The news desk
Updates, decoded.
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249 of 249 tracker events have stories — the desk publishes hourly. Too fast? Pulse is the monthly rollup →
Vistara signs first-ever airline partnership, with Singapore Airlines
Three weeks after its maiden flight, Vistara announces a reciprocal frequent-flyer deal with Singapore Airlines and SilkAir — Club Vistara and KrisFlyer members can earn and redeem on each other's flights.
Club Vistara launches alongside Vistara's maiden flight
Club Vistara goes live on January 9, 2015, the day of Vistara's inaugural Delhi-Mumbai flight — revenue-based from day one at 5 points per ₹100, with three tiers and a 500-point launch bonus.
SpiceJet grounds fleet — ₹140m fuel debt
SpiceJet's fleet was grounded in 2014 due to unpaid fuel bills of ₹140m, posing a risk to holders of SpiceJet miles. This incident highlights the potential instability of the airline and the importance of diversifying loyalty programs.
Air India joins Star Alliance — 27 airlines
Air India joins Star Alliance, increasing Air India Maharaja Points value with 27 airlines and lounge access. Air India's Star Alliance membership makes its miles more valuable, with instant reciprocity across member airlines.
Etihad clears 50.1% buyout, JetPrivilege spun off standalone
Regulatory approval came through on 5 February 2014 for Etihad to pay roughly $150 million for 50.1% of JetPrivilege, spinning Jet Airways' frequent-flyer program off as a separate, Etihad-controlled company. The program was later rebranded InterMiles in 2019.
Marriott adds Category 9, bumps 36% of hotels up a tier
Effective 16 May 2013, Marriott Rewards adds a new top Category 9 at 45,000 points a night and moves over a third of its portfolio up a category, with no compensating bump in elite bonus points.
Etihad buys 24% of Jet Airways — $379 million
Etihad paid $379 million for 24% of Jet Airways in 2013, a deal that eventually reshaped JPMiles but has no current impact on Indian travel credit cards. This historic event does not affect existing cardholders or their rewards programs.
Etihad invests $150M in JetPrivilege — no impact on Indian cards
Etihad Airways invested $150 million into JetPrivilege in 2013, valuing the loyalty programme as an asset, but this has no impact on Indian travel credit cards. The investment was a significant development for Jet Airways and JetPrivilege, but it does not affect the valuation or benefits of any known Indian travel credit cards.
Hilton blows up award chart — 90% devaluation
Hilton HHonors increases top hotel redemptions by up to 90% with new seasonal pricing, devaluing points for Indian loyalists. The new pricing structure makes high-end redemptions more expensive, reducing the value of the loyalty program.
Kingfisher Stripped of Routes — 100% Loss
Kingfisher Airlines lost international rights and domestic slots, rendering King Club miles worthless. The programme is now defunct, with no further redemptions or transfers possible.
Kingfisher miles go to zero — 100% loss overnight
Kingfisher Airlines' licence suspension on 20 October 2012 made all King Miles balances instantly worthless. This event highlights the risks of hoarding single-airline miles.
HDFC Bank relaunches Diners Club co-branded cards in India
HDFC Bank, which inked the Diners Club International franchise in 2011, begins rolling out its own co-branded Diners cards in September 2012 — becoming India's sole Diners Club issuer and reviving a brand dormant since Citibank ceded the franchise.
Citibank kills Jet Airways co-brand, pivots to PremierMiles
Citibank formally shuts down its 13-year-old Jet Airways co-branded card on 16 July 2012, migrating holders to the airline-agnostic PremierMiles card with a 10,000-mile welcome sweetener.
Citibank Retires 13-Year Jet Airways Co-Brand, Launches PremierMiles
Citibank ended its 13-year-old Jet Airways co-brand card effective July 16, 2012 and replaced it with PremierMiles, an airline-agnostic miles card. Existing Jet co-brand holders got a 10,000-mile bonus to soften the switch.
Amex quietly stops minting new Kingfisher First cardholders
With effect from 27 April 2012, American Express stops issuing new Kingfisher First cards and switches all future spend on existing cards from King Miles to generic Membership Rewards points.
Kingfisher oneworld entry deferred — indefinitely
Kingfisher Airlines' oneworld entry was deferred indefinitely in 2012 due to financial issues, resulting in the loss of potential benefits for King Club members. This development has no impact on current Indian travel credit cards.
Kingfisher's oneworld entry put on hold a week before launch
Just a week before its scheduled 10 February 2012 induction, oneworld puts Kingfisher Airlines' membership on hold, citing the need for the airline to strengthen its financial position.
British Airways Retires BA Miles, Launches Avios Currency
On November 16, 2011 British Airways retired BA Miles — its distance-based currency since 1993 — and merged it with Air Miles and Iberia Plus into a single new currency, Avios. Redemption math changed for Indian flyers transferring Amex Membership Rewards or HDFC Diners points into Executive Club.
HDFC Infinia launch — 5,000 cards
HDFC Bank launches Infinia, India's first invite-only super-premium card, offered to 5,000 people. This sets a template for subsequent Indian invite-only cards, with no public application or published income cut-off.
Amex forces monthly auto-transfer of MR points into King Miles
From April 2011, American Express stops letting Kingfisher First cardholders bank flexible Membership Rewards points and begins automatically sweeping the entire monthly balance into King Miles.