Feb 6, 2015, 12:35 am
Last edit by: GuyFromBOM
AI-FR FAQs
Flight Ops
AI - Web Check-In
Baggage Info
Air India - Flying Returns FFP
FFP - Earning
FFP - Redemption
Contact Details
Membership Kit Related
Flight Ops
- All Air India flights in the range AI10 - AI399 and AI900 - AI999 operate from International terminals.
- At BOM - CSIA, all Air India flights (domestic and international) operate from International Terminal : T2 - with effect from October 1, 2015
- At AMD - Ahmedabad SVP Airport, all Air India flights operate from International Terminal : T2- including flight AI614.
- Check-in desks close 45 minutes before STD (Domestic flights)
- Check-in desks close 60 minutes before STD (Domestic flights operating from International Terminal) (For International flights refer to the copy of eticket)
- AirIndia Express is the LCC subsidary of AI (all Y seating) and doesn't have FFP concept in their systems.
- All flights operating under 9I-xxxx series or AI 9xxx are operated by AirIndia Regional (aka Alliance Air - subsidary of AI). FFP benefits: Mileage Earning Only- NO REDEMPTION.
AI - Web Check-In
- Web Check-In facility is available for most AI operated flights (except flights operated by 9I) from 48 hours prior to departure.
- Web Check-In on Mobile
Baggage Info
- AI-FR members get excess baggage allowance of 10kgs (Silver Club), 20kgs (Gold & Maharaja Club) OR 1 piece (upto 23kgs / 50lbs) for Silver, Gold & Maharaja Club members.
- StarAlliance Gold members flying on AI flights, get excess baggage allowance of 20kgs OR 1 piece (upto 23kgs / 50lbs).
- AI Baggage Allowance
Air India - Flying Returns FFP
FFP - Earning
- Earning AI-FR miles on AI flights
- Earning AI-FR miles on StarAlliance partner flights
- Earning AI-FR miles on Code-share flights operated on behalf of AI
FFP - Redemption
- Redeeming AI-FR miles for AI flights / upgrade (Redemption on AI flights can be processed online)
- Redeeming AI-FR miles for StarAlliance Awards / StarAlliance Upgrade Awards (Currently only processed at the AI City Offices)
- AI-FR miles CANNOT BE REDEEMED on Codeshare flights
- Award Request Form
- Upgrade Request Form
Contact Details
- AI Helpdesk - India
- AI Helpdesk - International locations
- For issues related to Flying Returns account: Helpline Numbers - 011-24624074, 011-24624075
- One of the easiest way to contact AI is using chat option from the AirIndia website. They are usually available 24x7. Next best option would be the AI team on Twitter
Membership Kit Related
- Contact the Membership Kit dispatch team on +91 (0)22 61342252 (Monday to Friday between 10:00 to 17:00) or send an email to: [email protected]
AirIndia - FlyingReturns
Jun 21, 2015, 12:08 am
#121
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: India
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Hilton Gold
Posts: 907
Hi,
Has anyone tried redeeming AI miles on *A partners while being outside India. I am in KL and trying to book an AirNewZealand flight from Sydney-Christchurch and return and have been ping ponged so far. Emailed to FFP, they told me to contact KL office, contacted they are saying since ANZ office in SG, so they have sent it to SG (how stupid is that) and I am sent back to FFP.
Must be an easier way out?
Has anyone tried redeeming AI miles on *A partners while being outside India. I am in KL and trying to book an AirNewZealand flight from Sydney-Christchurch and return and have been ping ponged so far. Emailed to FFP, they told me to contact KL office, contacted they are saying since ANZ office in SG, so they have sent it to SG (how stupid is that) and I am sent back to FFP.
Must be an easier way out?
I don't know whether KL office can do that since AI does not operate there right now. Have you tried calling their Indian Call Center number via Skype?
Jun 21, 2015, 12:33 am
#122
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Always on the move!!
Programs: AI, BA, Etihad, Mariott, IHG, TIC
Posts: 105
I can see that you have posted into AI-SBI thread for a similar question as well.
I hope I can simplify it for you.
Imagine that the miles are categorized into 2 categories.
Lets call them:
1) Status/Tier Miles
2) Redeemable Miles
Now, the first type of miles are the only miles that are responsible for determining your frequent flyer tier.
The second type, redeemable miles, do not contribute to your member tier at all. Rather, you can only use them for redemption for flights, or any other thing.
e.g. I can be a base tier member with 1 million redeemable miles, but zero status miles. That does not make me a Gold Tier/Maharajah member. I will only be able to redeem those redeemable miles towards something, like free flights.
