LIC IDFC FIRST Select cuts travel bonus — 40% off
The LIC IDFC FIRST Select card's app-travel bonus is cut to 20% on hotels and 8% on flights, a 40% reduction on both, with a cap of 8,000 points per month. This change reduces the redemption value from 10% to 6% on hotels and 5% to 3% on flights.
The LIC IDFC FIRST Select card’s travel bonus through its app has been revised. The bonus on hotel bookings is now 20% and on flights is 8%, down from 45X and 20X respectively. This translates to 24 points per ₹100 on hotels and 12 points per ₹100 on flights, including the 4-point base. The reduction in bonus points means cardholders will earn fewer points on their travel bookings. With IDFC’s redemption rate of ₹0.25 per point, the effective redemption value on hotels drops from 10% to 6% and on flights from 5% to 3%. The bonus cap of 8,000 points per calendar month remains in place. Our take: despite this reduction, the card remains a keep due to its lifetime free status and untouched lounge benefits. However, the hotel booking bonus was a key feature, and its reduction by two fifths diminishes the card’s value proposition. Cardholders should adjust their expectations and usage accordingly.