IDFC FIRST Select vs SBI Air India Signature
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
IDFC FIRST Select wins 5-2. Lifetime-free with surprisingly strong reward earn rates. SBI Air India Signature is still the right call if air india loyalists, highest miles earn on ai bookings..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | IDFC FIRST Select | SBI Air India Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · ₹4,999 |
| Joining fee | None | · ₹4,999 |
| Top reward rate | · 3% (general) | 8% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | 3% | · 2% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = N/A |
| Welcome bonus | = ₹500 gift voucher on ₹5,000 spend within 30 days of card generation | = 20,000 Air India reward points |
| Fee waiver threshold | · N/A (no fee) | ₹500,000 / yr |
| Min income | = ₹1,200,000 | = ₹1,200,000 |
| Min credit score | 750 | · 780 |
| Editorial rating | 4.5/5 | · 4.3/5 |
Benefits compared
IDFC FIRST Select
- 10X reward points on dining and travel
- 3X reward points on other eligible spends
- Lifetime free, no annual fee, ever
- 1 domestic airport lounge visit per quarter, unlocked by ₹20,000 spend in the previous calendar month (no international lounge access)
- Zero forex markup on international transactions
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
SBI Air India Signature
- 30 AI reward points per ₹100 on Air India bookings
- 4 reward points per ₹100 on others
- Air India Maharajah Club Silver
- 8 international + 8 domestic lounge visits/year
- Free Air India ticket on ₹5L spend
FAQ
›IDFC FIRST Select vs SBI Air India Signature: which is better?
IDFC FIRST Select wins on more dimensions (5 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern. Run your own monthly spend through the maximizer to see which one pays you more.
›Can I get both?
Yes, if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use IDFC FIRST Select for its best categories, SBI Air India Signature for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
IDFC FIRST Select: ₹500 gift voucher on ₹5,000 spend within 30 days of card generation. SBI Air India Signature: 20,000 Air India reward points.