SAN FRANCISCO: Air India, India’s leading global airline, today announced the opening of its newest signature lounge at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), called ‘The Maharaja Lounge’. Officially opening its doors to guests on May 23, the launch of the new lounge marks yet another pivot in the ongoing transformation of the airline’s product and service, extending the “new Air India experience” to one of its key international gateways.

Located near Gate A1 in the International Terminal at SFO, The Maharaja Lounge is spread over 3,300 sq. ft. and features luxurious, contemporary interiors that blend modern design sensibilities with elements rooted in Indian aesthetics. The lounge offers a seating capacity of 80 guests and is available to Air India’s First and Business Class guests, and Platinum and Gold members of the airline’s Maharaja Club loyalty program. It also features a dedicated zone reserved exclusively for Air India’s First Class guests.

Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “The opening of the Maharaja Lounge at San Francisco builds on the recent launch of our flagship lounge at Delhi, marking the beginning of a new generation of signature lounges for Air India. North America has long been a key pillar of Air India’s network, and our continued investments reflect both this commitment and our ambition to introduce a new standard of travel experiences in the region in the time to come.

As Air India continues to transform into a world-class global airline, we are focused on delivering a consistent, elevated experience across our network, blending modern luxury with the warmth and timeless appeal of Indian hospitality.”

Conceptualised by the award-winning global hospitality design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), The Maharaja Lounge is a refined expression of heritage seamlessly woven with luxury, offering guests an immersive introduction to India even before their journey begins. It mirrors the design philosophy of the recently launched flagship Maharaja Lounge in Delhi, positioning this as the second in a series of signature lounges envisioned by Air India.

Design approach

Thoughtfully curated, the space brings together distinctive elements of the brand and Air India’s rich cultural legacy, creating an atmosphere that is warmly familiar yet exquisite. The hues of champagne, ivory, and deep reds mirror the brand’s colour palette. Brand motifs are integrated throughout the interiors, including the ‘Vista’ patterns on the walls and furniture. The lounge has been designed to evoke the essence of quintessential Indian hospitality, creating an atmosphere of warmth, comfort, and understated luxury for guests. To honour the airline’s historical connection to the arts, the space features works by local artists that showcase regional heritage. Select installations also incorporate upcycled aircraft components, thoughtfully reimagined into contemporary art pieces.

The spatial elegance of the lounge is defined by the following curated zones, each designed to uplift the interior landscape.

The Aviator’s Bar: The bar has a distinctive speakeasy vibe, anchored by a well-curated cellar of wines and whiskies hand-picked for the discerning traveller. The warm, rich hues of the space, coupled with the signature ceiling design, provide a sophisticated backdrop where aviation enthusiasts and global travellers alike can convene in an atmosphere of timeless elegance.

Complementing this is a menu of thoughtfully crafted signature cocktails. For instance, the Maharaja Manhattan is a regal twist on the timeless Manhattan, honouring the Maharaja of spices – black pepper.

Tarmac View: The seating and dining sections of the Private Zone and the Business Class lounge overlook the tarmac, offering enchanting views of aircraft taking off and landing. The immersive experience of ‘wine and dine with a view’ is perfect for both plane-spotters and curious travellers.

Social Zone: Adjacent to the Aviator’s Bar is the lounge’s primary social zone, a space meticulously designed to foster a sense of community. This vibrant area captures the dynamic spirit of modern travel, offering an environment for guests to engage and connect. Configured to accommodate the natural “hustle” of a premier international hub, the seating arrangements encourage both spontaneous conversation and group interaction, while still offering pockets of privacy and a sense of exclusivity for more intimate moments.

Dining Area: The Maharaja Lounge offers a curated and delightful dining experience for all guests, who can choose from a wide variety of Indian and international culinary delicacies, including live cooking stations. The area includes a hot buffet island/counter, a cold counter, and a beverage station serving a host of delicacies to choose from.

Private Zone: Tucked into a serene corner of the lounge, this space is a sanctuary of understated luxury. Designed for heightened privacy and comfort, the Private Zone offers a more intimate setting with elevated service, allowing guests travelling First Class to relax, work, or unwind in a calm and discreet environment before their departure.

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Maharaja Club members can now earn Maharaja Points when they shop with brands like Walmart, Victoria’s Secret, New Balance, GAP, Victorinox, and Alamowith more partners coming onboard soon to offer even more opportunities to earn and enjoy exclusive rewards.

From fashion and beauty to everyday essentials, these opportunities allow members to accumulate points on daily purchases, bringing them closer to their next rewarding travel experience with Air India when they redeem points for award flights or cabin upgrades.

Earning rates vary with each brand, offering members diverse ways to maximize their points across categories.

The offers are available on the Maharaja Club Partner Offers page on Air India’s website (https://bit.ly/MaharajaClubPartners), where members simply need to select their preferred brand to shop with and follow the next steps.

“We’re happy to partner with Loyyal as we continue to make Maharaja Club even more rewarding for our rapidly expanding member base across the globe,” said Shailesh Kumar Singh, Head of Loyalty, Air India. “This partnership makes it easier for our members to earn Maharaja Points on everyday essentials and shopping, without needing to fly frequently. By combining points earned from such purchases with those from flying, members can quickly unlock free flights or cabin upgrades and enjoy a transforming Air India experience.”

“We are thrilled to work with Air India to enhance the Maharaja Club experience through our expanded network of partners across the globe to enrich each member’s journey,” said Ashish Kumar Singh, CEO, Loyyal. “This initiative significantly boosts the earning potential for Maharaja Club’s members, allowing them to earn points through everyday purchases across the UK and USA. The Maharaja Club is designed to go the extra mile, ensuring members feel recognized, acknowledged, and privileged at every step. Together, we reaffirm our commitment to making every journey with Air India exceptional, enriching the daily lives of members with meaningful opportunities that ultimately enhance their travel experiences.”

Air India recently overhauled its frequent flyer programme, rebranding it to Maharaja Club and introducing a simplified new structure, more customer-friendly features, renamed tiers, and an updated identity for the programme.

With Air India being part of Star Alliance and the airline’s close cooperation with fellow Star Alliance member airlines, Maharaja Club members enjoy global recognition and benefits across the alliance’s extensive network worldwide.

Over the last 18 months, Air India has added over 50 partners for the Maharaja Club to offer greater ease, more rewards, and recognition for its members.

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