Air India and IHG Partner for Maharaja Club Rewards
Air India and IHG Hotels & Resorts have announced a new loyalty partnership connecting Air India’s Maharaja Club with IHG One Rewards. Maharaja Club members can now earn Maharaja Points through eligible IHG hotel stays, while IHG One Rewards members can convert their IHG points into Maharaja Points for Air India award flights and cabin upgrades.
With IHG having more than 7,000 hotels across over 100 countries, the partnership gives Maharaja Club members another way to earn points beyond flying. It also gives IHG One Rewards members a new way to use their points towards Air India travel.
How Can You Earn Maharaja Points With IHG?
To earn Maharaja Points, Maharaja Club members need to select AIR INDIA | MAHARAJA CLUB as their earning preference in their IHG One Rewards account.
The regular earning rates are:
IHG property | Regular earning rate |
Participating IHG Hotels & Resorts | 2 Maharaja Points per US$1 |
Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, IHG Residences and IHG Army Hotels | 1 Maharaja Point per US$1 |
Only the eligible room rate paid for the booking is included in the earning. Other expenses such as taxes, government charges, service charges, gratuities, food and beverages and other incidental charges do not qualify.
3X Maharaja Points on IHG Stays
To celebrate the new partnership, Air India and IHG are offering registered Maharaja Club members 3X Maharaja Points on qualifying IHG stays.
Booking & Stay Period: 15 September to 31 December 2026
During the offer period, the regular earning rates become:
IHG property | Regular rate | 3X rate |
Participating IHG Hotels & Resorts | 2 points/US$1 | 6 points/US$1 |
Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, IHG Residences and IHG Army Hotels | 1 point/US$1 | 3 points/US$1 |
Important: Registration is mandatory to earn the 3X Maharaja Points during the promotional period.
How to Start Earning
There are a few things to set up before making an eligible booking:
Join IHG One Rewards or sign in to your existing account.
Select AIR INDIA | MAHARAJA CLUB as your earning preference.
Add your valid 9-digit Maharaja Club ID to your IHG profile.
Register for the 3X offer if you are booking during the promotional period.
Make the booking through the dedicated Air India partner link.
Complete the eligible stay.
Your Maharaja Club membership must be active and in good standing when you make the booking, complete the stay and receive the points.
Which IHG Bookings Are Eligible?
Only bookings made through the dedicated Air India partner page are eligible for Maharaja Points. Bookings made through travel agents, online travel agencies or other third-party channels do not qualify.
Some rates and stay types are also excluded:
Reward and redemption stays
Complimentary stays
Group and meeting bookings
Wholesale and opaque rates
Tour operator and crew rates
Employee and friends and family rates
Stays that have not been paid in full
A Couple of Things to Keep in Mind
You can earn either IHG One Rewards points or Maharaja Points on an eligible stay. You cannot earn both currencies for the same booking.
Maharaja Points are earned separately for each Maharaja Club membership ID. Only one Maharaja Club ID can be attached to each room booking. If you book two rooms using two different Maharaja Club IDs, each eligible membership ID can earn points for its respective room.
Convert IHG Points to Maharaja Points
IHG One Rewards members can also convert their existing IHG points into Maharaja Points and use them towards Air India award flights and cabin upgrades. The conversion can be requested through the regional IHG One Rewards Contact Centre.
Conversion Rate: 1,000 IHG One Rewards Points = 200 Maharaja Points
The minimum conversion is 1,000 IHG One Rewards Points and the converted points can take up to 60 business days to reach the Maharaja Club account.
When Will Maharaja Points Be Credited?
For eligible IHG stays, Maharaja Points are credited within 60 to 90 days after the stay is completed.
A few things are important to keep in mind:
Your valid 9-digit Maharaja Club ID must be added to the booking when you make it. Missing or invalid IDs cannot be added later for a retrospective claim.
Cancelled bookings and no-shows do not earn Maharaja Points.
Points may be withheld or reversed in cases involving refunds, chargebacks, booking violations or misuse of the offer.
What Does This Partnership Mean for Travellers?
The partnership gives Maharaja Club members another way to build their Air India points balance through hotel stays. At the same time, IHG One Rewards members can move their existing IHG points into Maharaja Club for Air India award flights and cabin upgrades.
The 3X launch offer makes the partnership particularly relevant for eligible IHG stays booked and completed by 31 December 2026. With IHG properties across more than 100 countries, hotel stays can now become another way to build a Maharaja Club balance.
For travellers comparing whether to pay for a hotel stay with cash or points, SaveSage can also help. Its Travel feature lets you search flights and hotels, compare cash and points options and check available credit card offers in one place. This can make it easier to decide how to use your cards, loyalty points and hotel rewards before booking your next trip.
