Air India Maharaja Points and Tier Points Earning
Air India pays Maharaja Points on the fare, not on the booking class: so many points for every INR 100 of base fare and fuel surcharge, by Maharaja Club tier. Star Alliance partner flights earn by distance and booking class. All as published by Air India.
- Air India: base fare plus fuel surcharge (YQ).
- Air India Express: base fare only.
- Star Alliance partners: a percentage of the miles flown, by booking class.
What Air India flights earn
Points are earned per INR 100 of the eligible fare, without taxes and fees. Tier Points are the same at every tier.
| Flight | Fare that counts | Red | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Tier Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharaja Points per INR 100 | ||||||
| Air IndiaBooking on the Air India website or app adds 2 Maharaja Points per INR 100. | Base fare plus fuel surcharge (YQ) | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 6 |
| Air India ExpressTravel on or after 22 May 2026. | Base fare only | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 6 |
- Fare family and booking class: Air India's calculator offers Saver Fare, Flexible Saver and Prime Fare, but Air India does not publish a table of letters or a different rate for each. Earning follows the fare paid.
- Not earning: award flights booked on Air India in O, I, X and E, upgrade awards and complimentary vouchers. On Air India Express also private fares, industry discounts, agency discounts, barter, charter, group bookings, ancillaries and tickets reissued after irregular operations.
Earning rules on Air India flights
- Per flight: for connecting flights with a change of flight number, points are calculated for each flight separately, on the fare prorated to that flight.
- Cash plus points: Air India flights earn on the cash part of the booking. Air India Express and partner flights earn on cash bookings only.
- Direct booking bonus: 2 extra Maharaja Points per INR 100 for bookings made directly on the Air India website or app. It is not given on partner or codeshare flights and adds no Tier Points.
- Voucher upgrades: a flight using a Cabin Upgrade Voucher earns on the original booked class.
- Other currencies: Air India prints every rate per INR 100 and does not say how a ticket sold in another currency is converted.
- Not stated: Air India's pages give no minimum for a flight and no rounding rule.
- Validity: Maharaja Points are valid for 24 months, and each eligible Air India or Air India Express flight extends the validity of all your points by 24 months from the date of travel.
Star Alliance partner flights
Flights operated by these Star Alliance partners earn a percentage of the actual miles flown, by booking class, and 1 Tier Point for every 2 Maharaja Points. Booking classes that are not listed do not earn. The last column is how long after the flight you have to claim missing points.
| Operating airline | First | Business | Premium Economy and Economy | Claim window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aegean Airlines | Not offered | 200%: A, C, D, Z | 100%: Y, B, G, W, H, L, M, V, Q | 12 months |
| Air Canada | Not offered | 125%: J, C, D, Z, P | 110%: O, E, A. 100%: Y, B, M, U, H, Q, V. 50%: W. 50%: S, T, L, G (international). 25%: K (international). 15%: S, T, L, G (domestic). | 12 months |
| Air New Zealand | Not offered | 200%: C, D, J, Z | 100%: E, O, U, A, Y, B. 70%: M, H, Q, V (domestic and long-haul international flights only). 70%: W, T (long-haul international flights only). 70%: S (Tasman and Pacific Island flights only). | 6 months |
