air india travel credit

6 Exclusive Perks of The Air India SBI Signature Credit Card

The Air India SBI Signature Credit Card is a premium co-branded travel card designed for frequent flyers, especially those who prefer flying with Air India. This card offers significant rewards on Air India ticket purchases, complimentary lounge access, and various travel-related perks. Below, we provide a detailed review of its features and benefits.

Welcome benefits for air india sbi signature credit card, charges for air india sbi signature credit card, membership benefits of air india sbi signature credit card.

This card provides a range of premium travel-related benefits:

Travel Benefits: Complimentary domestic lounge access (8 visits per year) and Priority Pass membership (for international lounges, visits are chargeable).
Insurance Coverage: Lost card liability cover of up to ₹1 lakh, applicable from 48 hours prior to reporting loss till 7 days post-reporting.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% surcharge waiver on fuel transactions ranging from ₹500 to ₹4,000, with a maximum waiver of ₹250 per billing cycle.

Rewards from Air India SBI Signature Credit Card

Milestone benefits of air india sbi signature credit card, redemption of air india sbi signature credit card points.

Reward points earned with this card can be converted into Air India Air Miles:

Air Miles: 1 Reward Point = 1 Air Mile
Minimum Conversion: A minimum of 10,000 Reward Points is required for conversion.

Gift Vouchers Available

Airport lounge access with air india sbi signature credit card, airport transfers with air india sbi signature credit card.

This card does not offer specific airport transfer benefits.

Forex Markup Fee for Air India SBI Signature Credit Card

Eligibility for air india sbi signature credit card.

To apply for the Air India SBI Signature Credit Card, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Age: 18 years and above
Income: Stable income required
Documents Required: Aadhar Card, PAN Card, proof of income (latest bank statements/salary slips, ITR), and residence proof.

Card Review: Air India SBI Signature Credit Card

The Air India SBI Signature Credit Card is a great choice for frequent Air India flyers. With its high reward rate on Air India spends, complimentary lounge access, and significant milestone rewards, this card provides excellent value for those who travel frequently via Air India.

Rating: 4.3

Overall Rating: 4.3
Benefits: 4.5
Customer Service: 4.2

Pros and Cons of Air India SBI Signature Credit Card

Advantages:

High reward rate on Air India ticket bookings
Complimentary lounge access
Attractive milestone benefits
High annual fee
No complimentary international lounge visits with Priority Pass

Similar Cards to Air India SBI Signature Card

Relevant links.

To help our readers navigate our website and find additional relevant content, here are some internal links you might find useful:

Best Travel Credit Cards in India
Top 10 Best Premium Credit Cards in India
How to Maximize Credit Card Rewards
SBI Credit Cards Overview

For more detailed information about SBI credit cards and other financial products, you can visit the official SBI Card website .

Q: What is the annual fee for the Air India SBI Signature Credit Card? A: The annual fee is ₹4,999 + GST, with the same amount charged for renewal each year.

Q: How can I earn reward points with the Air India SBI Signature Credit Card? A: You can earn up to 30 Reward Points per ₹100 spent on Air India ticket bookings made through the Air India website or app.

Q: How can I redeem the reward points earned with the Air India SBI Signature Credit Card? A: Reward points earned with the Air India SBI Signature Credit Card can be redeemed for Air India Air Miles. You can use these Air Miles to book flights with Air India through the official website or partner platforms. A minimum of 10,000 Reward Points is required for conversion.

Q: Does the Air India SBI Signature Credit Card offer any additional benefits for frequent flyers? A: Yes, the card offers complimentary Air India Frequent Flyer Program (Flying Returns) Silver Membership, which includes benefits like priority check-in, excess baggage allowance, and access to Air India lounges at select airports.

Q: What milestone benefits are offered by the Air India SBI Signature Credit Card? A: The card provides substantial milestone rewards: 20,000 Reward Points upon spending ₹5 lakh annually, 30,000 Reward Points upon spending ₹10 lakh annually, and 50,000 Reward Points upon spending ₹20 lakh annually.

Q: Is the Air India SBI Signature Credit Card worth it for frequent travelers? A: Yes, the card is especially valuable for frequent Air India travelers, offering high reward rates on Air India bookings, complimentary lounge access, and significant milestone benefits that can lead to free flights and upgrades.

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The Best Ways To Fly to India With Points and Miles [Step-by-Step]

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The Best Ways To Fly to India With Points and Miles [Step-by-Step]

Key takeaways, nonstop flights between the u.s. and india, best airline programs to book flights to india, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

American Airlines, Air India, and United Airlines are the only airlines that offer nonstop flights to India from the U.S.
Flying to India using points can be achieved through programs like Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, and All Nippon Airways Mileage Club, with options for both economy and premium cabins.
Transferring points from partners like Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards to these programs can help secure award flights.

India might be high on your travel bucket list if you’re a travel enthusiast. From jungle safaris to historic religious temples to inexpensive food, India has something to offer everyone.

India’s diverse languages, customs, music, architecture, and food draw travelers worldwide. But unfortunately, India is not particularly easy to get to from the U.S.

Although there are occasionally great cash fares to India, they typically involve inconvenient routing. You also have the option to use points and miles to fly to India.

Currently, only a few carriers operate nonstop flights to India. These include American Airlines, Air India, and United Airlines. On top of that, nonstop flights to India are only available from select U.S. gateways, including New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago (ORD), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington (IAD).

If you live in these cities, you are in luck. Being able to fly nonstop to one of the world’s most intriguing countries is great. However, if you are not based in these cities, you must have a connection or may have to take a repositioning flight.

Nowadays, there are fewer nonstop routes between the U.S. and India. Let’s quickly take a look at what airlines offer nonstop flights, the current routes, and how often these routes are offered.

American Airlines

New York (JFK) – New Delhi (DEL)
Chicago (ORD) – New Delhi (DEL): Daily
New York (JFK) – New Delhi (DEL): Daily
New York (JFK) – Mumbai (BOM): Daily
Newark (EWR) – New Delhi (DEL): 4x weekly
San Francisco – Bengaluru (BLR): 3x weekly
San Francisco – New Delhi (DEL): Daily
San Francisco – Mumbai (BOM): 4x weekly
Washington (IAD) – New Delhi (DEL): 4x weekly
United Airlines
Newark (EWR) – New Delhi (DEL): 2x Daily

Let’s take a look at some of the best airline loyalty programs to use to fly to India.

Air Canada Aeroplan

Lufthansa B747-8 First Class Seat 1A and 1K - Cherag Dubash

The first option we will look at is Air Canada Aeroplan , an incredibly underrated program and one of our favorites here at Upgraded Points.

First, it is important to know that Air Canada is a member of the Star Alliance, which opens up plenty of award options.

Aeroplan uses a variable pricing method for its flights, which can significantly inflate redemptions. However, Aeroplan publishes a region-based award chart detailing exactly how many points you need to use for its partner-operated flights.

The program divides the world into 4 regions: North America, the Atlantic, the Pacific, and South America. India is part of the Atlantic travel zone for Aeroplan.

With Aeroplan’s award chart , award travel between zones varies depending on the distance flown. Most flights from the U.S. to India fall in the 6,001-to-8,000-mile distance band, aside from flights from San Francisco, which are in the next distance band up.

This opens up plenty of great redemption opportunities. If you were to fly an Air Canada partner airline, you could book:

Economy from 55,000 miles one-way
Business class from 90,000 miles one-way
First class from 130,000 miles one-way

When it comes to what partner airline you can fly to India, you have plenty of options.

Here are some great Star Alliance partner options you can book:

All Nippon Airways (ANA)
Turkish Airlines

Air Canada Aeroplan also has non-Star Alliance partners, including Etihad Airways and Emirates.

We love Aeroplan because this program doesn’t pass on fuel surcharges and allows you to add stopovers for just 5,000 points.

