IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card Review: Premium Metal Card With Zero Forex, Lounge Access and Travel Rewards
Summary

IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card is a premium metal credit card with zero forex markup, airport lounge access, golf benefits, luxury hotel offers, and strong travel redemption value. But its ₹12,500 + GST fee, ₹10 lakh waiver threshold, app-linked travel rewards, and reward exclusions make it suitable only for high-spend premium users.

Quick Verdict

IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card is a strong premium travel and lifestyle card for users who can use zero forex, lounge access, golf, luxury hotel stays, travel bookings through the IDFC FIRST Bank app, and high-value reward redemptions. It is not ideal for low spenders or users who want simple cashback.

Pros

  • Zero forex markup on international transactions, but DCC may apply if you choose INR abroad
  • 4 domestic and 4 global airport lounge visits per quarter
  • 1 guest visit included in domestic lounge quota
  • Up to 50 reward points per ₹150 on hotels via IDFC FIRST Bank app
  • Up to 25 reward points per ₹150 on flights via IDFC FIRST Bank app
  • 1 Reward Point = ₹1 on travel bookings via app
  • Up to ₹50,000 trip cancellation cover
  • Golf rounds and lessons available
  • Premium metal card positioning
  • High travel redemption caps: up to 1.5 lakh RP/month and 3 lakh RP/year

Cons

  • Joining fee is ₹12,500 + GST
  • Annual fee is ₹12,500 + GST
  • Annual fee waiver requires ₹10 lakh annual spends
  • Lounge access requires ₹20,000 current-month spend for next-month benefit
  • Best reward value is locked to travel bookings via IDFC FIRST Bank app
  • Reward points are worth only ₹0.25 on non-travel redemption options
  • Bonus travel rewards are capped monthly
  • Several categories earn only 1X reward points
  • Fuel, EMI, cash withdrawal, fees, charges, loan on card and balance transfer earn no reward points
  • Not suitable for low-spend users
Best For

Frequent travellers, premium lifestyle users, international spenders, luxury hotel users, golf users, and people who can spend close to ₹10 lakh annually.

Avoid If

You cannot justify the ₹12,500 + GST fee, do not travel often, do not use app-based travel bookings, or mostly spend on fuel, EMI, utilities, insurance, rent, wallet load, education, government payments, or low-reward categories.

IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card Review

Premium metal credit card with zero forex markup, airport lounge access, travel rewards, golf benefits, hotel privileges, and Benchmarksutra Score.

Quick Verdict

IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card is a premium metal credit card for high-spend travel and lifestyle users.

It is useful if you can actually use:

  • zero forex markup
  • domestic and global airport lounge access
  • travel bookings through IDFC FIRST Bank app
  • golf rounds or lessons
  • luxury hotel offers
  • concierge and premium lifestyle benefits
  • high annual spends for fee waiver

But this is not a simple rewards card.

The card has a ₹12,500 + GST joining fee, ₹12,500 + GST annual fee, and annual fee waiver only on ₹10 lakh annual spends.

The strongest reward value comes only when reward points are redeemed for travel bookings via the IDFC FIRST Bank app.

Benchmarksutra Score: 82/100 — A Tier

Check IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card details

What Is IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card?

The IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card is a premium metal credit card from IDFC FIRST Bank.

It is designed for users who want a high-end travel and lifestyle card with benefits such as:

  • zero forex markup
  • domestic and global airport lounge access
  • travel booking rewards
  • hotel and flight value back
  • golf rounds and lessons
  • luxury hotel stay offers
  • airport meet and greet
  • concierge services
  • trip cancellation cover
  • premium metal card experience

This is not an entry-level credit card.

It is a premium card where the real value depends on whether the user can extract value from travel, lounge, golf, hotel, forex, and lifestyle benefits.

The card charges a ₹12,500 + GST joining fee and a ₹12,500 + GST annual fee from the second card anniversary year.

The annual fee waiver requires ₹10 lakh spends in the previous card anniversary year.

If you are new to premium card comparisons, first read How to Compare Credit Cards in India.

