Amex is temporarily pausing new card applications in India for planned issuing-platform updates. Direct apply links still worked as of 27 Aug; existing cardholders are unchanged. Reopen expected around mid-October.
AI Mode in Search can now show award rates in points or miles—live for American, Alaska, Hilton, Wyndham, and Choice. Accor, Flying Blue, Hyatt, and Lufthansa are next.
Single-ticket Air India + Drukair itineraries via Delhi, with through baggage and wider SAARC / Bhutan domestic links from Paro.
Ferns N Petals joins HDFC’s 10X SmartBuy-style partner list—community reports up to ~33% points on eligible premium cards; verify live rates and caps in SmartBuy.
21 Aug 2026–20 Feb 2027: hit 10 eligible nights, then diversify hotels/brands for up to 50,000 bonus Green Points—highest tier only, direct book.
ICICI’s 1838 Reserve teaser is live—joining fee about ₹1.75 lakh+, invite-only, interest form at 1838reserve.com, targeted October 2026 launch.
Weekend District store bill-pay: flat ₹1,500 off when the final bill is ₹2,499 on eligible HDFC Mastercard debit cards.
Paytm Bank Offers: 15% off up to ₹150 (min ₹199) on bills, recharges, and FASTag for Visa Platinum and Classic rails.
HSBC’s branch finder now lists Thiruvananthapuram (Vazhuthacaud / Nandavanam) as part of its wealth branch expansion.
Privé, Premier, and TravelOne: register, spend ₹1L, then transfer ≥15,000 points on 13–14 Aug for 25–50% bonus ALL.
Accor signed Fairmont Rishikesh (~220 rooms)—planned 2031 opening, long-horizon ALL luxury inventory.
Non-Premier HSBC cards: register HFEST, then hit spend tiers from ₹2.5L for Amazon vouchers up to large voucher pools.
Akasa Elevate is live with four tiers, Elevate Points on flights and ancillaries, and retro claims from 1 April 2026.
India Visa cards: 0.5% base + 10% Tap/partner boost + Jetsetter milestone—redeem Amazon/Air India gift cards up to ₹50k.
Maximize now transfers MaxCoins to Accor ALL at 2:1—positioned as India’s first non-bank Accor transfer partner.