We generally recommend searching for award availability via Aeroplan’s website. Here’s how:

Visit Aeroplan’s website .
On the top right, click Sign in and enter your Aeroplan number and password.
On the resulting page, you’ll see a search box. Fill in the desired trip type, origin, and destination airports, travel dates, and number of passengers.
Check the box that says Book with Aeroplan points .
Click Search .
Select your flight and pay for any taxes and fees.

Earning Aeroplan Points

Aeroplan is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy. All programs aside from Marriott Bonvoy transfer at a 1:1 rate to Aeroplan. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio to Aeroplan. For every 60,000 Bonvoy points transferred, you get a 5,000-mile bonus.

Aeroplan also offers a co-branded credit card.

The Aeroplan card is a great option for Air Canada flyers looking to earn more points and receive automatic elite status.

Flyers based in the U.S. may think they wouldn’t have a need for a card like the Aeroplan ® Credit Card , it might be much better suited for you than you think.

Not only does Air Canada offer fantastic award redemptions, but adding the card to your wallet makes the program even more rewarding by offering elite status, more points, travel coverage, and more. Let’s take a closer look and see why the Aeroplan card might make a lot of sense for you.

3x points per $1 on Air Canada purchases, at grocery stores, and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month (up to a maximum of 1,500 bonus points)
Receive Aeroplan 25K status for the remainder of the calendar year, plus the following calendar year, and continue to extend it beyond that by spending $15,000 on the card per calendar year
$95 annual fee
Does not earn transferable rewards
Earn up to 100,000 bonus points
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 25,000 bonus points after you spend $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months.
$95 Annual Fee
Redeem points for both international and domestic flights with the Aeroplan ® Credit Card.
Fly to another continent and travel the world with the Aeroplan ® Credit Card.
Earn 3X points for each dollar spent at grocery stores, on dining at restaurants, and Air Canada directly. Earn 1X point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.
500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month – up to 1,500 points per month.
Member FDIC
APR: 21.74% - 28.74% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

American Express has several personal and business cards that earn Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio.

Recommended Amex Cards (Personal)

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact.

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
$695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts ® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card ® . The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card ® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection ® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card ® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
$199 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: CLEAR ® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck ® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
$695 annual fee.¤
Terms Apply.
APR: See Pay Over Time APR

American Express Membership Rewards

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

The American Express ® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
$325 annual fee ( rates and fees )
No lounge access
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
Get the American Express ® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards ® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Dunkin' locations.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.

Bottom Line: Aeroplan takes the top spot here because it gives you a variety of airlines you can fly for competitive redemption rates without paying fuel surcharges. You can also add a stopover for just 5,000 miles to maximize your redemption value. It also partners with Amex, Capital One, Chase, and Marriott Bonvoy for transfers.

Avianca LifeMiles

Air Canada B787-9 FRA to YUL economy seat pattern

Avianca is another Star Alliance member and a great option to book award flights to India. Its LifeMiles award program has great sweet spots, including award flights to Asia.

In late 2022, Avianca LifeMiles raised award costs to Asia without notice. Previously, you could fly from the U.S. to Asia for 35,000 miles in economy or 75,000 miles in business class. However, award prices are closer to 47,000 and 90,000 miles, respectively, after the devaluation.

For example, here is last-minute award space from New York to New Delhi that could be booked for 47,000 miles one-way plus taxes and fees.

Best of all, Avianca LifeMiles does not add on any fuel surcharges, minimizing your out-of-pocket cost.

To book Star Alliance partners with LifeMiles, follow these steps:

Visit the Avianca LifeMiles website .
Click on Travel in the top menu bar.
Enter your desired destination and travel dates .
Select Smart Search or Star Alliance .
Select your flight.

One of the best perks of the Avianca LifeMiles program is that it does not tack on fuel surcharges.

Earning Avianca LifeMiles

Avianca LifeMiles is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy.

All programs aside from Marriott Bonvoy transfer at a 1:1 rate to LifeMiles. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio to LifeMiles. There is no 5,000-mile bonus for transfers to LifeMiles.

Recommended Citi Card

*The information regarding the Citi Premier card has expired, and the card is no longer open to applicants.

The Citi Premier ® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
Access to Citi transfer partners
Annual hotel credit
No welcome offer available
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
60,000 ThankYou ® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable

Citi ThankYou Rewards

All Nippon Airways Mileage Club

Another great Star Alliance option to book award flights to India is with ANA Mileage Club .

ANA still utilizes award charts for both its flights and its partner airlines. However, there are some slight differences. ANA has 2 different applicable award charts: one for ANA international flight awards and another for partner flight awards.

For its flights, ANA prices based on the season: low, regular, or high.

Here is the award chart for ANA-operated flights between the U.S. (Zone 6) and Asia 1 (Zone 3), which includes India.

All the mileage above is for round-trip award redemptions. ANA only allows round-trip redemptions through Mileage Club.

Booking using the ANA international award chart could be useful, especially if you want to fly in ANA business class. Fuel surcharges can be high on ANA, but the mileage redemption rates are some of the best.

With ANA, you also have the option to book partner Star Alliance awards. ANA has a different award chart for its partner airlines. Although the partner award chart is zone-based, like the international one, there is no seasonality pricing.

Here is the award chart for its partner airlines for flights between the U.S. (Zone 6) and India, which is in Asia 1 (Zone 3):

ANA is also selective about passing on fuel surcharges to partner airlines. Although the mileage rates are incredible, redemptions are somewhat muted by the fuel surcharges, which can be upwards of $500 at times.

ANA Mileage Club has separate award charts for ANA domestic flight awards, for ANA international flight awards, and partner flight awards.

Here’s how to book awards with ANA miles:

Visit ANA’s website .
Choose ANA Mileage Club .
Choose International, then Award Reservation .
Log into your account.
Enter your desired route and dates.
Choose your desired class of travel.
Choose your flights.
Reserve your flight and pay for any applicable taxes and fees.

Earning ANA Miles

ANA Mileage Club is a transfer partner with Amex Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

American Express Membership Rewards transfer to ANA at a 1:1 ratio.

Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to ANA at a 3:1 ratio. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you receive a 5,000-mile bonus.

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Credit Card.

The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
2x points at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services
5 Elite Night Credits each year
Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier
Earn 60,000 Bonus Points plus 1 Free Night Award after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Free Night valued at 50,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Credit Card from Chase ® !
Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Card.
New! Earn 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services.
1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
New! Travel now, pay later - Break up purchases into equal monthly payments with no interest plus no plan fees on qualifying travel purchases. Terms apply.
APR: 21.49%–28.49% Variable

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card . The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

Earn big when you use your card at thousands of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
Earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
Automatic Silver Elite Status
$95 annual fee
Marriott Silver Elite Status is the lowest status tier
Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.
Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Card.
Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express ® Card , the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2x points)
2x points per $1 on all other purchases
$250 annual fee ( rates & fees )
Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit
Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy ® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Bonvoy 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy ® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy ® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit, available for Qualifying Rates.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy ® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® . Certain hotels have resort fees.
15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card ® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy ® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
Plan It ® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
$250 Annual Fee.
APR: 20.49%-29.49% Variable

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
Steep annual fee of $650 ( rates & fees )
6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express ® Card
Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy ® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
$300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card at restaurants worldwide.
With Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy ® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® . Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy ® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy ® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card.
Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® . Certain hotels have resort fees.
Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
$100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton ® or St. Regis ® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ® : Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck ® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy ® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
$650 Annual Fee.

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

Turkish Airlines Boeing 787 9 Business Class Middle Aisle Seats 1

Turkish Airlines is also part of the Star Alliance and is another excellent way to fly to India using points and miles. Its Miles&Smiles program has incredible sweet spots that include some of the lowest award rates of any program.

For award redemptions, Turkish Airlines utilizes a zone-based award chart for both its own flights and its partner airlines. There are 2 award charts : 1 for promotional award tickets and 1 for regular award redemptions.

For Turkish redemptions, focus on the promotional award chart, as those are considered Saver level awards and include the best redemption rates.

