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Crushed by travel expenses? Here’s why the Mayura Credit Card is your way out

Key Takeaways

With the right strategy for earning credit card rewards, you can unlock premium travel perks.
Planning redemptions around bonus slabs helps you travel better without raising your actual spending.
Find out why the Ashva and Mayura Credit Cards from IDFC FIRST Bank are ideal companions for frequent travellers seeking maximum travel benefits.

04 Nov 2025 by Team FinFIRST

Reduce travel expenses using Mayura Credit Card

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If you travel often, you’re already spending on several things - flights, hotels, dining, and shopping - and likely earning credit card rewards along the way. But even with all those points, you may still feel you're not getting enough in return.

That’s not because you’re doing anything wrong. Most cards are built for the average user, not for frequent travellers with premium travel goals. You need rewards that work harder. Faster redemptions, higher earnings on travel spends, and real value on every booking.

The good news? That’s entirely possible.

With the right strategy and card, your everyday spending can unlock credit card rewards for a premium travel experience. More access, and more stays, flights, and privileges - without changing how you spend.

The Ashva and Mayura Credit Cards from the IDFC FIRST Bank are designed for this. These fine metal cards combine high rewards, generous bonuses, and focused travel perks that help you get more out of every trip.

Let’s explore how to use them to travel better, smarter, and further.

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Credit card reward structure for Ashva and Mayura Credit Cards

Feature	Ashva Credit Card	Mayura Credit Card
Reward points on everyday spending	5X on spends up to ₹20,000/month 10X on incremental spends beyond ₹20,000/month 1X = 1 reward point per ₹150 spent	5X on spends up to ₹20,000/month 10X on spends beyond ₹20,000/month 1X = 1 reward point per ₹150 spent
Special categories	3X on rent, education, government payments, and wallet loads 1X on insurance and utility bill payments	3X on rent, education, government payments, and wallet loads 1X on insurance and utility bill payments
Bonus travel reward points	Up to 15,000 bonus reward points every month on the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile Banking App with: 50X Bonus reward points on hotel bookings 30X Bonus reward points on flight bookings	Up to 25,000 bonus reward points every month on the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile Banking App with: 50X Bonus reward points on hotel bookings 30X Bonus reward points on flight bookings
Redemption value	1 Reward point = ₹0.4 (on hotel and flight Bookings on IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile App) 1 Reward point = ₹0.25 (everywhere else)	1 Reward point = ₹0.5 (on hotel and flight Bookings on IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile App) 1 Reward point = ₹0.25 (everywhere else)
Travel Redemption limits	Up to 1 lakh reward points (worth Rs. 40,000) monthly and 2 lakh reward points (worth Rs. 80,000) annually for travel bookings on the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile Banking App	Up to 1.5 lakh reward points monthly (worth Rs. 75,000) and 3 lakh reward points (worth Rs. 1,50,000) annually for travel bookings on the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile Banking App
Expiry	Reward points never expire	Reward points never expire

These cards reward high monthly spending, especially in the travel category. But the real edge lies in how they handle bonus credit card rewards and redemptions - something we’ll explore next.

What counts as travel spending on your credit card?

Not all travel-related expenses qualify as “travel spends” on credit cards. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you optimise your transactions.

What counts as travel spending varies by bank. For the Ashva and Mayura Credit Cards, book via the Travel & Shop section on the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile Banking App to ensure your spends qualify for maximum rewards.

Travel-specific perks users often miss

Even seasoned travellers often miss the full value of their credit card rewards, which can make their journey smoother, safer, and more affordable - if you know how to use them. Here are four key travel benefits cardholders often overlook and how the Ashva and Mayura Credit Cards help you make the most of them from booking to arrival:

1. Lounge access

Access to airport lounges [1] [2] offers comfort, quiet, and convenience during long layovers or delays. Most travellers either forget about it or assume it comes at a cost. With the Ashva and Mayura Credit Cards, you receive:

Benefit	Ashva Credit Card	Mayura Credit Card
Indian airport lounge access	4 visits per quarter	4 visits per quarter (including 1 guest visit)
Global airport lounge access	2 visits per quarter	4 visits per quarter
Indian railway lounge access	4 visits per quarter	4 visits per quarter

2. Free trip cancellation

Changing plans can lead to lost money on non-refundable hotel and flight bookings. Both cards offer trip cancellation cover (up to ₹25,000 for the Ashva Credit Card and up to ₹50,000 for the Mayura Credit Card, twice a year). This helps you recover costs when plans change for valid reasons.

3. Unlock exclusive travel benefits on flights and hotels

Many cardholders redeem points for gift cards, which often deliver lower value. With the Ashva and Mayura Credit Cards, you get more. You unlock:

a. 30X Bonus credit card reward points on flights and 50X bonus credit card reward points on hotels, adding more value to every trip

b. A flat ₹5,000 discount on stays at The Postcard Hotels & Resorts, once per calendar quarter, with a minimum booking of ₹25,000

How to build a smart earning strategy for maximum credit card rewards

To maximise your credit card rewards, focus your spending on categories that offer the highest points. Both the Ashva and Mayura Credit Cards reward you generously on everyday spends. They also offer the highest points on travel bookings made through the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile Banking App. This means:

Spend above ₹20,000 each month to unlock accelerated, incremental reward points
Use the card on your birthday for 10X reward points
Book flights and hotels via the official banking app to earn substantial bonus points
Use the card even for smaller spends to accumulate base points steadily
Activate FIRST Digital RuPay Credit Card on these metal cards to earn reward points on UPI transactions

