What Changed After the Vistara–Air India Merger?

This is the first thing a 2026 comparison needs to get right.

Vistara no longer operates as a separate airline. Its loyalty programme, Club Vistara, was merged into Air India's Maharaja Club. Existing Vistara co-branded cardholders were moved into the new loyalty ecosystem, while new Vistara co-branded card issuance had already been discontinued.

Some older Vistara-branded cards have continued temporarily under transitional arrangements. Axis Bank currently states that its Vistara cards will be discontinued for spends after 31 October 2026.

In practical terms, the Indian airline-card market has moved from a Vistara-versus-Air India conversation to a much more useful comparison: Air India/Maharaja Club versus IndiGo/BluChip.

Airline Credit Cards Compared: The 2026 Snapshot

*Airline rewards can depend on programme rules, loyalty tier, booking channel and eligible transaction categories. The IndiGo Axis card page currently displays a limited-period zero joining/annual fee offer. Kotak's “up to” BluChip figure includes the programme's earning mechanics and should not be treated as a guaranteed flat cashback rate.

1. Air India SBI Signature Card: Best for Serious Air India Flyers

The important advantage here is not simply the headline reward rate. It is the combination of Air India-specific earning, welcome points, milestone rewards and access to the Maharaja Club ecosystem.

If you routinely spend several lakh rupees per year on a credit card and book Air India often, the higher annual fee becomes easier to justify. If you only take two or three domestic Air India trips each year, the Platinum version may be more sensible.

2. Air India SBI Platinum: The More Practical Air India Card

For a traveller who wants an airline card mainly for domestic trips, this is arguably the easier starting point. The fee is substantially lower, while the card still connects everyday spending with the Air India loyalty ecosystem.

3. IndiGo SBI Card: A Straightforward Choice for Frequent 6E Flyers

The key advantage is simplicity. If most of your domestic flying is on IndiGo and you already use hotels and other travel services, the card can generate rewards without requiring a complicated premium-card strategy.

4. IndiGo SBI Card ELITE: When Your IndiGo Spending Is High

This card becomes more interesting when IndiGo is not merely your occasional airline but your default airline for work trips, family travel and frequent domestic sectors.

However, do not pay ₹4,999 simply because the reward percentage looks impressive. Calculate how much IndiGo spending you actually put on the card and whether you will realistically hit the milestone thresholds.

5. IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Card: The New Low-Cost Challenger

IndiGo and Axis Bank launched new co-branded cards in 2026, giving frequent IndiGo travellers another option beyond the older SBI and Kotak products.

This card is particularly interesting for people who do not want to jump straight into a premium airline card. If the limited-period fee offer is available to you when you apply, the economics can be attractive.

6. IndiGo Kotak Premium: Strong for High IndiGo Spending

The word “up to” matters here. The headline flight earning number is not simply a flat 21% cashback rate. It incorporates the BluChip programme's earning structure, including the member/card components and applicable tier mechanics.

That makes this card more attractive to travellers who already have meaningful IndiGo loyalty activity rather than someone who only books an occasional flight.

Air India vs IndiGo: Which Gives More Value?

There is no universal winner because the two programmes work differently.

Air India's Maharaja Club is increasingly valuable for travellers who want a broader airline ecosystem. Maharaja Points can be earned with Air India, Air India Express and eligible Star Alliance partners, and can be used for award flights and upgrades.

IndiGo's BluChip system is more focused on the IndiGo network. That can be a major advantage if IndiGo is already your default airline because you are not trying to convert your rewards into a different programme.

Which Card Saves More on Domestic Flights?

This is where many credit-card comparisons become misleading. A reward percentage is not the same thing as actual money saved on a flight.

Suppose you spend ₹2,00,000 a year on airline bookings. A card offering a nominal 5% reward rate sounds like it should return ₹10,000. But that calculation only works if the rewards are worth exactly one rupee each, there are no exclusions, and the rewards can be redeemed against the flight you want.

Airline loyalty programmes are more complicated. Redemption availability, fare class, booking channel, points rules, taxes, fees and the actual value of a reward can all change the final result.

Illustrative domestic-flight spending model

The following model is deliberately simple. It compares the headline earning potential rather than pretending that every point has a fixed rupee value.

This is an illustrative mathematical model, not a promise of flight value. Actual redemption value depends on the relevant airline programme and its current terms.

When the Air India SBI Signature Card Makes Sense

• You frequently book Air India or Air India Express.
• You can comfortably justify a ₹4,999 annual fee plus taxes.
• You spend enough to benefit from the card's milestone structure.
• You value Maharaja Club and Star Alliance connectivity.
• You want to convert SBI Reward Points into Maharaja Points.

If you fly Air India only a few times a year, consider the Platinum version first.

