The verdict
A benchmark aviation co-branded card that delivered substantial value during the active era of Club Vistara. With the airline merger finalized on 30 September 2026, the programme is closed to new applicants. Existing cardholders receive an orderly transition into the Lifetime Free Diamond Reserve Credit Card, securing 0% forex markup, comprehensive lounge privileges, and zero recurring fee liability.
Under its active lifecycle, the ₹4,999 annual fee unlocked a Premium Economy ticket voucher (~₹7,500 value), a cabin upgrade voucher (~₹2,500), 8 domestic lounges (~₹8,000), and 4 international lounges (~₹8,000). For migrating members, the transition to the Diamond Reserve preserves 16 annual airport lounge visits, adds 0% foreign exchange markup, and eliminates the ₹4,999 annual fee permanently.
New applicants cannot apply for this card as the programme has sunset. Travelers seeking airline and travel perks should explore the IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve (available to new applicants at ₹3,000/year) or metal flagship cards like IDFC FIRST Mayura.
✓What works
- +Seamless migration to IDFC FIRST Bank Diamond Reserve with a permanent 100% Lifetime Fee Waiver.
- +Legacy welcome and renewal benefit included 1 Premium Economy ticket voucher and 1 cabin class upgrade voucher.
- +Complimentary Club Vistara Silver tier status with priority check-in and extra baggage allowance.
- +8 complimentary domestic airport lounges (2/quarter) plus 4 international lounge visits annually.
- +Milestone rewards offered up to 5 additional Premium Economy flight tickets per year.
✕What doesn't
- −Permanently discontinued for fresh applications as of 30 September 2026.
- −Airport taxes and fuel surcharges required out-of-pocket cash payment when redeeming flight vouchers.
- −Legacy annual fee was ₹4,999 + GST with no spend-based waiver.
What it earns
1 Club Vistara (CV) Point = ~₹1.00 approx on award flight redemptions. Transferred to Air India Maharaja Club per merger guidelines.
| Category | Rate | Monthly Cap | Per ₹1L spent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Spends above ₹1 Lakh | 10 CV Points / ₹200 (5.0% value) | Uncapped | 5,000 CV Points (~₹5,000 value) |
| Monthly Spends up to ₹1 Lakh | 6 CV Points / ₹200 (3.0% value) | ₹1 Lakh monthly pool | 3,000 CV Points (~₹3,000 value) |
| Utilities, Rent, Fuel & Insurance | 1 CV Point / ₹200 (0.5% value) | Uncapped | 500 CV Points (~₹500 value) |
Accelerated earn
Complimentary Flight Vouchers & 10 CV Points Booster
Earned free flight tickets upon hitting spend milestones throughout the year.
| Category / Channel | Multiplier Rate | Monthly Cap | Cap / Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Spend Milestone 1 (₹1.5 Lakhs)Premium Economy flight ticket voucher. | Milestone · 1 Free Ticket | 1 Ticket | — |
| Annual Spend Milestone 2 (₹3.0 Lakhs)2nd Premium Economy flight ticket voucher. | Milestone · 1 Free Ticket | 1 Ticket | — |
| Annual Spend Milestone 3 (₹4.5 Lakhs)3rd Premium Economy flight ticket voucher. | Milestone · 1 Free Ticket | 1 Ticket | — |
Redemption options
Legacy CV points and vouchers transferred to Air India Flying Returns / Maharaja Club portal.
| Redemption Channel | Value Per Point | Minimum | Ceiling / Limits | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Award Flight TicketsBEST VALUE | ₹0.80–₹1.20 / CV Point | 2,000 pts | None | Nil |
| Cabin Class UpgradesBEST VALUE | ₹1.00 / CV Point | 1,500 pts | None | Nil |
Reward Scope: Inclusions & Exclusions
✓Eligible Spends (Inclusions)
- +8 complimentary domestic airport lounges (2 per quarter).
- +4 complimentary international lounge visits via DreamFolks (1 per quarter).
- +4 complimentary railway executive lounges (1 per quarter).
- +2 complimentary golf rounds per month (1 round per ₹20,000 monthly spend).
✕Excluded Spends & Fee Traps
- −Fuel surcharge amounts (1% waiver on ₹400–₹5,000).
- −Cash advance withdrawals.
