Best Credit Cards for Air India Maharaja Club 2025

Air India, India’s national carrier, not only connects you to numerous domestic and international destinations but also offers a rewarding frequent flyer program—Flying Returns. As a proud member of Star Alliance, Air India enables you to earn and redeem miles across a global network. With the upcoming Air India-Vistara merger, the value of Flying Returns is set to rise even further. For frequent travelers, selecting the right credit card is key to maximizing mileage accumulation and enjoying exclusive travel perks. In this guide, we dive into the best credit cards to help you boost your Flying Returns points and elevate your Maharaja Club membership status.

Maharaja Club Elite Status Tiers

Understanding the status tiers is essential for planning your travels. Below is a quick overview of the requirements and benefits:

Higher tiers unlock benefits such as:

• Upgrade vouchers

• Priority boarding

• Extra baggage allowance

• Lounge access

Maximizing Air India Maharaja Club Points

To get the most out of your Flying Returns points, consider these strategies:

1. Fly with Air India & Star Alliance Partners

• Earn more points on premium fare classes.

• Star Alliance flights also contribute to your Maharaja Club points.

2. Convert Credit Card Reward Points

• Transfer points from eligible Axis, ICICI, and HSBC cards.

• Maximize daily spending to rapidly accumulate travel miles.

Redeeming Maharaja Club Points for Flights

Redeeming your points for award flights is simple. Here’s how you can do it:

How to Book Award Flights:

1. Visit Air India’s website.

2. Log in to your Flying Returns account.

3. Click on "Book a Flight" under the points section.

4. Enter your travel details and search for flights.

5. Select a flight and confirm the booking with your points.

Example Award Redemption Rates:

• Delhi to Leh: 8,000 points

• Delhi to Mumbai: 5,000 points

• Mumbai to Kolkata: 6,000 points

Upgrading to a Higher Fare Class:

• Business Class: Requires 2x the Economy points.

• First Class: Requires 2.5x the Economy points.
  Available for both Air India and Star Alliance flights.

Top Credit Cards for Earning Maharaja Club Points

Choosing the right credit card can make all the difference. Below are some of the top cards, along with their details:

1. Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card

• Joining Fee: ₹3,000 + GST

• Renewal Fee: ₹3,000 + GST

• Best Suited For: Travel

• Reward Type: EDGE Miles

• Welcome Benefit: 5,000 EDGE Miles on spending ₹1,000 within 30 days.

Key Features:

• Earn 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 spent on the Axis Edge portal and direct airline website.

• Earn 2 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on other categories (exclusions: transportation, tolls, utilities, insurance, education, government institutions, wallet, rent, fuel).

• Complimentary domestic airport lounge access per quarter (8 with Visa, 6 with Mastercard).

• 2 international lounge accesses per quarter.

• 1,500 renewal miles credited annually.

• Budget-friendly alternative to premium travel cards.

• Conversion: 1 EDGE Mile = ₹1.

2. Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

• Joining Fee: ₹5,000 + GST

• Renewal Fee: ₹5,000 + GST

• Best Suited For: Travel

• Reward Type: EDGE Miles

• Welcome Benefit: 2,500 EDGE Miles on the first transaction within 30 days.

Key Features:

• Earn 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 spent on travel via the Axis Bank Travel EDGE Portal, direct airline purchases, and hotel bookings.

• Earn 2 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on all other spends (exclusions: gold, rent, wallet, government, insurance, fuel, utilities).

• High rewards on hotel and flight bookings.

• Complimentary domestic & international lounge access based on tier:

  • Silver: 8 domestic, 4 international

  • Gold: 12 domestic, 6 international

  • Platinum: 18 domestic, 12 international

• Low forex markup on international transactions.

3. Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card

• Joining Fee: ₹12,500 + GST

• Renewal Fee: ₹12,500 + GST

• Best Suited For: Travel, Dining, Shopping

• Reward Type: EDGE Reward Points

• Welcome Benefit: ₹12,500 worth of vouchers (Luxe, Yatra, Postcard Hotels).

Key Features:

• Earn 12 EDGE Points per ₹200 on monthly spends up to ₹1.5L; 35 EDGE Points per ₹200 above ₹1.5L.

• Earn 60 EDGE Points per ₹200 on the Travel Edge portal (up to ₹2L/month), and 35 EDGE Points per ₹200 beyond ₹2L.

• Enjoy unlimited domestic & international lounge access (4 guest accesses per year with Priority Pass).

• Benefit from low forex markup (2%) for international transactions.

4. HSBC Premier Metal Credit Card

• Joining Fee: ₹12,000 + GST

• Renewal Fee: ₹20,000 + GST

• Best Suited For: Travel, Shopping

• Reward Type: Reward Points

• Welcome Benefit: Taj Experiences Gift Card worth ₹12,000 + Complimentary Epicure & EazyDiner memberships.

Key Features:

• Earn 3 Reward Points per ₹100 spent.

• Enjoy unlimited domestic & international lounge access (8 international guest visits).

• Gain exclusive travel rewards and premium memberships.

5. ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card

• Joining Fee: ₹12,499 + GST

• Renewal Fee: ₹12,499 + GST

• Best Suited For: Travel

• Reward Type: Reward Points

• Welcome Benefit: 12,500 bonus reward points + Complimentary Taj Epicure & EazyDiner memberships.

Key Features:

• Unlimited international lounge access.

• Earn 6 Reward Points per ₹200 spent (exclusions: government, fuel, rent, tax payments) which equals a 3% reward rate.

• Enjoy x6 rewards for flight spends & x12 rewards for hotels via iShop (Max cap: 18,000 bonus points).

6. HDFC Bank Infinia/Infinia Metal

• Joining Fee: ₹12,500 + GST

• Renewal Fee: ₹12,500 + GST

• Reward Type: Reward Points

• Welcome Benefit: 12,500 reward points upon fee realization.

Key Features:

• Earn 5 Reward Points per ₹150 spent (includes insurance, utilities, and education).

• Benefit from 10X Reward Points on SmartBuy.

• Enjoy unlimited lounge access at both domestic and international airports.

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Credit Cards: Reward Points to Maharaja Club Points Conversion Ratio

Understanding the conversion ratio is crucial for maximizing returns. Here’s a detailed comparison:

Maximizing Maharaja Club Points Accumulation

Here are some insider tips to make your points work harder for you:

• Use Axis Atlas & Magnus: Their high transfer ratios maximize benefits for frequent travelers.

• Leverage HDFC Infinia on SmartBuy: Enjoy 10X points conversion for excellent travel value.

• Book Travel via iShop with ICICI Emeralde: Benefit from multipliers that boost airline point earnings.

• Redeem Strategically: Convert your reward points to Flying Returns only when planning redemptions to avoid devaluation.

• Fly with Air India & Star Alliance Partners: Accelerate your status progress and earn points faster.

Final Thoughts

For frequent Air India travelers, choosing the right credit card isn’t just about convenience—it’s about unlocking significant savings and exclusive travel benefits. With strategic earning and redemption of Flying Returns points, you can enjoy free flights, lucrative upgrades, and luxurious travel perks. Evaluate your spending patterns and travel frequency, then select the card that best aligns with your needs to maximize your Maharaja Club membership benefits.

Embrace smarter travel and let your credit card rewards take you further on every journey!