Vistara Merged Into Air India: What Changed for Lounge Access & Status 2026
By Vihaan Patel (Vihaan Patel covers the intersection of travel and digital payments — Indian OTAs, airline-direct booking flows, UPI vs credit-card surcharges, RBI tokenisation rules and the booking-funnel mechanics that quietly cost (or save) you money.) · Published · 11 min read
Vistara stopped operating as a separate airline in late 2024 and has fully merged into Air India. If you were a Club Vistara member, your points and status have migrated — but the experience on the ground has changed, and not always smoothly. Here's what's actually different for lounge access, status recognition, and the flying experience as of 2026.
TL;DR — What the Merger Means for Former Vistara Flyers
Vistara ceased operations and fully merged into Air India in late 2024. Club Vistara's frequent-flyer programme no longer exists as a standalone product — all member accounts were migrated into Air India's Flying Returns programme. Gold and Platinum CV members received a status match into Flying Returns, though the tier equivalence and the longevity of that status have been sources of ongoing complaint. Lounge access has changed at several airports: some Vistara-branded or Vistara-preferred lounges have been rebranded or repurposed, and the Air India lounge product is now the default for eligible flyers at DEL, BOM, BLR, and HYD.
How Club Vistara Status Was Migrated to Flying Returns
When Tata Group merged Vistara into Air India (Air India is also Tata-owned), the stated plan was a status match. Club Vistara had three tiers: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Flying Returns has Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers (alongside Maharaja Club at the entry level). The migration wasn't a perfect 1:1 in terms of tier naming or benefits — and a number of CV members felt the translated status carried fewer effective benefits than their original CV status.
The specific mapping: CV Gold typically translated to FR Gold; CV Platinum to FR Platinum. Silver members were generally downgraded to Maharaja Club with some bonus points as compensation. The status validity after migration was a sticking point — some members found their migrated status was set to expire sooner than expected, requiring requalification through Air India flying.
If you're a former CV member who hasn't logged into Flying Returns recently, do it. Check your tier status, your points balance, and the expiry dates. Points that migrated from CV may have different expiry rules than freshly earned FR miles. Air India's Flying Returns website is the authoritative source — don't rely on what you remember from the migration email.
What Happened to the Vistara Lounge at DEL Terminal 2
The Vistara lounge at Delhi's Terminal 2 was one of the better domestic lounges in India — consistently well-reviewed for food quality and relative quiet compared to the chaos of T1. Post-merger, this lounge has transitioned to Air India's operation. In practice, this means: access is now governed by Flying Returns status rather than Club Vistara status, and eligible Air India business class passengers on T2 flights also access it.
The honest assessment from travellers in early 2026: the lounge itself hasn't dramatically changed in look and feel, but the access criteria and crowding have shifted. Air India has a larger fleet and passenger base than Vistara did, so the pool of eligible lounge users is bigger. Reports suggest it can be busier than the old Vistara lounge, particularly during morning and evening peak hours.
One thing that's clearly changed: Vistara's lounge access for business class passengers on specific routes is now under Air India's business class product, which is broader but also more variable in quality across different aircraft types.
Lounge Access Changes at BOM, BLR, and HYD
The Vistara–Air India merger's lounge impact differed by airport:
Mumbai (BOM)
Vistara operated out of BOM T2 for domestic and international routes. Post-merger, former Vistara lounges have been absorbed into Air India's lounge arrangements at T2. Air India's lounge at BOM is generally considered functional — not the absolute best international lounge in India, but a solid option for eligible FR members and business class passengers. Star Alliance Gold members (from other airlines) also have access under Air India's Star Alliance membership.
Bengaluru (BLR)
BLR was a significant Vistara hub. The transition has meant that BLR's Vistara-preferred lounge facility is now part of Air India's network. Given BLR's strong corporate travel base, Air India has maintained reasonable lounge standards here. Flying Returns Gold and above can access the lounge on eligible Air India flights.
Hyderabad (HYD)
HYD had more limited Vistara lounge presence historically. Post-merger, Air India's HYD lounge access follows Flying Returns eligibility. HYD's overall lounge situation (across all airlines) is less crowded than DEL or BOM, so the merger's impact here has been less disruptive.
The pattern across all airports: Air India has more aircraft and more flights than Vistara did, which means more eligible users competing for the same (or slightly expanded) lounge space. This is a net negative for those who valued the relative exclusivity of the Vistara lounge product.
Star Alliance Access — The Upgrade Former Vistara Flyers Actually Got
Here's the genuine upside of the merger that doesn't get enough attention: Air India is a full Star Alliance member. Vistara was not. This means Flying Returns Gold and Platinum members now have Star Alliance Gold benefits — which includes lounge access at Star Alliance partner lounges globally, not just at Air India's own lounges.
In practical terms: if you're a former CV Platinum now sitting as FR Platinum, and you're transiting through Frankfurt on a Lufthansa flight en route to somewhere, you can access the Lufthansa Senator Lounge. That's a meaningful upgrade from Vistara's limited lounge footprint. The Star Alliance Gold card opens doors at hundreds of airports worldwide.