When the IndiGo SBI Card Makes Sense

• IndiGo operates most of the routes you regularly need.
• You prefer a lower-cost airline-specific card.
• You want BluChip rewards from IndiGo spending.
• You also spend significantly on hotels and travel.
• You can use the welcome and renewal benefits.

When the IndiGo Axis Card Is More Interesting

The new Axis partnership deserves attention because it gives IndiGo travellers another way to earn BluChips without immediately choosing a premium card.

The current limited-period fee offer makes the entry-level Axis card particularly interesting, but promotional pricing can change. Check the live application page immediately before applying.

What About the Old Vistara Credit Cards?

Vistara credit cards were once among the most attractive airline co-branded cards in India, particularly because of their complimentary ticket vouchers and premium travel benefits.

But a 2026 buyer should not evaluate them as though Vistara were still an independent airline. Club Vistara was merged into Maharaja Club, and new Vistara co-branded cards were discontinued.

If you already own a legacy Vistara card, check your issuer's current migration and closure terms. If you are looking for a new card, compare current Air India and IndiGo products instead.

Old HDFC 6E Rewards Cards: Another Common Source of Confusion

Search results can also show older HDFC Bank 6E Rewards and 6E Rewards XL cards. These should not be treated as current new-application recommendations.

HDFC Bank states that both cards were discontinued and that the old 6E Rewards programme was phased out, with existing balances being converted to IndiGo BluChip under the migration process.

How to Choose the Right Airline Credit Card

1. Check your last 12 months of flights. Count how many domestic trips you actually took with Air India, IndiGo and other airlines.
2. Calculate your real airline spending. Include tickets you purchase for family members if the card's terms allow eligible rewards on those transactions.
3. Subtract the annual fee. Do not count a welcome reward as permanent annual value.
4. Check milestone thresholds. A card can look expensive until you realise that your normal spending already crosses its milestone levels.
5. Check redemption rules. Points are useful only when you can redeem them for travel you actually want.
6. Check lounge conditions. Some cards require previous-quarter or previous-three-month spending before lounge access becomes available.
7. Recheck the fee immediately before applying. Credit-card offers, fee waivers and welcome bonuses can change without much notice.

Do Airline Credit Cards Really Save Money?

Yes, but only when the card matches your existing travel behaviour.

The biggest mistake is changing your airline just to earn points. If another airline offers a ₹5,000 cheaper flight, paying more for your preferred airline simply to earn rewards is not a saving.

Think of the card as a layer on top of a trip you were already going to take. It should reward your normal spending rather than encourage unnecessary spending.

Our Ranking by Traveller Type

What We Would Choose for Different Budgets

Under ₹1 lakh of annual card spending

Avoid paying a premium annual fee unless the welcome benefits and airline rewards clearly offset it. A lower-fee Air India or IndiGo card is generally easier to justify.

₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh of annual spending

This is the sweet spot where airline co-branded cards become much more interesting. Compare milestone thresholds carefully because your regular spending may unlock vouchers that materially change the annual value.

Above ₹5 lakh of annual spending

Premium cards deserve a serious look. At this level, the difference between a basic and premium reward rate can become significant, especially if you also use lounge, milestone and renewal benefits.

Airline Card vs Flexible Travel Card

There is another question worth asking: do you really need an airline co-branded card?

If your travel pattern changes every year, a flexible travel card may be better. You might fly IndiGo this month, Air India next month and book an international airline six months later.

A co-branded card becomes much more powerful when your travel habits are predictable. The more consistently you fly one airline, the easier it is to use its points and vouchers efficiently.

How Anantaayatra Fits Into Your Trip Planning

A credit card is only one part of a travel budget. Once you know how to reduce the flight cost, the next step is to build the rest of the trip around transport, accommodation, food and sightseeing.

For destination planning, explore the Anantaayatra travel hub, or continue with our detailed guides:

• Darjeeling Complete Travel Guide
• Kalimpong Complete Travel Guide
• Dooars Travel Guide
• Bishnupur Travel Guide
• Browse all Anantaayatra travel articles
• Explore Anantaayatra destinations and itineraries

Official Sources and Card Pages

Because credit-card fees and reward programmes can change, readers should verify the current terms directly with the issuer before applying.

• Air India Maharaja Club
• Air India SBI Credit Cards
• Air India SBI Signature Card
• SBI Card
• IndiGo Co-Branded Credit Cards
• SBI IndiGo Credit Cards
• IndiGo Axis Bank Credit Card
• Kotak Credit Cards

Frequently Asked Questions

Editorial disclosure: Credit-card fees, welcome offers, reward rates, lounge eligibility and airline loyalty rules can change. This article is an educational comparison, not financial advice. Verify the issuer's current terms and conditions before applying.