Air India is the country’s oldest airline company and serves many domestic and international destinations. The airline has an impressive fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft, serving more than 102 destinations globally across five continents. In 2014, the airline became a Star Alliance member, joining a partnership with some of the world’s largest airlines. Air India’s Maharaja Club, its frequent-flyer program, is among the region’s most rewarding. You earn Maharaja Club Points whenever you fly on an Air India-operated or Star Alliance member flight.
Not only can you earn Maharaja Club points, but you can also redeem them for flights on Air India and its partner airlines. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about the Air India Maharaja Club program, including reward earning, status tiers, and key benefits. Most importantly, we will first look at the credit cards that allow you to earn points which can later be transferred to the Maharaja Club.
5 EDGE Miles on Axis Travel Edge and Airline Spends. 2 EDGE Reward Points on all Other Eligible Spends
5000 EDGE Miles on Spends of ₹1,000 Within the First 30 Days of Card Issuance
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Axis Bank Horizon is a travel-centric credit card that can be considered the basic version of the popular Atlas Credit Card. This card is great for earning EDGE Miles on travel-based spends and even offers necessary benefits for those who travel, like complimentary airport lounge access. Those who want a good travel credit card but do not want to pay a high fee of ₹5,000, like Atlas, can surely opt for this card, as it comes at a fee of ₹3,000.
4 Reward Points/₹100 for Flights, Travel Platforms, and International Spends (~4%). 2 Reward Points/₹100 for All Other Eligible Spends (~2%)
₹1,000 Cashback, PostCard Voucher Worth ₹3,000, and 3 Month EazyDiner Membership on Spending ₹10,000 Within 30 Days of Card Issuance
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Priced at ₹4,999 + GST annually, this card offers 4 Reward Points per ₹100 on travel, flights, and international spends, with points transferable 1:1 to over 20 leading hotel and airline partners, including KrisFlyer, Marriott Bonvoy, Maharaja Club, and Flying Blue. It comes with generous travel perks like six free domestic and four international lounge visits, complimentary golf rounds, purchase protection, and exclusive discounts on top travel platforms.
Get 4 Travel Credits for every ₹200 spent on travel and 2 Travel Credits for every ₹200 on other expenses.
Get 3,000 Travel Credits on spending ₹60,000 within 60 days of issuance.
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The SBI Card MILES PRIME is a great credit card for frequent travelers. You get 3,000 Travel Credits as a welcome gift on spending ₹60,000 within 60 days. You earn Travel Credits on all spends, which can be used for air miles, hotel stays, and shopping. The card provides complimentary access to domestic and international airport lounges, along with a Priority Pass Membership. It also comes with travel insurance and covers for lost baggage, delays, and accidents, making your trips more rewarding and secure.
6 Travel Credits for Every ₹200 Spent on Travel. 2 Travel Credits/₹200 Spent on All Other Purchases
5,000 Travel Credits
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The SBI Card Miles Elite offers 5,000 Travel Credits as a welcome gift. You can earn Travel Credits on every spend, which can be converted into air miles, hotel points, or other rewards. The card also provides complimentary airport lounge access both in India and internationally. Additionally, it includes travel insurance benefits and helps you save with low foreign currency markup and fuel surcharge waivers.
Accelerated 12 RPs/₹200 Spent for Flights and Hotel Bookings. 4 RPs/₹200 Spent on Eligible Categories
Taj Experiences Or Luxe Gift Card Worth ₹12,500
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The RBL Bank Nova Credit Card is a premium travel-focused card that allows users to earn and convert reward points into airline miles, including Air India Maharaja Club points. With accelerated rewards on flight and hotel bookings and a solid base reward rate, it is well-suited for frequent travelers. Cardholders also benefit from complimentary domestic and international lounge access, including guest visits abroad, along with milestone rewards and premium lifestyle perks.
5 Reward Points/₹150 Spent (3.33% Reward Rate)
12,500 Bonus Reward Points and Complimentary Club Marriott Membership
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The HDFC Infinia Credit Card is a premium, invite-only card designed for high spenders and frequent travelers. It offers strong reward earnings and allows you to convert points into air miles, including Air India Maharaja Club. Cardholders also get unlimited airport lounge access worldwide, along with premium travel and lifestyle benefits, making it one of the best cards for luxury travel.
6 Reward Points/₹200 Spent (Reward Rate of 3%)
Complimentary Taj Epicure and EazyDiner Membership and 12,500 Bonus Reward Points
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The ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal credit card is a new addition to ICICI Bank’s super-premium category. It requires a joining fee of Rs. 12,499 plus taxes. The card is made of metal and comes with a range of exclusive lifestyle and travel features for the cardholder. Upon signing up, you will receive a complimentary Taj Epicure membership for one year, an EazyDiner Prime membership, and a bonus of 12,500 reward points.
