Zomato & Air India Partner to Let You Earn Flight Rewards from Food Orders

In a first-of-its kind collaboration, Zomato and Air India have tied up so that users can earn Maharaja Club loyalty points by placing food orders on Zomato. The move blurs the line between dining and travel rewards, making every food order more valuable.

How the Tie-Up Works:

• Zomato users who link their Maharaja Club account with their Zomato profile will begin earning points on eligible orders.
• Only orders above ₹499 on Zomato are eligible for rewards.
• Once linked, users will receive 2% Maharaja Points on qualifying orders.

Bonus Offers & Incentives:

• Welcome Bonus: New members who join Maharaja Club through Zomato and complete their first Air India flight can get 2,000 bonus points.
• Daily Ticket Giveaway: Each day, one user will win a complimentary one-way economy ticket voucher, valid for six months.
• Zomato Gold Perk: Users linking their accounts may get Zomato Gold membership perks (e.g. 3 months free) depending on the promotion.

Why This Matters:

• This collaboration expands loyalty ecosystems, turning something as mundane as a food order into an opportunity to earn travel benefits.
• It increases user stickiness: Zomato users may order more to accumulate points; Air India gains more visibility among everyday users.
• The move also intensifies competition in the loyalty & rewards space. Other airlines and food platforms may be prompted to create similar cross-industry tie-ups.

Steps to Join:

1. Open Zomato app → go to Profile → “Partner Rewards” or similar section.
2. Enter your Maharaja Club ID to link with Zomato.
3. Place an eligible food order (₹499+), and 2% points will reflect in your Maharaja account within 24 hours.
4. Use earned points to book future flights, claim upgrades, or participate in the daily voucher draws.

Potential Challenges & Things to Watch:

• Some users have already reported difficulty in linking accounts (errors, validation issues).
• Air India clarified that only fully completed member profiles (valid personal data, updated preferences) can be linked successfully.
• As with any loyalty program, redemption value, blackout dates, and point expiration will matter users should check T&Cs before assuming instant airfare benefits.

Conclusion:

The Zomato-Air India partnership presents a smart mashup of food and travel rewards. For regular users, this means meals can now contribute to airline miles, and possibly a free ticket one day. Provided the fine print is favorable and the systems work smoothly, this could set a new standard for loyalty tie-ups in India’s service economy.