Vistara Shutdown: What Happened to Club Vistara Miles?
Updated: 8 March 2026 · CardTrail
Bottom Line: Club Vistara is dead. Your CV Points were automatically converted to Air India Flying Returns miles on November 12, 2024 — but your co-branded credit card perks expire on March 31, 2026, which is just weeks away. If you’re sitting on unused upgrade vouchers or complimentary tickets, use them now or lose them.
What Actually Happened to Vistara
Vistara flew its last flight on November 11, 2024. The next day, Tata Group completed the merger into Air India, and every Vistara aircraft started operating under the code AI 2. The brand, the app, the booking portal — all gone.
Club Vistara, the loyalty programme that a lot of Indian frequent flyers genuinely loved, was folded into Air India’s Flying Returns programme. If you were a CV member, you didn’t have to do anything — the transfer happened automatically.
But “automatic” doesn’t mean “painless.” Here’s where things get complicated.
The CV Points to Flying Returns Conversion
Your CV Points were converted to Flying Returns miles at a ratio set by Air India. The transfer happened on November 12, 2024 — the day after Vistara’s last flight.
Here’s what moved over:
What Transferred Automatically
- CV Points balance → Flying Returns miles
- Tier status → Mapped to equivalent Flying Returns tier
- One Class Upgrade Vouchers → Moved to your Flying Returns account
- Complimentary Ticket Vouchers → Moved to your Flying Returns account
- CV Award Vouchers → Transferred with original validity
What Didn’t Transfer
- Vistara co-branded credit card rewards structure — The earn rates and card-specific perks remain tied to the old programme terms, not Flying Returns rates
- CV Gold/Platinum lounge access via membership — Replaced by whatever your mapped Flying Returns tier offers
The March 31, 2026 Deadline — This Is Urgent
If you hold a Vistara co-branded credit card (issued by Axis Bank or IDFC FIRST Bank), pay attention:
| Benefit | Status | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| CV Points earning on card spends | Stopped at merger | November 11, 2024 |
| One Class Upgrade Vouchers | Usable on Air India | March 31, 2026 |
| Complimentary Ticket Vouchers | Usable on Air India | March 31, 2026 |
| Co-branded card programme structure | Active but frozen | March 31, 2026 |
| Annual card membership renewals | Ceased | March 31, 2025 |
| Flying Returns miles (converted balance) | Active | Per FR expiry rules |
The critical date is March 31, 2026 — that’s 23 days from today. After that, any unused vouchers tied to the old Vistara programme are gone. Air India has been clear: they will not extend this window.
Annual card membership renewals already stopped after March 31, 2025, so no one’s getting a fresh 12-month cycle of Vistara-era benefits.
What You Should Do Right Now
If You Have Unused Vouchers
Book something. An upgrade voucher on a Delhi–Mumbai or Bengaluru–Delhi flight on Air India is still solid value. Don’t let it expire because you’re waiting for the “perfect” trip.
If You Have a Vistara Co-Branded Credit Card
After March 31, 2026, your card will still function as a credit card, but the Vistara-specific rewards structure ends. Contact Axis Bank or IDFC FIRST Bank to understand what programme your card migrates to — or whether it makes sense to switch to a different travel card entirely.
If You Have Flying Returns Miles (Converted from CV)
These follow standard Flying Returns expiry rules now. Keep earning or redeeming at least once every 12 months to keep your balance alive. Flying Returns miles expire after 36 months of account inactivity.
Best Travel Credit Cards After Vistara
With Club Vistara gone, here are the strongest travel cards for Indian flyers right now:
| Card | Annual Fee | Best For | Key Perk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Atlas | ₹5,000 | General travel rewards | 5 EDGE Miles/₹200, no airline lock-in |
| HDFC Infinia | ₹12,500 | Premium international travel | 3.3% reward rate, global lounge access |
| Amex Platinum Travel | ₹3,500 + GST | Taj Hotels + domestic travel | Taj vouchers worth ₹10,000+, 8x on Amex Travel |
| Air India SBI Platinum | ₹1,499 | Air India loyalists | Direct Flying Returns earn, cabin upgrade vouchers |
| IDFC FIRST Select | ₹999 (waivable) | Beginners | 6x rewards on travel, no forex markup |
If you were a Vistara card loyalist because of the airline-specific perks, the Air India SBI Platinum is the closest replacement. If you’d rather not be locked into one airline, the Axis Atlas gives you flexibility across flights, hotels, and transfers.
Lessons From the Vistara Shutdown
The Vistara merger is a reminder of something Indian cardholders forget: airline co-branded cards carry concentration risk. When the airline disappears, your rewards structure goes with it.
Cards with transferable points — like Axis EDGE Rewards, HDFC Infinia Reward Points, or Amex Membership Rewards — let you move points across multiple airlines and hotel chains. You’re never stuck if one programme shuts down.
For Indian travellers especially, where airline consolidation is still playing out (remember Jet Airways?), diversification isn’t just smart — it’s necessary.
Related Guides on CardTrail
- Best Travel Credit Cards for Indian Flyers — Updated picks for 2026
- Credit Card Comparison Tool — Side-by-side breakdowns of fees, rewards, and perks
- India-Specific Credit Card Rules You Should Know — RBI regulations, forex charges, and billing rights
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to my Club Vistara Points after the merger?
Your CV Points were automatically converted to Air India Flying Returns miles on November 12, 2024 — the day after Vistara’s last flight. You didn’t need to do anything; the transfer was handled by Air India.
Can I still use Vistara upgrade vouchers?
Yes, but only until March 31, 2026. They work on Air India flights. After that date, any unused vouchers expire permanently.
Will my Vistara co-branded credit card stop working?
The card itself will keep working as a credit card. But the Vistara-specific rewards and programme benefits end on March 31, 2026. Contact your issuing bank (Axis or IDFC FIRST) to learn about the post-migration rewards structure.
Is Air India Flying Returns as good as Club Vistara was?
Honestly, not yet. Club Vistara was widely considered the better-run programme — cleaner tier benefits, better lounge access, and more predictable award availability. Air India is investing heavily in Flying Returns, but it’s still catching up. Give it another year.
Should I get the Air India SBI credit card as a replacement?
If you fly Air India frequently (which, after the merger, means most domestic full-service flights), it’s a decent pick at ₹1,499/year. But if you want flexibility, a general travel card like the Axis Atlas or HDFC Infinia gives you more options.
Do my converted Flying Returns miles expire?
Yes. Flying Returns miles expire after 36 months of account inactivity. Any earning or redemption transaction resets the clock. Log in and make sure your account shows activity at least once a year.
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