Air India reboots Flying Returns loyalty program

Air India is in the midst of an ambitious top to bottom transformation – one which started with new branding and livery, hit its stride with a bolstered fleet and cabin experience, and now includes the biggest retooling of its Flying Returns program in a decade.

Indeed, it’s an exciting time for the airline, with the latest incarnation of its loyalty scheme prioritising “greater ease, more rewards, and recognition for Members, while offering them instant global status and privileges around the world.”

Air India's new business class, coming soon to a refurbished Boeing 777-330ER.

Before getting into the nitty gritty though, the biggest thing to know is Flying Returns is now spend/revenue-based, with points no longer bestowed by distance or miles flown.

That brings it into line with the likes of American Airlines, United and Delta Air Lines, as well as British Airways, which all follow a revenue-based approach.

Other key changes include:

• renamed status tiers
• the ability to jump up the loyalty ladder through flights
• introduction of Cash+Points redemption
• extending Reward Points validity with a single flight
• no blackout dates or restrictions on reward seats

Here’s how the Air India Flying Returns program works.

What is Flying Returns?

Flying Returns is Air India’s frequent flyer program. It’s been around since 1994, received a solid makeover in 2012, and has now entered its latest iteration.

The program is free to join and allows members from all over the world to earn points (and redeem them, naturally) through repeat travel on Air India, in addition to its network of airline/retail partners.

To join, visit the Flying returns website and fill in your details.

What are the Flying Returns status tiers?

There are four tiers up for grabs in Flying Returns – Red, Silver, Gold and Platinum, with members able to climb the ladder by collecting Tier Points (status credits) or through repeated flying on Air India and its Star Alliance partners.

Air India Flying Returns has four status tiers.

All members start at the entry-level Red Tier. From there, the requirements as as follows:

• Silver – collect 15,000 Tier Points or take 30 flights (minimum four on Air India)
• Gold – earn 30,000 Tier Points or catch 60 flights (minimum eight on Air India)
• Platinum – rack up 45,000 Tier Points or fly 90 times (minimum 12 on Air India) 

However, a minimum number of those Tier Points above must be earned on Air India, meaning you can’t simply obtain status via a Star Alliance partner. These are: 

• Silver – 4,500 Tier Points earned on Air India flights
• Gold – 9,000 Tier Points earned on Air India flights
• Platinum – 13,500 Tier Points earned on Air India flights

As an example, you could easily spend AUD$14,000 on two return business class trips to India on a Star Alliance partner, reaching the required 30,000 Tier Points needed for Gold in the process, but wouldn’t be able to unlock that status without also earning a minimum 9,000 points flying Air India.

Those 9,000 points could be yours after spending around $2,700 on Air India, which a return business class flight would easily cover.

Explained: Tier Miles vs Points

Flying Returns members can earn two kinds of points: Tier Points – required to increase your status level – and Reward Points, which can be redeemed on flights.

All status levels earn the same number of Tier Points: 6 per INR 100 (approx. AUD$1.80) spent on Air India.

If repeated travel on Air India is on the cards for you, you could earn Silver by spending INR 250,000 (AUD $4,549) within a 12-month period, INR 500,000 (AUD$9,097) for Gold, or, if Platinum status is your goal, INR 750,000 (AUD$13,645).

Air India's newly-launched uniform.

Of course, it isn’t just based on spend – you can also achieve higher tiers through repeated flights on Air India, as well as Star Alliance partners, as mentioned above.

Reward Points are also bestowed on a spend of INR 100 on Air India, with the number of points increasing based on your frequent flyer status level. More on this soon.

In addition, members can earn two bonus Reward Points for every INR 100 spent when booking flights directly with Air India via its website or mobile app.

Gold and Platinum are the equivalent of Star Alliance Gold.

Conveniently, Air India now offers Family Pooling, with a ‘Family Head’ able to hoover up points for themselves and up to eight family members aged two years and above.

The family head can also select the ratios of points they collect, either 100%, 75% or 50%.

Flying Returns status benefits

Benefits of Red status are pretty minimal, with members able to earn points on Air India and Star Alliance flights, plus non-airline partners, and redeem them on rewards. And that’s it.

The higher tiers is where Flying Returns tier benefits really kick in, as follows:

Silver (equivalent Star Alliance Silver)

• 50% off standard seat selection on Air India
• 1 upgrade voucher for a domestic flight on Air India
• reduced fees for changes up to 24 hours
• priority waitlist, check-in and increased baggage allowance

Gold (equivalent Star Alliance Gold)

• the ability to fly ahead on an earlier domestic flight
• lounge access for you and a guest
• free standard seat selection on Air India
• 2 upgrade vouchers for domestic flights on Air India
• fees waived for one change up to 24 hours
• priority waitlist, check-in, boarding and increased baggage allowance

Platinum (equivalent Star Alliance Gold)

• the ability to fly ahead on an earlier domestic flight
• lounge access for you and a guest
• free standard seat selection on Air India
• 3 upgrade vouchers for domestic flights on Air India
• fees waived for two changes up to 24 hours
• priority waitlist, check-in, boarding and increased baggage allowance

How to earn Reward Points

For every INR 100 spent on Air India, members earn the following:

• Red – 6 Reward Points
• Silver – 8 Reward Points
• Gold – 9 Reward Points
• Platinum – 10 Reward Points

In addition to flying Air India, Flying Returns Rewards Points can be earned via non-airline partners, including car rentals, hotel stays, shopping, lifestyle experiences, and more.

Reward Points can also be earned when flying Star Alliance partners, though the rate differs by airline, class and fare type. This can supercharge your points balance enormously, particularly if you’re flying at the pointy end.

Flying Returns members can earn status flying Star Alliance partners, such as Singapore Airlines.

For example, business class on Air New Zealand would see you rake in 200% Reward Points for a C, D, J, Z fare, while the same fares on Air Canada would earn 125%.

Note, you’ll need to add your Flying Returns number when booking on Star Alliance Airlines if you want to rake in those points. It can take up to four weeks for them to be credited.

How to spend Reward Points

Reward Points can be exchanged for reward seats and cabin upgrades on Air India and its network of Star Alliance partner airlines (more on those here).

A newly-added Flying Returns feature means members can now use points to book any Air India seat that is still available for sale; no blackout dates or restrictions. 

In addition is the ability to use a combination of cash and rewards points, known by the apt title Cash+Points. 

Do Flying Returns Reward Points expire?

Points have a default validity of 24 months, though this can be extended a further 24 months by taking a single flight on Air India. The airline refers to this as ‘Evergreen Points’.