If you will not be able to hit the ₹10 lakh annual spend required to waive the fee, then upgrading to Kotak White Reserve Credit Card (White Reserve) may not be worth it. Here’s a breakdown of why — and under what kind of profile it does still make sense.
✅ What you get with White Reserve (if you spend enough)
Lounge access worldwide (primary + add-on), and a complimentary membership to Club Marriott, giving discounts on hotels, F&B and other privileges.
“White Pass” reward accrual (on milestone-based spends) — at high spends the value-back can be substantial.
Other perks such as fuel surcharge waiver, travel/concierge benefits, and additional lifestyle privileges that appeal if you travel or spend substantially.
⚠️ Why it’s probably not worth it if you miss the ₹10 L spend threshold
The annual/joining fee is ₹12,500.
Fee waiver requires ₹10 lakh spend annually — if you fall short, you effectively pay ₹12,500 for presumably modest benefit given your lower spend.
Reward accrual via White Pass only starts to become meaningful at higher spending milestones; for lower spends the value-back may be limited.
If your usage patterns are modest — limited travel, limited luxury/premium spends — many of the “premium” benefits (lounge access, Club Marriott perks, golf, etc.) may go underutilised.
🎯 When it
If you travel fairly often (domestic or international), or stay in hotels / dine out often, you might still derive value from lounge access and Marriott discounts.
If you expect your spend to go up — e.g., because you plan larger expenses (travel, lifestyle, gifts, etc.) — potentially reaching the waiver threshold.
If you value “premium-card” status (concierge, lifestyle perks) even if net financial return is modest — i.e. you see non-monetary value in convenience or luxury privileges.
Since you say you will not meet the ₹10 lakh fee-waiver spend, I recommend against upgrading to White Reserve.