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Air India Maharaja Club Co-Branded Credit Card 2026 — What We Know So Far

Air India is launching a Maharaja Club co-branded credit card. What are the expected benefits, which bank will issue it, and how does it compare to existing ...

Air India has confirmed that a Maharaja Club co-branded credit card is in development. The card has been anticipated since the Air India-Vistara merger completed in November 2024 — which wound down the Club Vistara program and consolidated Air India's loyalty under the Maharaja Club.

As of May 2026, the card has not yet launched. The issuing bank, fee structure, reward rates, and launch date remain officially unannounced. This article covers what has been confirmed, what can be reasonably inferred, and — most practically — how to earn Maharaja Points right now using existing credit cards while waiting for the official co-branded product.

This article is written in conditional/future tense where it covers unannounced card details. As of May 2026, no official specifications have been released. Update this article when Air India makes a formal announcement — estimated in CY2026.

What Air India Has Confirmed

Air India's management has publicly stated on multiple occasions that a Maharaja Club co-branded credit card is in development. The company's loyalty program head indicated in a 2025 interview that the card would offer accelerated Maharaja Points earning, potential lounge benefits, and status upgrade pathways through credit card spend.

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No timeline, bank partner, or product specifics have been officially announced as of May 2026.

What We Can Reasonably Expect

Based on similar airline co-branded cards in India (Club Vistara cards from IDFC FIRST and SBI, IndiGo's historical Kotak card) and Air India's positioning as a premium full-service carrier, a Maharaja Club co-branded card would likely offer:

Expected Feature	Reasoning
Accelerated Maharaja Points on Air India flights	Standard for all airline co-branded cards — 2x to 5x on flights vs credit card's base earn
Maharaja Points on everyday spending	Credit card spend translates to miles — likely 1-3 Maharaja Points per Rs 100
Airport lounge access in India	Air India operates Maharaja lounges at major airports — card-linked access likely
Priority check-in / boarding lanes	Signature benefit of airline co-branded cards
Tier upgrade acceleration	Spend-based upgrades from Blue to Silver to Gold Maharaja Club status
Annual fee in Rs 2,500 to Rs 7,500 range	Consistent with mid-tier airline cards in India

Which Banks Could Issue the Air India Maharaja Card?

Air India has existing transfer partnerships with multiple Indian banks. Based on the depth of those relationships:

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HDFC Bank (most likely): HDFC has the deepest corporate banking relationship with Air India. HDFC SmartBuy already offers Air India bookings with reward acceleration. An HDFC co-branded Air India card would be a natural extension.

ICICI Bank (possible): ICICI has strong lifestyle and travel card portfolio. Emeralde and Sapphiro cards already transfer to Air India.

SBI Card (possible): SBI Card issued Club Vistara credit cards. With Vistara gone, SBI may anchor a new Air India product to maintain its airline co-brand presence.

How to Earn Maharaja Points Right Now — Without the Co-Branded Card

While waiting for the official card to launch, here are the best ways to accumulate Maharaja Points using existing credit cards:

Best Cards for Maharaja Points Transfer — May 2026

Credit Card	Transfer Ratio
HSBC TravelOne	1:1 (instant)
HDFC via SmartBuy	1 RP = 0.5 Air India Miles approximately
ICICI Bank (Emeralde/Sapphiro)	Transfer available — ratio varies
DBS Points	Transfer to Air India available
SBI Points	Transfer available

Maharaja Club Mileage Structure for Flights

Redeeming Maharaja Points for Air India flights offers the strongest value:

Route (Economy Return)	Maharaja Points Required (approx)
Mumbai-Delhi (domestic)	7,500 to 10,000 points
Delhi-Bangalore (domestic)	8,000 to 12,000 points
Delhi-London (international)	45,000 to 70,000 points
Mumbai-Singapore (international)	30,000 to 50,000 points

Strategy while waiting for the Air India card: Use HSBC TravelOne for all travel and flight bookings (4 RP per Rs 100 on travel, instant 1:1 transfer to Maharaja Club). Accumulate points for a target redemption — ideally an international Business Class award where the per-point value is highest.

IDFC FIRST Club Vistara Card — Still Relevant?

IDFC FIRST extended their Club Vistara co-branded cards until September 30, 2026. Spending on these cards during the extension period earns Maharaja Points (not Club Vistara points — those no longer exist). After September 30, 2026, these cards will either be retired or transitioned to a new product.

If you hold an IDFC FIRST Club Vistara card: continue using it through September 2026 to earn Maharaja Points. After that, HSBC TravelOne or the eventual Air India Maharaja card (when launched) would be natural replacements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When will the Air India Maharaja Club credit card launch?

No official date has been announced as of May 2026. Given Air India's operational priorities post-merger, the card could launch in H2 2026 or early 2027. Keep checking Air India's official website and loyalty program communications.

Q: Are Maharaja Points the same as Club Vistara points?

No — they are separate programs. Club Vistara points were converted to Maharaja Points at a 1:1 ratio after the Vistara-Air India merger. Maharaja Points are Air India's own loyalty currency. They are not interchangeable with other programs without a transfer.

Q: Do Maharaja Points expire?

Maharaja Points currently expire 36 months from the date of earning if there is no qualifying activity. A qualifying activity (a flight, a credit card transfer, a hotel booking through Air India's partners) resets the clock. Verify current expiry policy on Air India's website.

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