The news desk · page 15 of 20
Updates, decoded.
What changed and whether it matters — grounded in the numbers, not the press release. Subscribe via RSS →
372 of 376 tracker events have stories — the desk publishes hourly. Too fast? Pulse is the monthly rollup →
Club Vistara freezes status, gives points and vouchers a grace period
Club Vistara froze status assessments through September 2020 and promised expiring CV points and upgrade vouchers a fresh four-month validity window once flights resume.
Marriott extends every 2019 elite status by a full year
Marriott's CEO announced that all elite status earned in 2019 is extended through February 2022, and points expiration — normally triggered after 24 months of inactivity — is paused.
RBI lets banks freeze credit card EMIs, but the meter keeps running
RBI's COVID package allows a three-month moratorium on term loans and credit card dues falling due between March 1 and May 31, 2020, with no credit-score hit. Interest keeps compounding through the pause, so deferring costs more than paying.
Hilton becomes the first hotel chain to freeze status and points
Hilton Honors announced on March 25, 2020 that Diamond and Gold members keep their tier for a full extra year regardless of stays, with 2019 status extended to March 2021, 2020 status to March 2022, and points expiration paused indefinitely.
World of Hyatt bolts on peak pricing, dings Grand Hyatt Kochi
Hyatt's 2020 award chart refresh introduces peak and off-peak pricing for the first time, adding up to 30% on peak nights, while 117 properties move to pricier categories against 100 that get cheaper.
SBI Cards lists on Dalal Street in India's first card-issuer IPO
SBI Cards became India's first standalone credit card issuer to go public, pricing its IPO at ₹755 after 26.5x oversubscription but listing at ₹658 on March 16, 2020 — a 13% discount — as COVID panic hit markets.
Amex India strips Membership Rewards points off EMI purchases
Effective March 15, 2020, American Express India stops awarding Membership Rewards points on EMI plans selected at merchant terminals or websites. Only SafeKey-routed EMI still earns.
Marriott's 2020 category shake-up moves 1,686 hotels up, only 499 down
Marriott Bonvoy's 2020 category refresh repriced 29% of its portfolio: 1,686 hotels moved to pricier categories against 499 that got cheaper, and 95 properties crossed into the 100,000-point top tier.
Government fires the starting gun on Air India's second sale attempt
Two years after the 2018 privatisation attempt drew zero bidders, the government released a fresh Preliminary Information Memorandum on January 27, 2020 offering 100% of Air India and Air India Express plus 50% of ground-handler AISATS.
Accor scraps Le Club, soft-launches ALL - Accor Live Limitless
Accor pulled the plug on Le Club AccorHotels on December 3, 2019 and soft-launched ALL — Accor Live Limitless — a unified lifestyle platform with a new app and guaranteed Suite Night Upgrade Awards for Platinum members.
JetPrivilege drops the Jet, relaunches as InterMiles
Seven months after Jet Airways stopped flying, JetPrivilege Private Limited severed the association and unveiled InterMiles on November 14, 2019 — a rebranded currency with 250+ airline and 150+ lifestyle partners.
HDFC Diners Club Black stacks on Prime, Zomato Gold, MMT Black
From November 1, 2019, Diners Club Black adds Amazon Prime, Zomato Gold, MakeMyTrip Double Black and Times Prime memberships, plus a monthly voucher at ₹80,000 spend. HDFC also launched a new Diners Privilege tier at a ₹2,500 fee.
Taj InnerCircle flattens point values, axes a Platinum perk
From October 16, 2019, every old TIC point converts to five new ones at a flat ₹1 value, and Epicure dining points fold in at 1:10. Platinum members had already lost their three complimentary annual experiences on August 1.
Citi India guts reward earning on utilities, insurance, and tax
Effective October 12, 2019, Citibank India excluded utility bills, insurance premiums and government payments from reward earning across every major card except the Paytm co-brand and the Cashback card.
Etihad Guest kills its Royal Air Maroc mileage sweet spot
Etihad Guest quietly switched Royal Air Maroc partner awards from distance-based to per-segment pricing, confirmed around September 19, 2019. Connecting itineraries through Casablanca now cost roughly double in miles.
Axis Bank Launches Magnus, a Metal Card to Rival Infinia
Axis Bank launched Magnus on September 18, 2019 — a metal card with a ₹10,000 annual fee, meet-and-assist services and unlimited lounge visits, built to challenge HDFC Infinia. Early reviews called the base 1.2% reward rate weak for the price.
Club Vistara nearly doubles the cost of a Business class upgrade
Vistara's revamped upgrade chart, effective September 1, 2019, raises Premium Economy-to-Business upgrade costs 80-100% in CV points on almost every route, while cutting the complimentary upgrade vouchers new Gold and Platinum members receive.
Vistara finally leaves India, opens Club Vistara to global miles
Vistara's first international flight landed in Singapore on August 6, 2019, flown on a Boeing 737 previously operated by the defunct Jet Airways. Club Vistara gains its first international earning and redemption route.
JPMiles in Limbo
Jet Airways grounds fleet, JPMiles left in limbo, affecting countless balances. The airline's suspension serves as a lesson to not hoard miles in unstable programs.
Marriott Bonvoy launches as the unified loyalty brand
Marriott Rewards, SPG and Ritz-Carlton Rewards become one program under a single new name: Marriott Bonvoy.