Vistara recently merged with Air India, and now all its aircraft are operated by Air India. Earlier, we saw how booking Vistara flights with its Partner airlines made sense. Now, we look into the miles needed to book Air India domestic award flights using partner miles. We have already covered ways to redeem Air India points, which may not be the best way to book Air India sometimes.
Which airline partner can you use to book Air India Domestic flights?
There are several Airline partners with which you can book Air India Domestic flights, and all of these belong to Star Alliance:
- Aegean Air
- Air Canada
- Air China
- Air India
- Air New Zealand
- ANA
- Asiana Airlines
- Avianca
- Copa Airlines
- Ethiopian Airlines
- Eva Air
- Miles & More
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- TAP Air Portugal
- Thai Airways
- Turkish Airlines
- United
Booking Air India Using Aegean Air Miles+Bonus
The Aegean Air, a frequent flyer program, is Miles+Bonus and has a fixed award chart. It requires low mileage to book Air India Domestic Award flights, and this mileage requirement also applies to travelling to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
You need the following miles for booking an Air India one way flights within India:
- Economy: 12500
- Business: 21000
- First Class: 40000
At present, there are two ways to earn Aegean Air: first, by transferring points from Marriott and Accor, and second, by buying miles. You can buy a maximum of 30K miles in a year at INR 2.2 or 2.6 cents.
Even though the mileage requirement is decent, there are some limitations, as you can only see flight availability if you have the required miles.
Booking Air India Using Aeroplan Points
Aeroplan points have a fixed award chart; however, the number of points needed for an award flight changes based on distance. Air Canada Aeroplan, like Singapore Airlines, has the best Air India award flight availability. The easiest way to find award flights on Air Canada Aeroplan is by using Seats.Aero.
If you use Aeroplan points on Air India, you can book an Air India Business Class flight for just 15K to 25K Aeroplan points. You can also add a stopover for just 5K points, and the total number of points will not change.
In India, earning Air Canada Aeroplan points is easier as you can transfer from points HDFC, Axis & Amex (via Marriott). It also runs decent promotions on buying these points.
Booking Air India using Air New Zealand Airpoints Dollars
Air New Zealand has a simple distance-based award chart for partners; however, the mileage requirement is insane. And there are limited ways to earn these points in India at bad rates.
Booking Air India using Air China PhoenixMiles
If you have Air China PhoenixMiles, you can book an Air India Business Class flight within India for 42K Miles. A round-trip flight costs 70K miles, so you get a discount on booking a round-trip flight.
If you need the following miles for booking an Air India award flight using Air China PhoenixMiles:
- Economy: 44K [26.4 One-Way]
- Business: 70K [42K One-Way]
- First Class: 88K [52.8 One-Way]
Booking Air India using ANA Mileage Club
Unlike most airlines, ANA Mileage Club allows you to book only round-trip, open-jaw, and mixed itineraries. So, you can’t book one-way itineraries. If you have ANA Miles, you can book an Air India Business Class ticket for 55K miles anywhere in India for a roundtrip.
You need the following miles to book an Air India round-trip flight within India:
- Economy: 30K
- Business: 55K
- First Class: 90K
These mileages also apply on flights between India & Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia & Vietnam.
Booking Air India using Asiana Miles
Similar to ANA Airlines, Asiana Airlines offers a round-trip award chart. However, you can book one-way awards over call. It costs 45K miles for business class cabin flights within India.
You need the following miles to book an Air India round-trip flight within India:
- Economy: 25K
- Business: 45K
- First Class: 65K
You can fly to Sri Lanks, Maldvies & Nepal for the same number of miles.
Booking Air India Award flight using Avianca Lifemiles
Avianca Lifemiles has been one of the favourites of Indian Travellers since HDFC onboarded it as a transfer partner. However, after devaluation, travellers have shifted to buying these miles ahs they are cheap. But the mileage requirement for domestic awards is a bit expensive, here is how many lifemiles you need for an Air India Domestic Award Flight:
- Economy: 18K
- Business Class: 35K
- First Class: 45K
Avianca also partners with Marriott & Accor if you want to transfer hotel points to Avianaca.
Booking Air India Award Flight using Copa Airlines ConnectMiles
Copa Airlines has a similar award chart like Avianca Lifemiles; it costs more if you plan to buy ConnectrMiles. To fly within India on Air India Business Class, you will need 35K miles for one-way flights.
The following ConnectMiles are needed to book an Air India Domestic flight award:
- Economy: 20K
- Business Class: 35K
- First Class: 45K
Booking Air India using Ethiopian Airlines Sheba Miles
Ethopian Airlines is a transfer partner of Axis Bank and SBI Bank, so you can easily earn Ethopian Airlines Sheba Miles.
The following Shebea Miles are needed to book an Air India Domestic flight award:
- Economy: 35K
- Business Class: 52K
- First Class: 61K
If you plan to use Sheba Miles, you will have to call customer support, as Air India award flights are unavailable online. Also, the mileage requirement is high as compared to other partners.