On its award chart, Miles&Smiles places India in its Central Asia region. Here is what it costs for flights between the U.S. and Central Asia:

34,000 miles one-way in economy or 68,000 round-trip
52,500 miles one-way in business class or 105,000 round-trip
77,000 miles one-way in first class or 154,000 round-trip

Flying to India for just 34,000 miles one-way in economy or 52,500 miles in business class is an incredible use of Turkish miles.

To book an award ticket with Turkish Airlines, here is what you need to do:

Log into your Miles&Smiles account on the Turkish Airlines homepage .
Check the box Award ticket – Buy a ticket with Miles.
Enter your origin and destination airports, departure date, class of service, and the number of passengers.
Click on the red arrow to the right to begin the award search.
Find award space, book with miles, and pay applicable taxes and fees.

The Turkish Airlines website is sometimes unable to see Star Alliance availability. We recommend starting your search on United.com and locating flights marked as Saver awards. You can cross-reference award availability with another Star Alliance partner, such as Air Canada, to ensure you can book an award seat using your miles.

Along with the Star Alliance availability issue that arises when searching on Turkish Airlines, another problem often comes up. Some itineraries cannot be booked online with Turkish and require you to email a Turkish Airlines ticket office or book with the airline over the phone. Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles staff can be reached at 800-874-8875.

Earning Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Miles

There are many ways to earn Turkish Miles&Smiles miles . Turkish Airlines is a transfer partner of Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Bilt Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Bilt, Capital One, and Citi transfer at a 1:1 ratio. Transfers from Marriott Bonvoy occur at a 3:1 ratio, and you get a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 Business Class Window Seat

Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan also provides great award flights to India. Alaska Airlines is in the Oneworld Alliance, which includes American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines, among others. Best of all, you can easily fly to India with any of the partners mentioned above.

In late 2022, Alaska simplified its award charts, including those for its partner airlines. Here are the award rates for flights to Asia using Alaska Airlines miles:

Check out our guide on the best ways to redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles for maximum value .

When Alaska revamped its award charts, some of the changes weren’t great for members. The award charts for each airline partner have been changed to a “starting from” pricing method, meaning their redemptions can vary significantly.

Thanks to Alaska’s Oneworld partners, there are some great options for flying to India, especially on some of the world’s best airlines, including Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines. In fact, both airlines are a great way to redeem Alaska miles

Mileage Plan also has one incredible perk: booking stopovers on one-way award flights. This allows you to get a 2-for-1 trip with a single redemption. For example, if you fly to India using Japan Airlines from the U.S., you could stop in Tokyo for a few days before heading to India.

To book award travel with your Alaska miles for partner airlines:

Visit Alaska Airlines .
Click the checkbox that says Use Miles to search for your routes and dates. Be sure to use Multi-city if you’re booking stopovers or open-jaws .
Pick your desired flights and click Add to Cart .
Log in to your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account.
Complete the booking and pay any taxes and fees.

You can now find Cathay Pacific award availability directly on the Alaska Airlines website.

Earning Alaska Mileage Plan Miles

The major drawback of Alaska Airlines miles is that they only have 1 major transfer partner: Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio. With every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you receive 5,000 bonus miles.

However, there are also 2 co-branded Alaska Airlines credit cards.

Provides the potential to earn plenty of miles to fly with Alaska Airlines or over a dozen partners. Plus, get an annual companion fare from just $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) when you spend at least $6,000 a year on the card!

With the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature ® credit card in your wallet, you could get great perks and earn miles at the same time. This is a win-win if Alaska is the airline you prefer to fly with! Plus, its annual companion fare is a great benefit for traveling couples.

3x miles per $1 spent on Alaska purchases
2x miles per $1 spent on eligible gas, local transit (including rideshare), cable, and select streaming services
1x mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
LIMITED TIME ONLINE OFFER —Buy one ticket, get one for just the taxes and fees ($0 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) and get 50,000 bonus miles.
Get 50,000 bonus miles plus a $0 Companion Fare ($0 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™. Get a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year. Valid on all Alaska Airlines flights booked on alaskaair.com.
Free checked bag. Any cardholder who purchases airfare with their card, and up to 6 additional guests traveling on the same reservation, may check their first bag free.
Enjoy priority boarding so you can get to your seat quicker, when you pay for your flight with your card.
Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases. And earn unlimited 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. And, your miles don’t expire on active accounts.
Earn a 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America ® account.
A faster way to earn status with your Alaska Airlines credit card . Throughout 2024, for every $10,000 you spend on purchases, you’ll automatically earn 4,000 elite-qualifying miles (EQMs), up to 20,000 EQMs total.
Enjoy 20% back on all Alaska Airlines inflight purchases and get $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ Membership when you pay with your new card.
With oneworld ® Alliance member airlines and Alaska’s Global Partners, Alaska has expanded their global reach to over 1,000 destinations worldwide bringing more airline partners and more ways to earn and redeem miles.
Flexibility with no blackout dates on Alaska Airlines flights when booking with miles or a companion fare.
Plus, no foreign transaction fees. †

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Frequent Flyer Program

American Airlines AAdvantage

Another excellent award program to utilize for award tickets to India is American Airlines AAdvantage. American Airlines is also part of Oneworld, meaning you can use American Airlines AAdvantage miles to fly both American Airlines and Oneworld partners from the U.S. to India.

For its flights, American Airlines uses a dynamic pricing method. However, partner awards with American AAdvantage are not subject to dynamic pricing , which opens up incredible redemption opportunities.

Because of the dynamic pricing on its own flights, it’s hard to get great value with your American miles. This is why we absolutely recommend you fly American’s Oneworld partners instead.

On AA’s partner award chart, India is placed in its Indian Subcontinent region.

Here is a look at what it costs for one-way awards on Oneworld partner airlines from the U.S. to the Indian Subcontinent:

One of the best ways to redeem American AAdvantage miles is for a business class flight to India for just 70,000 miles one-way. This includes options on partners like Qatar Airways, which offers its Qsuites business class on these routes.

Using American Airlines search engine is a great way to look for Oneworld alliance partner award space.

Here is how to book award travel with your American Airlines miles for partner redemptions:

Head to American Airlines and log in to your AAdvantage account.
Select your desired route, travel dates, and class of service.
Click on Redeem miles .
Search for award space.
Book the flight online and pay the applicable taxes and fees.

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

Earning AAdvantage miles is relatively easy, as the program is a transfer partner of Marriott Bonvoy.

You can transfer points from Marriott Bonvoy to AAdvantage at a 3:1 ratio. There is no 5,000-mile bonus if you transfer 60,000 Bonvoy points as with other programs.

There are also numerous co-branded credit cards offered by both Barclays and Citibank .

Using 70,000 American Airlines to fly Qsuites business class to India is a great way to redeem your miles.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

So far, we’ve looked at multiple options with Oneworld and Star Alliance. Now, let’s look at our first award redemption with a Skyteam member program: Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue loyalty program.

Flying Blue utilizes dynamic pricing. However, even with dynamic pricing, Flying Blue generally has the best pricing for SkyTeam awards. If you have some flexibility, you can save upwards of 100,000 miles on specific routes.

Check out some other of the best ways to redeem Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles for max value.

In 2022, Flying Blue introduced an interactive map with entry award rates. The interactive map shows the starting mileage prices for one-way flights operated by Air France or KLM.

However, this map is not a guarantee that there is any entry-level award space available. You have to go to Air France or KLM’s website to check actual award prices and confirm the space.

One-way award flights between the U.S. and India start at:

35,000 miles in economy
65,000 miles in premium economy
95,000 miles in business

However, finding those rates, especially in business class, can be tricky. It’s worth noting that Air France and KLM awards have fuel surcharges, often upwards of $300.

You can search for award availability through Air France-KLM and book awards entirely online:

Go to the Air France website .
In the top right corner, click My Account and log in with your Username and Password .
After logging in and being returned to the homepage, click Use Your Miles .
Type in your airport information, dates, number of passengers, and class type.
Select your flights and pay for any taxes and fees.