If that's clear enough, then we move towards how to obtain these two types of miles.
a) Status/Tier miles can only be obtained by directly flying Air India flights/Air India codeshare flights. There is no other method/shortcut to accrue them.
b)Redeemable miles can be obtained from a variety of sources, not limited to:
-Direct flying AI/Codeshare flights (Yes, these miles can act both as Status as well as Redeemable miles)
-Credit card signup bonus/spend bonus
-Flying a Star Alliance airline and crediting the miles to your AI FFP number
-Buying miles from AI for hard cash
-Any other method
Again, at the expense of repeating myself, these can only be used for redemption towards AI/Star Alliance flights. NOT towards Status/FFP tier.
Hope that wasn't too confusing.
So, coming back to your original query, you can combine your and spouse's miles, but they are only of redeemable variety. So, none of you will move up/down a tier. You will only pool the miles for use towards redemption.
Feel free to ask any follow-up questions.
I hope I can simplify it for you.
Imagine that the miles are categorized into 2 categories.
Lets call them:
1) Status/Tier Miles
2) Redeemable Miles
Now, the first type of miles are the only miles that are responsible for determining your frequent flyer tier.
The second type, redeemable miles, do not contribute to your member tier at all. Rather, you can only use them for redemption for flights, or any other thing.
e.g. I can be a base tier member with 1 million redeemable miles, but zero status miles. That does not make me a Gold Tier/Maharajah member. I will only be able to redeem those redeemable miles towards something, like free flights.
If that's clear enough, then we move towards how to obtain these two types of miles.
a) Status/Tier miles can only be obtained by directly flying Air India flights/Air India codeshare flights. There is no other method/shortcut to accrue them.
b)Redeemable miles can be obtained from a variety of sources, not limited to:
-Direct flying AI/Codeshare flights (Yes, these miles can act both as Status as well as Redeemable miles)
-Credit card signup bonus/spend bonus
-Flying a Star Alliance airline and crediting the miles to your AI FFP number
-Buying miles from AI for hard cash
-Any other method
Again, at the expense of repeating myself, these can only be used for redemption towards AI/Star Alliance flights. NOT towards Status/FFP tier.
Hope that wasn't too confusing.
So, coming back to your original query, you can combine your and spouse's miles, but they are only of redeemable variety. So, none of you will move up/down a tier. You will only pool the miles for use towards redemption.
Feel free to ask any follow-up questions.
Can the above answer be added to this thread's wiki? Since utilization of points/miles is a critical decision point for all AI FFP members, having the above answer on the wiki would clear up the air for quite a lot of people.
Thanks.
Jun 21, 2015, 8:26 pm
#123
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: VABB
Programs: AI-FR, 9W-JP
Posts: 723
Hi,
Has anyone tried redeeming AI miles on *A partners while being outside India. I am in KL and trying to book an AirNewZealand flight from Sydney-Christchurch and return and have been ping ponged so far. Emailed to FFP, they told me to contact KL office, contacted they are saying since ANZ office in SG, so they have sent it to SG (how stupid is that) and I am sent back to FFP.
Must be an easier way out?
Has anyone tried redeeming AI miles on *A partners while being outside India. I am in KL and trying to book an AirNewZealand flight from Sydney-Christchurch and return and have been ping ponged so far. Emailed to FFP, they told me to contact KL office, contacted they are saying since ANZ office in SG, so they have sent it to SG (how stupid is that) and I am sent back to FFP.
Must be an easier way out?
Additionally, may I suggest that you check the YQ component of the fare and the mileage required for the redemption for the *A partner booking before contacting AI. AI will charge not just the miles, but Fuel Surcharge (YQ) as well.
An estimate of YQ can be derived by searching your flights on ITA Matrix.
Jun 24, 2015, 10:40 pm
#124
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Programs: JetPrivilege Platinum, Star Alliance Gold, OW Enrich Gold, Marriott Gold Elite, Taj Innercircle Gold
Posts: 83
Thanks GfB. I searched on ITA Matrix and this is what I got...not sure how to see YQ in this
Provide this information to a travel agent to help them match the fares found.
Make sure to provide the exact booking and fare codes shown.