Check IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card details

Reviewed Card

Field Content
Badge Reviewed Card
Product Name IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card
Approx Price ₹12,500 + GST joining fee / ₹12,500 + GST annual fee

Specs

Label Value
Benchmarksutra Score 82/100
Grade A Tier
Card Type Premium metal travel and lifestyle credit card
Joining Fee ₹12,500 + GST
Annual Fee ₹12,500 + GST
Annual Fee Waiver ₹10 lakh annual spends
Forex Markup Zero
Domestic Lounge Access 4 visits per quarter, including 1 guest visit
Global Lounge Access 4 visits per quarter
Best For High-spend premium travel users
Main Strength Zero forex + lounge + travel rewards + premium benefits
Main Weakness High fee and app-linked reward value

Advantages

Advantage
Zero forex markup
4 domestic lounge visits per quarter
4 global lounge visits per quarter
1 guest visit included in domestic lounge benefit
Up to 50 RP per ₹150 on hotels via app
Up to 25 RP per ₹150 on flights via app
1 RP = ₹1 on travel bookings via app
Reward points never expire while card is active
Golf and luxury hotel benefits

Challenges

Challenge
₹12,500 + GST joining fee
₹12,500 + GST annual fee
₹10 lakh annual fee waiver threshold
Lounge access needs monthly spend activation
Best reward value requires IDFC FIRST Bank app travel redemption
Reward value drops to ₹0.25 outside travel redemption
Many categories earn only 1X or zero rewards

IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card: Fees and Charges

Fee / Charge Amount / Rule
Joining Fee ₹12,500 + GST
Annual Fee ₹12,500 + GST from second card anniversary year
Annual Fee Waiver Waived on ₹10 lakh spends in previous card anniversary year
Joining Fee Payment Benefit 12,500 reward points worth up to ₹12,500
Annual Fee Payment Benefit 12,500 reward points on annual fee payment
Forex Markup Zero
Cash Withdrawal Fee ₹199 + GST per transaction
Cash Withdrawal Interest Interest-free up to 45 days if repaid by due date
Fuel Surcharge Waiver 1% waiver up to ₹300 per statement cycle
Trip Cancellation Cover Up to ₹50,000
Roadside Assistance Complimentary RSA worth ₹1,399
Maximum ATM Withdrawal Per Transaction ₹10,000

The annual fee is high. The real question is whether your travel, forex, lounge, golf, hotel, and reward usage can recover it.

Read Breakeven Spend: When Is Annual Fee Worth Paying?.

Reward Structure

Spend Category Reward Rate / Value Important Condition
Eligible domestic spends 5 reward points per ₹150 Regular eligible spends
International transactions 3 reward points per ₹150 Zero forex also applies
Hotels via IDFC FIRST Bank app 50 reward points per ₹150 5 base + 45 bonus RP
Flights via IDFC FIRST Bank app 25 reward points per ₹150 5 base + 20 bonus RP
Education, wallet load, government, rent, property, utilities, railways, FASTag, insurance 1 reward point per ₹150 Applies to domestic and international transactions
UPI spends via complimentary FIRST Digital RuPay card 1 reward point per ₹150 UPI benefit linked to digital card
Fuel No reward points Fuel surcharge waiver may apply
EMI conversions No reward points Excluded
Cash withdrawals No reward points Excluded
Fees and charges No reward points Excluded
Loan on card / balance transfer No reward points Excluded
Transactions below ₹150 No reward points Excluded

For reward basics, read Credit Card Reward Points Explained.

Benchmarksutra Take

IDFC FIRST Gaj is not a card for casual credit card users.

It is a premium travel and lifestyle card.

The strongest use case is not simple reward earning.

The strongest use case is combining:

  • zero forex markup
  • domestic and global lounge access
  • hotel and flight reward acceleration
  • 1 RP = ₹1 travel redemption
  • golf benefits
  • luxury hotel offers
  • concierge services
  • trip cancellation cover
  • premium metal card experience

But the card is not frictionless.

The fee is high.