Earning Air France-KLM Flying Blue Miles

Earning Flying Blue miles is quite simple, as the program is a transfer partner of many major programs, including American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

All the above points programs, besides Marriott Bonvoy, transfer to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio. You can transfer points from Marriott Bonvoy to Flying Blue at a 3:1 ratio. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, there is a 5,000-mile bonus.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable

Chase Ultimate Rewards

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
$550 annual fee
Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
APR: 22.49%–29.49% Variable

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

The Chase Freedom Unlimited ® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.

0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
3% foreign transaction fee
INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited ® card
Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sure does pack quite a punch — especially for a no-annual-fee card.

The Freedom Flex card is an incredible option for those looking for a well-rounded cash-back card, or a powerful point-earner when paired with a premium card in the Ultimate Rewards family.

0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
Powerful cash-back earner: 5% back on quarterly categories and travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases
No annual fee
3% foreign transaction fees in U.S. dollars
Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex ® card
Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.

Business owner? Check out our guide to the best Chase business cards .

Flying Blue typically offers the best pricing on many SkyTeam awards.

Other Options To Fly to India

Although many other programs can get you to India, we’ve covered the ones with the best redemption options.

There are several other frequent flyer programs you can use to fly to India, including Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, Korean Air SKYPASS, and Singapore Airlines Krisflyer. We did not include these in our main analysis for one or more of the following reasons:

High fuel surcharges
High award redemption rates
Lack of transfer partners
Unattractive flight products or subpar airline options

There are plenty of ways to fly to India with points and miles. Fortunately, some of the best airlines in the world have flights to India. These include airlines such as Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Japan Airlines.

It’s worth looking at the many different award programs we’ve covered to get an idea of the best program for booking an award ticket to India. Award availability, the points and miles you already have, and what class of service you want to fly can all point you to the right award program.

The information regarding the Citi Premier ® Card has expired and the card is no longer open to applicants. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature ® credit card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express ® Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® card, click here .

8 Best Ways To Earn Lots of Asiana Airlines Asiana Club Miles [2024]

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

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Payment options

Travel credit

Understanding travel credit options.

We offer different types of travel credit: Trip Credit, Flight Credit, and Travel Vouchers. Each type of travel credit has its own terms and conditions, so be sure to read them carefully before redeeming your credit. Keep in mind, travel credits can only be used to book flights, and can’t be used to pay for extras like seats or bags.

Types of travel credit

*Can’t be used for extras like seats or bags.

**For Trip Credit issued on or after April 2, 2024, AAdvantage® members have 12 months to use their Trip Credit when canceling their trip on aa.com or the American app and their AAdvantage® number is included in their reservation. Non-AAdvantage® members have 6 months.

***When booked on aa.com, Flight Credit can only be applied to flights within the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (U.S. currency only)

Ready to book a trip?

Book a trip with your Trip Credit

Find your trip to use your Flight Credit

Contact Reservations

How to find and redeem your travel credit

If you received a travel credit, you can use it to book your next trip. Here's how to find and redeem your Trip Credit and Flight Credit.

Trip Credit

If you're an AAdvantage ® member, most Trip Credits will appear in your AAdvantage ® account.

For Trip Credit issued on or after April 2, 2024, AAdvantage ® members have 12 months to use their Trip Credit when canceling their trip on aa.com or the American app and their AAdvantage ® number is included in their reservation. Non-AAdvantage ® members have 6 months.

Step 1: Find your Trip Credit email

Look for an email from American Airlines with the subject line ‘Your Trip Credit.’
Your Trip Credit number is a 13-digit number that begins with ‘00115.’

Keep in mind there are separate ticket numbers for add-ons like seats, upgrades, and bags.

Step 2: Book and add your Trip Credit

Go to aa.com and book your new flight.
On the payment screen, select ‘Trip Credit.’
Follow the prompts to pay using your Trip Credit.
You may use a credit card to pay any remaining balance.

General rules

Trip Credit is non-refundable, non-transferable, non-returnable, may not be redeemed for cash, check or credit (except where required by law) and has no implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability or fitness.
Trip Credit is void if bought, sold or bartered, advertised for sale or used for commercial or promotional purposes.
We won’t replace Trip Credit if lost or stolen. This may include inadvertent deletion, forwarding or access of the email containing your Trip Credit number. Please guard the Trip Credit number as you would cash.
Except where prohibited by law, we reserve the right to refuse, void, cancel, reject or hold for review any Trip Credit mistakenly issued in an incorrect denomination or issued or obtained, directly or indirectly, in connection with fraudulent actions, fraudulent claims, compensation abuse or in connection with any violation of these terms and conditions.

Expiration and validity

Valid until 11:59 p.m. (CT) on the date listed on the Trip Credit, and we won't reissue it past the expiration date.
We won't accept invalid or expired Trip Credit.
We won’t accept Trip Credit with an invalid number or if we are unable to locate it within the American Airlines systems.
To receive Trip Credit, your original ticket must be canceled before the departure of the first flight (or the ticket loses any remaining value and cannot be used for future travel).

Redemption and usage

You may redeem Trip Credit on aa.com or by contacting Reservations. Trip Credit is not redeemable through any other channels, including airport ticket counters or travel agencies.
When contacting Reservations, tell the agent you have Trip Credit and you want to use it to book your travel.
Trip Credit is redeemable toward air travel on flights operated by American, American Eagle ® or flights marketed by American (designated with an AA*). You can’t use Trip Credit for payment of air travel on any other airline on aa.com.
Contact Reservations to use Trip Credit for qualifying one world ® or other airline partner itineraries.
Trip Credit is redeemable toward the base air fare and directly associated taxes, fees and charges collected as part of the fare calculation.
You may not use Trip Credit for products and / or services sold separate from the fare price or for taxes, fees or charges in connection with AAdvantage ® award travel, American Airlines Vacations℠ or any other non-flight products and / or services sold by American.
You may only use non-taxable Trip Credit for single-passenger reservations on aa.com.
Contact Reservations to use Trip Credit for more than 9 passengers.
The recipient of Trip Credit can use it to pay for travel for themselves or others.
You may redeem up to 8 Trip Credits in a single transaction on aa.com or through Reservations.
If the ticket price is greater than the value of the Trip Credit, you may pay the difference only with a credit card accepted by American.
If the ticket price is less than the value of the Trip Credit, we’ll issue any remaining value on a new Trip Credit, delivered via email to the passenger ticketed on the Trip Credit redemption. You may choose to have the new Trip Credit email sent to your email address and then use the remaining value on a new reservation for yourself or someone else.
You may not combine Trip Credit with the value of an existing ticket to pay for a new ticket.

Flight Credit

If you're an AAdvantage ® member and had your account number listed in your reservation before cancellation, you can log in to your account and view available Flight Credit in your AAdvantage ® account.

Step 1: Find your canceled trip or confirmation email

You'll need your 6-character confirmation code and 13-digit ticket number.
American tickets have a 13-digit number that begins with '001'.

Step 2: View your canceled trip

Go to aa.com and choose ‘Manage trips / Check-in’
Choose ‘View canceled trips’ and enter your trip details.
You’ll find your Flight Credit details on the ‘Your trip’ page.

Step 3: Rebook and add Flight Credit

Go to aa.com and find your new flight.
On the payment screen, choose ‘Add Flight Credit.’
Enter the ticket number from your canceled trip and apply the credit.

