Club Vistara, the loyalty programme of Vistara Airlines, has introduced an option for members to buy CV Points and use them for flight redemptions. Below is a clear guide to how the feature works, limits and practical advice on when buying points can be useful.
Table of Contents
- How to Buy
- The Limits
- When to buy CV Points?
- Bottomline
How to Buy
- Log in to your Club Vistara account.
- Go to My Account and choose Buy CV Points.
- Select the number of CV Points you want to purchase.
- Point value: Rs. 1.25 + GST (18%) = ~Rs. 1.50 per point.
The Limits
- Maximum: 500,000 CV Points in a 12-month period.
- Validity: 3 years (36 months) from the date of credit.
- Per transaction: 1,000 to 20,000 CV Points per transaction.
Points are credited instantly after payment in most cases, though it can take up to 48 hours if there are processing delays.
When to buy CV Points?
- Offered price: Rs. 1.25 + GST ≈ Rs. 1.50 per point.
- Author’s valuation: Rs. 0.75–1.00 per point for good value.
- Businesses can claim GST paid on point purchases where applicable.
At the regular selling price, purchasing CV Points is usually not cost-effective. However, there are specific situations where buying points makes sense:
- Short on points for a redemption: If you need a small top-up to reach the required balance for a ticket or upgrade — for example, you have 18,000 points but need 20,000 — buying the shortfall can be practical.
- When cash fares are expensive: During peak travel periods, last-minute bookings, or on busy holiday routes, award redemptions using points can sometimes save money versus buying a revenue ticket. This is less common when award seats are limited.
- During point sales: Programs sometimes discount the price of points once or twice a year. If the effective cost falls to around Rs. 1 per point or below, buying can be a good deal given current redemption options.
- Special redemption promotions: If Vistara runs a promotion that reduces the points required for certain awards (for example, a 50% discount on redemptions), purchasing points to take advantage of the offer can yield strong value.
Note: Always check award availability before buying points. Buying points without confirming available seats or upgrades risks wasting money.
If you have transferable credit card reward points, those may be a better alternative. For example, some bank programs allow transfers to Club Vistara at a 1:1 ratio, which can be preferable to buying points directly.
Bottomline
It’s useful that Club Vistara now allows point purchases, but at the current price of roughly Rs. 1.50 per point (including GST) buying points routinely is not recommended. The best times to consider buying are when you need a small top-up to confirm a redemption, during discounted point sales, or when attractive redemption promotions are live. As always, verify award availability and compare options — such as transferring credit card points — before spending.
Are you planning to buy CV Points soon? In what situation would you consider it? Share your thoughts in the comments below.