By aligning your regular payments with these categories, you accumulate credit card rewards faster, turning routine expenses into valuable travel perks. Here’s an example illustrating potential rewards for both cards:

Spend type	Monthly spend on Ashva Credit Card	Reward points earned with the Ashva Credit Card	Monthly spend on Mayura Credit Card	Reward points earned with the Mayura Credit Card
Every day spends up to ₹20,000 (other than spends mentioned below)	₹20,000	666	₹20,000	666
Incremental spends above ₹20,000 (other than spends mentioned below)	₹5,000	333	₹35,000	2,333
Spending on rent	₹5,000	100	₹25,000	500
Flight bookings via the app (plus base rewards of 10X on the credit card)	₹10,000	2,666	₹10,000	2,666
Hotel bookings via app (plus base rewards of 10X on the credit card)	₹10,000	4,000	₹10,000	4,000
Total spends/points earned	₹50,000	7,765 points	₹1,00,000	10,165 points

How to use your credit card rewards for high-value redemptions

Earning credit card rewards is only beneficial when redeemed smartly. Both the Ashva and Mayura Credit Cards offer higher value when you redeem points on travel bookings via the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile Banking App.

To get the most from your rewards:

Plan redemptions early in the month to avoid exceeding monthly limits
Redeem points for flights and hotels where your points are worth more
Use up to 70% of your booking value through points and pay the rest by card
Keep track of your annual limits to optimise redemptions across the year

The following example demonstrates how redemption value plays out:

Card	Total points earned	Travel Redemption rate (flights and hotels)	Travel Redemption value (flights and hotels)	Redemption rate (other categories)	Redemption value (other categories)
Ashva Credit Card	7,765	₹0.40 per point	₹3,106	₹0.25 per point	₹1,941.25
Mayura Credit Card	7,765	₹0.50 per point	₹3,882.25	₹0.25 per point	₹1,941.25

Redeeming for travel gives you up to twice the value compared to using the same credit card rewards elsewhere. Over a year, if you consistently redeem your points for flight and hotel bookings, you could unlock over ₹46,000 in value with the Mayura Credit Card - compared to just ₹23,000 when used for non-travel redemptions.

Aligning travel goals with smart earning and redemptions

To maximise the value of your credit card rewards:

Book hotels and flights via the “Travel and Shop” section to trigger bonus multipliers
Aim to exceed the ₹20,000 monthly spend to unlock 10X incremental points
Redeem points strategically around monthly and annual caps
Use points on high-value travel bookings for the best returns
Take full advantage of lounge access and other card benefits to enhance travel comfort

Why come to IDFC FIRST Bank for maximum credit card rewards

With the right strategy, the Ashva and Mayura Credit Cards from IDFC FIRST Bank can turn every spend into a travel reward, unlocking premium travel perks through smart earning and well-planned redemptions.

Here’s why these cards stand out:

Up to 60X points on hotel stays and 40X points on flights when you book through the Travel & Shop section of the mobile app
Earn credit card rewards that can be redeemed at ₹0.40 per point on hotel and flight bookings via the app for the Ashva Credit Card and at ₹0.50 per point for the Mayura Credit Card
Enjoy four Indian and two global airport lounge visits each quarter with the Ashva Credit Card and four Indian (including 1 guest) and four global lounge visits per quarter with the Mayura Credit Card
Get access to four Indian railway lounge visits per quarter with both metal credit cards
Get a zero forex markup with the Mayura Credit Card and a low and transparent 1% fee with the Ashva Credit Card - much less than the industry standard of 3-3.5%
Global recognition - IDFC FIRST Bank has been ranked among the World’s Best Banks 2025 by Forbes and Statista

Take your travel further - explore the Ashva and Mayura Credit Cards from IDFC FIRST Bank today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn credit card rewards on international travel bookings?

With the Ashva and Mayura Credit Cards, booking through the mobile app ensures smart earning even for overseas travel. You also enjoy travel perks like low or zero forex markup and exclusive insurance benefits.

Are credit card rewards worth it for short domestic trips?

Definitely, even short trips can be funded with credit card rewards, especially if you consistently spend on travel and dining. With the Ashva and Mayura Credit Cards, you get real-time perks, like travel insurance and lounge access, that enhance even weekend getaways, aligning everyday spending with long-term travel goals.

How can I track my travel-related credit card rewards?

Most banks offer tracking through monthly statements or mobile apps. With IDFC FIRST Bank, Ashva and Mayura Credit Cardholders can monitor credit card rewards in real-time via the mobile app, making it easier to align spending with travel goals and plan smarter redemptions.

Disclaimer

The contents of this article/infographic/picture/video are meant solely for information purposes. The contents are generic in nature and for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for specific advice in your own circumstances. The information is subject to updation, completion, revision, verification and amendment and the same may change materially. The information is not intended for distribution or use by any person in any jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation or would subject IDFC FIRST Bank or its affiliates to any licensing or registration requirements. IDFC FIRST Bank shall not be responsible for any direct/indirect loss or liability incurred by the reader for taking any financial decisions based on the contents and information mentioned. Please consult your financial advisor before making any financial decision.

The features, benefits and offers mentioned in the article are applicable as on the day of publication of this blog and is subject to change without notice. The contents herein are also subject to other product specific terms and conditions and any third party terms and conditions, as applicable. Please refer our website www.idfcfirst.bank.in for latest updates.