Air India Partners With Booking.com, Joining Airlines Selling Hotels, Not Just Seats

Air India has spent the past two years layering commerce products onto its frequent-flyer program — cruises, car rentals, gift cards. The latest move, a tie-up with Booking.com to launch a dedicated co-branded platform built into the Air India website and app, extends that push beyond the seat and into one of the largest pool of travel spend — accommodation.

Air India said Monday it has partnered with Booking.com to give Maharaja Club members access to 31 million accommodation listings, including 8.6 million homes, villas and unique stays. Members earn 5 Maharaja Points for every INR 100 ($1.06) spent on stays booked through the platform, redeemable for award flights and cabin upgrades, with a launch discount of up to 15% on participating properties from June 22 to July 21.

Abhijit Menon, Air India’s division