Fee Schedule & Waiver Criteria
| Fee Component | Amount / Rate |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹4,999 + GST (Discontinued) |
| Annual Renewal Fee | ₹4,999 + GST (Discontinued / Waived on Migration) |
| Forex Markup | 2.99% + GST (Upgraded to 0% on Diamond Reserve) |
| Finance Charges (Interest Rate) | 0.75% to 3.65% per month (9.0% to 43.8% per annum) |
Eligibility & Approval Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Availability Status | Discontinued as of 30 September 2026; closed to new applicants |
| Migration Eligibility | Existing active cardholders automatically transitioned to Diamond Reserve with 100% Lifetime Fee Waiver |
Policy Changes & Devaluation History
1 RecordClub Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card Sunsets 30 Sep 2026; Cardmembers Upgraded to Lifetime Free Diamond Reserve Credit Card
IDFC FIRST Bank has officially notified cardmembers that the Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card programme will conclude on 30 September 2026 following the Vistara-Air India integration. As a transition gesture, IDFC FIRST Bank is replacing existing cards with the premium Diamond Reserve Credit Card (standard ₹3,000 fee) accompanied by a 100% Lifetime Fee Waiver (Lifetime Free). Existing Add-on and FIRST Digital UPI cards are also transitioned Lifetime Free. The replacement card delivers 0% forex markup, 16 domestic/overseas airport lounge visits annually, and 2 monthly golf privileges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card been discontinued?
What card will existing cardholders receive?
What happens to existing Club Vistara points and unused ticket vouchers?
Does the replacement Diamond Reserve card offer airport lounge access?
What are the fee terms for the migrated Diamond Reserve card?
Editorial Deep-Dive Analysis
Comprehensive Overview: Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Card (Sunset & Transition)
The Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Card was an aviation co-branded credit card issued by IDFC FIRST Bank in partnership with Club Vistara. Serving domestic and international business flyers, the card provided annual Premium Economy flight vouchers, accelerated Club Vistara (CV) points, tier elevation, and global lounge access. Following the corporate integration of Vistara into Air India, the Club Vistara co-branded credit card programme officially sunset on 30th September 2026.
To ensure continuity and preserve cardholder loyalty, IDFC FIRST Bank has implemented an automatic migration protocol: all active cardholders are transitioned to the newly introduced IDFC FIRST Bank Diamond Reserve Credit Card on a permanent 100% Lifetime Fee Waiver (Lifetime Free) basis.
Key Privileges and Legacy Flight Benefits
During its active operational period, the card provided travel features tailored to frequent flyers:
- Welcome and Renewal Flight Vouchers:
- Cardholders received 1 complimentary Premium Economy flight ticket voucher and 1 cabin class upgrade voucher upon payment of the ₹4,999 joining fee and upon every annual renewal.
- Accelerated CV Points Earning:
- Spends up to ₹1,00,000 per billing cycle earned 6 CV Points per ₹200 spent (3.0% return on award flights).
- Monthly retail spends exceeding ₹1,00,000 accelerated to 10 CV Points per ₹200 spent (5.0% return).
- Milestone Flight Tickets:
- Cardholders achieved up to 5 additional Premium Economy ticket vouchers per year upon reaching cumulative annual spend thresholds of ₹1.5L, ₹3.0L, ₹4.5L, ₹8.0L, and ₹12.0L.
- Airport and Railway Lounge Quota:
- Included 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar quarter (8 visits per year) and 1 complimentary international lounge visit per quarter (4 visits per year via DreamFolks).
- 4 complimentary railway executive lounge visits per calendar quarter across major Indian stations.
- Aviation Elite Status:
- Offered complimentary Club Vistara Silver Tier membership, granting priority airport check-in, priority baggage handling, and an extra 5 kg baggage allowance.
Important Transition Terms and Migration Guidance
Existing cardholders transitioning to the Diamond Reserve Credit Card should note the following migration parameters:
- Automatic Migration with Lifetime Fee Waiver: Cardholders transition to the IDFC FIRST Bank Diamond Reserve Credit Card issued on the Visa platform with a permanent 100% Lifetime Fee Waiver. No renewal fees of ₹4,999 (or ₹3,000) will be charged in subsequent years.
- Enhanced Global Privileges: The replacement Diamond Reserve card upgrades the foreign currency proposition from 2.99% to 0% foreign exchange markup on all international spends, and increases international airport lounge access from 4 visits to 8 visits per year (2 per quarter), subject to ₹20,000 spend in the preceding calendar month.
- Add-on and Digital UPI Cards: All existing add-on cards and FIRST Digital RuPay UPI cards linked to the Vistara primary account are converted to the Diamond Reserve platform with lifetime fee waivers.
- Preservation of Points and Vouchers: Unredeemed CV Points and issued ticket vouchers remain accessible and transfer to the unified Air India Flying Returns / Maharaja Club loyalty ecosystem as per airline merger guidelines.
Who Benefits Most and Recommended Next Steps
- Migrating Cardholders: Cardholders who transition smoothly into the Lifetime Free Diamond Reserve card receive enhanced global spending value (0% forex markup, 16 annual airport lounges, golf, and flight cancellation protection) without recurring fee obligations.
- Prospective New Applicants: Since this card is permanently closed to new applications, new customers seeking premium travel value should apply directly for the IDFC FIRST Bank Diamond Reserve Credit Card or consider the metal IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card.
Independent Editorial & Statutory Disclaimers
Institutional Transparency & Nominative Fair Use Statement
CredSutra operates as an independent credit card discovery and consumer intelligence engine. CredSutra is NOT a bank, Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), Direct Selling Agent (DSA), or Lending Service Provider (LSP).