Both cards compared on real rupee returns for IDFC FIRST Ashva vs Kotak Air+ which better travel credit card India. We ran the numbers so you can make the right call.
Last updated: October 2026 · Based on current card terms
IDFC FIRST
ASHVA
ASHOK KUMAR
VS
KOTAK MAHI
AIR+
ASHOK KUMAR
Our verdict
Kotak Air+ Credit Card wins for most people
Card B wins with ₹2,520 annual benefit versus Card A's -₹815 loss. Card B's straightforward Air Miles structure and higher redemption value make it the clear choice for this ₹23,000 monthly spend profile.
Side-by-side comparison
IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit CardKotak Air+ Credit Card ✓
Annual benefit-₹815₹2,520
Annual feeThe yearly fee a bank charges for holding the card, often waived if you spend enough in a year.Full definition →₹2,999 + GST annual (both joining and renewal)₹3,000 + GST joining and annual (single-sourced figure; official Kotak T&C lists this card among those with a spend-based fee waiver, naming Rent, Wallet, Utility, Education and Transportation as excluded categories, but a separate third-party review claims no spend waiver exists at all - genuinely contradictory, exact threshold unconfirmed)
Reward rateCashback pays you directly in rupees; reward points need converting first, and their real value depends on the redemption ratio.Full definition →Points are earned per ₹150 spent, not ₹100, and the "X" multipliers printed on the card are point counts, not percentages. Redeemed at the best rate (₹0.40/point via the IDFC FIRST app for travel bookings), the real effective returns are: 8% on hotel bookings via the app (30X), 4% on flight bookings via the app (15X), 2.7% on monthly spend above ₹20,000 or on your birthday (10X), and 1.3% on spend up to ₹20,000 per cycle (5X). Redeemed on the general rewards portal instead (₹0.25/point), these roughly halve. Insurance, utilities, railways and FASTag earn only 1X (about 0.3-0.4%), with 2X on international spends and up to 3X on rent, education, wallet loads and UPI via the app.5 Air Miles per ₹100 on flight and hotel bookings via the Kotak Unbox app, capped at 15,000 Air Miles per statement cycle (reverts to base rate above that); 2 Air Miles per ₹100 on all other eligible spends; 1 Air Mile = ₹1 when redeemed via Kotak Unbox, or transferable to 9 airline/hotel partners at a weak 2:1 to 3:1 ratio
Best forFrequent travellers who book hotels and flights through the IDFC FIRST Bank app specifically, where the real redemption value is highest; weak for everyday spending outside the appTravelers who will consistently book flights and hotels through the Kotak Unbox app and redeem miles there directly, rather than transferring to partner programs
Card A suits frequent luxury hotel bookers who exclusively use the IDFC app for reservations and can consistently reach high-value 30X points on hotel stays. Otherwise, its weak everyday returns and annual loss make it unsuitable for this spend pattern.
Kotak Air+ Credit Card
Card B excels for travelers booking flights and hotels via Kotak Unbox app, where 5 miles per ₹100 and ₹1 direct redemption deliver consistent value. It's optimal for balanced spenders who want predictable rewards without app-specific constraints.
Who should get which card
Get IDFC FIRST Ashva if you…
· Exclusively book 5-star hotels via IDFC app (8% return)
· Frequent international travelers with high spends
· Can sustain ₹50,000+ monthly spend to justify fees
Get Kotak Air+ if you…
· Regular flight and hotel bookers via Kotak Unbox
· Prefer simple, transparent rewards (5 miles per ₹100)
· Travel-focused spenders seeking positive annual ROI
Partner offer
Axis Bank Select Credit Card
Higher spenders (₹6L+ income) who will spend ₹3L+ a year, want international lounge access through Priority Pass with 12 visits, and want a 2% earn rate on everyday retail spends
Based on our analysis, Kotak Air+ Credit Card offers better annual returns for most spend profiles.
IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹2,999 + GST annual (both joining and renewal). Kotak Air+ Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹3,000 + GST joining and annual (single-sourced figure; official Kotak T&C lists this card among those with a spend-based fee waiver, naming Rent, Wallet, Utility, Education and Transportation as excluded categories, but a separate third-party review claims no spend waiver exists at all - genuinely contradictory, exact threshold unconfirmed).
IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card offers Points are earned per ₹150 spent, not ₹100, and the "X" multipliers printed on the card are point counts, not percentages. Redeemed at the best rate (₹0.40/point via the IDFC FIRST app for travel bookings), the real effective returns are: 8% on hotel bookings via the app (30X), 4% on flight bookings via the app (15X), 2.7% on monthly spend above ₹20,000 or on your birthday (10X), and 1.3% on spend up to ₹20,000 per cycle (5X). Redeemed on the general rewards portal instead (₹0.25/point), these roughly halve. Insurance, utilities, railways and FASTag earn only 1X (about 0.3-0.4%), with 2X on international spends and up to 3X on rent, education, wallet loads and UPI via the app.. Kotak Air+ Credit Card offers 5 Air Miles per ₹100 on flight and hotel bookings via the Kotak Unbox app, capped at 15,000 Air Miles per statement cycle (reverts to base rate above that); 2 Air Miles per ₹100 on all other eligible spends; 1 Air Mile = ₹1 when redeemed via Kotak Unbox, or transferable to 9 airline/hotel partners at a weak 2:1 to 3:1 ratio.
IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card lounge access: 4 domestic + 2 international airport lounge visits per quarter, plus 4 railway lounge visits per quarter - all gated behind ₹20,000 spend in the preceding month. Kotak Air+ Credit Card lounge access: 2 international visits/year via Priority Pass (primary cardholder only, $1 validation charge auto-reversed within 7 days) plus 4 domestic visits/year, capped at 2 per quarter (₹2 validation charge per visit).