American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card vs IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card: Which Earns You More? (2026)
Most comparisons show a spec sheet. This one does the maths: set your monthly spend and pick how you redeem points to see the honest net annual value in ₹ for each card — caps, exclusions, fee waivers and milestones applied. Card details verified 2026-07.
Your monthly spend
₹50,000/moMost cards earn ₹0 rewards on fuel (surcharge waiver only).
Frequently excluded from rewards in India.
Almost always earns ₹0 and may carry a fee.
Often excluded or capped.
American Express · fee ₹5,000
IDFC FIRST Bank · fee ₹0
Smart Verdict
Choose American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card to earn an extra ~₹2,690
American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card wins by ₹2,690/yr vs IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card, mainly from your fuel spend.Net annual value across spend levels
All ₹ values exclude GST. Perks like lounge access are shown separately and not added into net value. Rewards use your selected redemption mode (cashback / statement credit).
American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card vs IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card at different spend levels
- At ₹25,000/month, IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card nets ₹2,040/yr vs American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card at ₹294/yr — a ₹1,746 edge.
- At ₹50,000/month, American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card nets ₹6,958/yr vs IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card at ₹4,268/yr — a ₹2,690 edge.
- At ₹1,00,000/month, American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card nets ₹31,653/yr vs IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card at ₹8,850/yr — a ₹22,803 edge.
Worked examples use a typical category split at each spend level and cashback-mode point valuation. Your split changes the result.
Full specification comparison
| Feature | American Express Platinum Travel Credit CardAmerican Express | IDFC FIRST Select Credit CardIDFC FIRST Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹5,000/yr | Lifetime free |
| Fee waiver | No waiver | — |
| Base reward | 2 pts / ₹100 | 3 pts / ₹100 |
| Top categories | Base rate only | 5x dining, 5x travel, 0.5x insurance |
| Redemption | Moderate | Moderate |
| Point expiry | Never expire | 24 months |
| Lounge access | 8 dom · 0 intl⚠ 8 domestic visits/year (max 2/quarter). Priority Pass membership included (usage fee per visit applies). | 4 dom · 0 intl⚠ 1 domestic visit/quarter on Rs.20,000+ spend in previous calendar month. Railway lounge: 4 visits/year on same spend condition. |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 1.99% |
| Fuel surcharge | None | None |
| Stated income | Rs.6L (salaried and self-employed) | Rs.12L annual income |
| Recent devaluations |
| None recorded |
| Verified against |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card or IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card?
At a typical ₹50,000/month spend (cashback redemption), American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card comes out ahead by about ₹2,690 per year, driven mostly by fuel spend. Your own split can change the answer — use the calculator above to plug in your numbers.
Which card is better for online shopping, American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card or IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card?
American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card earns 2 pts/₹100 as a base, while IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card earns 3 pts/₹100. Check the accelerated online/Amazon/Flipkart rates and monthly caps in the table above, since caps often decide the winner for heavy online spenders.
What are the annual fees for American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card and IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card?
American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card: ₹5,000 + GST per year. IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card: lifetime free.
Do American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card and IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card earn rewards on rent, fuel and utilities?
Like most Indian cards, several everyday categories are excluded. American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card excludes fuel, insurance, utilities; IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card excludes fuel. The calculator shows these as ₹0 earners so your net value stays honest.
Is IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card ever the better pick over American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card?
Within a normal spend range at ₹50,000/month, American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card stays ahead. IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card can still win on specific perks (lounge, forex, redemption ease) that aren't counted in the net-value maths.