Air India has been trying to improve on several things to position itself as one of the best airlines in one of the highest-growing markets in the world. After its takeover, many changes have been made to Air India’s frequent flyer program, which Vistara inspired. You can now earn Air India Points in many which, and soon, Vistara points will be converted into Flying Return Points. With the opportunity to earn many Air India points and fly to several destinations, here are the best ways to redeem Air India Points. Air India is still running old flights, and Air India points may not make sense to many. However, as Air India aircraft get upgraded and new ones are bought, travellers would be happy to book an Air India Award flight.
How to find the points required for Air India flights?
Unlike Vistara, Air India has a points calculator that gives the number of points required between destinations on Air India flights. This calculator can be accessed here. Vistara had a fixed award chart, whereas Air India followed a different strategy. You will shell out more points as you book near your travel date. However, there are still the best ways to redeem Air India points.
Things to Know
Like Vistara, the points requirement for premium cabins is high and may not always make sense unless you can earn many Air India Points. Even Economy Awards are expensive. However, the most significant advantage that Air India points has is that the members can access more award inventory than the partners. So, someone looking to book more than two tickets may be better off with Air India points. However, checking for award availability before transferring points would still be better.
Understanding Air India Awards
Air India has a dynamic award pricing for economy cabins. However, award fares have a range in which you can expect to pay for an Air India flight booked with points. For Business & First class awards, Air India has fixed pricing. For example, BLR-SFO flights have a value fare (the minimum award fare) of 72K and a prime fare of 100K. You can expect flight pricing between these two ranges. The farther you book, the lower the price you will pay.
None of the awards here are of Business Class and all are of economy cabin.
Delhi-Udaipur in 5K Points
Even though the flight between Delhi & Udaipur is just over 1 hour, booking a one-way flight usually costs more than INR 4K. So, travelling in 5K points between Delhi & Udaipur is a good option.
Delhi-Kochi in 7.5K Points
The flight time between Delhi and Kochi is over three hours. For this route, the minimum payment is 7.5K points, and the maximum is 13.5K points. To get the 7.5K award flight, you must be a little flexible with your dates as it usually costs more with points.
Delhi-Mumbai in 5K Points
This has to be a deal. Flying between Delhi and Mumbai in just 5K points is good. This is even cheaper than Udaipur, even though the flight is longer. The primary reason for keeping it low would be the competition and availability of seats between these cities. Even though the Air India calculator shows the lowest award price of 5K, I could see the lowest price of 4320.
Delhi-Pune in 5K Points
Pune is approximately two hours from Mumbai and has the same pricing of 5K points. Delhi travellers can fly to Pune in just 5K points.
Delhi-Hyderabad in 5K Points
Another good way to redeem Air India points is between Delhi & Hyderabad since it costs just 5K Points.
Mumbai-Chennai in 4.5K Points
4.5K points for a flight between Mumbai and Chennai is great, as the ticket price is also around INR 4-5K.
Delhi-Calcutta in 5K Points
The usual ticket price of Delhi-Kolkata flights is usually between INR 5-6K, and this route costs 5K points.
Delhi-Colombo in 10K Points
Air India flies to Srilanka from Delhi and Mumbai. It costs the same as the points from where you fly. However, a Delhi-Colombo flight with just 10K points is a good price, as it is one of the cheapest prices for this route.
Flying to BKK in 16K
Travelling to Bangkok from Delhi and Mumbai will cost you 16K Points, the lowest price for this route. However, if you intend to travel to Phuket from Delhi on Air India Metal, it will cost 20K Points, an Industry standard rate. Earlier, Vistara also used to charge a 16K price for this route.
Bangalore-Singapore in 13K Points
Finally, something from Bangalore. If you want to fly on Air India between BLR and SIN, you only have to shell out 13K Points. I was also surprised to receive even a lower award of 8K, which was a connecting flight and didn’t make any sense. Usually, it will cost 20K Krisflyer Miles to fly this route, so using Air India Points is a good savings.
Chennai-Singapore in 13K
Like Bangalore, the flight between Chennai and Singapore only costs 13K Points. I also saw an award fare of around 6K on a connecting flight. This route with this pricing is the best one there.
Fly to London in 30K Points
Vistara used to charge 30K CV Points for flying to London from India. And Air India has kept the same redemption value for economy cabins and a bit of dynamic pricing. Recently, Air India upgraded the DEL-LHR route with their new A350, so 30K points for a new A350 on the Delhi-London route is amazing. You can also pay the same points on the Mumbai-London route, served by ex-Ethiad aircraft.
And if you happen to want to travel to other UK cities from India, the pricing isn’t that favourable.
Fly to Frankfurt in 30K Points
So, Vistara flights are now available for booking on Air India with points. I found the Vistara flight, which has a four-digit flight number. And, this Vistara flight now with Air India number costs 30K Air India Points as it used with CV Points.
Mumbai-Melbourne in 50K Points
Okay, 50K points are a lot. Delhi and Bangalore travellers can fly with Qantas using another frequent flyer program for fewer miles, but not significantly less. However, for Mumbai Travellers, Air India remains the flight to connect them directly with Melbourne. This route costs 50K Points, which is also a cost for Air Canada.
Delhi-Tokyo in 35K Points
35k is more of a standard price for the Delhi-Tokyo flight. You can also fly to Japan in 35K United Miles on ANA metal. However, 35K is decent pricing for this route, and it is easy to earn Air India points.
Delhi-South Korea in 26K Points
Flying to South Korea is cheap at 26K points. Korean Air also flies from Delhi and can be booked for 23K, flying blue miles. However, 26K for the DEL-ICN route is competitive.
Star Alliance Flights
There are potential routes on Star Alliance flights in first class with reasonable Air India Points pricing; however, online availability is an issue. If you happen to find a business class or first class award flight, I recommend checking with the Air India points calculator and customer care. I could see Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines flights on the Air India website. As per Air India, you can book United Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and Austrian Airlines online.
Bottomline
Redeeming Air India points works well for economy cabins. The pricing for Business and first class is higher. However, some domestic routes, like DEL-BOM/DEL-HYD first-class flights, have the potential to become travellers’ favourites. Also, Air India doesn’t have a huge fuel surcharge, so you save on that front as well.