Booking Air India Award Flight Using Eva Air Infinity MileageLands
Firstly, Eva Air miles are difficult to earn, and you can’t buy miles directly. So, for travellers in India, it would be difficult to use Eva Air Infinity MileageLands. However, if you have these miles, you have to pay 45K miles for a round trip in Business Class within India.
The following Shebea Miles are needed to book an Air India Domestic flight award:
- Economy: 30K
- Business Class: 45K
- First Class: 60K
You will have to pay half of these miles for one way award.
Booking Air India Domestic Award Flight using Lufthansa Miles & More
Unlike most airlines, Lufthansa Miles & More has a domestic award mileage that applies to flights within a country except Europe around the world, including India. You will need 40K Miles & More Miles to book an Air India Round Trip Business Class flight within India.
The following Miles are required for each class of cabin if you plan to book an Air India flight with Miles & More:
- Economy: 30K [Round-Trip]
- Business: 40K [Round-Trip]
- First Class: 55K [Round-Trip]
It is possible to book Air India flights online on Miles & More; however, to search for award flights, you need a minimum of 7K miles.
Booking Air India Domestic Award Flight using Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines owns 25% of Air India. You will also find the best availability of Air India Award Flights on Singapore Airlines. Earlier, Vistara Singapore Airlines had a separate award chart, and now that is done with it. The said award chart used to be cheaper. The Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Miles costs a lot more than other airline partners. However, it is easier to earn these miles.
The following miles are needed to book an Air India Domestic Award Flight within India:
- Economy: 27K [Round-Trip]
- Business: 58K [Round-Trip]
- First Class: 70K [Round-Trip]
Booking Air India Domestic Award Flights using South African Airways Voyager Miles
South African Airways Voyager Miles are difficult to earn. The only decent way to earn them is by transferring IHG Points in a 5:1 ratio. You can book an Air India Domestic Round Trip flight for 42.2K Miles in Business Class if you have these miles.
The following miles are needed to book an Air India Domestic Award Flight within India, these mileage are for direct routes:
- Economy: 22.2K [Round-Trip]
- Business: 35.1K [Round-Trip]
- First Class: 52.2K [Round-Trip]
The mileage required is low; however, online availability is an issue, it would be better to call them to check on availability and mileage requirement.
Booking Air India Domestic Award Flights using TAP Air Portugal Miles
TAPMIles&GO is an expensive way to book an Air India Domestic Award Flight. A round-trip business class flight within India will cost 120K Miles. Also, TAP Portugal is not showing Air India flights online, so these can’t be booked online.
The following miles are needed to book an Air India Domestic Award Flight within India:
- Economy: 40K [One Way]
- Business: 60K [One Way]
- First Class: 70K [One Way]
Booking Air India Domestic Award Flights using Thai Airways Orchid Miles
Thai Airways has a decent-looking Award Chart for short haul flights, which cost 27.5 K for a one-way domestic flight. However, it seems like Domestic Award flights can’t be booked online on the Thai website.
The following miles are needed to book an Air India Domestic Award Flight within India:
- Economy: 17.5K [One-Way]
- Premium Economy: 22.5K [One-Way]
- Business: 27.5K [One-Way]
- First Class: 35K [One-Way]
Booking Air India Domestic Award Flights using Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles Miles
At the start of this year,the Turkish Airlines award chart was devalued and lost many sweet spots. The Domestic Award miles requirement was also hiked. However, it is still a lot less expensive than other airlines.
Turkish Airlines, like Lufthansa have a seperate award miles requirement for domestic flights. It costs just 15K Turkish Miles to book an Air India Domestic Flight in Business Class.
The following miles are needed to book an Air India Domestic Award Flight within India:
- Economy: 10K [One-Way]
- Business: 15K [One-Way]
- First Class: 20K [One-Way]
Booking Air India Domestic Award Flights using United Miles
United Miles was devalued this year, and it is not possible to Book an Air India award flight online. So, it is a bit of a hassle to book an Air India award flight online. Also, the mileage requirement seems to be region-based. A minimum of 17.5K miles is needed to book a one-way domestic flight, and it increases to 22.5K if you book between North and South. So, it is an expensive way to book an Air India flight.
Booking Air India Domestic Award Flights using Air India Maharaja Club Points
Air India follows a sector-based award chart. The number of miles required is increased if booked one week before departure.
The mileage for one-way domestic flight is as follows:
- Economy Cabin: From 3.5K to 21.5K
- Business Class: From 14K to 37K
- First Class: 20K to 46K
So, the mileage requirement is high and dynamic.
Can you book an Air India domestic award flight online with partner airlines?
You can book an Air India award flight online with these partner airlines:
- Aegean Air: Mileage is required to search flight-wise availability.
- Air Canada
- Air India
- ANA: Only Round-Trip, Multi-City & Open Jaws
- Avianca
- Copa Airlines
- Eva Air
- Miles & More
- Singapore Airlines
- Turkish Airlines
Bottomline
You can book Air India Domestic Award Flights with several airline partners. However, only a few of them are good, like Air Canada Aeroplan, Turkish Airlines & Air India.
