The news desk
Updates, decoded.
What changed and whether it matters — grounded in the numbers, not the press release. Subscribe via RSS →
249 of 249 tracker events have stories — the desk publishes hourly. Too fast? Pulse is the monthly rollup →
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.
IHG quietly reprices 700 hotels; the US bears the brunt
IHG repriced roughly 700 hotels into new award categories, delayed from January 14 to January 25, 2019. About 79% of the changes pushed points requirements upward, with 387 of 448 US changes increasing in cost.
KrisFlyer hikes premium-cabin award pricing roughly 10% across the board
KrisFlyer's January 24, 2019 repricing raised Premium Economy, Business and First awards by 3-8% on the low end and double digits on marquee long-haul routes, while economy stayed largely untouched. US West Coast-Singapore Business rose from 88,000 to 95,000 miles; First from 118,000 to 130,000.
ICICI Bank launches Emeralde, wedging above Sapphiro
ICICI Bank soft-launched the Emeralde credit card on January 18, 2019, slotting it above Sapphiro with a claimed ~₹3 lakh in annual benefit value against a ₹12,000 annual fee. It's ICICI's first genuine super-premium travel card.
Amex Platinum Charge goes metal, fee jumps to ₹60,000
American Express moves the Platinum Charge from plastic to metal and raises the annual fee 20% to ₹60,000 plus taxes, adding 3X earning on overseas spends and a new Mumbai T2 lounge.
Jet Airways financial woes — ₹8,600 crore debt
Jet Airways' ₹8,600 crore liability and delayed salaries for 15% of staff pose a significant risk to JetPrivilege members, who may want to consider using their points or switching to alternative programs.
Jet Airways-Bangkok Airways codeshare adds 9 new cities
Jet Airways expanded its Bangkok Airways codeshare from two routes to nine new cities including Phuket, Krabi and Da Nang, while Bangkok Airways' code went onto Jet's domestic Mumbai and Delhi routes. JPMiles now earn and burn across the wider network on a single PNR.