What Air India Maharaja Club Points Get You on Indian Routes, and How to Earn Them
Editorial Team · 2026-11-13
What Air India Maharaja Club Points Get You on Indian Routes, and How to Earn Them
TL;DR: Maharaja Club is Air India's free loyalty programme, with four tiers. You earn 6 to 10 points per ₹100 on Air India and Air India Express flights, plus 2 more if you book on Air India's website or app. Domestic award flights start at 1,500 points, with taxes paid on top. You can also earn through bank transfers and partner brands.
If you think airline loyalty programmes are only for people who live on planes, Maharaja Club deserves a second look. Loyalty is turning into a standard feature of Indian airlines (IndiGo has BluChip), and Air India has rebuilt its own programme into Maharaja Club.
The April 2026 overhaul cut award points on at least 90% of routes, lowered tier thresholds and sped up crediting. It was also named Program of the Year for the Middle East and Asia Pacific at the 2026 Freddie Awards. We think it is now one of the best loyalty programmes in India, and it costs nothing to join.
The basics
There are four tiers: Red, Silver, Gold and Platinum. You collect two kinds of points. Maharaja Points are what you spend on flights and upgrades. Tier Points only decide your tier. Both earn and redeem across the 25 Star Alliance airlines Air India lists, including Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, United and ANA.
ValueNinja tip: New members get 1,000 bonus points after their first flight following enrolment, so join before your next trip. Also plan two paid flights on separate bookings early. Air India needs those before you can book award tickets for others, or create a Family Pool.
Earning points when you fly
Depending on your tier, you earn 6 to 10 Maharaja Points per ₹100 on the eligible fare (not taxes) on Air India and Air India Express. Book on Air India's website or app and you get 2 extra points per ₹100.
Quote your Maharaja Club ID when you book or check in, on Air India, Air India Express and Star Alliance flights alike. For Star Alliance, you must already be a member.
ValueNinja tip: Forgot your ID? Air India flights from the past 12 months can be claimed as missing points, even if you were not a member then. Claims open 7 days after travel. Star Alliance windows are 6 to 12 months. Air India Express flights cannot be claimed yet.
Points needed on major routes
These are the lowest one-way Economy levels:
| Route | Lowest Economy award (points) |
|---|---|
| Bengaluru to Chennai | 1,500 |
| Bengaluru to Hyderabad | 3,500 |
| Mumbai to Bengaluru | 4,000 |
| Mumbai to Delhi | 5,000 |
| Delhi to Goa | 5,000 |
| Hyderabad to Delhi | 5,000 |
Economy awards have two fare levels. Value needs fewer points but has limited seats. Prime has more seats and costs more. The closer you get to the travel date, the more points you need. Air India keeps its lowest levels open until 30 days before departure, then Prime pricing takes over. On Hyderabad to Delhi, Value is 5,000 points and Prime is 13,500. Book early.
You also pay taxes and fees in cash on every award ticket, so compare against the cash fare first. Sometimes paying cash and saving your points is the smarter move. Check exact numbers in the Points Calculator.
Earning points without flying
Bank transfers. Air India's partner page lists conversions from Axis, ICICI, HDFC, HSBC, Yes Bank, DBS, RBL, IndusInd, Kotak and others. These cards list Maharaja Club as a transfer partner:
- HSBC Premier and RBL Lumiere, both 1:1
- Axis Magnus, 5 points to 2
- Axis Magnus Burgundy, 5 points to 4
ValueNinja tip: Do not transfer just because you can. Check the award price for your flight and the transfer ratio first. Transfers usually cannot be reversed.
Partner brands. Air India lists around 70. Common ones in India include Tata 1mg (up to 8 points per ₹100), Healthians (14), Ferns N Petals (11), Booking.com (5), Zoomcar (5), Avis (up to 4) and Apple Store Online (4). Rates change, so check the partner offers page before you spend. Zomato no longer earns points: that partnership ended on 30 April 2026.
Family Pool. A Family Head can pool points from up to eight relatives. The setup fee is ₹500 including GST and it is non-refundable. Members' future points go to the Head, who alone redeems them, while points already in members' accounts stay put. Everyone needs two paid flights first.
What Gold and Platinum add
Gold needs 45 flights or 30,000 Tier Points. Platinum needs 60 flights or 45,000 Tier Points. Silver needs 20 flights.
| Benefit | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Extra baggage | 20 kg, or one extra piece up to 23 kg | Same |
| Domestic ticket changes | 1 free | 2 free |
| Domestic cancellation | ₹1,199 + GST fee | Free |
| Domestic upgrade vouchers | 2 | 3 |
| Seat selection | Free standard seat | Same |
| Lounge and boarding | Lounge for you and a guest, priority boarding | Same |
| Award cancellation or reschedule | Free up to 7 days before | Free up to 2 hours before |
One co-passenger on your booking gets priority check-in, boarding and lounge access too.
Points last 24 months. A paid Air India or Air India Express flight extends the whole balance by another 24 months. Award flights do not count.
FAQs
Is Maharaja Club free?
Yes. Register on Air India's website or app.
How many points does a domestic flight need?
From 1,500, depending on route, date and availability.
Do I pay anything on an award ticket?
Yes, taxes and fees in cash.
Can I earn without flying?
Yes, through bank transfers and partner brands.
Do I need to fly before I can redeem for someone else?
Yes. You need two paid flights on separate bookings. The same applies to Family Pool.
I forgot to add my ID. Is it too late?
For Air India flights, not if it is within 12 months of travel. Use the claim page linked above.
Do points expire?
After 24 months, unless a paid Air India or Air India Express flight extends them.
Can I redeem on other airlines?
Yes, on eligible Star Alliance flights, subject to availability.
Want more tips and hacks like this? Keep following ValueNinja. You can also read how Air India Express flights now earn Maharaja Club points, or visit the Air India Maharaja Club page.