Fare for 2 adults
Fare 1: Carrier NZ KBAGU05 SYD to CHC (rules)
Passenger type ADT, one-way fare, booking code K
Covers SYD-CHC (Economy)
A$173.00
Fare 2: Carrier NZ PSATUSS ZQN to SYD (rules)
Passenger type ADT, one-way fare, booking code V, P
Covers ZQN-AKL (Economy), AKL-SYD (Economy)
A$266.00
Australia AU (AU)
A$55.00
Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY)
A$28.42
New Zealand KK (KK)
A$11.40
NZ YR surcharge (YR)
A$14.00
Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY)
A$28.42
New Zealand IA (IA)
A$12.00
New Zealand KK (KK)
A$16.20
Subtotal per passenger
A$604.44
Number of passengers
x2
Subtotal For 2 adults
A$1,208.88
Provide this information to a travel agent to help them match the fares found.
Make sure to provide the exact booking and fare codes shown.
Fare for 2 adults
Fare 1: Carrier NZ KBAGU05 SYD to CHC (rules)
Passenger type ADT, one-way fare, booking code K
Covers SYD-CHC (Economy)
A$173.00
Fare 2: Carrier NZ PSATUSS ZQN to SYD (rules)
Passenger type ADT, one-way fare, booking code V, P
Covers ZQN-AKL (Economy), AKL-SYD (Economy)
A$266.00
Australia AU (AU)
A$55.00
Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY)
A$28.42
New Zealand KK (KK)
A$11.40
NZ YR surcharge (YR)
A$14.00
Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY)
A$28.42
New Zealand IA (IA)
A$12.00
New Zealand KK (KK)
A$16.20
Subtotal per passenger
A$604.44
Number of passengers
x2
Subtotal For 2 adults
A$1,208.88
^
Try contacting the AI Twitter team and / or the Chat option on AI the website.
Additionally, may I suggest that you check the YQ component of the fare and the mileage required for the redemption for the *A partner booking before contacting AI. AI will charge not just the miles, but Fuel Surcharge (YQ) as well.
An estimate of YQ can be derived by searching your flights on ITA Matrix.
Try contacting the AI Twitter team and / or the Chat option on AI the website.
Additionally, may I suggest that you check the YQ component of the fare and the mileage required for the redemption for the *A partner booking before contacting AI. AI will charge not just the miles, but Fuel Surcharge (YQ) as well.
An estimate of YQ can be derived by searching your flights on ITA Matrix.
Jun 24, 2015, 11:52 pm
#125
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: India
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Hilton Gold
Posts: 907
e.g. In your example, A$ 604.44 (total fare) - A$ 439 (173 SYD-CHC base fare + 266 ZQN-SYD base fare) = A$ 165.44.
So expect to pay around that figure as taxes and fuel surcharge along with the required number of miles per passenger.
Jul 4, 2015, 2:33 am
#126
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Always on the move!!
Programs: AI, BA, Etihad, Mariott, IHG, TIC
Posts: 105
Baggage allowance
Quoting this thread's wiki:
Brief history:
I am AI FFP program member, currently very close to the silver tier (just 1 flight away).
Two queries:
Thanks,
Monk
Baggage Info
All AI-FR members get excess baggage allowance of 10kgs (Base & Silver Tier), 20kgs (Gold & Maharaja Club) OR 1 piece of 23kgs for (Silver, Gold & Maharaja Club).
AI Baggage Allowance
All AI-FR members get excess baggage allowance of 10kgs (Base & Silver Tier), 20kgs (Gold & Maharaja Club) OR 1 piece of 23kgs for (Silver, Gold & Maharaja Club).
AI Baggage Allowance
I am AI FFP program member, currently very close to the silver tier (just 1 flight away).
Two queries:
- The wiki says that even the non-tiered FR members get an excess baggage allowance of 10kgs. Has anyone tested this i.e. You exceed you baggage allowance by a couple kgs, but tell the boarding agent that should be okay because you are a AI FR member? Does that work?
- From online discussions, I believe receiving the membership kit (silver, gold,..) will take a really really long time. How can we ensure we are not denied our tier benefits (eg: excess baggage allowance, extra carry-on bag, priority check-in and boarding,....)?
Thanks,
Monk
Jul 4, 2015, 3:19 am
#127
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: VABB
Programs: AI-FR, 9W-JP
Posts: 723
Quoting this thread's wiki:
Brief history:
I am AI FFP program member, currently very close to the silver tier (just 1 flight away).
Two queries:
Thanks,
Monk
Brief history:
I am AI FFP program member, currently very close to the silver tier (just 1 flight away).