The annual fee waiver threshold is high.

The best redemption value is locked to travel bookings via IDFC FIRST Bank app.

Several categories earn only 1X or no rewards.

So this card should be judged by real lifestyle usage, not only headline reward rate.

Travel and Lounge Benefits

Benefit What You Get Important Condition
Domestic Airport Lounge 4 complimentary visits per quarter Includes 1 guest visit within the overall benefit
Global Airport Lounge 4 complimentary visits per quarter DreamFolks access; some lounges may need pre-booking
Lounge Activation Lounge benefit available next month after ₹20,000 current-month spend Not unconditional
Airport Meet & Greet 1 complimentary service per year Requires $1,000 international spends
Additional Meet & Greet 10% discount T&C apply
Airport Transfers Limousine services in 3000+ cities across 83 countries Discount/offer based
Trip Cancellation Cover Up to ₹50,000 For eligible non-refundable hotel and flight cancellations
Global ATM Cash Withdrawal Interest-free up to 45 days if repaid by due date ₹199 + GST fee per withdrawal
Railway Lounge Access 4 visits per quarter At select Indian railway terminals

Lounge access is useful, but it is not unconditional. You need ₹20,000 spends in the current calendar month to use lounge benefits in the next calendar month.

Lifestyle Benefits

Benefit What You Get Important Condition
ITC Hotel Stay Offer Complimentary 3rd night for every 2 paid nights T&C apply
Elivaas Luxury Villas Complimentary 3rd night for every 2 paid nights T&C apply
Premium Hotel Offers Exclusive offers at 900+ luxury hotels T&C apply
Curated Dining Deals Premium restaurant offers T&C apply
Concierge Services Help with dining, staycations, flights and activities T&C apply
Golf Access Up to 24 complimentary golf rounds or lessons per year Spend condition applies
Golf Round Unlock 1 golf round per month Spend ₹20,000 in previous statement cycle
Golf Lesson Unlock 1 golf lesson per month Spend ₹40,000 in previous statement cycle
Brand Offers 300+ brand offers T&C apply
FIRST Digital RuPay Card Complimentary UPI-linked card 1 RP per ₹150 on UPI spends

These lifestyle benefits can justify the card only if you actually use them.

A user who does not use hotels, golf, dining, travel, or lounge access will not get full value from Gaj.

Reward Value Example

Spend Scenario Reward / Benefit Value Practical View
₹30,000 eligible domestic spends 5 RP per ₹150 Good regular earn rate
₹30,000 international spends 3 RP per ₹150 + zero forex Strong for international users
₹30,000 hotel booking via app 50 RP per ₹150 Strongest reward use case
₹30,000 flight booking via app 25 RP per ₹150 Strong travel use case
₹30,000 utility or insurance spends 1 RP per ₹150 Weak reward category
₹30,000 rent / wallet / education / government spends 1 RP per ₹150 Lower value
₹30,000 fuel spends No reward points Only fuel surcharge waiver helps
Travel redemption via app 1 RP = ₹1 Best redemption value
Non-travel redemption 1 RP = ₹0.25 Reward value drops sharply

The reward value depends heavily on redemption method.

A reward point is worth ₹1 on travel bookings via IDFC FIRST Bank app.

The same point is worth only ₹0.25 on gift vouchers, products, and select online pay-with-points redemptions.

This is why travel usage matters.

Annual Fee Recovery Math

Annual Usage Pattern Fee Outcome Reader Impact
Annual spends below ₹5 lakh Fee is hard to justify unless benefits are heavily used Weak to moderate
₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh annual spends Value depends on travel, lounge, golf and forex usage Depends on user
₹10 lakh or more annual spends Annual fee waiver applies Stronger value
High international spends Zero forex can recover value faster Strong use case
Heavy hotel/flight bookings via app Reward value can be high Strong use case
Regular lounge + golf + hotel usage Benefits can justify fee Best use case
Low travel and lifestyle usage Fee becomes difficult to justify Avoid

The card has a premium fee.

Do not judge it only by joining reward points.

