Flying Returns is Air India’s loyalty program. It was changed significantly in 2024 with new earning and redeeming systems and altered elite benefits. In general, with revenue-based earnings, the value of the offer is reduced. But for those based in India and regularly using Air India, there are good elite benefits and reasons to choose the program over other Star Alliance possibilities.
This guide shares a few of the standout and good value areas within the Flying Returns program – arranged as several tips around earning and spending Reward Points, and related to elite status.
Earning Reward Points
Flying returns offers family pooling. One of the areas to benefit from the 2024 program changes was family pooling and sharing of points between related members. This is a good way to build up balances for higher-value awards. Flying Returns stands out above many other airline loyalty programs in this area. Some of the main points include:
- A Family Pool group can be created with up to nine members.
- The points earned (or a defined portion of them) are then collected together in one account.
- The members must all be related family members but do not have to be located in India (the program defines the following as permissible – spouse, children, parents, siblings, and spouse’s parents and siblings).
- One member must be nominated as the Family Head. Only they can access and redeem the collected Reward Points (but they could buy tickets for anyone).
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Earn big from some Star Alliance partners. All Star Alliance partner airlines award points based on the flight distance and booking code. This can be much more lucrative than revenue-based earning.
Image: Star Alliance
Some business class earnings, in particular, stand out – this is up to 200% with many airlines – including Aegean, Asiana, TAP Air Portugal, SAS, Croatia Airlines, Lufthansa, and Air New Zealand. Combining these high rates with potential sales or discounted business class tickets could be excellent value.
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Within India, look for ways to maximize total earnings. As it stands, Flying Returns is a program that will appeal much more to those based in India. There are minimum requirements for flying Air India to maintain status, and there are many more ways to earn points within India. This could change as the new program develops. For now, points can be boosted with an SBI co-branded credit card, and through several hotel, travel, and retail options in India.
The Different Ways To Earn Points with Air India’s Flying Returns
Reward Points can be earned from flying Air India and Star Alliance partners, credit card spending in India, and limited other sources.
Spending Reward Points
Search flexibly for points tickets to get the best value. With a dynamically priced award system such as this, it pays to be flexible when looking for award tickets. The Value rate can vary significantly between flights, and if only Prime fares are available for particular flights, they will be much higher. By checking different times, dates, and even routes, you might get much better value for your Reward Points.
Compare points rates against available cash fares. With most loyalty programs (whether awards are fixed or dynamically priced), the value you get for points varies. It is always sensible to compare the points rated offered against the current cash rates (remembering that cash tickets will also earn Rewards Points). While it may be tempting to spend points for last-minute seats, these may be best kept when lower-priced value tickets are on offer.
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Cabin upgrades can be good value. Upgrades with Reward Points are offered for a fixed price, subject to availability. This can represent good value if they are available when the alternative cash price is high. Buying economy or premium economy tickets when prices are low (or during sales) but points upgrades are available, is a good strategy. Depending on routes, try and take advantage of Air India’s excellent new Airbus A350 three-cabin layout.
Use points with Air India. With many loyalty programs, aspirational awards with good partner airlines are often among the best perks available. These tickets are possible with Flying Returns, but not usually great value. Awards are priced by sector, so connecting regional flights will be more expensive. And rates tend to be higher than equivalent ones offered by other loyalty programs. With Flying Returns, you will usually get the best value in keeping points to use for Air India flights (especially long-haul flights and upgrades).
Elite status with Flying Returns
Mainly a program for those based in India. Unlike some other loyalty programs of alliance-member airlines, Flying Returns has limited appeal to those based outside India. Although points and benefits are shared across Star Alliance, some other airlines tend to offer better value. Also, to keep points active, there is a requirement to fly on a points-earning Air India flight once every 24 months. US-based flyers should also note that there is no US credit card available for earning either, although the airline has hinted that this could be an option in the near future.
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Receive valuable free upgrades. Flying Returns offers members of all elite status free upgrade vouchers (one at Silver level, up to three for Platinum level).
- The bad news is that these are only confirmable at airport check-in and only for domestic flights (leaving Flying Returns behind the likes of Miles & More and United’s MileagePlus).
- But the good news is that they can be used on any ticket for any available seat (no fare class restrictions). Offering these (albeit only one or two) at lower elite levels is better than many other loyalty programs offer.
- Domestic sectors on the Airbus A320 family aircraft offer a good business class. Seats are larger, with more legroom, and arranged 2-2. This is a dedicated business cabin rather than the European-style mixed-use cabin.
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Status is easier to attain after the changes. The Flying Returns program had a major overhaul in early 2024. This brought many changes to earning and redeeming points and to elite status. In general, elite status has been improved. The requirements to earn a higher level are lower (around 40% in general compared to before). It is also easier than some other major Star Alliance loyalty programs, but the program still really remains a choice only for regular Air India users.
Image: Air India
Earn status just from flights. The ability to qualify for elite status based just on sectors is interesting, given that Tier Point earning is now largely spend-related. Those who fly many shorter sectors or book the lowest-priced tickets may find it easier to achieve elite status this way. Note that this is still just a route for India-based travelers, though, as there are minimum requirements to include Air India flights.
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This has been a short guide to some of the best value and differentiating areas of the Flying Returns program from Air India. Are you a regular user of this program? What do you think are the best parts of it, and where do you get the most value? Feel free to discuss this in the comments section below.
