Following a major restructuring earlier this year, Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club has return to Axis Bank’s TravelEDGE loyalty program, marking a notable change in the bank’s partnership landscape. This reinstatement is particularly significant, as it reinstates direct access to a valuable airline loyalty program.
Overview of Recent Changes
In April 2026, Axis Bank removed several prominent transfer partners, including Qatar Airways, Accor Live Limitless, and Marriott Bonvoy. This decision drew major criticism from customers, especially since the bank replaced these partners with options that offered less favorable transfer ratios. While British Airways and Finnair were introduced, they did not match the utility that Qatar Airways offered, particularly for those seeking premium travel options.
Frequent travelers in India preferred Qatar Airways due to its competitive redemption rates and the flexibility to transfer Avios between various airline programs. The removal of Qatar Airways from the program represented not just a loss of a transfer partner, but also a significant limitation for travelers looking to maximize their points for oneworld redemptions.
Qatar Airways’ Reinstatement
Axis Bank has now added Qatar Airways Privilege Club back to its list of airline partners, allowing eligible cardholders to transfer their EDGE Rewards points or EDGE Miles directly. However, the transfer ratios vary based on the specific Axis Bank credit card being held:
– Burgundy Private (The One Credit Card): 5:4 (unchanged)
– Magnus for Burgundy: 5:2 (previously 5:4)
– Axis Bank Atlas and Horizon: 2:1 (previously 1:2)
– Axis Reserve and Magnus: 5:1
These changes point to a mixed outcome, as some cardholders face less favorable transfer ratios than they had prior to the April 2026 overhaul.
Impact on Cardholders
While the return of Qatar Airways is welcome news for many frequent travelers, it does not entirely rectify the negative consequences of the earlier devaluation. The absence of Accor Live Limitless and Marriott Bonvoy continues to create gaps in benefits for cardholders, restricting options for hotel partner transfers. Furthermore, annual transfer caps and stricter conversion ratios remain in place, which diminishes the overall value proposition for many Axis Bank customers.
Although the reinstatement of Qatar Airways improves the attractiveness of the TravelEDGE program, it should be regarded as a partial recovery rather than a complete restoration of previous benefits. This hybrid situation may leave some cardholders considering alternative loyalty programs that better meet their travel needs.
Possible Drivers Behind the Change
Axis Bank has not publicly clarified the rationale behind Qatar Airways’ reinstatement. One possible explanation could lie in customer feedback. The backlash following the removal of Qatar Airways was substantial, particularly from frequent flyers who relied on it for straightforward access to Avios. Another scenario might involve renewed commercial discussions between Axis Bank and Qatar Airways that led to a new partnership agreement.
Despite a lack of transparency surrounding this change, the return of Qatar Airways certainly strengthens the airline transfer portfolio for Axis Bank customers. It remains to be seen whether other valuable partners like Accor will also make a comeback.
Overall, while the reinstatement of Qatar Airways is a positive step, many cardholders still await a comprehensive restoration of the program’s original value.