I am planning to purchase a ticket using my maharaja points of the air india maharaja club will i need to pay the taxes for my purchase?
Yes, you will have to pay applicable taxes on the purchase.
If I use my Maharaja points from the Air India Maharaja Club to book a flight ticket, do I still have to pay taxes and charges separately, or are those also covered by the points?
That’s a very practical question, and it’s good you asked before booking with your Maharaja points.
Taxes & Charges Still Apply:
When you redeem your Maharaja points for an Air India flight, the points cover the base fare of the ticket. However, you are still required to pay airport taxes, fuel surcharges, and other applicable fees out of pocket. These charges can vary depending on the route and the class of travel.
How It Works in Practice:
For example, if you book a Delhi–London ticket using only Maharaja points, the fare portion is fully covered by your points. But you’ll notice that during checkout, additional charges (like airport development fees or international taxes) appear separately, and you’ll need to pay those in cash or card.
Same Rule for Partner Airlines:
Even if you redeem your points on a Star Alliance partner airline, the same rule applies points take care of the fare, but taxes and surcharges must be paid by you.
Quick Tip:
It’s always a good idea to check the “fare breakdown” while redeeming, so you can plan for the out-of-pocket expenses in advance. Many members find that even with taxes, redeeming points for long-haul or business class travel gives them excellent value.