Feb 6, 2015, 12:35 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: GuyFromBOM

AI-FR FAQs

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

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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

AI-FR Membership Brochure

FFP - Earning

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

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May 16, 2023 | 6:57 am

#331

Keyser

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Apr 2009

Location: India

Programs: DL Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, ALL Platinum, IHG Platinum

Posts: 30,672

Quote:

Originally Posted by PiperAtGatesofDawn

For members I think it's 1 booking. For others it's 5. The others whom you're booking for don't have to have taken 5 flights in the last year.

But this is a super hard and bad rule. Earlier it was to start redeeming you had to have that qualification. It was a one time thing. Now its every year? That's stoopid.

I agree. Extremely foolish.

I'm well over the 5 flights but my wife & kids have not taken a single revenue flight over the last year on AI. So basically this means they won't be able to redeem for themselves or others.

May 16, 2023 | 8:59 pm

#332

PiperAtGatesofDawn

Join Date: Jul 2017

Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, Marriott & SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, ShangriLa Jade, Enterprise Plat, Taj Gold

Posts: 3,766

AI's website though very clearly shows the old rules. OP should HUACA to see if what that agent told them was correct.

May 17, 2023 | 2:13 pm

#333

sweets61250

Join Date: May 2010

Location: India

Programs: IC: Diamond Amb

Posts: 721

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweets61250

Booked an award seat for a family member. The booking went through but the points didn't get deducted. So I called the help desk to confirm if the ticket is valid.

Was told that ticket is not issued as you cannot book tickets for other people as you don't have 5 revenue tickets in the last 1 year. This is a new rule started from May 8th 2023 since the new website has started. Would have been embaressing if the passenger would have reached the airport to board the flight.

In March 2023 I have booked more than 10 award bookings for various family member. They reconfirmed these tickets are valid.

Just for info for everyone.

Received an email and SMS for webcheckin. Points not deducted. This is weied.

Jun 16, 2023 | 5:50 am

#334

donblount

Join Date: Jun 2023

Posts: 2

How does the flying returns expiry work? This is what I see when I login go my account. Does this mean the 3000 miles will expire on 31 Dec 2024 regardless of whether I travel before that or not? Normally airlines extend the expiry date if you travel on the airline prior to the expiry. Is that not the case with Air India?

3000 FR Points expiring on 31 Dec 2024
2000 FR Points expiring on 31 Jan 2025
4000 FR Points expiring on 31 Oct 2025
4000 FR Points expiring on 30 Nov 2025

Jun 16, 2023 | 7:49 am

#335

PiperAtGatesofDawn

Join Date: Jul 2017

Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, Marriott & SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, ShangriLa Jade, Enterprise Plat, Taj Gold

Posts: 3,766

Quote:

Originally Posted by donblount

Miles expire after 3 years irrespective of account activity. This is standard practice on many airlines.

You can revive expired miles by paying Re 0.60/mile (generally not worth it).

Jun 17, 2023 | 9:15 am

#336

sweets61250

Join Date: May 2010

Location: India

Programs: IC: Diamond Amb

Posts: 721

Miles transferred from a credit card expire in 1 year.

Jun 17, 2023 | 2:14 pm

#337

donblount

Join Date: Jun 2023

Posts: 2

Is there anyway to use air india miles other than booking a flight? Hotels / Shopping etc?

Jun 17, 2023 | 10:04 pm

#338

PiperAtGatesofDawn

Join Date: Jul 2017

Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, Marriott & SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, ShangriLa Jade, Enterprise Plat, Taj Gold

Posts: 3,766

Quote:

Originally Posted by donblount

Is there anyway to use air india miles other than booking a flight? Hotels / Shopping etc?

Nope. AI or *A awards flights or upgrades only.

Jul 3, 2023 | 12:40 pm

#339

deepakvalecha

Join Date: Jul 2012

Location: BOM

Programs: UK Silver, UA Gold

Posts: 170

Did AI not extend expiring points this quarter like they used to? I just lost a whole load of points on 1 July

Jul 3, 2023 | 10:26 pm

#340

PiperAtGatesofDawn

Join Date: Jul 2017

Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, Marriott & SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, ShangriLa Jade, Enterprise Plat, Taj Gold

Posts: 3,766

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepakvalecha

Did AI not extend expiring points this quarter like they used to? I just lost a whole load of points on 1 July

They were pretty clear on this. With the implication this was the last extension.

Quote:

Points extension
All FR Points validity has been extended till 30th June '23.
Members can further extend their FR points validity till 31st Dec '23 by just doing 1 accrual or redemption activity till 30th June '23.

Jul 16, 2023 | 7:56 pm

#341

andreeeeew

Join Date: Jul 2023

Programs: Accor Gold, Airline TBC

Posts: 24

Any redemption sweet spots I'm missing outside of America? The partner redemptions are looking extortionate, esp in asia-pac (12.5k for a sub-500 mile flight?)

Aug 14, 2023 | 1:31 pm

#342

Acid

Join Date: Dec 2008

Location: NYC

Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold

Posts: 1,415

Quote:

Originally Posted by PiperAtGatesofDawn

I agree AI did that. And it was really silly of them to put out the seat video on the same day. However, from a customer perspective - that should be our focus. People should not be complaining or raving about the shade of purple used in the logo!

They have multiple transfer partners - only *A ones though. And I hope some of UK's partners like JL will join when UK gets absorbed into AI. We didn't get any seat details but that's what the press and bloggers should have been asking the AI management about during/after the event. That's the real story.

Of course if AI has a competitive FFP, I'll be back! I was TMC for 4 years but left when I realized how awful that program was.

As a US based person, I'm hoping for a new competitive program that one can transfer to from Amex, Chase, Cap1, Citi etc. like SQ, Avios and some others. Most of my 9W redemptions were using AA miles which gave a great value. I feel Aeroplan is decent but expensive, most other *A programs are not good for long haul partner redemption. UA gutted their 'chart'. AI can fill that void.

Aug 14, 2023 | 8:10 pm

#343

PiperAtGatesofDawn

Join Date: Jul 2017

Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, Marriott & SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, ShangriLa Jade, Enterprise Plat, Taj Gold

Posts: 3,766

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acid

There was talk about revamping AI's FFP, but nothing has happened so far. They need to cut their redemption rates by about 40% in most areas to become competitive. Unfortunately UK while merging with AI, has exponentially worse international J redemption rates.

AI also has as few transfer partners as AA. Apart from a couple of co-branded cards and Citibank (which will be absorbed into Axis by March 24), AI has no transfer partners even in India.

We all wish for a better AI FFP, but given everything, I'm not that hopeful it will get significantly better.

Aug 28, 2023 | 5:47 am

#344

PiperAtGatesofDawn

Join Date: Jul 2017

Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, Marriott & SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, ShangriLa Jade, Enterprise Plat, Taj Gold

Posts: 3,766

New AI mobile app has been out for a few weeks now. Has lots of "flowing transition graphics" highlighting various places in India and abroad; and a slightly better UI along with the ability to book AI award tickets. Some of the text and workflows still remain silly and no sign of *A award booking as yet.

And I just remembered... they've removed family pooling... does anyone know if that still works if it was setup earlier? I can't see any place to manage it though.

Last edited by PiperAtGatesofDawn; Aug 28, 2023 at 7:15 am