Great news for frequent flyers! Air India has officially expanded its rebranded Maharaja Club loyalty program. As a result, members can now earn and redeem Maharaja Points on Air India Express flights. This change brings huge value to travellers. Indeed, it opens up a network of over 55 destinations across South, Southeast, and West Asia. Therefore, whether you fly on a budget or plan a big getaway, your trips will now help you earn valuable rewards.
Accelerating Your Rewards: How to Earn Maharaja Points?
Earning points is very simple. Specifically, your points are based on your base fare and fuel surcharge. This setup is easy to understand. In addition, it matches the rates you already get with Air India.
To get the most points, you should book directly with the airline. For example, if you book on the official app or website, you get extra points. Specifically, you earn 2 extra points for every INR 100 you spend. This is a much better deal than using online travel agents.
Maharaja Points Earning Structure (Per INR 100 Spent)
To illustrate this, here is how many points you earn based on your tier and how you book:
| Booking Method | Red Tier | Silver Tier | Gold Tier | Platinum Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Official Channels | 8 Points | 10 Points | 11 Points | 12 Points |
| Other Channels (Travel Agents) | 6 Points | 8 Points | 9 Points | 10 Points |
Note: Special discounted fares for students, seniors, and military personnel are also fully eligible to earn points.
Reaching the Next Level: Tier Progression and Upgrades
Importantly, these flights also help you reach higher tier levels. Consequently, flights on Air India Express count toward your elite status. Every time you spend INR 100 on a base fare, you get 6 Tier Points.
As a result, you can climb the elite tiers much faster. These tiers include Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Furthermore, reaching a higher tier helps you earn points even faster on future trips.
Redeeming Maharaja Points on Air India Express
Now, you can also use your points to book free flights. However, during this first phase, you can only redeem points on codeshare flights. These are Air India Express flights that have an Air India code. Therefore, when you search for flights, look for the Air India Express label.
Fortunately, these award flights are very cheap. Specifically, they start at just 1,500 points for short trips.
Sample Redemption Rates for Air India Express Award Flights
For instance, here are some of the starting rates for popular routes:
| Travel Sector | Starting Redemption Price (Maharaja Points) |
|---|---|
| Bengaluru to Chennai | 1,500 Points |
| Dimapur to Guwahati | 1,500 Points |
| Bengaluru to Kozhikode | 2,000 Points |
| Bengaluru to Goa | 2,500 Points |
| Mumbai to Goa | 2,500 Points |
| Bengaluru to Mumbai | 4,000 Points |
| Ahmedabad to Kolkata | 4,500 Points |
| Delhi to Bengaluru | 7,000 Points |
| Amritsar to Dubai | 12,000 Points |
| Mumbai to Abu Dhabi | 12,000 Points |
| Kochi to Bahrain | 12,000 Points |
| Bengaluru to Bangkok | 12,000 Points |
Important Rules and Guidelines for Members
To make sure everything goes smoothly, you must follow a few simple rules:
- First, you must add your 9-digit member ID when you book. Alternatively, you can add it later during web check-in.
- However, you cannot claim points for past flights right now. This feature will come later.
- Also, airport staff and call centers cannot add your ID for you in this phase.
- Finally, you will not earn points on free tickets, group bookings, or charter flights.
Future Enhancements: What’s Next?
Of course, this partnership is just getting started. In the future, elite members will get even more perks. For instance, Silver, Gold, and Platinum members will get priority check-in and boarding. In addition, you will get free seat selection and waived fees for flight changes.