Book a trip with your Flight Credit

Flight Credit is non-refundable, non-transferable, non-returnable, may not be redeemed for cash, check or credit (except where required by law) and has no implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability or fitness.
Flight Credit is void if bought, sold or bartered, advertised for sale or used for commercial or promotional purposes.
We won’t replace Flight Credit if lost or stolen. This may include inadvertent deletion, forwarding or access of the email containing your Flight Credit number. Please guard the Flight Credit number as you would cash.
Except where prohibited by law, we reserve the right to refuse, void, cancel, reject or hold for review any Flight Credit mistakenly issued in an incorrect denomination or issued or obtained, directly or indirectly, in connection with fraudulent actions, fraudulent claims, compensation abuse or in connection with any violation of these terms and conditions.
Flight Credit is valid for 1 year from the date the ticket was issued. We will not extend or reissue once it expires.
If you don't show for your flight, your ticket will no longer be valid or eligible for any credit.
We won't accept invalid or expired Flight Credit.
You may redeem Flight Credit on aa.com, in person at the airport or by contacting Reservations.
When contacting Reservations, tell the agent you have Flight Credit and you want to use it to book your travel.
The recipient of Flight Credit can use it to pay for travel for themselves only.
Flight Credit is redeemable toward air travel on flights marketed and operated by American, by American Eagle ® carriers or on flights marketed and sold by American but operated by one of American’s codeshare or one world ® partners (i.e. flights designated with an AA*).
Flight Credit is redeemable toward initial booking, the base air fare and directly associated taxes, fees and charges collected as part of the fare calculation.
You may only redeem 1 Flight Credit for single-passenger trips on aa.com or through Reservations. In order to redeem up to 2 Flight Credits in a single transaction, you must contact Reservations.
If the ticket price is greater than the value of the Flight Credit, you may pay the difference only with a credit card accepted by American.
If the ticket price is less than the value of the Flight Credit, you can only use the value of Flight Credit needed for the current booking while remaining value will be issued as travel credit for future reservations.
You may not use Flight Credit for products and / or services sold separately from the fare price or for taxes, fees or charges in connection with AAdvantage ® award travel, American Airlines Vacations℠ products or services or any other non-flight products and / or services sold by American.

Electronic Travel Voucher

eVouchers are provided for U.S. customers only.
eVouchers are non-refundable, non-transferable, non-returnable, may not be redeemed for cash, check or credit (except where required by law) and have no implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability or fitness.
eVouchers are void if bought, sold or bartered, advertised for sale, or used for commercial or promotional purposes.
We won’t replace eVouchers if lost or stolen. This may include inadvertent deletion, forwarding or access of the email containing your eVoucher number. Please guard the eVoucher number and PIN as you would cash.
Except where prohibited by law, we reserve the right to refuse, void, cancel, reject or hold for review any eVouchers mistakenly issued in an incorrect denomination, or issued or obtained, directly or indirectly, in connection with fraudulent actions, fraudulent claims, compensation abuse or in connection with any violation of these terms and conditions.
eVouchers are valid for 1 year from the date of issue, and we won’t reissue them past the expiration date.
We’re not responsible for honoring invalid or expired eVouchers.
We won’t accept an eVoucher with an invalid number or if we are unable to locate it within the American Airlines systems.
You may redeem eVouchers only on aa.com or by contacting Reservations. eVouchers are not redeemable through any other channels, including airport ticket counters or travel agencies.
eVouchers are redeemable toward air travel on flights operated by American, American Eagle ® , one world ® partners or on flights marketed by American (designated with an AA*). You can’t use eVouchers for payment of air travel on any other airline.
Flights sold or originating outside the U.S., Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands or operated by other carriers are not eligible.
eVouchers are redeemable toward the base air fare and directly associated taxes, fees and charges collected as part of the fare calculation.
You may not use eVouchers for products and / or services sold separate from the fare price or for taxes, fees or charges in connection with AAdvantage ® award travel, American Airlines Vacations℠ or any other non-flight products and / or services sold by American.
The eVoucher recipient can use it to pay for travel for themselves or others.
You may redeem up to 8 eVouchers in a single transaction.
If the ticket price is greater than the value of the eVoucher(s), you may only pay the difference with a credit, debit or charge card with a billing address in the U.S., Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands.
If the ticket price is less than the value of the eVoucher(s), the unused amount will remain on the eVoucher until it reaches zero, at which time the eVoucher will be deactivated.
You may not combine eVouchers with the value of an existing ticket to pay for a new ticket.

Best Credit Cards for Air India Flying Returns Bookings

Air India is the country’s oldest airline company and serves many domestic and international destinations. The airline has an impressive fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft, serving more than 102 destinations globally across five continents. In 2014, the airline became a Star Alliance member, putting it in partnership with some of the largest airlines in the world. Air India’s Flying Returns, its frequent flyer program, is among the region’s most rewarding programs. You earn FR points whenever you fly on an Air India-operated or Star Alliance member flight.

Not only do you earn, but you can also redeem your FR points on Air India and partner airline flights. Now, the Flying Returns program shall become even more important due to the Air India and Vistara Airlines merger. In this article, we will take a look at all the details surrounding the Air India Flying Returns program, including reward earning, status tier, tier benefits, and more.

Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card

Axis bank atlas credit card.

Air India SBI Platinum Credit Card
Air India SBI Signature Credit Card

Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card

Hsbc premier metal credit card, icici bank emeralde private metal credit card, top credit cards to earn air india flying returns points.

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Axis Bank Horizon is a travel-centric credit card that can be considered the basic version of the popular Atlas Credit Card. This card is great for earning EDGE Miles on travel-based spends and even offers necessary benefits for those who travel, like complimentary airport lounge access. Those who want a good travel credit card but do not want to pay a high fee of ₹5,000, like Atlas, can surely opt for this card, as it comes at a fee of ₹3,000.

The Atlas credit card is widely known as one of the most rewarding credit cards in India. By using the Atlas card, you can earn accelerated reward points when booking hotels and flights. Moreover, the Atlas Card offers a host of travel benefits, such as complimentary access to both domestic and international airport lounges, higher reward rates on foreign currency transactions, and even a complimentary airport concierge service.

The second co-branded credit card by SBI Bank and Air India, the Platinum variant, caters to the mid-level segment and has a lower annual fee than the Signature variant. Again, the card comes with a host of travel privileges and offers accelerated reward points on Air India ticket bookings.

5000 reward points as a welcome benefit
2000 reward points as an anniversary gift
Up to a maximum of 15,000 reward points on achieving spend-based milestones
15 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on Air India ticket booking via Air India
2 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on retail spends

The Air India SBI Signature credit card is one of the two co-branded cards offered by SBI in collaboration with Air India. It offers some decent reward points and add-on travel privileges to cardholders. You get a complimentary membership of Air India’s Flying Returns loyalty program with the card and a complimentary Priority Pass membership as well. You get 20,000 Reward points as a welcome benefit with the card and 5000 reward points as a card anniversary gift. Being an Air India co-branded card, you get accelerated reward points on booking your Air India tickets, as well as 4 reward points on every spend of Rs. 100 on retail.

20,000 reward points as a welcome benefit
5000 reward points as an anniversary gift
Up to a maximum of 1,00,000 reward points on achieving spend-based milestones
30 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on Air India ticket booking via Air India
4 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on retail spends

Travel | Dining | Shopping

The Magnus credit card is a high-end offering from Axis Bank. You can obtain this card by paying a joining fee of Rs. 12,500, and you will receive vouchers worth the same amount as a welcome benefit. As a cardholder, you will have access to both domestic and international lounges at airports. Additionally, premium customers can make international transactions at a low Forex markup fee of 2%.

Travel | Shopping

The Premier Metal Credit Card is an exclusive offering by HSBC for its customers who maintain a Premier relationship with the bank in India. As introductory benefits, the customers can get a complimentary Taj Epicure and EazyDiner membership along with gift vouchers from Taj worth Rs. 12,000. The card earns you reward points at a decent rate that are redeemable against various products and airline miles.

The ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal credit card is a new addition to ICICI Bank’s super-premium category. It requires a joining fee of Rs. 12,499 plus taxes. The card is made of metal and comes with a range of exclusive lifestyle and travel features for the cardholder. Upon signing up, you will receive a complimentary Taj Epicure membership for one year, an EazyDiner Prime membership, and a bonus of 12,500 reward points.

6 ICICI Reward Points per Rs. 200 spent on retail, grocery, education, and insurance.
Unlimited complimentary golf rounds and lessons at top courses around the world.
Get unlimited international lounge access with the Priority Pass.

Credit Cards Reward Points to Air India Points Conversion Ratio

Flying returns elite status tiers.

