Air India and Vistara miles merger (2026) — what happened to your balance
By Rohit Sinha (Rohit Sinha covers airline loyalty programmes and credit-card rewards for Indian travellers — frequent-flyer tiers, points transfers, lounge access and how to actually redeem miles for real value.) · Published · 10 min read
When Vistara merged into Air India, Club Vistara members were moved to Air India's programme, now rebranded as Maharaja Club. Here is precisely what happened to your points, tier status, vouchers and co-brand cards, and what to do with your balance today.
Quick answer
On 12 November 2024, Club Vistara (CV) Points were transferred to Air India's Flying Returns programme at a 1:1 ratio, and tier status was matched across. Flying Returns has since been rebranded as Maharaja Club, with the currency now called Maharaja Points and tiers Red, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Migrated points kept at least a year's validity. Vistara no longer exists as an airline, so manage everything through your Maharaja Club account.
How the merger actually happened
Vistara was fully merged into Air India and ceased to operate as a separate airline. The loyalty integration ran in two stages that often get muddled. First, on 12 November 2024, all Club Vistara members were moved into Air India's Flying Returns programme, with CV Points becoming Flying Returns Points 1:1, along with tier status and any vouchers. Around 4.5 million members were migrated.
Second, Flying Returns itself was relaunched and rebranded as Maharaja Club, with the points renamed Maharaja Points and a refreshed structure. So a former Vistara flyer's journey was: Club Vistara to Flying Returns (the actual point transfer) to Maharaja Club (a renaming of the receiving programme). The net effect is one Air India loyalty programme today, Maharaja Club, holding what used to be two separate balances.
Tier matching — what carried over
Tier status was mapped across so members did not lose standing. Club Vistara's tiers (Base, Silver, Gold, Platinum) were matched to the Air India structure, which uses Red as the entry tier and then Silver, Gold and Platinum. Tier points and accrued status moved with the member.
Under Maharaja Club, the Star Alliance alignment matters: Gold and Platinum members receive Star Alliance Gold benefits (lounge access, priority services and extra baggage on Star Alliance partners), while Silver members get Star Alliance Silver benefits. If you held mid or top status with Vistara, you generally retained an equivalent tier, though the specific benefits now follow Air India's and Star Alliance's rules rather than Vistara's old ones. Confirm your current tier in your Maharaja Club account.
The earn-rate trade-off
The honest part many former Vistara loyalists feel: the earning and experience changed. Club Vistara was widely praised for a generous, premium product and an attractive earn structure. Air India's programme operates differently, with earning tied to flight distance and fare class on Air India and its 24 Star Alliance partners, plus non-airline partners.
For some members the new structure earns differently than Club Vistara did on the same spend, and the on-board and service experience is in transition as Air India upgrades its fleet and product. The upside is reach: Star Alliance is a far larger network than Vistara had, so there are many more airlines on which to earn and redeem. Whether the trade is positive for you depends on how and where you fly; check the current earning tables on the Air India site before assuming old Vistara rates apply.
Award redemption — where to actually burn
Your migrated points are now Maharaja Points, redeemable across the Air India and Star Alliance ecosystem. The best value depends on your routes.
- Air India's own flights: straightforward for redemptions on the expanding domestic and international network, including premium cabins on long-haul where points stretch further.
- Star Alliance partners: the big advantage over old Club Vistara. You can redeem on carriers like Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, United and others, opening routes Air India does not fly itself.
- Premium-cabin sweet spots: as with most programmes, points typically deliver the most value in business or first class on long-haul rather than on cheap short-haul economy.
Award availability and pricing move, so check live redemption options for your specific dates rather than assuming a fixed rate.
Expiry of migrated CV miles
A key reassurance: the migration did not wipe out balances on a technicality. CV Points that moved over kept at least one year of validity from transfer, even if they had been due to expire sooner; points that were set to lapse in September or October 2024 were transferred with their validity extended by a year. Vouchers valid beyond the cutover were similarly extended.
