Singapore Airlines (SIA) has received the Government of India’s approval for its foreign direct investment (FDI) in the merger deal with Air India. The airline confirmed the development in an exchange filing. This comes as a significant milestone in the deal that was first announced in November 2022. This approval paves the way for the integration of Vistara, a joint venture between SIA and Tata Sons, into Air India, creating a more robust player in the Indian aviation market.
What will happen to your Club Vistara loyalty points?
As a part of this merger, Vistara’s loyalty program Club Vistara will also be integrated into Air India’s frequent flyer program, Flying Returns. The Club Vistara program will continue to operate until the merger is fully completed, after which all Club Vistara accounts will be migrated to Flying Returns.
Existing members of both loyalty programs can link their accounts through the Club Vistara section on Vistara’s website.
– To link accounts, members need to log in to their Club Vistara account
– Navigate to “My Account”, select “Link Accounts”
– Enter their 9-digit Flying Returns Membership ID. This ensures a seamless transition and prevents any loss of accumulated points.
What if you don’t link accounts before the merger?
If members do not link their accounts by the time of the merger, the accounts will be automatically merged, provided key identification and contact details match. In cases where there is a mismatch in these details, a new Flying Returns account will be created, and Club Vistara points will be transferred to this new account.
Members will have the option to merge any duplicate Flying Returns accounts that may arise due to data discrepancies.
Tier status in the loyalty program will be determined based on the combined points from both Club Vistara and Flying Returns. Members are assured that they will either retain their current Club Vistara tier status or be upgraded based on their cumulative points. After the integration, Flying Returns rules will apply.
Vistara has assured members that, on the day of migration, Club Vistara points and tier points will be transferred to the Flying Returns program at a 1:1 ratio. These points will remain valid for at least one year from the date of migration, even if they were originally set to expire sooner. Additionally, any valid and unused flight or upgrade vouchers from Club Vistara will be transferred to Flying Returns accounts with their existing validity intact.