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Like the rest of the airline, Air India's Flying Returns loyalty program is getting a new look. All changes are effective immediately, which, while sudden, isn't something to fret about given that most tip the scale as positives.
From easier-to-earn elite status tiers to a now revenue-based mileage earning structure, here's everything you need to know about the updated Air India Flying Returns program to match the airline's physical changes.
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Air India Refreshes Its Flying Returns Loyalty Program
Historically, Air India's Flying Returns program wasn't well-loved or widely-covered. But now, after the airline's privatizations and installation of new management, Air India is trying to encourage frequent flyers to credit flights to the program again. Here's the high-level overview of the Flying Returns changes.
Flying Returns becomes revenue-based
Air India is the latest airline to adopt a revenue-based point structure. Depending on your status, you'll earn between 6X and 10X Flying Returns points per 100 Indian Rupees spent (about $1.20) on flights credited to the program.
Alongside redeemable reward points, you'll also earn tier points when you book a flight on Air India or its partner airlines, coming at a flat rate of 6X points per 100 INR spent — no matter your elite tier. Tier points count towards status in the Flying Returns program and are not redeemable for flights.
Air India overhauls elite status tiers
Air India has also “reimagined” its elite tiers, making status far easier to earn. After signing up for Flying Rewards, you'll be granted sign-up-level Red status, but you can work your way to Silver, Gold, or Platinum by earning enough tier points or taking several flights.
Here are the requirements for earning status with Air India:
- Red (formerly known as “Base”): Enroll in the Air India Flying Rewards loyalty program.
- Silver (formerly known as “Silver Edge”): Earn 15,000 tier points (minimum of 4,500 from Air India flights) or take 30 flights (minimum of four flights on Air India).
- Gold (formerly known as “Golden Edge”): Earn 30,000 tier points (minimum of 9,000 from Air India flights) or take 60 flights (minimum of eight flights on Air India).
- Platinum (formerly known as “The Maharaja Club”): Earn 45,000 tier points (minimum of 13,500 from Air India flights) or take 90 flights (minimum of twelve flights on Air India).
While status is objectively easier to earn, you'll need qualifying activity on Air India to earn it. Thus, you can't earn it solely by flying Star Alliance partners like United or Air Canada.
New elite status perks
The perks and benefits associated with each elite status tier have gotten a slight tune-up. In short, this means added benefits across Star Alliance carriers and priority services. Here's an overview of the benefits you'll expect after unlocking each tier past Red:
- Silver
- 8X Reward points per 100 INR spent
- Dedicated customer support
- Priority services
- Star Alliance Silver status
- Gold (plus everything in the prior tier)
- 9X Reward points per 100 INR spent
- Lounge access
- Extra baggage allowance
- Upgrade vouchers
- Star Alliance Gold status
- Platinum (plus everything in the prior tier)
- 10X Reward points per 100 INR spent
- Free seat selection
- Fly early benefit
- Chance and cancellation fee waivers
- Star Alliance Gold status
Plus, there is a new incentive for booking directly with Air India, as your bonus Reward points will become more pronounced. On web and app bookings, you'll earn two additional Reward points per 100 INR spent.
Flying Returns award redemption changes
Traditionally, programs that move to revenue-based point earnings adopt dynamic award pricing. And that's exactly what Air India did. With these changes, every seat on an Air India plane becomes bookable with points, but the price will fluctuate depending on time to departure, load factor, and more. Ultimately, booking early and on flights that aren't full will require fewer points on your itinerary.
And if you don't have enough points for a specific award, Air India has rolled out a new Cash + Points feature and expanded its family pooling policies. Minor tweaks such as these add value and ensure any points you have are less likely to go unused.
Related: Which Rewards Programs Let You Pool Points and Miles With Others for Free?
New point expiration policy
Under the old Flying Returns program, Rewards points had a hard expiration of 36 months. This policy changed, and points are now “evergreen” — with a catch. Now, Rewards points never expire, so long as you credit one Air India flight to the program every 24 months.
Related: Airline and Hotel Expiration Policies: How To Save Your Miles
Final Thoughts
Air India's antiquated Flying Returns program has a new look. While there might not be enough in these updates to incentivize U.S.-based travelers to switch allegiances to a foreign Star Alliance counterpart in their quest for elite status, the airline's clear desire to make its loyalty program more competitive means that there could be more to look forward to in the future. For points and miles enthusiasts, Flying Returns is a program worth keeping an eye on going forward.
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