The news desk · page 17 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 →
Jet Airways extends Jetstar Asia codeshare, earns JPMiles
Jet Airways extended its Jetstar Asia codeshare and, retroactive to March 26, 2017, made those Southeast Asia legs earn both JPMiles and Tier Miles when booked under a Jet Airways flight number.
KrisFlyer Devalues Premium Saver Awards by 30%
KrisFlyer devalued premium saver awards by 28-30% in 2017, removing the 15% online booking discount. This change increased the number of points required for premium cabin saver awards.
Taj InnerCircle and Shangri-La's Golden Circle join up
Taj Hotels and Shangri-La struck a first-of-its-kind 'Warmer Welcomes' alliance, giving InnerCircle and Golden Circle members reciprocal recognition and perks across each other's properties.
Hilton drops the second 'H': HHonors becomes Hilton Honors
Hilton rebranded HHonors to Hilton Honors on February 1, 2017 and paired the name change with a Points & Money slider for partial-points redemptions with no blackout dates, plus free points pooling with up to 10 other members from April.
Demonetization cuts cash use — 13% overnight
Cash usage fell by 13% and card spending jumped after the note ban, accidentally stimulating the reward points market in India. This led to more spend categories and issuers improving their card offerings.
Marriott buys Starwood — $13.3B deal
Marriott's $13.3B acquisition of Starwood created a 5,700-property empire, impacting Indian SPG loyalists who had hoarded points for redemption. The deal closed on September 23, 2016, and paved the way for a loyalty program merger in 2018.
Hyatt reshuffles award categories, Grand Hyatt Mumbai gets cheaper
Hyatt Gold Passport moves 50 hotels up a category and 56 down, effective for stays booked from August 1, 2016 — roughly a 4% average hike, though Grand Hyatt Mumbai gets cheaper.
JetPrivilege kills flat-rate miles — 100% devaluation
JetPrivilege ended flat-rate miles earning, with discount fares now earning zero miles, effective August 17, 2016. This change significantly reduced the program's value for frequent flyers.
Citi Prestige strips Etihad Guest Gold and partner perks
Citi Prestige cardholders in India lose complimentary Etihad Guest Gold status and several hotel and spa partner discounts, effective April 1, 2016.
HDFC Diners Club shutters its 10x rewards blowout
HDFC discontinues the 10x Diners Club promotion — 50 points per ₹150 at Flipkart, IRCTC, Cleartrip, GoIbibo and Yatra — effective April 1, 2016, with no replacement announced.
IndusInd JetPrivilege card kills weekend miles bonanza
The IndusInd JetPrivilege co-brand scraps its bonus JPMiles on weekend Jet Airways bookings, effective April 1, 2016, with no advance notice.
SBI doubles Air India co-brand spend goal — 100% more
SBI Card's Air India co-brand card now requires ₹20L spend for 100,000 miles, with 50% on Air India tickets. This change increases the spend threshold and makes it harder for non-Air India loyalists to earn rewards.
JetPrivilege hikes award chart — 5x devaluation
JetPrivilege increased miles required for short intra-US hops from 2,500 to 12,500 miles, a nearly five-fold increase. This change makes JPMiles less valuable for cardholders who were relying on these routes.
SpiceJet launches SpiceClub, first prepaid airline loyalty card
SpiceJet announces SpiceClub, a ₹399-a-year prepaid membership with flight vouchers and birthday perks — the first loyalty program on an Indian low-cost carrier.
Air India halves Star Alliance value — 81% increase
Air India Flying Returns devalued its Star Alliance award chart, increasing miles required for USA-India and Europe-India one-way awards by 81% and nearly tripling, respectively. This change makes it less desirable to accumulate Air India Flying Returns miles, with cardholders facing significant increases in miles required for popular routes.
Starwood floods India with hotels, The St. Regis Mumbai debuts
Starwood announces nine South Asian openings in a year, crossing 54 live hotels with 34 more in the pipeline — and The St. Regis Mumbai becomes the brand's first in South Asia.
Air India halves mile validity — 36 months
Air India Flying Returns miles now expire in 36 months and earning rates range from 10% to 200% by fare class. This devaluation reduces the value of miles earned through the program.
Marriott buys Starwood — $12.2B deal
Marriott's $12.2 billion takeover of Starwood Hotels in 2015 created the world's largest hotel company, affecting Indian SPG loyalists and eventually leading to the formation of Marriott Bonvoy. This deal has significant implications for loyalty program members, particularly those with the Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank card.
HDFC launches JetPrivilege Diners Club, a tier-point signup first
The new JetPrivilege HDFC Bank Diners Club card is the first Indian co-brand to award Jet Airways tier points on signup — 15 on joining, 5 on renewal — plus up to 30,000 JPMiles in bonuses.
HDFC Diners Club 10x points — a 500% boost
HDFC Diners Club Black offered 10x points on Flipkart, IRCTC, and other merchants, worth roughly a third of spend back, from September 14, 2015, through March 31, 2016. This promotion has since ended.