Most Indian credit card holders accumulate thousands of reward points every year — and then redeem them for mediocre vouchers or cash that gives terrible value. The secret that frequent flyers know: the same points are worth 3-5 times more when redeemed for flights the right way. This guide shows you exactly how to do it.
Why Your Points Are Worth More Than You Think
Banks deliberately undervalue reward points in their marketing because they make money when points go unredeemed or get redeemed at the lowest value. Here's the difference in actual value:
| Redemption method | Value per point | Example (10,000 points) |
|---|---|---|
| Product vouchers (Amazon, etc.) | ₹0.15-₹0.20 | ₹1,500-₹2,000 |
| Statement credit / cashback | ₹0.25 | ₹2,500 |
| Flight booking via bank portal | ₹0.30-₹0.40 | ₹3,000-₹4,000 |
| Airline mile transfer (economy) | ₹0.40-₹0.60 | ₹4,000-₹6,000 |
| Airline mile transfer (business class) | ₹1.00-₹3.00 | ₹10,000-₹30,000 |
The difference between the worst and best redemption is 10-15x. This is why seasoned travellers obsess about miles and points — 100,000 points redeemed badly give ₹15,000 of value. The same 100,000 points redeemed for a business class redemption can be worth ₹2,00,000 or more.
Step 1 — Know Which Card Has Which Points Currency
| Card | Points currency | Transfer partners |
|---|---|---|
| HDFC Regalia / Infinia | HDFC Reward Points | Air India Flying Returns, Jet Konnect (limited) |
| Axis Magnus / Reserve | EDGE Miles | Singapore KrisFlyer, Etihad Guest, Thai Royal Orchid, Vistara Club Flying Returns, 10+ others |
| Citi Premier Miles | Citi Miles | Singapore KrisFlyer, Etihad Guest, Malaysian Enrich, Jet Privilege |
| AmEx Membership Rewards | MR Points | Jet Privilege, British Airways Avios, Air France KLM, Delta SkyMiles |
| SBI Elite | SBI Reward Points | Limited airline transfer options |
| ICICI Sapphiro | ICICI Payback Points | Very limited airline transfer |
Cards with more airline transfer partners give you more flexibility and better value. Axis Magnus and Citi Premier Miles have the best transfer partner networks for Indian travellers.
Step 2 — The Best Transfer Partners for Indian Travellers
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (Best Overall)
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is the gold standard for Indian travellers. You can use KrisFlyer miles to book:
- Singapore Airlines economy and business class
- Star Alliance partners including Lufthansa, United, Air Canada, Air India
- Economy award from India to Singapore: ~35,000 miles
- Business class from India to London: ~90,000-110,000 miles one way
The best redemption: Singapore Airlines business class from India to Europe or Australia where cash prices are ₹2-4 lakh. Using ~100,000 miles to book this gives value of ₹2-4 lakh — ₹20-40 per mile versus the ₹0.50 base transfer value.
Etihad Guest Miles
Etihad has excellent business class from Indian cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai) to Abu Dhabi with connections to Europe, USA, and Australia. Etihad award rates are often lower than Singapore Airlines for the same routes.
Air India Flying Returns (for Star Alliance)
Air India's Flying Returns programme lets you redeem for Air India flights plus all Star Alliance partners. This includes Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Thai, Singapore Airlines, and 30+ others. Great for routing through European hubs.
Step 3 — Finding Award Availability
The hardest part of redeeming miles is finding availability. Airlines release only a limited number of "award seats" per flight. Here's how to find them:
- Book far in advance: The best award availability is 11-12 months before travel. Airlines release seats as soon as the schedule opens.
- Be flexible on dates: Award availability changes daily. Sometimes shifting by one day opens completely different options.
- Use the award search on the airline website: Singapore KrisFlyer, Etihad Guest, and United MileagePlus websites show availability directly.
- Try less popular routes: Non-stop London flights have less award availability than connections through Dubai or Singapore.
- Call the airline: Some award space is not visible online but agents can access and book it.
Step 4 — Maximise Everyday Spending to Earn More
The fastest way to accumulate enough miles for a free flight is to route all your spending through the right card:
- Rent and utilities via credit card: Many platforms now let you pay rent with credit cards for a small fee — still worth it if your earn rate is high enough
- All online shopping through the card: Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, Zomato, IRCTC — everything on one card
- Big purchases: Electronics, appliances, holiday packages on the card
- Corporate expenses: If your employer allows, put business travel on your personal card and claim reimbursement
A person spending ₹5 lakh per year on Axis Magnus earns approximately 1,75,000 EDGE Miles — enough for an economy class return ticket to Singapore or a one-way business class upgrade on shorter routes.
The Beginner's Plan — Your First Free Flight in 12 Months
- Month 1: Apply for Axis Magnus or Citi Premier Miles card
- Month 1-12: Put all spending on the card — shopping, dining, utility bills, travel
- Month 3: Sign up for Singapore KrisFlyer and link your card for transfers
- Month 6: Check your miles balance and start searching for award availability
- Month 10: Transfer miles to KrisFlyer or Etihad and book your award
- Month 12: Fly free (or massively discounted)
💡 Start with a domestic route as your first redemption if your balance is smaller. 10,000-15,000 miles can get you a free Delhi to Mumbai or Bangalore to Hyderabad economy ticket — a great way to learn the process.
FaresIQ tells you which credit card earns the most miles on your specific route — and which platform to book on for maximum reward points per rupee spent.
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