When you join the Flying Returns loyalty program, you are automatically given the Red status tier. As you fly more, you are upgraded to the Premium Status Tier. In order to get a tier upgrade, you have to earn a certain number of Status FR points within 12 months.

When you become a member of the Premium status tiers, you get access to many features and benefits for the following year. These include bonus FR points, extra cabin and checked baggage allowance, dedicated check-in counters, upgrade vouchers, priority check-in and boarding, etc.

Here are all the benefits of different status tiers with Air India Flying Returns.

Spend points for reward flights & cabin upgrades.
Everygreen points.
Earn points on all spends at Air India and partner airlines.
All benefits of Red tier.
Dedicated customer support.
Priority privileges.
All benefits of the Silver tier.
Vouchers for upgrade.
Complimentary lounge access.
All benefits of the Gold tier.
Fly early benefit.
Seat selection privileges.
Changes and cancellation fee waivers.

How to Earn Air India Flying Return Points?

Here is how you can earn Air India FR Points:

By Flying With Air India or Partner Airlines

Whenever you fly on a domestic or international route on an Air India flight, you earn Flying Returns (FR) points, and you receive more points based on the length of your flight route. Also, the higher your fare class, the more points you earn for your travel. As Air India is a Star Alliance member, you also earn FR points by flying on any of the Star Alliance member airlines flights.

By Converting Your Credit Card Reward Points

You can convert the reward points earned on your select SBI, Axis, HSBC, and Citibank credit cards to Air India FR points at a fixed ratio. If you are a frequent traveler, you can get rewarded for your everyday spends through your credit card and then convert your reward points to air miles.

How to Redeem Air India Flying Returns Points to Book Flights?

Once you have earned Air India FR points, the next step is to redeem your points for flights. You must be a member of the Air India Flying Returns program in order to claim your miles and redeem them for award flights. FR points needed to redeem different fare class flights are as follows –

Business Class – 2 times the points needed for Economy class.
First Class – 2.5 times the points required for Economy class.

Flight redemption using FR points is based on your flight route, and more points are needed to book higher-fare class flights. You can check the required points on Air India’s official points calculator . The following are the top routes for travelers to redeem Flying Returns points.

Delhi to Leh – 8,000 Points
Delhi to Mumbai – 5,000 Points
Mumbai to Kolkata – 6,000 Points
Chennai to Jodhpur – 1,500 Points

You can also use your FR points to book Star Alliance member airlines award flights based on the Star Alliance Award Chart. Redemption depends on the availability of seats on your designated flight and the booking class. Moreover, you can also redeem your FR points to upgrade your eligible tickets on international and domestic flights. The points required to upgrade the fare class depend on the booking class of your Economy class ticket. For Star Alliance upgrades, it depends on the booked RBD and the partner airline in that situation.

Booking Air India Flight via FR Points

Visit the official website of Air India .

You will reach your Account Summary page. Go to the Points box and click on Book a Flight.

In the flight search box, enter your arrival and departure location, date of travel, and other details, and then search for flights.

You will see all available flights on your chosen date, along with the total miles required to book the flight.

Click on the flight you want to book to check out its details and the available fare class options with the points requirement. Select the fare class you wish to book and continue with the booking.

How to Book Air India Flights Using Partner Airlines’ Miles

As we already know, Air India is a member of the Star Alliance, and you can book Air India-operated flights using partner airlines’ miles as well. We’ll talk about the leading airlines that allow you to book Air India flights –

United Airlines
Visit the United Airlines website and Sign in to your United MileagePlus account.

Enter the departure and arrival location, date of travel, and other details, then search for Flights.

You will see all the available flights on your chosen dates, including from partner airlines. You can even see options that include flight itineraries from Air India, Vistara, and more.
You can also check out the 30-day calendar to search for all flights during that month.

The total miles required to book the flight, along with other taxes and fees, are given in front of the flight.
Click on any flight to check out its details and proceed with the booking using your United Miles.

Singapore Airlines
Visit the Singapore Airlines website and log in to your account.

Click on Book Trip and then check the Redeem flights box.
Next, choose the Show Flight for Star Alliance option to view flights operated by members, including Air India.
You will see all the available flights for your chosen date and can even search for other flights during that week. The miles required to book the flight are given in front of the flight.

Click on any flight to check out its details and proceed to book it using your KrisFlyer Miles.
Turkish Airlines
Visit the Turkish Airlines website.

Log into your Turkish Miles and Smiles account.

Click on Award ticket – Buy a ticket with Miles.

Next, click on Book Now under the Star Alliance award ticket box.
Enter your departure and arrival location, date of travel, and other details to search for available flights. You can choose between Economy Class and Business Class for the results.
You will see all available flights by Air India and other Star Alliance members for your chosen date, along with the Miles required to book the flight. Click on Select this flight to proceed to the next step.

Turkish Airlines Flight Duration And Timing

You will see the flight details along with the taxes to be paid in cash for booking the flight. Click on Continue to finalize the booking using your Turkish Miles.

Air India is one of India’s largest airlines, and being part of the Star Alliance, it operates flights to a number of locations across the globe. Its frequent flyer program, Flying Returns, is highly rewarding, and you can earn FR points on your travels on both Air India and Star Alliance member airlines flights. Additionally, you can even transfer your credit card reward points to Air India FR points at a fixed conversion rate if you are a frequent traveler and want to maximize the benefits of your reward points.

The FR points earned by you can be redeemed for Air India as well as partner airlines award flights. Also, you can upgrade your award flight class using your FR points if you want. You can book award flights through the official Air India website for domestic and international flights.

Not only this, as Air India is a Star Alliance member, you can book Air India award flights via United Airlines, Avianca Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and other partner airlines using their loyalty program reward points or air miles as well. Make the most of your air miles and redeem as many flights as you can.

HSBC Premier Credit Card
ICICI Emerald Private Metal Credit Card
By flying on Air India or its partner airline flights.
By converting your credit card reward points.
Silver - 15,000 (4,500 Tier Points Earned Through Air India )
Gold - 30,000 (4,500 Tier Points Earned Through Air India )
Platinum - 45,000 (4,500 Tier Points Earned Through Air India )
Visit the official website of Air India and log in to your Flying Returns account.
You will reach your Account Summar page. Go to the Points box and click on Book a Flight.
Avianca Airlines

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Annual Fee (one-time) : Rs. 1,499
Welcome gift of 5,000 Reward points
Renewal Fee (per annum) : Rs. 1,499
Anniversary gift of 2,000 Reward points

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Upto 15 reward points per rs. 100 spent on air india tickets with air india sbi platinum card. to know more click here, tier upgrade benefits on your air india sbi platinum card. to know more click here, air india sbi platinum card, privileges on air india sbi platinum card.

Your Air India SBI Platinum Card comes with a range of privileges

We've previously covered how Air India is refreshing its identity . It started by making a massive aircraft order . Then it rolled out a new aircraft livery for its fleet and started installing refreshed seats on its wide-body aircraft. More recently, Air India continued its makeover with a new website and crew uniforms.

Now, Air India is modernizing its loyalty program. On Wednesday, the revamped Air India Flying Returns launched with new earning and redeeming structures, as well as changes to its elite status qualification requirements and a way to prevent points from expiring. Plus, no more paper upgrade certificates or calling in to book Star Alliance award flights .

TPG senior points and miles editor Gabrielle Bernardini and I sat down for a chat with several Air India employees, including head of loyalty, marketing and e-commerce, Sunil Suresh, to discuss the loyalty program's first overhaul in over a decade. Here's what we learned about the Air India Flying Returns program changes.

Air India Flying Returns announces major changes: Key takeaways

As you read this post, the new Air India Flying Returns program is live. So, although this post offers some additional information we obtained during our interview, you may also want to check the Air India website for specifics that weren't available to us before the program launched.

