Cleartrip, a subsidiary of Flipkart, has joined forces with Axis Bank, a prominent private sector bank in India, to introduce a collaboration aimed at providing travel benefits to both existing and new Axis Bank credit cardholders who book their trips through Cleartrip.
This partnership ushers in a range of perks tailored to domestic flight bookings, including the allocation of seats worth up to INR 1200, complimentary meals valued at up to INR 500, waiver of convenience fees, and the opportunity to cancel and reschedule flights for just Re. 1 through CT FlexMax.
Moreover, holders of Axis Bank credit cards can access specially curated travel offers without the need to accumulate or redeem points for these advantages.
Ayyappan R., the CEO of Cleartrip, highlighted Cleartrip’s dedication to disrupting the OTA space with a transparent and customer-centric approach. He explained that the partnership with Axis Bank is an extension of this commitment, offering features such as flexible bookings, cancellation options, and date changes, all without any extra costs.
This unique proposition, he said, distinguishes Cleartrip in the market and stands to benefit nearly 12.5 million customers.
This alliance also represents a significant departure from the typical practice of offering immediate cash discounts for domestic flights by most Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) in collaboration with banks.
The APAC Travel Confidence Index 2023 reveals that consumers’ trust in digital travel platforms has significantly grown. According to it, 42 per cent of Indian travellers lean on these platforms for bookings. However, they weigh multiple factors before confirming like affordability, comprehensive booking options and flexible cancellation policies. For 30 per cent, reserving transport and accommodation ahead of time is also essential.
The conventional model usually offsets these discounts with substantial convenience fees and extra charges for seats and meals. Additionally, they often levy a premium for flexible bookings, limited to cancellations or date changes. In contrast, this program presents a comprehensive suite of services at a nominal fee of Re. 1. This approach eliminates the necessity for heavy discounts to be compensated by inflated convenience fees.“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,” said Sanjeev Moghe, President & Head, Cards & Payments, Axis Bank.
Cleartrip, founded in July 2006, emerged as India’s fastest-growing online travel technology company. In April 2021, Flipkart acquired the entire shareholding of Cleartrip. The company’s offerings like ‘CT Flexmax, CT Flex, and CT Upgrade’ are part of its vision to revolutionise the OTA segment.
