IDFC FIRST Ashva Metal Credit Card

The IDFC FIRST Ashva Metal Credit Card is a Visa Infinite card with a solid metal body weighing 12 grams. The joining fee and annual fee (from the second card anniversary year) are both ₹2,999 + GST. A joining benefit of up to 7,500 reward points (worth up to ₹3,000) is split across three milestones: 2,500 on paying the joining fee, 2,500 on spending ₹20,000 in the second statement cycle, and 2,500 on spending ₹20,000 in the third cycle. Reward points are earned at 1 per ₹150 base rate (1X), scaling to 5X on the first ₹20,000 per cycle and 10X on incremental spends above ₹20,000. International transactions earn 5X and count toward the 10X milestone. Each point redeems at ₹0.40 for hotel and flight bookings through the IDFC FIRST Bank app, or ₹0.25 for gift vouchers and other options.The 1% (+GST) forex markup is among the lowest in India, saving roughly 2.5 percentage points per international transaction versus the typical 3.5% charged by most cards. Airport lounge access cove₹4 complimentary domestic visits and 2 international visits per quarter through DreamFolks, though you need to spend ₹20,000 in the current month to unlock the benefit for the following month. Railway lounge access adds 4 complimentary visits per quarter at select Indian Railway terminals with the same ₹20,000 monthly spend requirement. Travel insurance covers loss of checked-in baggage (USD 500), delay of checked-in baggage (USD 100), loss of passport (USD 300), and flight delay (USD 300). A cancel-for-any-reason trip cancellation cover reimburses up to ₹25,000 for non-refundable flight and hotel bookings, available twice a year.Visa Infinite privileges include stays at ITC Hotels (3 nights for the price of 2), Elivaas properties (same deal), up to 20% dining discounts at participating restaurants, airport meet and greet service, airport transfer discounts on limousine services, and benefits at 900+ luxury hotels worldwide. The Postcard Hotels partnership gives ₹5,000 off on minimum ₹25,000 bookings once per quarter. Entertainment perks include buy-one-get-one movie tickets with up to ₹400 off the second ticket, available twice monthly through District by Zomato. Golf privileges unlock up to 2 complimentary rounds or lessons per month on spending ₹20,000 and ₹40,000 in the previous statement cycle. A 1% fuel surcharge waiver applies at all pumps on transactions between ₹200 and ₹5,000, capped at ₹300 per statement cycle.Insurance coverage includes ₹1 crore air accident cover, ₹10 lakh personal accident cover, and ₹50,000 lost card liability, all requiring at least one transaction in the last 30 days to remain active. An annual milestone of ₹8 lakh spend earns 7,500 reward points worth up to ₹3,000, which effectively offsets the annual fee. Interest-free ATM cash withdrawals for up to 45 days at a flat ₹199 + GST per transaction is a feature rare among Indian credit cards. The ₹20,000 monthly spend threshold required for lounge and golf benefits is the main limitation, as occasional spenders may not consistently qualify for these perks. Heavier spenders who hit the ₹20,000 threshold regularly will find the Ashva punches well above its price point in the mid-premium metal card segment.