Air India and Singapore Airlines: What Changes from 15 Oct
Updated as of 8 Oct 2026. Based on the airlines’ announcement of 7 Oct 2026 and Singapore Airlines’ January 2026 press release. Transfer ratios are from the DealUni transfer sheet (Oct 2026).
Air India and Singapore Airlines are moving closer. From 15 October 2026, you can book either airline’s India–Singapore flights on the other’s website, even as a simple one-way or return. Elite members get more perks on each other’s flights, and more loyalty benefits are due in 2027. It’s the first step towards a full joint business agreement between two airlines that are already linked: Singapore Airlines owns 25.1% of Air India.
What changes on 15 October
| Before | From 15 Oct 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Booking an Air India flight on singaporeair.com | Only as part of a trip that included a Singapore Airlines flight | Allowed on its own on India–Singapore routes |
| Booking a Singapore Airlines flight on airindia.com | Only with an Air India flight in the trip | Allowed on its own |
| Where | Both airlines’ websites and apps, and appointed travel agents | |
| Routes | 126 weekly flights between Singapore and Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata and Mumbai | |
In practice: search both sites for the same flight. Prices and payment offers can differ between the two sites, so pick the cheaper one.
What it means for your miles and status
| Benefit | Who | When |
|---|---|---|
| Earn on each other’s flights in more fare classes, at revised rates in all cabins | Maharaja Club and KrisFlyer members | Since April 2026 |
| Priority check-in and boarding | Maharaja Club Platinum, KrisFlyer PPS Club | Announced; on eligible routes |
| Extra baggage and priority boarding | Maharaja Club Silver, KrisFlyer Elite Silver | Announced; on eligible routes |
| More reciprocal benefits | Both programmes | From Q2 2027 |
The Silver perk is the useful one. Maharaja Club Silver now takes just 20 flights (including 4 on Air India), down from 30 in April. That’s within reach for many frequent domestic flyers, and it now brings extra baggage on Singapore Airlines between India and Singapore.
Which programme should you credit to?
| You… | Credit to |
|---|---|
| Fly Air India at home and want domestic awards from 1,500 points or status | Maharaja Club |
| Are saving for Singapore Airlines business or Spontaneous Escapes deals | KrisFlyer |
| Hold Maharaja Club Silver or higher | Maharaja Club, to keep the status and its new SQ perks |
Cards that transfer to both
| Card | Air India Maharaja Club | KrisFlyer |
|---|---|---|
| HSBC TravelOne, Premier | 1:1 | 1:1 |
| HDFC Infinia, Diners Black | 2:1 | 1:1 |
| Axis Olympus | 1:4 | 1:4 |
| Axis Atlas | 1:2 | 1:2 |
| Axis Magnus for Burgundy, Burgundy Private | 5:4 | 5:4 |
| ICICI Emeralde Private, Times Black | 1:1 | No |
| SBI Card MILES range | 1:1 | No |
| Amex Membership Rewards | No | 2:1 |
What’s coming next
- Better connections: the airlines are working on schedules to cut layovers between their networks.
- Corporate deals: joint offers for business travellers are being developed.
- A joint business agreement: signed in principle in January 2026 and still subject to regulatory approval. It could mean coordinated schedules and booking both airlines as one journey, possibly beyond India–Singapore.
- Loyalty, Q2 2027: more reciprocal benefits. We’ll update this post when the details are out.
DealUni take
For now this is a small, practical step: more flights to choose from on each airline’s site, and better perks for Silver and top-tier members. The bigger change is the 2027 loyalty upgrade and the joint business agreement. If you fly India–Singapore often, get Maharaja Club Silver (20 flights) and compare fares on both sites from 15 October.
Do airline, ek raasta. (Two airlines, one route.)
