Bengaluru, NFAPost: Air India, one of India’s leading airlines and a member of the Star Alliance, has launched an exciting promotion for its Frequent Flyer Programme, Flying Returns (FR). The limited-time offer allows members to fast-track their tier status upgrade or renewal by only acquiring 50% of the usual qualifying FR points required.
This initiative aims to establish Flying Returns as one of the most rewarding loyalty programs globally, in line with Air India’s mission. Nipun Aggarwal, the Chief Commercial Officer, expressed the airline’s commitment to enhancing the member experience by delivering innovative programs and products.
The refreshed Flying Returns program offers a wide range of benefits and rewards for its members. Notably, it is the only airline program in India that provides access to the global network connectivity of the Star Alliance, comprising 25 other international member airlines. With Flying Returns, members can earn points when flying Air India or any of the Star Alliance member airlines. The program also offers over 100,000 redemption seats monthly on Air India and its partner airlines. Additionally, Gold and Maharaja Club Members enjoy access to a global lounge network across 200 countries.
Air India stands out by eliminating blackout dates, ensuring members can redeem their points for flights even during peak seasons and festivals. Moreover, the Fast Track promotion enables more members to reach premium tiers easily, granting them access to various services such as Family Pooling plans, global lounge access, extra baggage allowance, and priority check-in and boarding.
Members can now enjoy benefits when making reservations as well. This includes a Welcome Bonus on the first travel after enrollment, as well as additional bonuses for bookings through the Air India website and mobile app.
To provide further flexibility, Air India has extended the validity of Flying Returns points and tier status until June 30, 2023. Members can extend the points’ validity until the end of the year by engaging in accrual or redemption activities from April 1 to June 30, 2023. Additionally, the Family Pooling feature allows related individual members to combine their earned Flying Returns into a single account for easier redemption.
Another notable addition to the program is the Retro Claim option, enabling members to claim points for past flights on Air India within the past year or on any Star Alliance partner airline within the past six months.
Air India has also revamped its customer care services, offering a premium call centre for Tier Members. The airline’s website provides a user-friendly experience, allowing members to easily check their miles’ status and access relevant information.
Air India, founded by JRD Tata, has been a pioneering force in India’s aviation sector since its first flight in 1932. With an extensive domestic network and a significant international presence, Air India is a member of the Star Alliance, which is the largest global airline consortium. In 2022, Air India and Air India Express rejoined the Tata Group, under the management of Vihaan.AI, to drive a five-year transformation roadmap. This roadmap focuses on network and fleet expansion, customer proposition improvement, reliability enhancement, technological leadership, sustainability, innovation, and talent investment.
The Tata Group, founded by Jamsetji Tata in 1868, is a global enterprise comprising 30 companies across various verticals. With a presence in over 100 countries, the Tata Group aims to improve the quality of life of the communities it serves through long-term stakeholder value creation. The group operates independently under the guidance of its own Board of Directors and includes prominent companies such as Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, and Tata Consumer Products.
Air India’s refreshed Flying Returns program, coupled with the airline’s commitment to customer satisfaction and its partnership with the Tata Group, reinforces its position as a world-class global airline with an Indian heart.
