Hotel stays now convert into airline points at 7,100 global properties

The Takeaway

• The base earning rate for most global hotel stays is two Maharaja Points per US dollar spent.
• Extended bookings at specific properties like Candlewood Suites drop the earning rate to one point per dollar.
• Members can now swap their existing IHG One Rewards balances directly into frequent flyer miles.

Air India and IHG Hotels & Resorts activate their unified loyalty network. The national carrier wants to move beyond strictly selling flight tickets. The Maharaja Club has added over 100 partner brands since 2023. Members completed more than 4.2 million non-flight transactions this financial year alone. This new arrangement links your airline account directly to your hotel spending.

The mechanics are straightforward. Switching your accumulated points over requires a set minimum balance. The conversion ratio is fixed at 1,000 hotel points for 200 airline points. You cannot reverse the process. This is strictly a one-way street into your flight account.

Linking a 160-million-member global hotel programme with an airline shifts how you gather miles. You do not need to step on a plane to build a balance anymore. You simply book your regular accommodation. The airline is actively expanding its global reach. Recent changes mean Air India Guests Now Get Faster Access to 17 Canadian Cities. This massive hospitality integration builds on that exact same momentum.

Air India and IHG rewards structure

This tie-up impacts the domestic market immediately. The agreement applies across all operational Indian properties. It covers budget options like Holiday Inn Express right up to luxury Six Senses resorts. The scale gives you options across different price brackets. The hotel group plans to open 110 more locations across the country over the next three to five years.

A regular business traveller hopping between Delhi and Mumbai racks up bills quickly. Earning flight points on mandatory work trips helps fund personal holidays later. The launch promotion running until late December is highly lucrative. You must register explicitly for the 3x multiplier before your stay. It does not apply automatically. If you forget, you lose out entirely. Surprisingly, there are absolutely zero blackout dates during this promotional window.

The Unboxed Truth

Unbox Daily HQ sees genuine value in this loyalty expansion. You get real flexibility without paying extra membership fees. Converting your IHG One Rewards balance into Maharaja Club miles at a five-to-one ratio is quite steep. You should probably keep your hotel points for free nights unless you desperately need a flight upgrade. The earning side is the actual win here. Racking up airline miles on mundane business trips is a highly practical move.

Best for: Consolidating corporate travel expenses into holiday flights.

Who Is This For: 25 to 50 years old.

Courtesy: Air India and IHG Hotels & Resorts