Air India + Vistara Merger: What It Means for Credit Card Rewards

The merger, in one paragraph

In late 2024, Tata Sons (which owns both Air India and Vistara) merged the two airlines under the Air India brand. Vistara flights now operate under the Air India code. The frequent-flyer programme was renamed Maharaja Club (formerly Maharaja Club for Air India, Club Vistara for Vistara). Members of either programme had their points consolidated under Maharaja Club in early 2025.

The merger affects how you earn and redeem credit-card points tied to airline partners.

What changed

The points currency

• Club Vistara points → Maharaja Club points. 1:1 conversion.
• Air India miles (formerly Maharaja Club for Air India) → same Maharaja Club points.

The currency is now "Maharaja Club points" with a single balance across both airlines.

Earning

You earn Maharaja Club points on every Air India flight (operated by Air India or codeshare partners). Credit cards that used to "earn Club Vistara points" now earn Maharaja Club points on the same spend.

Redemption

You can redeem Maharaja Club points on:

• Air India domestic and international flights.
• Star Alliance partner flights (Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Turkish, United, Air Canada, etc.).
• Maharaja Club hotel and lifestyle redemptions.

The Star Alliance chart remains the most lucrative redemption route. Domestic award flights (Air India) typically price at 4,000–10,000 Maharaja Club points for economy, depending on distance.

Which credit cards earn Maharaja Club points?

The cards that transfer points to Maharaja Club:

• HDFC Infinia — 1 HDFC point = 1 Maharaja Club point.
• HDFC Diners Club Black — 1 HDFC point = 1 Maharaja Club point.
• HDFC Regalia — 1 HDFC point = 0.5 Maharaja Club points.
• Axis Atlas — 1 EDGE Mile = 1 Maharaja Club point.
• ICICI Emeralde Private — 1 ICICI point = 1 Maharaja Club point.
• Amex Platinum Travel — 1 MR point = 1 Maharaja Club point (via the new transfer partnership).

The 1:1 transfer from Infinia, DCB, Atlas, and Emeralde Private makes the merger-friendly cards the best positioned for maximising Maharaja Club points.

Award chart highlights (2026)

Air India domestic (economy)

• Short-haul (< 750 km): 4,000 points.
• Medium-haul (750–1500 km): 6,000–8,000 points.
• Long-haul (> 1500 km): 10,000+ points.

Air India domestic (business)

• Short-haul: 9,000–12,000 points.
• Medium-haul: 14,000–18,000 points.
• Long-haul: 25,000+ points.

Air India international (economy)

• South Asia: 12,000 points.
• Middle East: 22,000 points.
• Europe: 45,000 points.
• North America: 65,000 points.

Air India international (business)

• South Asia: 22,000 points.
• Middle East: 40,000 points.
• Europe: 80,000 points.
• North America: 110,000 points.

The "value per point" depends on the cash price. A business-class flight to Europe at ₹4 lakh cash / 80,000 points = ₹5 per point. That's well above the statement-credit floor of ₹1 per point.

The transfer strategy

If you have a premium card with 1:1 transfer to Maharaja Club (Infinia, DCB, Atlas, Emeralde Private), the right approach is:

1. Earn HDFC points / EDGE Miles / ICICI points on regular spend.
2. Transfer to Maharaja Club when you have a specific redemption in mind (target ≥ ₹2 per point redemption).
3. Don't transfer speculatively. Maharaja Club points can devalue (the airline can raise award prices), and once transferred, the points are at the airline's discretion.

For most cardholders, statement credit remains the floor — ₹1 per HDFC point, ₹1 per ICICI point. Transfer when you can lock in ₹2+ per point via partner redemptions.

How to position your cards post-merger

If you fly Air India more than 2 round-trips a year domestically:

• Hold HDFC Infinia or DCB: 1:1 transfer is the cleanest earn-redemption loop. The 0% forex markup is a bonus on international flights.
• Hold Axis Atlas: 1:1 transfer via EDGE Miles. The lower annual fee makes Atlas the entry-tier option.
• Hold Amex Platinum Travel: 1:1 via MR if you also value the Taj/Singapore Airlines/Avios transfer options.

If you fly Air India rarely:

• Stick with statement-credit redemptions on your existing cards. The transfer game isn't worth the effort.
• Pick a card with strong baseline rewards (HDFC Regalia, ICICI Coral, Axis Flipkart) and skip the transfer setup.

What to watch in 2026

• Award chart changes: Air India has signalled further changes to the Maharaja Club award chart. Watch for devaluations.
• New transfer partners: HDFC and ICICI may add new transfer options to global airlines (British Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer) at 1:1.
• Lounge changes: the Maharaja Lounge at Delhi T3 may gain or lose Priority Pass status depending on the agreement. Check before flying.
• Co-brand cards: a new Air India co-brand card is reportedly in development. Watch for launches in late 2026.

The bottom line

The Air India + Vistara merger consolidates the points programmes. If you fly Air India frequently, position your cards for 1:1 transfers (HDFC Infinia, DCB, Axis Atlas, ICICI Emeralde Private) and transfer points strategically — only when you have a target redemption at ₹2+ per point. If Air India isn't your main airline, stick with statement-credit redemptions and skip the transfer game. Either way, watch the award chart for devaluations and re-position if needed.