Vistara-Air India merger: Vistara will stop operations on November 12 following its merger with Tata Group's Air India. Vistara and Air India agreed in August that travelers will buy tickets through the Air India website, and all flights will be operated under the 'Vistara' name until November 11.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) said last month that it had secured clearance from the Indian government for foreign direct investment (FDI) as part of the merger process, resulting in a 25.1% share in the former state-owned carrier.

As part of the merger agreement, Vistara's Club Vistara frequent flyer program would be phased out and integrated into Air India's Flying Returns program. Club Vistara will continue to operate as usual until the integration is complete.

Here's how you link your Club Vistara account with Air India Flying Returns

Customers who have accounts in both the Vistara and Air India frequent flyer programs can link them using the following steps:

1. Visit the Club Vistara website and sign in using your existing credentials.

2. To begin the procedure, go to the "My Account" area and select the "Link Accounts" option.

3. Fill in your 9-digit Flying Returns Membership ID and complete the form.

4. If the personal information in your Club Vistara and Flying Returns accounts match, the accounts will be linked successfully.

5. If the information do not match, or if you do not have a Flying Returns account, a new Flying Returns account will be established for you. Your Club Vistara points, tier points, and coupons will be transferred automatically.

6. If you have numerous Flying Returns accounts, you may consolidate them into a single primary account to handle your rewards more easily.

Things to  Note

> Your Club Vistara points and tier points will be transferred to your Flying Returns account at a 1:1 rate. This implies that each Club Vistara point you earn will be converted into an equivalent number of Flying Returns points, allowing you to purchase flights with Air India using these points.

> The cardholder's tier status will be decided by the total points across both schemes. The Club Vistara tiers (Base, Silver, Gold, and Platinum) will be matched to Flying Returns' tiers (Red, Silver, Gold, and Platinum). Members may also be elevated to a higher tier if their cumulative points meet the requirements.

> Complimentary Flight Tickets & Vouchers: Any future bookings made using Club Vistara points or complimentary flight ticket vouchers will be transferred over to Flying Returns. Additionally, any unused upgrade certificates and complimentary flight tickets will be transferred to your Flying Returns account.

Co-branded Cards

Vistara has collaborated with four top Indian banks to provide a line of co-branded credit cards. The current lineup comprises seven distinct card options:

Club Vistara SBI Card

Axis Vistara Platinum

Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card

Club Vistara SBI Card Primef

Axis Vistara Signature

Axis Vistara Infinite

Club Vistara IndusInd Bank Explorer

These credit cards enable customers to accumulate Club Vistara (CV) Points depending on their purchasing patterns. These points may subsequently be used for award flights or used to upgrade ticket class with Vistara, which improves consumers' travel experiences.

Club Vistara members who presently have existing co-brand cards will keep their current privileges based on the current card program structure and terms and conditions until March 31, 2026. Starting November 12, 2024, all CV points, One Class Upgrade Vouchers, and Complimentary Ticket Vouchers will be immediately transferred to customers' associated Flying Returns account.

Following the transfer date, co-branded card holders will start earning Flying Returns Points and Complimentary Ticket Vouchers in addition to their current card advantages. Their Tier status will be retained for one year following the merger date.

It is critical to realize that programme benefits will be available until March 31, 2026. As a result, yearly card membership renewals, if applicable, will be discontinued after March 31, 2025, guaranteeing continuous access to features and benefits during the 12-month annual term. The fresh issue of co-brand cards will end on September 30, 2024, with the exact date dependent on corporate policy.