It provides users with 7 BluChips for every ₹100 spent through the IndiGo website or app. On the other hand, the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card offers 6 BluChips for every ₹100 spent on IndiGo bookings.
The IDFC FIRST card helps users earn more BluChips when used with the IndiGo BluChip loyalty program. For every ₹100 spent on bookings through the IndiGo website or app, cardholders can earn up to 22 BluChips. This includes 6 BluChips from the credit card, 8 BluChips for all IndiGo BluChip members, 4 BluChips for booking through the IndiGo website or app, and up to 4 extra BluChips based on your IndiGo BluChip membership tier.
Apart from IndiGo bookings, the IndiGo SBI ELITE Credit Card offers 3 BluChips for every ₹100 spent on hotel and travel-related transactions and 2 BluChips for every ₹100 spent on all other eligible purchases. On the other hand, the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card offers 3 BluChips for every ₹100 spent on most eligible spends and 0.5 BluChips for every ₹100 spent on UPI, utility, insurance, rent, and wallet transactions.
IndiGo BluChips also don’t have a fixed value like cashback or reward points. Their value can vary depending on factors such as the flight route, ticket price, travel date, and redemption option.
Overall, the IndiGo SBI ELITE Credit Card offers a slightly higher direct earning rate on IndiGo bookings. However, if you also consider the benefits of the IndiGo BluChip loyalty program, the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card offers a much higher overall BluChip earning potential.
| Feature | IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card | IndiGo SBI ELITE Credit Card |
| BluChips on IndiGo Flight Bookings | 6 BluChips Per ₹100 Spent | 7 BluChips Per ₹100 Spent |
| IndiGo BluChip Membership Benefit | 8 BluChips Per ₹100 Spent | N/A |
| Booking Benefit Through the Website/App | 4 BluChips Per ₹100 Spent | N/A |
| Tier-Based Bonus | Up to 4 BluChips Per ₹100 Spent | N/A |
| Hotels / Travel Spends | N/A | 3 BluChips Per ₹100 Spent |
| Other Spends | 3 BluChips Per ₹100 Spent | 2 BluChips Per ₹100 Spent |
| UPI / Utility / Wallet Spends | 0.5 BluChips per ₹100 Spent | N/A |
On the Basis of Milestone Benefits
When we compare milestone benefits, both the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card and the IndiGo SBI ELITE Credit Card give rewards based on how much you spend in a year, but they follow different patterns.
With the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card, users will get rewards at different spending levels. The card offers a total of up to 25,000 IndiGo BluChips through milestone benefits. Users will receive a 5,000 BluChip voucher each time they reach spending of ₹2 lakh, ₹5 lakh, ₹8 lakh, ₹10 lakh, and ₹12 lakh. These rewards are added to your IndiGo BluChip account after each milestone, so you keep getting benefits as you continue spending.
In comparison, the IndiGo SBI ELITE Credit Card lets users earn 6,000 BluChips at each milestone of ₹3 lakh, ₹6 lakh, ₹9 lakh, and ₹12 lakh. One can earn up to 24,000 BluChips in total.
The IDFC FIRST card spreads rewards across more frequent spending milestones, while the SBI ELITE card follows a simpler structure with fewer but higher spending targets.
| Milestone Required | IndiGo BluChips (IDFC FIRST) | IndiGo BluChips (SBI ELITE) |
| ₹2 Lakh | 5,000 BluChips | — |
| ₹3 Lakh | — | 6,000 BluChips |
| ₹5 Lakh | 5,000 BluChips | — |
| ₹6 Lakh | — | 6,000 BluChips |
| ₹8 Lakh | 5,000 BluChips | — |
| ₹9 Lakh | — | 6,000 BluChips |
| ₹10 Lakh | 5,000 BluChips | — |
| ₹12 Lakh | 5,000 BluChips | 6,000 BluChips |
On the Basis of Insurance Coverage
When we compare the insurance benefits of both cards, the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card offers much more coverage compared to the IndiGo SBI ELITE Credit Card.
The IDFC FIRST Credit Card provides a free trip cancellation benefit, in which you can cancel your non-refundable flight and hotel bookings twice a year and get coverage of up to ₹25,000 each time. It also includes several other insurance covers, such as ₹50,000 card liability cover, ₹10 lakh personal accident cover, ₹50,000 credit shield, ₹50,000 purchase protection, and a high personal air accident cover of up to ₹1 crore.
On the other hand, the IndiGo SBI ELITE Credit Card offers more limited insurance benefits. It includes flight cancellation cover for up to 4 times a year with a limit of ₹3,000 per claim, lost card liability cover of up to ₹1 lakh, and lost baggage cover of up to ₹75,000. While these benefits still provide basic travel protection, the coverage amounts are lower compared to the IDFC FIRST card.
The IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card is better in terms of insurance coverage as it offers higher protection amounts and more types of coverage, while the SBI ELITE Credit Card focuses on basic and limited travel-related insurance benefits.
On the Basis of Airport Lounge Access
Airport lounge access is an important benefit for frequent travelers, especially if they are considering a travel-focused credit card. The IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card does not provide any lounge access benefits for domestic or international travel.
On the other hand, the IndiGo SBI ELITE Credit Card offers lounge access at both domestic and international airports. Cardholders get 2 free domestic lounge visits every quarter if they spend ₹1 lakh or more in the previous quarter. They also receive 6 free international lounge visits each year, with a limit of 2 visits per quarter.
Bottom Line
If your goal is to earn as many IndiGo BluChips as possible and get more value from your spending, the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card clearly stands out. From higher BluChip earnings and more frequent milestone rewards to stronger insurance benefits, the card packs a lot of value for frequent IndiGo flyers. It rewards you not just when you fly, but also when you spend on your everyday purchases.
However, if airport lounge access is a must-have for you and you prefer a simpler rewards structure, the IndiGo SBI ELITE Credit Card can still be a good choice. The card may not match the IDFC FIRST card in terms of overall rewards, but it makes up for it with domestic and international lounge access, making your travel experience more comfortable.
At the end of the day, the better card depends on what matters more to you. If you want to maximize rewards and benefits, the IndiGo IDFC FIRST Credit Card is the stronger contender. But if you value lounge access and travel convenience, the IndiGo SBI ELITE Credit Card deserves a place in your wallet.
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