Club Vistara, the frequent flyer program for Vistara, has been offering status on a platter for a while, in an attempt to induce customers to try their airline, and then hopefully stick with them! Earlier this year, they offered a Gold Status trial, to members of the Taj Inner Circle program at a Gold Tier. The program is clearly a revenue-driven program, but no one ever paid attention to making redemptions any good on the program. However, from what I’ve heard, Gold members do get treated better, and have a shot at getting upgraded on the plane, while there is no policy about this.

Now, HDFC Bank’s Infinia credit card holders (their highest card on the Visa/Master platform), are being offered a complimentary one-year Gold status on Vistara, no-strings attached. If you are an Infinia card holder, you can follow this link and leave your details for HDFC Bank to verify, and provide to Vistara for making the status upgrade. It would usually take 50,000 points in a membership year to get that status If you are a Regalia card holder, you can use the same link to get yourself Club Vistara Silver status, which comes at 25,000 points in a membership year.

Once you apply, it takes about 10-12 days for the membership upgrade to be completed. Here are the documented benefits you can look forward to as a Club Vistara Gold member:

• 40% more CV points per reservation
• Check-in at business-class counters
• 10 kg excess baggage allowance
• Priority Boarding
• Lounge Access
• Priority Baggage Handling

As a Club Vistara Silver member, you get the following benefits:

• 20% more CV points per reservation
• Check-in at Premium Economy counters
• 5 kg excess baggage allowance

I’d really hope with the arrival of their new CCO, Vistara would put more focus on a frequent flyer program and their route network, so that they could get their legitimate place under the sun.