It has been a while since Air India merged with Vistara, and Air India has been making a sincere effort to establish a fresh brand identity. While the transformation is still a work in progress, by 2026 a lot is expected to change, and travellers are likely to experience a far more premium and consistent service.
That said, Air India has recently sent out a newsletter outlining several updates planned for 2026.
One of the most important highlights relates to the Maharaja Club loyalty programme. Here’s a quick look at the official email:
As you might know, existing Air India credit cards, such as the Air India Signature Credit Card, have been on hold for new applications for quite some time.
Meanwhile, Vistara co-branded credit cards are gradually being phased out. For instance, my IndusInd Bank Vistara credit card was swapped for a proprietary IndusInd credit card earlier this month.
So, we can soon expect the long-awaited Air India credit cards in their new form, which are likely to please both Air India and Star Alliance loyalists.
Beyond credit cards, another notable update is the planned enablement of points redemption and accrual on flights operated by Air India Express. This is a significant relief, especially since many short-haul domestic sectors have now been shifted to Air India Express.
So, when can we expect these changes to go live?
Given that Air India has already publicly announced these updates, it is reasonable to expect implementation on or before March 2026.
Overall, 2026 is shaping up to be a very interesting year in the world of points and miles.
