IHG One Rewards Members Can Now Earn Air India Maharaja Points

IHG One Rewards has announced a partnership with Air India's loyalty programme, Maharaja Club, allowing members to earn Maharaja Points on hotel stays and convert IHG One Rewards points into Air India's currency. This collaboration enables travellers to accrue airline points across IHG's global portfolio of over 7,000 properties.

Key details

• Earning rate (most hotels): 2 Maharaja Points per $1 USD spent

• Earning rate (select hotels): 1 Maharaja Point per $1 USD spent (Candlewood Suites, Staybridge Suites, IHG Residences, IHG Army Hotels)

• Conversion rate: 1,000 IHG One Rewards points = 200 Maharaja Points

• Eligibility: IHG One Rewards members and Maharaja Club members

Earning Maharaja Points on Stays

IHG One Rewards members can now opt to earn Maharaja Points when staying at IHG Hotels & Resorts. The standard earning rate is 2 Maharaja Points for every $1 USD spent at most IHG properties worldwide. A reduced rate of 1 Maharaja Point per $1 USD spent applies to stays at Candlewood Suites, Staybridge Suites, IHG Residences, and IHG Army Hotels.

To earn Maharaja Points, IHG One Rewards members must update their earning preferences within their account settings. Membership in both IHG One Rewards and Maharaja Club is required to participate in this earning option.

Converting IHG One Rewards Points

In addition to earning on stays, members have the option to convert their existing IHG One Rewards points into Maharaja Points. The conversion rate is fixed at 1,000 IHG One Rewards points for 200 Maharaja Points. These Maharaja Points can then be used for award flights on Air India, Air India Express, and Star Alliance partner airlines, or for cabin upgrades on Air India and Star Alliance partner airlines.

Source: IHG

Opinion

This partnership offers a new avenue for IHG One Rewards members who frequently fly Air India or its Star Alliance partners to consolidate their loyalty earnings. The earning rate of 2 Maharaja Points per dollar at most hotels is a straightforward option for those prioritising airline miles over hotel points.

However, the conversion rate of 1,000 IHG points for 200 Maharaja Points is quite poor, representing a significant devaluation for IHG points. It’s rarely advisable to convert hotel points to airline miles unless you have a small balance that might expire or no plans to use it otherwise.