In 2016, Air India hiked the cost of Mileage Upgrades massively. Then, a few days ago, Air India started sending out teasers that they will be reducing the number of miles required to make an upgrade on the flight. In the first batch, they elaborated how the Business to First Upgrades would work at 99% of an Economy Redemption. The earlier chart used to go all the way up to 175%.

Also, an Economy to Business Class Redemption in India would go cheaper to a topmost 100 percent of Economy Class Redemptions. They earlier used to charge a whopping 190% for an upgrade.

Now, Air India has completed the troika, and they would also cap the International Economy to Business Class redemptions at a 100% of miles. Although, of course, the difference here is not very massive in the first place.

Clearly, there is a push towards making Upgrades affordable to the Flying Returns members. I also like it that there will be the ability to Family Pool miles here on, which will make it easier to collect miles from family and use them in one go rather than have stray miles all over the place.

I sure do hope that Air India quickly implements the changes to the loyalty program, given the Go Live Date is not currently announced. I’ll surely keep a tab on that and keep you all informed!