That grace period was generous but finite. If you were a Vistara flyer who has not logged in since the merger, the realistic risk now in 2026 is that some migrated points have reached or are approaching their extended expiry. Log into your Maharaja Club account, check the exact expiry dates shown there, and act before anything lapses. Programme rules can change, so rely on what your account states.
Credit-card partner earn — what changed
The co-branded Vistara credit cards were a major reason many people accumulated CV Points, and these were affected directly. Existing co-brand cardholders were generally able to use their benefits for a transition period, but the arrangements wound down: card benefits tied to the old Vistara programme ran until around 31 March 2026, and renewals of those specific co-brand cards were not processed after 31 March 2025.
If you held a Vistara co-branded card, check with your card issuer about what your product converts to, how points now accrue, and whether the milestone vouchers that made those cards attractive still apply. Do not assume the old earning and voucher structure continues; confirm the current terms directly with the bank.
What to do today
If you are a former Club Vistara or existing Air India member, here is the practical checklist for 2026.
- Log into Maharaja Club: confirm your migrated points landed, check your current tier, and note the exact expiry dates on your balance.
- Use points before they expire: if any migrated points are near their extended expiry, redeem or extend them now rather than risk losing them.
- Reassess your card: if you held a Vistara co-brand card, ask your issuer what it became and how it now earns, since the old structure has wound down.
- Rethink where you credit miles: with Star Alliance now the framework, you may have better options for crediting future flights than you did under Vistara.
- Verify before relying: earn rates, award charts and card terms have all shifted, so check current details on the Air India site and with your bank rather than old assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to my Club Vistara CV Points?
They were transferred to Air India's Flying Returns programme at a 1:1 ratio on 12 November 2024, so 500 CV Points became 500 Flying Returns Points. Flying Returns has since been rebranded Maharaja Club, with the currency now called Maharaja Points. Your balance lives in your Maharaja Club account today.
Is Vistara still an airline?
No. Vistara has been fully merged into Air India and no longer operates as a separate airline. All Vistara flights, loyalty accounts and services have moved under Air India. If you are still looking for Vistara as a current carrier, you should now book and manage everything through Air India.
What is Maharaja Club?
Maharaja Club is Air India's loyalty programme, the rebranded and relaunched version of Flying Returns that received the migrated Club Vistara members. Its currency is Maharaja Points and its tiers are Red, Silver, Gold and Platinum. It is the single Air India frequent-flyer programme that now holds former Vistara balances.
Did my Vistara tier status carry over?
Yes. Tier status was matched into Air India's structure, so mid and top Club Vistara tiers mapped to equivalent Air India tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum). The specific benefits now follow Air India and Star Alliance rules rather than Vistara's old ones. Confirm your current tier in your Maharaja Club account.
Will my migrated points expire?
Migrated CV Points kept at least one year of validity from transfer, and points due to lapse in September or October 2024 were extended by a year. That grace period is finite, so in 2026 some may be near expiry. Log in, check the exact expiry dates shown, and redeem before anything lapses.
Where can I redeem my Maharaja Points?
On Air India's own flights and across its 24 Star Alliance partners such as Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and United, which is a far wider network than Club Vistara offered. As with most programmes, points usually deliver the most value in long-haul premium cabins. Check live award availability for your dates.
What happened to my Vistara co-branded credit card?
Benefits tied to the old Vistara programme wound down: card benefits generally ran until around 31 March 2026, and renewals of those co-brand cards were not processed after 31 March 2025. Check with your issuer about what your card converts to and how points now accrue rather than assuming the old terms continue.
Did the earn rate get worse after the merger?
Many former Vistara loyalists feel the earning and on-board experience changed, as Air India's structure ties earning to distance and fare class and differs from Club Vistara's. The upside is access to the much larger Star Alliance network. Whether it is better for you depends on your routes; check the current earning tables.