Two queries:
- The wiki says that even the non-tiered FR members get an excess baggage allowance of 10kgs. Has anyone tested this i.e. You exceed you baggage allowance by a couple kgs, but tell the boarding agent that should be okay because you are a AI FR member? Does that work?
- From online discussions, I believe receiving the membership kit (silver, gold,..) will take a really really long time. How can we ensure we are not denied our tier benefits (eg: excess baggage allowance, extra carry-on bag, priority check-in and boarding,....)?
Thanks,
Monk
Jul 4, 2015, 3:45 am
#128
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Always on the move!!
Programs: AI, BA, Etihad, Mariott, IHG, TIC
Posts: 105
Jul 5, 2015, 6:06 am
#129
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: India
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Hilton Gold
Posts: 907
Jul 5, 2015, 9:15 am
#130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
Jul 5, 2015, 11:35 am
#131
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: India
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Hilton Gold
Posts: 907
Jul 6, 2015, 12:17 pm
#132
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Always on the move!!
Programs: AI, BA, Etihad, Mariott, IHG, TIC
Posts: 105
.Since I take so much of effort for flying on AI and because it says that all FR members get an allowance of 10kgs, I want to be double sure ..so that I can plan my next trip's packing accordingly
.+1 !!
Jul 7, 2015, 2:31 pm
#133
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MSP
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, UA Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 913
Hey Folks,
Quick question here regarding baggage allowance.
I am Premier Gold and wife's Premier Silver on United. Our daughter and my mom have United accounts but no status. We are visiting India and will be flying into DEL and departing from BOM. International tickets booked and am now looking to pick up the DEL-BOM segment and was considering AI even though its pricier than Indigo because of the baggage allowance.
I believe as a UA Gold/Star Alliance Elite Plus, I should get an additional 20 kgs. However, I don't think the same applies to my wife, daughter and mom and to get the additional 10kg per person, I probably need to sign them up for their own accounts in AI or will a regular UA account holder get the additional 10kgs as well.
I'd rather just credit the miles to their own accounts (to create account activity) than to a new AI account.
Any insight in this regard?
Quick question here regarding baggage allowance.
I am Premier Gold and wife's Premier Silver on United. Our daughter and my mom have United accounts but no status. We are visiting India and will be flying into DEL and departing from BOM. International tickets booked and am now looking to pick up the DEL-BOM segment and was considering AI even though its pricier than Indigo because of the baggage allowance.
I believe as a UA Gold/Star Alliance Elite Plus, I should get an additional 20 kgs. However, I don't think the same applies to my wife, daughter and mom and to get the additional 10kg per person, I probably need to sign them up for their own accounts in AI or will a regular UA account holder get the additional 10kgs as well.
I'd rather just credit the miles to their own accounts (to create account activity) than to a new AI account.
Any insight in this regard?
Jul 8, 2015, 12:20 am
#134
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Goa, India
Programs: Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Ambassador, Hyatt Explorist, Qatar Gold, Vistara Gold
Posts: 1,293
Yup you will get the extra 20kgs for *A Gold.
For your wife, daughter and mom the easiest way is to sign the up for AI accounts and they will both get 10kgs each. I'm not sure if AI will let you claim both the 10kg extra + credit miles back to UA, hardly matters through, just pick the baggage.
For your wife, daughter and mom the easiest way is to sign the up for AI accounts and they will both get 10kgs each. I'm not sure if AI will let you claim both the 10kg extra + credit miles back to UA, hardly matters through, just pick the baggage.
Jul 8, 2015, 1:36 am
#135
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: VABB
Programs: AI-FR, 9W-JP
Posts: 723
Their regular UA account wont make them elighble for excess baggage allowance, unless all the bookings are on the same PNR. In which case, the baggage allowance shall be same for all flights, i.e. USA-DEL-BOM-DEL-USA. However, the fare will most likely be higher if it's all booked on same PNR.
If you book seperately for DEL-BOM, easiest way is to create an AI FFP for 10Kgs benefit and ensure it's there on the PNR / boarding pass. Or pay 250/ kg + taxes as baggage fees.
It won't be possible to credit miles to UA, if you add AI FFP # to the booking and avail the excess baggage benefit.
If you book seperately for DEL-BOM, easiest way is to create an AI FFP for 10Kgs benefit and ensure it's there on the PNR / boarding pass. Or pay 250/ kg + taxes as baggage fees.
It won't be possible to credit miles to UA, if you add AI FFP # to the booking and avail the excess baggage benefit.