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Credit CardsComparisons

HSBC TravelOne Credit Card vs IDFC FIRST WOW

A head-to-head comparison of HSBC TravelOne Credit Card and IDFC FIRST WOW across fees, rewards, and spending categories to help you decide which card suits your wallet better.

TravelCard A
Annual Fee
₹4,999
Reward Rate
4X on Travel & Forex
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TravelCard B

IDFC FIRST WOW

International Trips

Annual Fee
Lifetime Free
Reward Rate
Zero Forex Markup
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Feature comparison

FeatureHSBC TravelOneIDFC FIRST
Annual Fee₹4,999 + GST (Waived on ₹8L spend)Lifetime Free
Reward Rate4X on Travel & ForexZero Forex Markup
Best ForFrequent FlyersInternational Trips
First-Card Friendly
Lounge Access
Zero Forex Markup

Spending category coverage

Which categories does each card reward?

CategoryHSBC TravelOneIDFC FIRST
Domestic travel
International travel
Airport lounge access
Zero forex markup

Quick verdict

Choose HSBC TravelOne Credit Card if:

  • You spend heavily on domestic travel
  • You spend heavily on airport lounge access

Choose IDFC FIRST WOW if:

  • Lower annual fee (₹Nil vs ₹4,999)
  • You spend heavily on zero forex markup
  • This is your first credit card

Full pros & cons

HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

What's good
  • 1:1 transfers to 15 airline partners (Air India, Singapore Airlines, BA Avios, Qatar, Etihad, Japan Airlines, and more) via the HSBC app
  • 4 RP per ₹100 on flights, travel portals, and forex (2X on all other spends)
  • 4 complimentary chauffeur-driven airport transfers per year + 6 domestic and 4 international lounge visits
Watch out for
  • High forex markup of 3.5% + GST (~4.13%) despite being a travel card
  • Accelerated travel rewards capped at 50,000 points per month
  • Extensive exclusion list — no points on insurance, rent, government, EMI, or wallet loads
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IDFC FIRST WOW

What's good
  • 0% Forex Markup — saves ₹3,500+ on every lakh spent abroad
  • FD-backed with guaranteed approval
  • No minimum income criteria required
  • 3X reward points (~0.75% effective) on regular spends — 3 RP per ₹150 outside fuel/EMI/wallet
Watch out for
  • Credit limit is 100% tied to the FD amount blocked
  • Requires locking funds in a fixed deposit
  • Does not waive international ATM withdrawal charges
Apply Now
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