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oneworld and Taj InnerCircle – First-Ever Global Airline Alliance and Hotel Loyalty Partnership
oneworld has unveiled a first-of-its-kind loyalty partnership with hospitality brand Indian Hotels Company (IHCL). The agreement marks the first loyalty collaboration between a global airline alliance and a hotel group and includes Taj, Claridges Collection, Brij, SeleQtions, Clarks, Gateway, Vivanta, Ginger, Tree of Life, and amã Stays & Trails brands
“We are pleased to bring together the world’s premium airline alliance with IHCL’s Taj InnerCircle – NeuPass. Our members can now enjoy IHCL’s celebrated brands, including the iconic Taj, with its heritage of luxury, in a first-of-its-kind partnership that extends the value of oneworld loyalty beyond air travel,” said Ole Orvér, oneworld CEO. “With 10 million international customers travelling to and from India each year on oneworld member airlines, this partnership recognises and rewards our customers across a key global market.”
From now on, all oneworld Emerald, Sapphire and Ruby loyalty members will have access to exclusive savings on stays across IHCL’s global portfolio, in addition to better hotel benefits spanning dining and spa experiences when booking through specific channels.
The loyalty partnership connects oneworld’s network with IHCL’s portfolio of 630+ hotels across four continents. These include the iconic Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai and Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur as well as renowned properties such as The Pierre, New York and St. James Court Hotel, London.
Highlights of the partnership include:
Tier-Based Benefits and Exclusive Savings
oneworld loyalty members will enjoy preferential rates and experiences for stays booked at participating Taj, Claridges Collection, Brij, SeleQtions, Clarks, Gateway, Vivanta, Ginger, Tree of Life hotels, and amã Stays & Trails. Tier-based benefits include 15 per cent discounts for oneworld Emerald members, and 10 per cent for Ruby and Sapphire and all other members on the best available room rate, food and non-alcoholic beverage offerings and spa treatments.
Additionally, oneworld members booking their first stay at participating IHCL properties worldwide will unlock vouchers offering exclusive savings on stays and food and beverage experiences.
Reciprocal Loyalty Recognition
As a next step, IHCL and select oneworld airline members will introduce reciprocal loyalty recognition. oneworld Emerald members will be matched to Taj InnerCircle – NeuPass Gold, while Ruby and Sapphire members will be matched to Taj InnerCircle – NeuPass Silver.
Taj InnerCircle – NeuPass Gold and Platinum members holding a frequent flyer program membership with a oneworld carrier will be matched to oneworld Sapphire tier and Taj InnerCircle – NeuPass Copper and Silver members will be matched to oneworld Ruby tier.
It is not clear exactly when this status match is being introduced, but hopefully it won’t belong as this could be a. very handy way to get status if you use or could use Taj hotels.
oneworld and IHCL will also “explore” the introduction of points earning opportunities on hotel stays across select oneworld airline loyalty programmes.
Heathrow’s 80th birthday celebrations – win round-the-world tickets
Heathrow celebrated the 80th anniversary of its first flight on 31 May and has a number of activities to mark the occasion.
Heathrow has enlisted its very first Poet-in-Residence, critically acclaimed writer David Larbi, to pen a special new poem in celebration of its 80th birthday. The piece has been etched in giant letters into a field local to the airport – visible only to those in flight above. Look out of your window during take off and landing to spot the poem etched in giant letters into a nearby field.
There will also be live musical performances spanning the decades with performances in terminals every Friday throughout June, July and August.
You can put on a pair of virtual reality goggles to take a journey back in time and experience what Heathrow would have been like back in the day with pop-up sites in each terminal.
Finally, there is a newly launched competition to win two round-trip business class tickets around the world with Star Alliance members. The prize draw is open from 3–22 June 2026 to UK residents.
The relationship between Star Alliance and Heathrow spans more than a decade. Since the Star Alliance member airlines moved to Terminal 2 in 2014, Heathrow has become one of the Alliance’s most significant hubs worldwide, with 23 of the current 26 Star Alliance member airlines operating from Terminal 2.
To enter the prize draw, participants must have a free My Heathrow account and then enter at www.heathrow.com/star
IHG’s new hotel Reward night 15% discount
IHG is running a dedicated promotion offering 15% off Reward night stays at newly opened and recently revamped hotels and resorts.
The discount applies to participating newly opened and newly renovated IHG Hotels & Resorts, usually within 6 months to a year of their opening/revamp.
You must log in to your IHG One Rewards account to book.
You can find participating locations using the IHG New Hotels Deal Page. There are a number of hotels within the UK available and several within London, including the Hotel Indigo London K West Shepherd’s Bush and Ruby Stella Hotel, as well as several Garner hotels in other parts of the UK. This is in addition to hotels in countries worldwide. The deals are arranged by the month they expire so it is worth going through all of them to find out if your location has a participating hotel.
