Red
Entry tier (free)
- Earn Maharaja Club points
- Booking and management on airindia.com
Airline
Air India Maharaja Club
Star AllianceHUBSDEL · BOM · BLR · HYDLast reviewed May 2026
Air India Maharaja Club is the loyalty program of Air India, the Tata-owned post-privatization flag carrier and Star Alliance member since July 2014. The fleet sits at 200+ aircraft post-Vistara merger and is growing fast on a massive Airbus and Boeing order with deliveries through 2030. The November 2024 Vistara merger absorbed millions of Club Vistara members into Maharaja Club at 1:1 with a one-year tier-validity extension, and the April 2026 award-chart overhaul lowered economy pricing across most routes on Air India metal, the chart moved DOWN, which is unusual.
For US travelers the program is hard to access. None of Amex MR, Chase UR, Capital One, Citi, Bilt, Wells Fargo, or Marriott Bonvoy currently transfer directly. Indian-issued bank co-brand cards (Axis, HSBC, ICICI) earn into Maharaja Club but require Indian residency. The niche US bridge is Rove Miles (rove.io), a flexible currency aggregator transferring 1:1. The headline post-April-2026 sweet spot is economy awards from India to Southeast Asia and the Gulf from 12,000 points one-way (for example Delhi to Bangkok, Bali, or Dubai). Star Alliance reciprocity applies, varying by tier, airline, and fare; the challenge is getting points into the account.
Award chart
The actual numbers. Get your nerd on, memorize the cheap ones.
The cheat sheet.
See the rates →
Award chart
The actual numbers. Get your nerd on, memorize the cheap ones.
The cheat sheet.
Maharaja Club uses a flat zone-based award chart (post April 2026). Sample one-way saver pricing as of May 2026:
| Route | Cabin | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic India Air India | Economy | 1,500-5,000 |
| DEL-BKK / SIN / DPS / DXB | Economy | 12,000 |
| DEL-DOH / RUH / NBO / JED | Economy | 12,000 |
| US domestic United partner award | Economy | 3,500-7,500 |
| US-India business via Star partners | Business | Check post-2026 chart |
Check current pricing on airindia.com - April 2026 chart is recent and per-route edges may settle.
Sweet spots
Where your points punch above their weight.
Where this currency genuinely shines.
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Sweet spots
Where your points punch above their weight.
Where this currency genuinely shines.
- Delhi to Bangkok, Singapore, Bali, or Dubai economy at 12,000 points one-way: the April 2026 chart cut made this a strong economy redemption.
- Domestic India from 1,500 points - the cheapest intra-Asia award in the Star Alliance set.
- United US domestic short-haul partner award from 3,500 points when off-peak.
- Star Alliance partner business class at the published chart - check post-2026 pricing.
- Vistara migration credit: migrated balances stay valid at least one year from migration.
Transfer in
Programs that transfer points in.
2 programs that transfer in.
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Transfer in
Programs that transfer points in.
2 programs that transfer in.
Programs that transfer points or miles into Air India Maharaja Club.
| From | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5:1 | Convert IHG points to Air India Maharaja Club by calling IHG One Rewards. Phone only. Rate is 1,000 IHG points for 200 Maharaja Points, the same 5 to 1 value, and can take up to six weeks. Maharaja Points do not convert back to IHG. | |
| 1:1 | Air India Maharaja Club, 1:1. Rare US on-ramp. |
Tier benefits
The status ladder. 4 rungs, each unlocking better lounges, bags, and bragging rights.
4 status levels.
Climb the ladder →
Tier benefits
The status ladder. 4 rungs, each unlocking better lounges, bags, and bragging rights.
4 status levels.
Silver
Approximately 15,000 Tier Points
- Star Alliance Silver
- Priority check-in
- Extra baggage
- Bonus point earning
Gold
Approximately 30,000 Tier Points
- Star Alliance Gold
- Maharaja Lounge access at DEL / BOM / BLR / HYD / MAA / GOI
- Priority boarding and baggage
- Star Alliance Gold reciprocal lounge access globally
Platinum
45,000 Tier Points with at least 13,500 on AI metal, or 90 flights
- Star Alliance Gold
- Highest-tier recognition on Air India
- Top priority on waitlists and operational upgrades
- Higher mile bonus
Lounge access
Where to vanish before takeoff. Your status (or ticket) opens which doors.
Who gets in, who doesn't, and the carve-outs.
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Lounge access
Where to vanish before takeoff. Your status (or ticket) opens which doors.
Who gets in, who doesn't, and the carve-outs.
Air India operates Maharaja Lounges at DEL, BOM, BLR, HYD, MAA, and GOI, plus its first international Maharaja Lounge at San Francisco (SFO), which opened in May 2026 in the International Terminal near Gate A1 and serves Air India and Star Alliance premium and Gold passengers. Gold and Platinum members get Maharaja Lounge access on same-day Air India or Star Alliance flights, plus Star Alliance Gold reciprocal lounges globally. Silver does not get standard lounge access. There is no published public day-pass program.
