IDFC FIRST Wealth vs SBI Air India Signature
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
IDFC FIRST Wealth wins 6-2. Lifetime-free premium — best zero-fee card in India. 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 Wealth | 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 | 1.5% | · 1.99% |
| Welcome bonus | = 5,000 reward points on first 90-day spend | = 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 | 770 | · 780 |
| Editorial rating | 4.7/5 | · 4.3/5 |
Benefits compared
IDFC FIRST Wealth
- 3x reward points on online spends (10x on weekends + travel)
- 4 international + 4 domestic lounge visits per quarter
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
- Low forex markup at 1.5%
- Lifetime free — no annual fee, no fee-waiver math
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 Wealth vs SBI Air India Signature: which is better?
IDFC FIRST Wealth wins on more dimensions (6 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use IDFC FIRST Wealth 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 Wealth: 5,000 reward points on first 90-day spend. SBI Air India Signature: 20,000 Air India reward points.