2.5% RPs on International Spends and 2% RPs on Domestic Spends
₹10,000 EaseMyTrip Hotel Voucher, ₹10,000 Onevasco & More Visa Services, ₹3,000 Toni & Guy Voucher and Zomato Gold Membership
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The Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card is a super-premium, invite-only offering designed for high-net-worth individuals who frequently travel. It offers a solid reward rate of up to 2.5% on international spends and allows users to redeem points for airmiles, including transfers to airline loyalty programs. Cardholders also enjoy unlimited domestic and international lounge access, along with luxury travel perks like airport transfers and concierge services, making it a strong option for premium travelers.
| Credit Card | Reward Points Earning | Transfer Ratio |
| Axis Horizon | 5 EDGE Miles/₹100 on Axis Travel Edge and Airline Spends. 2 EDGE Miles/₹100 on all Other Eligible Spends | 1:1 |
| HSBC TravelOne | 4 Reward Points/₹100 for Flights, Travel Platforms, and International Spends. 2 Reward Points/₹100 for All Other Eligible Spends | 1:1 |
| SBI MILES PRIME | 4 Travel Credits/₹200 Spent on Travel and 2 Travel Credits/₹200 on Other Spends | 1:1 |
| SBI Miles Elite | 6 Travel Credits for Every ₹200 Spent on Travel. 2 Travel Credits/₹200 Spent on All Other Spends | 1:1 |
| RBL Bank Nova | 12 RPs/₹100 Spent for Flights and Hotel Bookings. 4 RPs/₹200 Spent on Eligible Categories | 2:1 |
| HDFC Bank Infinia | 5 Reward Points/₹150 Spent | 2:1 |
| ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal | 6 Reward Points/₹200 Spent | 1:1 |
| Times Black ICICI Bank | 2.5% RPs on International Spends and 2% RPs on Domestic Spends | 1:1 |
When you join the Maharaja Club loyalty program, you are automatically given the Red status tier. As you fly more, you are upgraded to the Premium Status Tier. In order to get a tier upgrade, you have to earn a certain number of Status Maharaja Club points within 12 months.
| Status Tier | Maharaja Club Points Needed | OR Flight Requirement |
| Red | – | – |
| Silver | 15,000 (4,500 Tier Points Earned Through Air India) | 20 (Minimum 4 of Air India) |
| Gold | 30,000 (9,000 Tier Points Earned Through Air India) | 45 (Minimum 8 of Air India) |
| Platinum | 45,000 (13,500 Tier Points Earned Through Air India) | 60 (Minimum 12 of Air India) |
When you become a member of the Premium status tiers, you get access to many features and benefits for the following year. These include bonus FR points, extra cabin and checked baggage allowance, dedicated check-in counters, upgrade vouchers, priority check-in and boarding, etc.
Here are the benefits of each status tier in the Air India Maharaja Club.
Red
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Here is how you can earn Air India Maharaja Club Points:
Whenever you fly on a domestic or international route on an Air India flight, you earn Maharaja Club points, and you receive more points based on the length of your flight route. Also, the higher your fare class, the more points you earn for your travel. As Air India is a Star Alliance member, you also earn Maharaja Club points by flying on any of the Star Alliance member airlines’ flights.
You can convert the reward points earned on your select Axis, ICICI, HDFC, and HSBC credit cards to Air India Maharaja Club points at a fixed ratio. If you are a frequent traveler, you can get rewarded for your everyday spending through your credit card and then convert your reward points to air miles.
Air India’s Maharaja Club has several popular partners that let you earn or convert points easily. You can link your Flipkart account and transfer SuperCoins to Maharaja Club points. Other partners like Tata 1mg and Truefitt & Hill also allow you to earn or convert rewards into Maharaja Club points.
From April 2026, Air India’s Maharaja Club has introduced several positive changes to its award structure. Domestic award flights now start from 1,500 Maharaja Points, with fares reduced by around 25% on average and up to 60% on select routes. International award flights have also been simplified, starting from 10,000 points across regions. Additionally, the lowest fare levels, previously available only 90+ days before departure, can now be accessed up to 30 days prior, making redemptions more flexible.
Upgrade awards now begin at 4,000 points for domestic and 20,000 points for international sectors, while domestic business class redemptions are approximately 9% cheaper on average, with even higher discounts on select routes.
You can use the Points Calculator to easily estimate the number of Maharaja Points required for an award flight redemption.
Air India is one of India’s largest airlines and, as a member of the Star Alliance, operates flights to numerous destinations worldwide. Its frequent flyer program, Maharaja Club, is highly rewarding, and you can earn Maharaja Club points on your travels on both Air India and Star Alliance member airlines’ flights. Additionally, you can even transfer your credit card reward points to Air India Maharaja Club points at a fixed conversion rate if you are a frequent traveler and want to maximize the benefits of your reward points.
The Maharaja Club points you earn can be redeemed for Air India as well as partner airlines’ award flights. Also, you can upgrade your award flight class using your Maharaja Club points if you want. You can book award flights through the official Air India website for domestic and international flights.
Not only this, as Air India is a Star Alliance member, you can book Air India award flights via United Airlines, Avianca Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and other partner airlines using their loyalty program reward points or air miles as well. Make the most of your air miles and redeem as many flights as you can.
Some of the best credit cards in India to earn Maharaja Club points include the Axis Horizon Credit Card and the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card. Both cards fall in the mid-range segment in terms of annual fees and offer strong travel benefits, including airport lounge access, making them a good choice for frequent travelers.
Anyone can sign up for the Air India Maharaja Club for free.
When you join the Maharaja Club loyalty program, you are automatically given Member status, and as you fly more, you are upgraded to the Premium Status Tiers. In order to get a tier upgrade, you have to earn a certain number of Status Maharaja Club points within 12 months.