| ANA | 150%: F, A | 150%: J. 125%: C, D, Z. 70%: P. | 100%: Y, E, B, M. 70%: U, H, Q. 50%: V, W, S, T. 30%: L, K, G. | 7 months |
| Asiana AirlinesNo points for Asiana flights from 16 October 2026. Asiana leaves Star Alliance on 16 December 2026. | 250%: A | 200%: D, J, Z (international route). 200%: C. | 100%: Y, B, M, H, E, Q, K, S. 70%: T, G (international route). 50%: W (international route), V. | 12 months, until 31 October 2026 |
| Austrian | Not offered | 200%: J, C, D. 150%: Z. 100%: P, A. | 150%: Y, B. 100%: M, U, H. 50%: Q, V, W, S, O. | 6 months |
| Avianca | Not offered | 125%: C, D, J, A, K | 100%: H, M, B, Y, E, V, Q, P, O, L, G. 50%: Z. 50%: S, W (international). 25%: S, W (domestic). 25%: T, U. | 12 months |
| Brussels Airlines | Not offered | 200%: J, C, D. 125%: Z. | 100%: Y, B, M, U, H. 50%: Q, V, W, S, G. | 6 months |
| Copa Airlines | Not offered | 125%: C, D, R | 100%: Y, B, M, H, Q, K, V, U, S, W, E, L, T | 6 months |
| Croatia Airlines | Not offered | 200%: C, D, Z | 150%: Y, B, A, F. 100%: M, H, Q, V, K, G. 50%: W, S, J, O, P. | 6 months |
| EgyptAir | Not offered | 150%: C, D, J. 100%: Z. | 100%: Y. 75%: B, M, H, K, Q. | 12 months |
| Ethiopian Airlines | Not offered | 200%: C, D, J | 100%: Y, G, S, B. 50%: M, K, L, V. 25%: H, Q, U. | 12 months |
| EVA Air | Not offered | 130%: C. 125%: J, D. | 100%: K, L, T, Y, B, P. 75%: M. 50%: H, S, Q. | 12 months |
| ITA Airways | Not offered | 200%: J, C, D. 150%: Z. 100%: P. | Premium Economy: 110% G, E. 100% N. Economy: 100%: Y, B, M, H, U. 75%: Q. 50%: W, S, V. 25%: T, L. | 12 months |
| LOT Polish Airlines | Not offered | 150%: C, D. 100%: Z, F. | 105%: P. 100%: A, R, Y, B. 70%: M. 50%: E, H, K, Q, T, G, S. 25%: V, W, L, O, U. | 6 months |
| Lufthansa | 300%: F, A | 200%: J, C, D. 150%: Z. | 150%: G, E, Y, B. 100%: N, M, H, U. 50%: W, S, Q, V. | 12 months |
| Shenzhen Airlines | Not offered | 130%: J, C. 100%: D, Z, R. | Premium Economy: 100% G. 90% E. Economy: 100%: Y, M, B, U. 50%: H, Q, V, W, S, T. 25%: L, P, A, K. | 12 months |
| Singapore Airlines | 200%: F, A | 150%: J, C, Z. 125%: D, U. | 125%: S, T. 100%: P, L, R, B, E, Y. 75%: H, W, M. 50%: Q, N. 25%: V, K. | 6 months |
| South African Airways | Not offered | 125%: C, J. 125%: Z, D (Priority International). 125%: Z (Priority Domestic). 100%: D (Priority Domestic). | 100%: Y, B, M, K. 50%: H, S, Q, T, V. 25%: L, W, G. | 6 months |
| SWISS | 300%: F. 200%: A. | 200%: J. 150%: C, D. 100%: Z, P. | 100%: Y, B, M, H, U, G. 50%: Q, V, W, S. | 6 months |
| TAP Air Portugal | Not offered | 200%: C, D, J, Z | 125%: Y, B. 100%: M, H, Q, S. 50%: W, G, L, V, A, K, P, U. | 12 months |
| Thai Airways | 150%: F, P (international) | 125%: D, J, Z (international). 125%: C. | 100%: A, U. 100%: Y, M, Q. 100%: B, H (international). 100%: T, S (interline). 100%: K (interline international). 100%: V, W (domestic). Class A earns 100% of the actual miles flown from 1 July 2026. | 12 months |
| Turkish Airlines | Not offered | 150%: C, D, Z, K. 100%: J. | 100%: Y, B, M, A, H, S, O, E, Q. 50%: T, L. 25%: V. | 12 months |
| United Airlines | Not offered | 125%: J, C, D. 100%: Z, P. | 100%: O, A, R, Y, B, M, E, U, H. 75%: Q, V, W. 50%: S, T, L, K, G, N. | 12 months |
- Singapore Airlines: the row shows the rates effective 15 April 2026. Until 14 April 2026 the rates were First 150% (F, A), Business 130% (J, C, Z) and 125% (D, U), Economy 100% (S, T, P, B, E, Y) and 75% (H, W, M).
