8 Years after launch, Axis Vistara Infinite Credit Card loses its USP: Free Gold Status in perpetuity
In 2016, Axis Bank and Club Vistara came together to launch what was India’s most rewarding co-branded credit card at the time: the Axis Vistara Infinite Credit Card. There were many USPs for the card, and it was a very generous credit card, given it would hand out the Gold Status on Club Vistara just for holding on to the card.
Since then, many changes have occurred in Vistara’s thinking, which moved to a revenue-led status programme (over a flight-count-led one). Even for the card, new changes went live in January 2024 (many changes happened before, in 2023).
Club Vistara to no longer grant Gold Status in perpetuity for Axis Bank Infinite Cardmembers
After eight years of launching the card, Axis Bank has finally notified their cardmembers of changes to the policy from Club Vistara’s end for the Axis Bank Vistara co-branded Infinite Credit Card. In a message sent to existing card members today, Axis Bank notified them that the Gold Status will only be awarded for the first year of holding the card. From the second year onwards, Club Vistara will require cardmembers to make revenue for Vistara to be granted the Gold status.
However, Club Vistara has only asked for 4 Vistara flights and 15,000 Tier points to be earned in the past 12 months to grant the status renewal in the second year, instead of their usual policy of 6 Vistara flights and 25,000 Tier Points for Vistara Gold Tier (for non-cardmembers). That would mean the Gold Tier cardmembers only need to spend INR 1,50,000, ex-taxes (on their own flights), to renew their status, instead of the usual INR 2,50,000 spent for non-Cardmembers. This is a suitable middle space that would have been agreed between Club Vistara and Axis Bank.
The card is a moneyspinner for Axis Bank, so they wouldn’t want to see it go away. But it hurts the airline because they also have to give lounge access to Gold card members when flying Economy. So, I empathise with the Club Vistara team for having borne the costs for as long as they did. They also have had to hand out upgrade vouchers and see the fury of Gold tier members who cannot find Business Class space to redeem their upgrades or redemption vouchers that come with the card. This is precisely why IDFC Bank, SBI Cards and IndusInd Bank were not offered the same generous terms for the card.
Axis Bank might see card closures at the back of this move, meaning Gold Tier members would be thinned out. So, those who are true blue Vistara loyalists will have access to more seats for their upgrades over time as the upgrade vouchers are thinned out from the system. So, if you are on the road often enough with Vistara flights, there is still no reason for you to cancel the card.
Bottomline
The Axis Bank Club Vistara Infinite Credit Card will see one of its major benefits changed, which will be effective March 1, 2024. The card will no longer grant the Gold Status on Club Vistara perpetually for the card members, but only for the first year. From the second year onwards, cardmembers must maintain a (discounted) requirement of 15,000 Club Vistara points and 4 Vistara Revenue flights to retain their Gold status.
What do you make of the new changes to the Club Vistara Axis Bank Credit Card?
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