Bengaluru, August 2023.
Cleartrip, a Flipkart company, and Axis Bank, one
of the largest private sector banks in India partner to introduce a
one-of-a-kind proposition to provide travel benefits to all the existing and
new Axis Bank credit cardholders booking through Cleartrip. This collaboration
offers customers an array of privileges for domestic flight bookings, including
seats valued up to INR 1200, free meals worth up to INR 500, exemption from
convenience fees, and the choice to cancel and reschedule flights for a mere
Re. 1 under CT FlexMax. Additionally, Axis Bank credit cardholders can access
specially curated travel offers without having to wait for collecting/redeem
points to enjoy the benefits.
The strategic partnership marks a stark departure
from the conventional standards of booking discounts for domestic flights. In
the current market landscape, most Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) focus on
offering instant cash discounts through partnerships with banks. However, they
offset these discounts by imposing substantial convenience fees and additional
charges for seats and meals. Furthermore, they often demand a premium for
flexible bookings, limited to just cancellations or date changes. In contrast,
our program stands out by offering a comprehensive suite of services at a nominal
fee of Re.1. This approach eliminates the need for heavy discounts to be
covered by inflated convenience fees.
Elaborating on this partnership, Ayyappan R., CEO, Cleartrip said, “Cleartrip is deeply invested in disrupting
the OTA space through a transparent and customer-centric approach. Our
partnership with Axis Bank is an extension of this commitment. This will
include features such as flexible bookings, cancellation options, and date
changes, all without any additional costs. This unique proposition truly sets
us apart in the market. and is set to benefit close to 12.5 million customers.”
He further adds, “Axis Bank is a trusted financial player with a strong affiliation with
Flipkart and a large user base. We are excited about this new chapter and look
forward to strengthening this collaboration and elevating our value
proposition.”
Speaking on this announcement, Sanjeev Moghe,
President & Head, Cards & Payments, Axis Bank, said,“We are
delighted to partner with Cleartrip, a brand that shares our vision to provide
unmatched customer experiences. We continue to build on innovation-led
partnership models to offer customers a value proposition specifically designed
to cater to their evolving needs, while delivering greater convenience and more
benefits. We have observed that the travel segment is a high engagement area
for our customers and this one-of-a-kind proposition with Cleartrip will add
immense value to our customers’ travel plans.”
The Cleartrip-Axis Bank collaboration is poised
to shape the future of travel with its comprehensive suite of privileges. With
customer-centricity fuelling the company's growth, Cleartrip will continue to
look at unique value propositions for its users while ensuring sustained growth
for the business.