IDFC First Gaj Credit Card

Get Reward Points Worth the Joining Charges

Upon payment of the joining charges, cardholders shall be eligible for 12,500 Reward Points, worth up to ₹12,500.

Apart from the bonus Reward Points, cardholders can also spend ₹1,00,000 within 60 days from the card generation date to enjoy a 25% discount (up to ₹75,000) on selected 5-star hotel stays booked through the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile App.

The above benefits are applicable only on the first application and are not applicable on re-application.

Base Reward Earnings

• 5 Reward Points for every ₹150 spent on the Gaj Credit Card (3.33%).
• 3 Reward Points for every ₹150 spent on international transactions (2%).
• 1 Reward Point for every ₹150 spent on Insurance, Utilities, Rent, Government payments, Wallet loads, Railways, FASTag, and Education transactions (applicable on both domestic and international spends) (0.67%).

Exclusions

No Reward Points on:

• Fuel transactions (fuel surcharge waiver applicable)
• EMI transactions
• Fees, charges, and applicable GST
• Loan on Card
• Balance transfer
• Cash withdrawal transactions
• Transactions below ₹150

Accelerated Reward Points on Travel Bookings

• Earn 45 Bonus Reward Points per ₹150 on hotel bookings.
• Earn 20 Bonus Reward Points per ₹150 on flight bookings.
• Maximum bonus earning capped at 15,000 Reward Points per calendar month on travel bookings.

1 Reward Point = Up to ₹1

Cardholders can redeem Reward Points earned on the Gaj Credit Card as follows:

• 1 Reward Point = ₹1 on hotel and flight bookings made through the “Travel & Shop” section of the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile App.
• 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25 when redeemed for gift vouchers, product purchases on the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile App, or when used on select online transactions.

There is a cap on the number of Reward Points that can be redeemed, both per calendar month and per calendar year, as shown below.

Free FIRST Digital Credit Card

• Lifetime Free Card – No joining fee and no annual charges.
• Earn Rewards on UPI Spends – Get 1 Reward Point for every ₹150 spent via UPI.
• Combined Rewards – UPI and card spends earn rewards in the same account.
• Better Travel Value – Redeem Reward Points at ₹1 per point on travel bookings through the IDFC app.
• Helps Reach Spend Milestones – UPI spends count towards the ₹10 lakh annual waiver target.

All UPI and card transactions appear in a single statement.

Complimentary Airport Lounge Access

The IDFC Gaj Credit Card offers 4 lounge visits per quarter at domestic airports, including 1 guest visit, and 4 lounge visits per quarter at international airports. For a super-premium credit card with an annual fee of ₹12,500, this level of lounge access feels limited. The bank could have at least offered separate guest visits, but that has not been included.

At the same price point, several other premium credit cards offer unlimited domestic and international lounge access, making the Gaj card’s lounge benefits look underwhelming in comparison.

Complimentary Railway Lounge Access

Cardholders can avail 4 complimentary visits per quarter to lounges at select Indian railway stations with the Gaj Card. However, despite being a premium metal card, cardholders must spend ₹20,000 in the current calendar month to access railway lounge benefits in the following month.

Given the card’s high annual charges and its focus on high-net-worth individuals, IDFC could have waived this spending requirement, which would have better matched the card’s premium positioning.

Up to 24 Golf Lessons/Games Each Year

With the Gaj Credit Card, cardholders can unlock golf experiences based on their monthly spend:

• Spend ₹20,000 in a statement cycle to get the first round/lesson.
• Spend ₹40,000 in a statement cycle to get the second round/lesson.
• Each round or lesson is valid for 60 days.

Annual Fee Waiver and Payment Benefit

One of the best features of this card is its annual fee structure. Cardholders who spend ₹10 lakh in a year can get the annual fee fully waived. Even if this spending milestone is not met, cardholders receive 12,500 Reward Points on paying the annual fee, which effectively offsets the charge.

So, if a cardholder is unable to reach the annual fee waiver milestone, they still remain eligible for a renewal benefit, making the fee easier to justify.

Extensive Insurance Coverage

Is the Premium Metal Gaj Credit Card Worth the ₹12,500 Fee?

The IDFC First Gaj Credit Card, tries to position itself as a super-premium metal credit card, but falls short on actual value. While the bank has done well in terms of design and premium look, the benefits do not fully justify the high fee.

The biggest drawback is the absence of hotel and airline transfer partners, a limitation that affects all IDFC credit cards but impacts the Gaj card the most due to its premium positioning. The card also misses out on basic lifestyle benefits, such as movie and dining offers. Although it provides several travel-related privileges, many of these are linked to monthly spending conditions, including airport and railway lounge access. This is unlike other premium cards, such as HDFC Infinia, which offer these benefits without such restrictions.

That said, customers with a strong existing banking relationship with IDFC First Bank may still find value, as the annual fee can be recovered through Reward Points. However, for most users, there is little reason to apply for this card when similar or better benefits are available with other premium credit cards in the Indian market.