But for now, here are the key takeaways you should know about the Air India Flying Returns program changes:

Rewards points and tier points : You'll earn two types of points in the new Flying Returns program. Rewards points are redeemable rewards, while tier points are a metric you can use to earn elite status .
Changes to earning elite status : Now you'll need 15,000 tier points or 30 flights (with at least four on Air India) for Silver status, 30,000 tier points or 60 flights (with at least eight on Air India) for Gold status, and 45,000 tier points or 90 flights (with at least 12 on Air India) for Platinum status.
Spending-based earnings on Air India flights : In the revamped Flying Returns program, you'll earn 6 tier points per 100 Indian rupees (about $1.20) regardless of your elite status. Plus, you'll earn rewards points based on your elite status as follows: Red members will earn 6 rewards points per 100 rupees, Silver members will earn 8 rewards points per 100 rupees, Gold members will earn 9 rewards points per 100 rupees and Platinum members will earn 10 rewards points per 100 rupees. You'll still earn based on distance, fare class and elite status tier for partner flights you credit to Flying Returns.
Rewards for booking directly with Air India : When you book a paid flight on the Air India website or mobile app, you'll earn 2 bonus rewards points per 100 rupees.
More non-flight ways to earn points : Air India is introducing more ways to earn points through non-airline partners. Examples Air India gave in its press release include car rentals, hotel stays, shopping and lifestyle experiences.
Three redemption tiers for Air India flights : Now, there are three redemption tiers for Air India flights: value fares that are semidynamic and based on when you book and load factors (an example might be a Mumbai-to-Delhi flight that costs 5,000 to 8,000 points if you book a month or two in advance), prime fares that are fixed but still highly discounted, and cash-plus-points fares that are available up to two hours before departure if seats are still for sale. For cash-plus-points fares, you can use a slider to select how many points versus cash you want to pay.
Book Star Alliance awards online : Now, you can book award flights operated by all Star Alliance partners online. Flying Returns also released new award charts for partner redemptions, but we weren't able to get a preview of these charts. However, we did learn that flying from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on United Airlines in economy class would cost 12,500 points. Flying Returns doesn't levy additional fees on partner awards, instead only passing on the mandatory fees it must pay.
Fly on Air India to prevent points expiration : Your points won't expire as long as you take at least one flight operated by Air India every 24 months.
Easier family points pooling : Air India already offered family points pooling . But now, the pooling process is simpler. Family points pools can include up to nine members who are relatives. The leader of the pool must fill out a form to create the pool, and then Air India reaches out to each member in the proposed pool to get their consent. The pool leader is the only member who can redeem points.

The Air India employees we spoke to in our interview noted their next step is to integrate Air India Express and Vistara into the Flying Returns program, such that all three airlines use one common loyalty program. They also hinted the airline may eventually offer one or more cobranded Air India credit cards for U.S. residents, noting they recognize the role cobranded cards play in loyalty rewards programs. The airline may also try to partner with one or more U.S. transferable currencies , which would join its collection of Indian banks that are already transfer partners.

Related: The best ways to fly to India with points and miles

Bottom line

Air India told us it wants to "make it a program that is right up there with the best in the world." The newly revamped Flying Returns program certainly makes several major improvements, including allowing the booking of all Star Alliance award flights online.

The switch from mileage-based earnings to spending-based earnings on Air India flights will have winners and losers. In particular, those who fly on expensive fares and are happy to earn points on non-flight spending will come out well ahead. But those who fly on less expensive fares will certainly earn less under the revamped program.

However, without a cobranded card in the U.S. or transferable points earned by U.S.-issued rewards cards that you can transfer to Air India, this program may remain of limited interest to most U.S. residents.

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PARTNER OFFERS - SBI CARD TRAVEL CREDITS

Fly more by converting your Travel Credits to Flying Returns points

#UnmatchedRewards 

Use your Travel Credits to fly more and make your trips more rewarding!

Convert Travel Credits of your SBI Card MILES to Flying Returns points for reward flights, upgrades, and more.

Offer overview

Check eligibility and conversion rate for SBI Card MILES

Convert Travel Credits through the SBI Card App or Website

Converted points will be credited to your Flying Returns account in approximately 2 working days.

Convert Now, Fly More

Maximise the Travel Credits on your SBI Card MILES by converting them to Flying Returns points and get closer to earning reward flights and upgrades on Air India. Refer the table below to know your eligibility and earn rate.

Let’s make it simpler

Imagine you need 300 Flying Returns points to get that desired upgrade. If you have 300 Travel Credits in your SBI Card MILES account, you can convert those to 300 Flying Returns points and get yourself that upgrade.

Pro tip: It is best to convert your points online well ahead of purchasing your upgrades or reward flights, as it takes approximately 2 working days for points to appear in your Flying Returns account.

How to convert:

Login to SBI Card App or Website .
Select ‘Rewards’ -> ‘Air Miles’.
Members will be redirected to the Miles Conversion Page & select  ‘Air India Flying Returns’
Click  ‘Transfer Now’
If you are a first-time user, enter your Flying Returns membership ID to link your account before you are redirected to the points transfer page.
Converted points will be credited to your Flying Returns account within 2 working days. Points will be visible in the recent activity section of your Flying Returns account.

Note: If you can't find converted points in your Flying Returns account, send a screenshot of the transaction or the receipt to milessbicard.support@vernostmiles.com , or call our Customer Support on 022 68554006 .

About SBI Card

Launched in 1998, SBI Card offers a wide range of world-class value-added payment products and services to Indian consumers. With the motto of ‘make life simple’ for its customers, it offers an extensive and diversified credit card portfolio that include a wide range of products, from mass to super premium. SBI Card has over 18.5 million cards in force as of March 31, 2024, and is the largest pure-play credit card issuer in the country. The brand’s customer centric approach has enabled it to offer many innovative and industry-first products & services, earning many industry accolades.

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Earn 4 Flying Returns Points for every INR 100 spent

Earn 5 Flying Returns points for every INR 100 spent

Earn 10 Flying Returns points for every INR 100 spent

Earn 7 Flying Returns points for every INR 100 spent

Earn up to 4 Flying Returns points on every INR 100 spent

Earn 11 Flying Returns points for every INR 100 spent

Earn 10 Flying Returns points for every INR 100 spent

Earn up to 10 Flying Returns points for every INR 100 spent.

Earn 13 Flying Returns points on every INR 100 spent

Earn up to 16 Flying Returns points for every INR 100 spent.

Convert HSBC Reward points to earn upgrades and award flights

Earn up to 30 Flying Returns points on every INR 100 spent

Convert ICICI Bank Reward points to get upgrades and reward flights

Earn 5 Flying Returns points for every EUR 4 spent at The Bicester Collection

Convert Axis EDGE REWARD points & EDGE Miles to earn upgrades and reward flights

Discover the breathtaking beauty of Ladakh and earn 20 Flying Returns points for every INR 100 spent