This is the reason several frequent business travellers who were ambivalent about the merger have landed in a better position: the global lounge network is significantly larger under Air India / Star Alliance than it was under the independent Vistara.
What the Vistara Business Class Product Became
Vistara was widely regarded as operating one of the better business class products on Indian domestic routes — better hard product than IndiGo, better soft product than legacy Air India, with genuine lie-flat on wide-body international routes. Post-merger, those aircraft and routes are now Air India flights.
The Vistara Dreamliners (B787-9) that operated on routes like Delhi–London, Delhi–Frankfurt, Mumbai–Melbourne are now Air India's aircraft. The seat hardware is the same; the livery is different. The soft product — food, service, amenity kits — is in transition. Early 2026 reports from passengers on these routes are mixed: some routes have maintained the quality, others have diluted it as Air India's broader network expands and crew training catches up.
For domestic business class: Air India has expanded its domestic business class product as part of its broader transformation, though the consistency of the Vistara-era domestic premium experience hasn't been universal. IndiGo is the dominant domestic carrier and still doesn't offer business class, so Air India is essentially the only full-service domestic business cabin option for most routes.
What To Do If Your Flying Returns Status or Points Migration Looks Wrong
A meaningful number of former CV members found discrepancies in their migration — wrong tier, missing points, incorrect expiry dates. Here's the resolution path as of 2026:
- Start with Flying Returns online: log in to flyingreturns.airindia.com and document your current balance, tier, and expiry.
- Compare to your last Club Vistara statement: if you have the final CV statement before migration, you have a reference point for points and tier at migration date.
- Contact Air India Flying Returns customer service: raise a specific, documented query (not a vague complaint). Attach your CV statement, your migration confirmation email, and a clear statement of the discrepancy. The team does resolve legitimate cases, but it takes time — weeks, not days.
- Escalate if needed: DGCA doesn't directly handle frequent-flyer programme disputes (these are commercial programme terms, not regulated aviation passenger rights). But persistent complaints routed through consumer forums have sometimes got results.
The honest caveat: airline loyalty programme migrations at this scale are messy. Air India has been handling complaints, but the process is slow. Keep your documentation and be specific in your complaint.
For booking Air India flights that earn Flying Returns miles and count toward status, using FlightGPT's flight search will show you Air India fares across date combinations — booking directly on Air India's own site (versus an OTA) is generally the safer choice for ensuring miles post correctly to your Flying Returns account. The codeshare vs interline guide is also relevant if your Air India itinerary involves connecting legs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vistara still operating flights in 2026?
No. Vistara ceased operations as a separate airline in late 2024 and has fully merged into Air India. All former Vistara routes, aircraft, and slots are now operated under the Air India brand. There are no more Vistara flights, Vistara booking codes, or Club Vistara status. If you still have a Vistara booking reference from before the merger, it should have been automatically converted to an Air India booking — check with Air India if you have any legacy Vistara reservations.
What happened to my Club Vistara Gold or Platinum status?
Club Vistara status was migrated to Flying Returns tiers: CV Gold typically mapped to FR Gold, CV Platinum to FR Platinum. Silver members were generally moved to Maharaja Club entry level with some compensation points. The migrated status has expiry dates that may differ from your original CV status timeline. Log into Flying Returns (flyingreturns.airindia.com) to check your current tier and when it expires. Discrepancies should be raised with Air India's Flying Returns customer service team with documentation.
Can I still access the old Vistara lounges at Delhi and Mumbai?
The physical lounge spaces that Vistara used have transitioned to Air India operations. They're no longer 'Vistara lounges' in branding or access policy — they're now accessible based on Flying Returns status and Air India business class boarding, not Club Vistara. If you hold FR Gold or Platinum (migrated from CV or earned fresh), you retain lounge access at eligible Air India flights from these airports.
Does Flying Returns Gold give me Star Alliance lounge access?
Yes — this is one of the genuine benefits of the merger. Air India is a Star Alliance member; Vistara was not. Flying Returns Gold and Platinum members have Star Alliance Gold status, which provides access to Star Alliance Gold lounges at airports worldwide when flying on a Star Alliance carrier. This is a significant upgrade from Vistara's limited lounge network, particularly for international travellers connecting through Star Alliance hubs.
Do I earn Flying Returns miles on former Vistara routes now operated by Air India?
Yes. All routes that were previously operated by Vistara are now Air India flights, and Flying Returns miles accrue normally. The earn rates depend on your FR tier, the fare class booked, and the specific route. Booking directly on Air India's website or app is the safest way to ensure miles post correctly to your account. If you book through a third-party OTA, verify that the Flying Returns number is included in the booking before you travel.
Is Air India's domestic business class as good as Vistara's was?
Opinions are mixed. Vistara built a strong reputation for domestic business class — consistent cabin product, above-average food and service. Air India's domestic business class is present on more routes now, but consistency has been variable across aircraft types and routes as the merged airline integrates operations. Travellers who were loyal Vistara business class customers report an uneven experience in 2026 — some routes are excellent, some have declined from the Vistara standard. The situation is expected to stabilise as Air India's transformation programme (which involves significant investment in service and product) progresses through 2026–2027.