Maharaja Club, launched in 2024 as the unified loyalty programme for Air India (post-merger with Vistara), is now preparing for its next big move: adding Air India Express to its fold. This has been a promise made throughout the year, and at the end of the year, they tell us it will happen in two parts, and with a twist.
Air India Express’ Integration with Air India Maharaja Club
The Air India Express integration was a must-do item throughout the year. The reason is that a chunk of the network is being taken away from Air India and handed over to Air India Express to operate the flights. Air India plans to serve premium markets (Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru), where its three-class product can be accommodated and command appropriate revenue, and many routes will be operated by Air India Express, where its one-class service will be offered.
Unfortunately, this means most of India is now pissed off because people can’t earn points on their trips, since Air India Express is flying there, not Air India. Now, the challenge is that Maharaja Club points are earned only on Air India and Star Alliance flights, not on Air India Express flights. This has been discussed as a change, but it has not yet been implemented.
The problem is the reservation systems. While Air India works on a full-stack GDS (Global Distribution System) integrated with the Loyalty Management System, Air India Express operates on Navitaire, a web-only reservation system used by low-cost airlines worldwide. So, integrating it with the LMS is a problem that they are trying to work out.
Another problem is that Air India Express (then AirAsia India) had previously integrated with Tata Neu. So, they either have to work out a way to pull out of Tata Neu (where customers receive Neu Coins) or offer customers a choice between Neu Coins and Air India Maharaja Club points.
Air India Express is to go around Tata Neu to provide options to Air India Maharaja Club members.
Passengers flying on Air India Express, till now loyal to Neu, could soon earn and redeem Maharaja Points just like full-service Air India flyers. According to Campbell Wilson, who met reporters last week at the Air India Training Academy, the integration of Air India Express into the Maharaja Club is finally on the horizon.
If the plan goes as intended, this will effectively bring both the full-service and low-cost wings of the Air India group under a single “group loyalty programme,” giving travellers across the board unified earn-and-burn opportunities—a welcome simplification for frequent flyers of both airlines.
The plan is first to allow redemptions of Maharaja Club points on Air India Express Flights, and later to enable accrual as well. Basically, they are kicking the can down the road for the accruals, which is the more challenging part. Unfortunately, no timelines were given out; so, I don’t have one to share yet.
For redemptions, it is easier because Air India and Air India Express already have a codeshare, so all Air India Express flights can still be redeemed today as long as the Air India code is used, which is no problem in the scheme of things.
As for accrual, what I know is that eventually both options will exist, and people can choose to accrue either in the Neu or the Maharaja Club. The interesting problem to solve is the tiers and their benefits. Air India Express already has its own tier system, integrated into Tata Neu, for its frequent flyers, where they get perks based solely on flying on AIX. So, will an accrual where they try to find equivalence in the full-service world work well? We have to see.
What’s driving the move: why this extension matters
The inclusion of Air India Express broadens Maharaja Club’s reach, bringing value to a larger customer base — not just those who fly full-service Air India. This fits with Air India’s strategy of treating the group as a unified airline network: long-haul & full-service under Air India, and regional/low-cost under Air India Express. With more flights (via Express) feeding into the loyalty programme, members can accumulate points faster, thereby increasing the appeal of redeeming award flights or upgrades. For frequent flyers and value-conscious travellers, this integration could be a game-changer: more flights qualify for points, greater flexibility in redemptions, and better overall utilisation of the loyalty scheme. All this will also increase the allure of the loyalty credit card, whenever it happens.
Bottomline
Air India Express is almost getting ready to be integrated into the Air India Maharaja Club Loyalty Programme. The airlines will first launch a redemption opportunity and then integrate for earning as well, although they haven’t yet said what the integration timeline is (it was going to be done in 2025, for instance).
Could you let me know what you think of Air India Maharaja Club’s ability to take in Air India Express on the programme?
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I booked air india express flights on Air India with an AI flight number hoping to get points and flight count on Air India Maharaja Club. But they refused even when booked on AI number. What’s the point of code share then?
So glad to see this. Even in BLR most routes have been handed over to Air India Express, so it’s been frustrating to not be able to use my points. Hope they make it happen soon.