Judge it by whether you can recover value through:

  • annual fee waiver
  • zero forex savings
  • lounge visits
  • hotel and flight rewards
  • golf benefits
  • luxury hotel offers
  • trip cancellation cover

For deeper fee logic, read Credit Card Fees Explained.

Eligibility and Card Fit

IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card is not an entry-level card.

It is better suited for premium users with high travel and lifestyle usage.

The card is a better fit if you:

  • travel internationally
  • spend in foreign currency
  • use domestic and global lounges
  • book hotels and flights through IDFC FIRST Bank app
  • use premium hotel offers
  • play golf or want golf lessons
  • can spend ₹10 lakh annually for fee waiver
  • value premium metal-card positioning

It is a weaker fit if you only want cashback, UPI rewards, fuel rewards, or a simple lifetime-free card.

If your application is rejected, read Why Was My Credit Card Application Rejected?.

Check IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card details

Key Benefits

1. Zero forex markup

The Gaj Credit Card offers zero forex markup.

This is valuable for international travel and foreign currency transactions.

2. Strong lounge access

The card offers 4 domestic and 4 global airport lounge visits every quarter.

The domestic quota also includes 1 guest visit per quarter.

3. High travel reward value

The card gives strong reward acceleration on hotel and flight bookings through IDFC FIRST Bank app.

Hotels can earn up to 50 RP per ₹150.

Flights can earn up to 25 RP per ₹150.

4. 1 RP = ₹1 on travel bookings

This is the key reward value advantage.

Reward points are worth ₹1 each when redeemed for travel bookings via IDFC FIRST Bank app.

5. Reward points never expire

The bank says reward points remain valid while the credit card is active.

This improves flexibility compared with cards where points expire quickly.

6. Golf benefits

The card offers up to 24 complimentary golf rounds or lessons per year.

This is useful only for users who genuinely value golf access.

7. Luxury hotel and dining benefits

The card includes ITC hotel offers, Elivaas villa offers, luxury hotel privileges, curated dining deals and concierge services.

8. Trip cancellation cover

The card offers trip cancellation cover up to ₹50,000 for eligible non-refundable hotel and flight cancellations.

IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card: Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Zero forex markup Joining fee is ₹12,500 + GST
4 domestic airport lounge visits per quarter Annual fee is ₹12,500 + GST
4 global airport lounge visits per quarter Annual fee waiver requires ₹10 lakh spends
1 guest visit included in domestic lounge quota Lounge access needs monthly spend activation
50 RP per ₹150 on hotels via app Best reward value is app-linked
25 RP per ₹150 on flights via app Non-travel redemption value drops to ₹0.25 per point
1 RP = ₹1 on travel bookings via app Several categories earn only 1X
Reward points never expire while card is active Fuel, EMI, cash withdrawal, fees and charges earn no rewards
Golf, hotel and concierge benefits Not suitable for low-spend users

Do Not Ignore the Travel Redemption Lock-In

Gaj gives strong reward value only when points are used for travel bookings via IDFC FIRST Bank app.

On travel bookings, 1 Reward Point = ₹1.

On other redemption options, 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25.

That is a major difference.

If you do not want to use IDFC FIRST Bank app for travel bookings, the reward value drops sharply.

Check IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card details

Hidden Conditions to Check Before Applying

1. Annual fee waiver needs ₹10 lakh spends

The annual fee is ₹12,500 + GST.

It is waived only if you spend ₹10 lakh in the previous card anniversary year.

2. Lounge access is spend-linked

The card offers 4 domestic and 4 global lounge visits per quarter.

But lounge access is available in the next calendar month only if you spend ₹20,000 or more in the current calendar month.

3. Best redemption value is app-linked

1 Reward Point = ₹1 only on travel bookings through IDFC FIRST Bank app.

For other redemption options, the value is ₹0.25 per reward point.

4. Travel reward bonus is capped

Bonus reward points on hotels and flights via IDFC FIRST Bank app are capped at 15,000 bonus reward points per month.

