Converting Credit Card Points to Airline Miles and Hotel Points in 2026

Transferring credit card points to an airline or hotel programme can be the most valuable way to redeem them, and the easiest way to waste them. The Indian landscape changed a lot in 2025 and 2026, so here is where things stand.

First, what happened to Club Vistara?

Vistara merged into Air India, and the merger was completed in November 2024. Club Vistara points were moved into Air India's loyalty programme at a 1:1 ratio. That programme is now called Maharaja Club (it replaced Flying Returns). Maharaja Club points can be used on Air India and on Star Alliance partner airlines.

So if you're looking for "Club Vistara" as a transfer partner, the successor is Air India Maharaja Club. Reports list HDFC Bank (Infinia, Diners Black, Regalia Gold), ICICI Bank (select cards), HSBC, SBI Card (co-branded and select cards) and DBS as banks that support transfers to it.

Axis Bank EDGE Miles: what changed in 2026

• 2 April 2026: Accor Live Limitless, Marriott Bonvoy and Qatar Airways Privilege Club were removed from the EDGE transfer list. New partners were added at a weaker 2:1 ratio (2 EDGE Miles = 1 partner mile).
• Core airline partners: Axis Bank Atlas transfers at 1:2 (1 EDGE Mile = 2 partner miles) to partners such as Singapore KrisFlyer, Air India Maharaja Club and Flying Blue.
• Annual caps: transfers are capped per customer, not per card. Atlas has a reported 30,000 EDGE Mile cap for Group A partners, and in September 2026 several major airlines moved into Group A.
• Fees: Axis introduced a conversion fee on miles transfers in December 2025.

Every change is logged with its source on our credit card changes page.

HDFC Bank: SmartBuy transfers

HDFC's top cards (HDFC Bank Infinia Metal, HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Metal and HDFC Bank Regalia Gold) can transfer to around 22 airline and hotel partners through the HDFC SmartBuy website. Ratios are a mix of 1:1 and 2:1 depending on the partner and card, and reports say some hotel ratios (such as Accor) moved to 2:1 in 2026. Check the current ratio on SmartBuy before transferring.

How to decide whether to transfer

1. Pick the exact redemption first. Find a specific flight or hotel night, with dates, that is available as an award.
2. Compare with the bank's fixed-value option. If your bank's travel portal gives, say, ₹0.50 per point and the transfer works out lower, don't transfer.
3. Work out the value per point. Use the formula from our points value guide: (cash price − award taxes) ÷ points needed.
4. Check fees, caps and timing. Transfers can take from minutes to several days. Award seats can disappear in the meantime.

Common mistakes

• Transferring "just in case". Airline miles can expire or be devalued. Leave points in the bank until you have a use.
• Ignoring surcharges. Some airlines add large fuel surcharges to award tickets, which can wipe out the value.
• Name mismatch. Your bank name and loyalty account name must match exactly, or the transfer can fail.
• Forgetting caps. Annual transfer caps are per customer ID, so holding two cards from the same bank usually doesn't double them.

Is it worth it for you?

Transfers suit people who fly regularly, are flexible with dates and enjoy planning. If that's not you, a simple cashback card such as SBI Card Cashback or a fixed-value redemption will likely give you more with less effort. For many travellers, a zero-forex card like Scapia Federal Bank saves more than miles earn.

Step by step: making a transfer

1. Create the loyalty account with the airline or hotel, using exactly the same name as on your card.
2. Search award availability for your dates and note the miles and taxes needed.
3. Check the ratio and fee on your bank's portal (SmartBuy for HDFC, the EDGE portal for Axis).
4. Transfer only what you need, plus a small buffer for taxes that change.
5. Book immediately once the points arrive, before availability changes.

Airline vs hotel transfers

Airline transfers usually offer the most upside, especially for business-class seats on long-haul flights, where cash prices are high. Hotel transfers are often weaker. Hotel points typically buy fewer rupees of value, and a 2:1 transfer ratio halves your points' value before you start. Compare with booking the hotel through your bank's travel portal at a fixed value.

Protect yourself from devaluations

• Don't stockpile miles. Programmes can raise award prices without notice. Points in your bank account are more flexible.
• Diversify. A bank with several partners gives you options if one partner changes its terms.
• Watch announcements. In 2026, Axis gave little notice when it removed three partners. Follow our changes log or sign up for alerts.

Which cards to consider for transfers

If you want transfers, look for cards with several strong airline partners and reasonable caps. See our best travel credit cards, and compare HDFC Bank Regalia Gold with Axis Bank Atlas in our side-by-side comparison.

FAQs

Sources

• Air India: Vistara–Air India merger FAQs
• Air India: Maharaja Club FAQs
• Paisabazaar: Axis Bank removes Accor, Marriott and Qatar Airways
• Card Express: Axis EDGE Group A & Group B partners
• CardAdvisor: HDFC reward points transfer guide 2026