Vistara Air India Merger Miles Impact — What Happened to Club Vistara Points

Bottom Line: Club Vistara is dead. Your CV Points, tier status, and vouchers have been migrated to Air India’s Flying Returns programme at a 1:1 ratio. Co-branded Vistara credit cards continue their current benefits until March 31, 2026 — after which those cards will either be converted or discontinued.

The Merger Is Done — Here’s What Actually Changed

The Vistara–Air India merger, which formally completed in late 2024, merged India’s best full-service domestic carrier into the Tata-owned Air India umbrella. For passengers, the biggest practical question was always: what happens to my miles and my co-branded credit card?

If you were a Club Vistara member, you no longer have a Club Vistara account. The programme has been folded into Air India Flying Returns. Every CV Point, every tier credit, every unused voucher — all of it moved over.

Let’s break down exactly how this played out and what you need to do now.

CV Points to Flying Returns: The 1:1 Transfer

Air India confirmed a 1:1 points transfer ratio. If you had 15,000 CV Points, you now have 15,000 Flying Returns points. No haircut, no conversion penalty.

Your tier status also carried over:

Club Vistara Tier	Flying Returns Equivalent	Key Benefit Retained
CV Base	Flying Returns Base	Points earning on flights
CV Silver	Flying Returns Silver	Priority check-in, extra baggage
CV Gold	Flying Returns Gold	Lounge access, priority boarding
CV Platinum	Flying Returns Platinum	All Gold benefits + upgrade vouchers

The transition was automatic for members who had their accounts linked. If you never linked your CV and Flying Returns accounts, you should have received email instructions. If your points still haven’t shown up, contact Air India’s Flying Returns helpdesk directly — don’t wait, because there’s no guarantee of indefinite support for migration edge cases.

What About Unused Vouchers?

Any valid, unexpired Club Vistara vouchers (upgrade vouchers, discount vouchers) were transferred to your Flying Returns account. Expired vouchers were not honoured. If you had vouchers expiring in 2026 and didn’t use them, they’re gone.

The Co-Branded Credit Card Situation

This is where it gets messy — and where most cardholders have real money at stake.

Vistara had co-branded credit cards with Axis Bank and SBI Card. Here’s the current status:

Axis Bank Vistara Credit Cards

The Axis Bank Vistara Signature and Axis Bank Vistara Infinite cards continue to earn rewards and provide benefits until March 31, 2026. Annual card membership renewals ceased after March 31, 2025, meaning:

• If your card renewed before March 2025, you paid the annual fee and get benefits through March 2026
• No new Axis Bank Vistara cards are being issued
• After March 2026, expect Axis Bank to either migrate you to an Air India co-branded card or a different Axis travel card

SBI Vistara Credit Cards

Same timeline applies. The SBI Card PRIME variant and other Vistara co-brands honour existing terms until March 31, 2026. After that, SBI Card will likely issue replacement cards under a new programme.

What Should You Do Right Now?

If you hold a Vistara co-branded card and the March 2026 deadline is days away:

1. Redeem any remaining CV/Flying Returns points earned through the card before programme terms change
2. Check your annual fee cycle — if renewal is coming up, the bank may auto-migrate you to a different product
3. Don’t cancel preemptively — wait for the bank’s official communication about the replacement card, because cancelling could forfeit unredeemed rewards
4. Review the replacement card terms carefully — the new card may have a different fee structure, reward rate, or lounge access policy

Is Flying Returns Actually Good?

Honestly? It’s a work in progress. Air India’s Flying Returns was never considered best-in-class compared to Club Vistara’s programme. But with the Tata Group now running a unified airline, there’s real investment going into improving it.

Key things to know about Flying Returns in 2026:

• Star Alliance membership — Air India is part of Star Alliance, meaning your Flying Returns points can be used across partner airlines (Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, United, etc.)
• Earning rates are still being standardised post-merger. Check the Air India website for current rates on domestic vs international routes
• Lounge access for Gold and Platinum members works at Air India lounges domestically and Star Alliance lounges internationally
• Point value — Flying Returns points are generally worth Rs 0.40–0.50 per point when redeemed for flights, though this varies by route and cabin

The Bigger Picture for Indian Travel Cards

The Vistara merger is a reminder that co-branded airline cards in India carry programme risk. When the airline merges, rebrands, or shuts down, your card benefits change — sometimes dramatically.

If travel rewards are important to you, consider diversifying:

• Hotel cards (like Axis Bank ATLAS for Marriott-friendly earning) give you flexibility across destinations
• General travel cards (like HDFC Infinia or Diners Club Black) let you transfer points to multiple airline partners
• Flexible reward cards protect you from single-programme dependency

Related Guides on CardTrail

• Best Travel Credit Cards in India — Our updated picks for 2026, including cards that earn across multiple airline programmes
• Credit Card Comparison Tool — Compare annual fees, reward rates, and lounge access side-by-side
• Indian Credit Card Rules You Should Know — RBI regulations, billing cycles, and your rights as a cardholder

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to my Club Vistara points?

All CV Points were transferred to Air India Flying Returns at a 1:1 ratio. If you had 20,000 CV Points, you now have 20,000 Flying Returns points. The transfer was automatic for linked accounts.

Do my Vistara co-branded credit card benefits still work?

Yes, but only until March 31, 2026. After that date, your card issuer (Axis Bank or SBI Card) will either migrate you to a new product or discontinue the card. Watch for communication from your bank.

Can I still earn CV Points on my Vistara credit card?

Points earned on Vistara co-branded cards now credit to your Flying Returns account. The earn rates remain as per your existing card terms until March 31, 2026.

Is the Flying Returns programme worse than Club Vistara?

It’s different. Flying Returns offers Star Alliance partner access, which Club Vistara didn’t have. However, some members feel the domestic earning rates and tier benefits aren’t as generous as CV was. The programme is still evolving post-merger.

Should I cancel my Vistara credit card now?

No. Wait for your bank’s official communication about the replacement card. Cancelling early could mean forfeiting unredeemed points or rewards. Let the bank migrate you, then evaluate whether the new card is worth keeping.

How do I check my Flying Returns balance?

Log into the Air India website or the Air India mobile app. Navigate to Flying Returns and check your points balance, tier status, and transaction history. If your CV Points haven’t appeared, contact Flying Returns customer support with your old CV membership number.