5. Travel redemption has monthly and annual caps

Travel redemption can be used for up to 70% of the booking amount.

The monthly redemption cap is 1,50,000 reward points.

The annual redemption cap is 3,00,000 reward points.

6. Lower-value categories earn only 1X

Education, wallet load, government, rent, property management/purchase, utilities, railways, FASTag and insurance earn only 1 reward point per ₹150.

7. Some spends earn no rewards

No reward points are earned on:

  • fuel
  • EMI conversions
  • fees and charges
  • GST on fees
  • loan on card
  • balance transfers
  • cash withdrawals
  • transactions below ₹150

8. Golf benefit has spend conditions

A golf round per month unlocks on ₹20,000 previous statement cycle spends.

A golf lesson per month unlocks on ₹40,000 previous statement cycle spends.

9. Joining benefit is not repeatable

The joining fee payment benefit is available only once per customer.

If the card is closed and reapplied, the user may not get the same joining benefit again.

For more examples, read Excluded Categories in Credit Cards.

Benchmarksutra Credit Card Score

Scoring Category Maximum Points What it measures Gaj Score
Reward Value 20 Real cashback, reward rate, reward caps, point value, milestone value 17
Fee Value 15 Joining fee, annual fee, waiver, breakeven spend, renewal value 10
Redemption Quality 10 Cashback, vouchers, miles, statement credit, expiry, redemption fees 8
Use–Case Fit 15 How well the card fits the specific article use case 14
Eligibility & Accessibility 10 Income requirement, approval difficulty, beginner access, upgrade path 6
Benefits & Perks 10 Lounge, dining, travel, movies, insurance, milestones, welcome benefits 10
Hidden Costs & Conditions 10 Forex, rent charges, wallet rules, exclusions, caps, devaluation risk 7
Bank & User Experience 10 App, support, dispute handling, card controls, bank reliability 10
Total Benchmarksutra Score 100 Final card score 82/100

For scoring logic, read Benchmarksutra Credit Card Score Explained and How We Review Credit Cards at Benchmarksutra.

Score Grade Explanation

Score Grade Meaning
90–100 S Tier Strong card with high value and manageable conditions
80–89 A Tier Good card for most eligible users
70–79 B Tier Useful, but with trade-offs
60–69 C Tier Works only for a specific user type
Below 60 Avoid unless niche use case Not recommended for most users

IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card scores 82/100, placing it in A Tier.

That means it is a good card for most eligible users.

But “eligible users” is important here.

This card is good for high-spend premium travel and lifestyle users.

It is not a good fit for low-spend users, cashback-only users, or people who do not use app-linked travel redemptions.

Key Numbers

Stat Value
Benchmarksutra Score 82/100
Grade A Tier
Joining Fee ₹12,500 + GST
Annual Fee ₹12,500 + GST
Annual Fee Waiver ₹10 lakh annual spends
Forex Markup Zero
Domestic Lounge Access 4 visits per quarter
Global Lounge Access 4 visits per quarter
Domestic Guest Lounge Visit 1 guest visit per quarter included
Hotels via App Up to 50 RP per ₹150
Flights via App Up to 25 RP per ₹150
Travel Redemption Value 1 RP = ₹1
Other Redemption Value 1 RP = ₹0.25
Trip Cancellation Cover Up to ₹50,000

Who Should Get This Card?

Good Fit If
You travel internationally
You spend in foreign currency
You use domestic and global airport lounges
You can use IDFC FIRST Bank app for hotel and flight bookings
You value 1 RP = ₹1 travel redemption
You use luxury hotel and dining benefits
You play golf or want golf lessons
You can spend ₹10 lakh annually for fee waiver
You want a premium metal credit card

Who Should Avoid This Card?

