Air India & Vistara: Merging Skies, Merging Rewards

Miles on the Move: Flying Rewards Integration

Both Air India and Vistara have their own frequent flyer programs - Air India's "Flying Returns" and Vistara's "Club Vistara". The good news is, these programs are on track to merge. This will create a larger program with a wider network and potentially more redemption options. Here's what we can expect:

• Combined Program: Air India's Flying Returns is likely to absorb Club Vistara. Existing members of both programs will be transitioned to the new, unified program.
• Tier Matching & Points Transfer: A system will be established to match your current tier status in either program in the 1:1 ratio in merged program thereby making sure no Club Vistara member losses their credit. There will likely be an option to transfer your accumulated points to the new program.

Co-Branded Credit Cards: Up in the Air

The fate of Vistara's co-branded credit cards issued by banks like Axis Bank and HDFC Bank remains unclear. These cards offered benefits specific to Vistara flights and Club Vistara. We'll likely have to wait for some more time as the official announcements stated a decision on this is coming soon. It's possible they might be:

• Merged into a new Air India co-branded card offering benefits on the entire Air India network.
• Phased out in favour of a new credit card program encompassing the entire airline group.

Additional Vistara stated that any vouchers/coupons will function as normal.

Overall, the Air India-Vistara merger presents exciting opportunities for frequent fliers. A unified loyalty program with a broader network and potentially more redemption options is a welcome change. The future of co-branded credit cards is yet to be unveiled, but there's a good chance cardholders will benefit from new offerings.