- Air China: Air India's page shows the same table for Air China as for Air New Zealand, which looks like a page error, so Air China is not listed here.
- Minimum: Air India's pages give no minimum per partner flight.
Maharaja Club tiers
Tier status is based only on Tier Points. Maharaja Points do not count. Tier Points earned in the last 365 days count, and you can qualify with Tier Points or with flights. The same numbers apply to move up and to keep a tier. Air India does not say what counts as a flight for the flights option (each flight number, or each journey).
| Tier | Tier Points | Or flights | Star Alliance level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | Start tier | Start tier | None |
| Silver | 15,000, including at least 4,500 on Air India or Air India Express | 20 flights, including at least 4 on Air India or Air India Express | Silver |
| Gold | 30,000, including at least 9,000 on Air India or Air India Express | 45 flights, including at least 8 on Air India or Air India Express | Gold |
| Platinum | 45,000, including at least 13,500 on Air India or Air India Express | 60 flights, including at least 12 on Air India or Air India Express | Gold |
- Tier Points: 6 per INR 100 on Air India and Air India Express flights, and 1 for every 2 Maharaja Points on Star Alliance partner flights. Nothing on non-airline partner purchases.
- Benefits: a new tier's benefits last one year. Silver gets 5 kg extra baggage on Air India. Gold and Platinum get 20 kg extra or one extra 23 kg piece, and first priority boarding (Silver second). Cabin Upgrade Vouchers (domestic) are 1, 2 and 3 for Silver, Gold and Platinum.
- Not stated: Air India's pages do not say which flights count toward the flight-count route.
Air India lounges
- Who gets in: Maharaja Club Platinum and Gold members, with one guest, at the departure airport on Air India marketed and operated flights. In transit only if the onward flight is Air India marketed and operated. Not on Air India Express or codeshare flights.
- Star Alliance Gold: Platinum and Gold members have the benefits of Star Alliance Gold, and Silver members those of Star Alliance Silver.
- Delhi (DEL): see Delhi airport lounges for the lounges listed there.
Good to know
- How many Maharaja Points do I earn on an Air India flight?
- Air India flights earn Maharaja Points on the combined base fare and fuel surcharge (YQ), without taxes and fees, per INR 100 spent: 6 at Red, 8 at Silver, 9 at Gold and 10 at Platinum. Air India Express counts the base fare only. Booking on the Air India website or app adds 2 Maharaja Points per INR 100 on Air India flights.
- Does the booking class matter on Air India flights?
- Not for the points. Air India's own earning follows the fare paid, not the booking class. The classes that earn nothing are award flights booked in O, I, X and E. Booking class matters on Star Alliance partner flights, which earn a percentage of the actual miles flown by class.
- How many Tier Points do I need for Maharaja Club Silver, Gold and Platinum?
- Silver needs 15,000 Tier Points, Gold 30,000 and Platinum 45,000 earned in the last 365 days, with a minimum of 4,500, 9,000 and 13,500 on Air India or Air India Express flights. Tier Points are 6 per INR 100 on Air India and Air India Express flights, the same at every tier. You can also qualify with 20, 45 or 60 flights.
- Do I earn Maharaja Points on Star Alliance partner flights?
- Yes, on flights operated by the Star Alliance partners in the table, in a booking class that appears in it. Points are the actual miles flown times the percentage for the class. You earn 1 Tier Point for every 2 Maharaja Points.
Source: Air India. Earn points | Partner airlines | Maharaja Club FAQ | Terms and conditions | Points Calculator
Air India and Maharaja Club are trademarks of Air India. This page is unofficial and not affiliated with or endorsed by Air India. Information is provided for reference only and may not reflect the most current program terms.
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