Avoid If
You want a simple cashback card
You do not travel often
You do not use airport lounges
You do not want app-linked travel redemptions
You mostly spend on utilities, insurance, rent, wallet load, education or government payments
You cannot justify the ₹12,500 + GST annual fee
You cannot spend ₹10 lakh annually
You want rewards on fuel, EMI or cash withdrawal

Better Alternatives to Consider

User Need Better Direction
Simple cashback Consider dedicated cashback cards
Lower annual fee Compare mid-premium travel cards
No annual fee pressure Consider lifetime-free credit cards
UPI-first usage Consider RuPay credit cards on UPI
Fuel spends Consider fuel co-branded cards
Premium travel rewards Compare travel-focused premium cards
Low forex only Compare zero forex credit cards
Beginner credit card Consider entry-level or secured cards

For comparison basics, read How to Compare Credit Cards in India.

Should You Apply for IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card?

Apply only if you can use the premium travel and lifestyle benefit stack.

Do not apply only because the card says premium metal, zero forex, or 50 reward points per ₹150.

Check:

  • annual fee waiver
  • lounge spend condition
  • app-linked travel redemption
  • reward value outside travel
  • golf usage
  • hotel and flight booking behaviour
  • international spend use case
  • excluded reward categories

Check IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card details

FAQs

Is IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card lifetime free?

No. The card has a joining fee of ₹12,500 + GST and an annual fee of ₹12,500 + GST from the second card anniversary year.

What is the annual fee waiver condition?

The annual fee is waived if the user spends ₹10 lakh in the previous card anniversary year.

What is the forex markup on Gaj Credit Card?

The card offers zero forex markup on international transactions.

How many lounge visits does Gaj offer?

The card offers 4 domestic airport lounge visits per quarter and 4 global airport lounge visits per quarter.

Does the domestic lounge benefit include a guest visit?

Yes. One guest visit per quarter at Indian airport lounges is included within the overall domestic lounge benefit.

Is lounge access unconditional?

No. The lounge benefit can be used in the next calendar month only after spending ₹20,000 or more in the current calendar month.

What is the reward rate on hotel bookings?

Hotel bookings via IDFC FIRST Bank app can earn up to 50 reward points per ₹150 spent.

What is the reward rate on flight bookings?

Flight bookings via IDFC FIRST Bank app can earn up to 25 reward points per ₹150 spent.

What is the value of 1 reward point?

1 reward point is worth ₹1 on travel bookings via IDFC FIRST Bank app. It is worth ₹0.25 for other redemption options.

Do reward points expire?

The bank says Gaj reward points never expire while the credit card is active.

What is the Benchmarksutra score for IDFC FIRST Gaj?

IDFC FIRST Gaj scores 82/100, placing it in A Tier.

Should I apply for IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card?

Apply only if you are a high-spend premium travel and lifestyle user. Avoid if you want a simple cashback card or cannot justify the high annual fee.

A premium metal card should not be judged only by reward points. For Gaj, the real value comes from zero forex, lounge access, app-based travel redemption, luxury hotel benefits, golf, and whether you actually use these benefits.

Akhil Verma - Benchmarksutra

Final Verdict

The IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card is a strong premium metal card for high-spend travel and lifestyle users.

Its strongest benefits are:

  • zero forex markup
  • 4 domestic lounge visits per quarter
  • 4 global lounge visits per quarter
  • 1 domestic guest lounge visit per quarter
  • up to 50 RP per ₹150 on hotels via app
  • up to 25 RP per ₹150 on flights via app
  • 1 RP = ₹1 on travel bookings via app
  • reward points that never expire while card is active
  • golf, luxury hotel, concierge and trip cancellation benefits

But this card has clear trade-offs.

The joining fee is ₹12,500 + GST.

The annual fee is ₹12,500 + GST.

The annual fee waiver needs ₹10 lakh spends.

The best reward value is locked to travel bookings via IDFC FIRST Bank app.

Several categories earn only 1X or no rewards.

Benchmarksutra’s view is simple:

  • Choose this card if you are a high-spend premium travel user.
  • Use it for forex savings, lounge access, hotel bookings, flight bookings, golf and luxury stays.
  • Do not choose it only because of the headline reward rate.
  • Avoid it if you want simple cashback, low fees, or broad rewards on every spend.

Final Benchmarksutra Score: 82/100 — A Tier

Check IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card details

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