Earn 25 Flying Returns points for every INR 100 spent

Convert Citi reward points to earn upgrades and more

Join Flying Returns

COMMENTS

Flight FAQs: Refunds, Cancellation, Rescheduling & more ...
If a travel agent issued your ticket or you booked an Air India flight using a third-party travel website, please reach out to your travel agent or visit the website to check the refund status of the booking. ... Credit cards (American Express, Visa cards, Mastercards, Diners Club cards, and JCB) Internet banking. Rupay cards. E-wallets. EMI ...
Air India SBI Credit Card: Earn Flying Returns Points
With Air India's SBI credit card, your everyday spends lead you toward an exciting and rewarding journey of earning Flying Returns points. Get up to 30 Flying Returns points for every INR 100 you spend on Air India tickets and up to 4 Flying Returns points per INR 100 on other purchases. Plus, your SBI Card gives you access to airport lounges ...
Redeem your Flying Returns Points
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) will exit Star Alliance on August 31, 2024. Post this date, Flying Returns members will not be able to redeem their points to book tickets and upgrade their seats on flights operated by SAS. SAS member who have already made redemption bookings on Air India for a flight post 31st Aug 2024 will need to re-book.
Best Travel Credit Card In India September 2024
IRCTC SBI Credit Card. RBL World Safari Credit Card. IDFC Wow Credit Card. Niyo Global International Travel Card. Citi PremierMiles Credit Card. Air India SBI Signature Card. Axis Bank Vistara ...
Unable to request mileage credit for Air India flight on ...
They want the exact fare class - (which could be any letter from A to Z) cause the miles you will receive is based on this class and not only on the compartment you travelled in. Have a look on the booking confirmation. If it doesn't say it there call Air India and ask them For the exact fare class. 1. Reply.
Air India Flying Returns: Ultimate guide to points and status
Air India credit cards: Residents of India can apply for an Air India credit card that earns reward points. There aren't currently any cobranded Air India credit cards available to U.S. residents. ... Related: The best credit cards with travel insurance. Bottom line. Air India didn't have the best reputation historically, as covered by TPG ...
20+ Best Travel Credit Cards India 2024
The Signature card is more premium than the latter. Air India SBI Signature Credit Card comes with an annual fee of Rs. 4,999 and comes packed with multiple travel benefits, particularly for Air India flyers. Some of the salient features of the Air India SBI Signature Credit Card are as under-
6 Exclusive Perks of The Air India SBI Signature Credit Card
Membership Benefits of Air India SBI Signature Credit Card. This card provides a range of premium travel-related benefits: Travel Benefits: Complimentary domestic lounge access (8 visits per year) and Priority Pass membership (for international lounges, visits are chargeable). Insurance Coverage: Lost card liability cover of up to ₹1 lakh, applicable from 48 hours prior to reporting loss ...
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Use coupon code MMTDEAL to get Upto 5000 Off on Domestic flight booking Find best deals at MakeMyTrip for Flight Tickets, Hotels, Holiday Packages, Bus and Train / Railway Reservations for India & International travel. Book cheap air tickets online for Domestic & International airlines, customized holiday packages and special deals on Hotel Bookings.
Best Ways To Fly to India on Points & Miles [2024]
Turkish Airlines Boeing 787-9 Business Class Middle Aisle Seats. Image Credit: Greg Stone. Turkish Airlines is also part of the Star Alliance and is another excellent way to fly to India using points and miles. Its Miles&Smiles program has that include some of the lowest award rates of any program.
Claim Your Missing Points
Click 'Claim Points' below to submit your journey details for completed flights. Points can be claimed only 7 days after the travel date. Claims must be submitted within 180 days (6 months) for Star Alliance and 365 days (12 months) for Air India flights. Points can be claimed for Star Alliance airlines only if you are a member of the Flying ...
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Track your application status here. Get instant information. Send an SMS to 5676791 from your registered mobile number. Air India SBI Signature credit card - Apply now and get 20,000 Reward Points as welcome gift and other benefits like accelerated reward points every time you spend on Air India tickets and much more.
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Find the best travel credit cards in India for 2024. Enjoy travel offers, lounge access, vouchers etc. from top issuers like HDFC, ICICI, SBI & Axis Bank. ... Air India SBI Signature Credit Card is one of the best travel credit cards for Air India loyalists, with a basic reward rate of 4%, which can go up to 30% for Air India bookings. ...
Travel credit − Customer service − American Airlines
When contacting Reservations, tell the agent you have Trip Credit and you want to use it to book your travel. Trip Credit is redeemable toward air travel on flights operated by American, American Eagle ® or flights marketed by American (designated with an AA*). You can't use Trip Credit for payment of air travel on any other airline on aa.com.
Earn Flying Returns points with our travel partners
Join Flying Returns. Earn Seat Upgrades. Earn Award Tickets. Share Flying Returns Points with Family. Discover exclusive deals on a variety of services with Air India's Flying Returns partners. Earn extra Flying Returns points and make your travels even more rewarding. Click here to learn more.
Best Credit Cards for Air India Flying Returns Bookings
Axis Bank Horizon is a travel-centric credit card that can be considered the basic version of the popular Atlas Credit Card. This card is great for earning EDGE Miles on travel-based spends and even offers necessary benefits for those who travel, like complimentary airport lounge access. ... Air India SBI Platinum Credit Card: 15 RPs/₹100 ...
International Flights, Book Cheap International Air Tickets Online
A: Yes, you can book international flights on MakeMyTrip in three easy steps: Download the MakeMyTrip app on your mobile phone. Enter your air travel details i.e. date of journey, destinations and travel class you wish to avail, and then choose a suitable flight from the list available.
The best ways to fly to India with points and miles
Business: 105,000 miles. First: 154,000 miles. You can also book a one-way promotional award for half the cost in miles of a round-trip award. There's plenty of economy award availability on Turkish Airlines-operated flights from the U.S. to India for 34,000 miles plus $128.80 one-way. TURKISHAIRLINES.COM.
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Back Travel Elegantly. Earn 5 Reward Points for every Rs. 100 spent on Air India tickets for self or others, booked through Air India booking offices or Air India call centres (18001801407).; Upto 15 Reward Points will be credited within 45 days from the date of transaction posting.
Air India announces major Flying Returns program ...
TEMPURA/GETTY IMAGES. But for now, here are the key takeaways you should know about the Air India Flying Returns program changes: Rewards points and tier points: You'll earn two types of points in the new Flying Returns program.Rewards points are redeemable rewards, while tier points are a metric you can use to earn elite status.; Changes to earning elite status: Now you'll need 15,000 tier ...
Flying Returns
flying returns. Introducing the newly enhanced Flying Returns loyalty program that has been designed with your comfort and satisfaction in mind. The updated program promises not only greater rewards but also instant global recognition and exclusive privileges. From the first flight to each adventure you take with us, you enter a new world of ...
Visas, Documents and Travel Tips
All You Need to Know About Visa, Documents, and Travel Tips. We are excited about your upcoming trip with us, and we promise to make it memorable and seamless. Before leaving for the airport, please check if you have your documents in place. Also, read Air India's travel advisory for various airports and cities across India and the world.
Air India: Book Domestic & International Non-Stop Direct Flights
Book Air India flight tickets online for domestic & international travel. Fly non-stop with Air India. Get the best fares and deals online. Book Now! Book Air India flight tickets online for domestic & international travel. ... on Domestic Flights with SBI Credit Cards Use Promo Code: SBITEN Booking Period: 16th Sep to 30th Sep 2024 *T&C Apply ...
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How to convert: Login to SBI Card App or Website. Select 'Rewards' -> 'Air Miles'. If you are a first-time user, enter your Flying Returns membership ID to link your account before you are redirected to the points transfer page. Converted points will be credited to your Flying Returns account within 2 working days.

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The Best Ways To Fly to India With Points and Miles [Step-by-Step]

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American Airlines

Air Canada Aeroplan

Earning Aeroplan Points

Apply With Confidence

Avianca LifeMiles

Earning Avianca LifeMiles

All Nippon Airways Mileage Club

Earning ANA Miles

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

Earning Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Miles

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Earning Alaska Mileage Plan Miles

American Airlines AAdvantage

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Earning Air France-KLM Flying Blue Miles

Other Options To Fly to India

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Travel credit

Types of travel credit

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How to find and redeem your travel credit

Trip Credit

Step 1: Find your Trip Credit email

Step 2: Book and add your Trip Credit

General rules

Expiration and validity

Redemption and usage

Flight Credit

Step 1: Find your canceled trip or confirmation email

Step 2: View your canceled trip

Step 3: Rebook and add Flight Credit

Electronic Travel Voucher

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Credit Cards Reward Points to Air India Points Conversion Ratio

How to Earn Air India Flying Return Points?

By Flying With Air India or Partner Airlines

By Converting Your Credit Card Reward Points

How to Redeem Air India Flying Returns Points to Book Flights?

Booking Air India Flight via FR Points

How to Book Air India Flights Using Partner Airlines’ Miles

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PARTNER OFFERS - SBI CARD TRAVEL CREDITS

Fly more by converting your Travel Credits to Flying Returns points

Use your Travel Credits to fly more and make your trips more rewarding!

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