How to spend
The high-leverage moves. Read this before you transfer a single mile.
The smart-money plays.
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How to spend
The high-leverage moves. Read this before you transfer a single mile.
The smart-money plays.
- Economy from India to Southeast Asia and the Gulf from 12,000 points one-way post-April-2026 chart: the headline sweet spot.
- Domestic India from 1,500 points - cheap intra-India one-offs.
- Star Alliance partner awards routed through Maharaja Club at the published partner chart.
- United US domestic short-haul partner award from 3,500 points (per AwardWallet).
- Status credit for migrated Club Vistara members: one-year tier-validity extension at the merger.
Tips & quirks
Stopover rules, surcharges, the stuff nobody tells you until you've been burned once.
The fine print, decoded.
Spill the gotchas →
Tips & quirks
Stopover rules, surcharges, the stuff nobody tells you until you've been burned once.
The fine print, decoded.
- Vistara fully merged into Air India November 2024: Club Vistara members migrated to Maharaja Club at 1:1 with a one-year tier-validity extension.
- April 2026 award-chart overhaul lowered economy pricing across most routes on Air India metal: the chart moved DOWN, a rare positive revaluation.
- Economy from India to Southeast Asia and the Gulf from 12,000 points one-way is the post-April-2026 headline (for example Delhi to Bangkok, Bali, Dubai; Mumbai to Doha).
- No major US flexible-currency direct partner - Amex, Chase, Capital One, Citi, Bilt, Wells Fargo, and Marriott do not transfer directly as of May 2026.
- Rove Miles (rove.io) transfers 1:1 - niche US-accessible bridge.
- Indian bank co-brand cards (Axis, HSBC, ICICI) require Indian residency.
- Points valid 24 months, effectively rolling: any Air India or Air India Express revenue flight extends the whole balance another 24 months.
- Migrated Vistara points stay valid at least one year from migration (a floor, even if they would have expired sooner).
- Booking partner awards often phone-only - online flow is improving but inconsistent.
- Star Alliance benefits apply, varying by tier, airline, and fare.
- Massive widebody order through 2030 - more US routes likely as deliveries land.
- No US co-brand card.
- Earn Maharaja Points at IHG hotels (2026): Book through Air India's dedicated IHG link to earn 2 Maharaja Points per US$1 at most IHG hotels, or 1 per US$1 at Staybridge, Candlewood, IHG Residences and IHG Army Hotels. You cannot earn IHG points on the same stay.
- IHG points convert in: IHG One Rewards points convert to Maharaja Club at 1,000 IHG points to 200 Maharaja Points (1,000-point minimum, requested by calling IHG, up to 60 business days to arrive). There is no conversion from Maharaja Club back to IHG.
Frequently asked questions
- Which US credit card points transfer to Air India Maharaja Club? None of the major US flexible currencies transfer directly (Amex, Chase, Capital One, Citi, Bilt, Wells Fargo, or Marriott Bonvoy). The niche US bridge is the Rove Miles program at 1:1. IHG One Rewards also converts in at 1,000 IHG points to 200 Maharaja Points (credited within about 60 business days).
- What alliance is Air India in? Star Alliance, since July 2014, so Air India awards and status get Star Alliance reciprocity (benefits vary by tier, airline, and fare).
- Do Air India Maharaja Club points expire? Yes, but effectively rolling. Points are valid 24 months, and any Air India or Air India Express revenue flight extends your whole balance another 24 months, so active flyers keep them alive. Points migrated from Club Vistara stay valid at least one year from migration.
- What is the best Air India Maharaja Club sweet spot? The April 2026 award-chart overhaul lowered economy pricing across most routes. Economy awards from India to Southeast Asia and the Gulf now start at 12,000 points one-way (for example Delhi to Bangkok, Bali, or Dubai, and Mumbai to Doha), a strong economy redemption.
- What happened to my Club Vistara account? Vistara fully merged into Air India in November 2024. Club Vistara members were moved into Maharaja Club at 1:1, with tier status protected and migrated points valid at least one year from migration.
- Can I get lounge access with Air India status? Gold and Platinum members get Maharaja Lounge access on eligible same-day Air India or Star Alliance flights, plus Star Alliance Gold lounges worldwide; Silver does not. Air India operates Maharaja Lounges at major Indian airports (including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Goa) and opened its first signature US lounge at San Francisco (SFO) in May 2026.
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Last reviewed: May 2026
Loyalty programs change rules, fees, transfer ratios, and award pricing all the time — sometimes without warning. We do our best to keep these pages current, but the program's own site is always the final word. Always confirm specifics directly with Air India Maharaja Club before transferring miles or booking an award. Treat anything on this page as a starting point, not a guarantee. Crazy4Points is not responsible for actions taken based on information here — see our Terms of Service for full details.